Toward an Understanding of the Poor Health Status of Indigenous Australian Men. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mellor, David; McCabe, Marita; Ricciardelli, Lina; Mussap, Alex; Tyler, Matthew
• Is Part Of: Qualitative health research. Volume 26:Number 14(2016)
• Page Start: 1949
• Page End: 1960
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Aboriginal people, Australia -- men's health -- health behavior -- participatory action research; Health -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Periodicals; Health -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 610.7205
• DOI: 10.1177/1049732315609898
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-7323

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of health and health behaviors among Indigenous Australian men. Using a participatory action research (PAR) framework, we conducted two focus groups and 40 individual semi-structured interviews with men between the ages of 18 and 35 years in each of three locations across Australia. We used the health beliefs model to provide a framework for the analyses. Participants recognized that their Indigenous status placed them in a vulnerable position with regard to health, and that there might be serious consequences of failing to follow a good diet and engage in appropriate exercise. However, they delineated a number of barriers to engaging in such health behaviors. These perceived barriers require addressing at a range of policy levels within government, with a focus on social structures and institutionalized discrimination, as well as unemployment, poverty, dispossession, and cultural oppression.