Cultural factors

affecting access
to health services

 It is unacceptable for cultural barriers to hinder health services access for particular
groups within Australia.

 Everyone must aim to reduce and even completely close the gaps in healthcare

 More research must be performed to understand the roles of healthcare professionals

and nurses in closing this gap.

 For culture groups such as Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders to fully
attain equitable access to healthcare removing the culture barriers present is essential.

(Li, 2017).
 WHAT IS CULTURE?

Culture is the variety of factors that encompass the social

characteristics and knowledge of a group of people, including their
language, beliefs, religion, arts, cuisine, laws, customs and social
habits.

Cultural barriers in health workplaces: include any obstacles

that a person may encounter such as differing medical
procedures and practices, languages, or ideas in relation to
gender and sexuality (Li, 2017).

Factors include:

 Language barriers
 Religious beliefs
 Values
 Expectations
 Cuisine
 Laws
 Customs
 CULTURE IN AUSTRALIA
Groups include:

 Indigenous Australians
 Migrants
 Refugees
 Those whom do not use English as
their first language at home

These groups are less likely to access health services and information due to:
 Language barriers
 Not understanding the information they are provided with
 May not feel safe
 Not believing it is a culturally appropriate environment

EXAMPLES

The Jehovah’s Witness religion do not agree with blood transfusions and therefore are not
allowed to receive blood donations from others. This in turn can cause complications
during an emergency or surgery.

Particular religions may prevent women from consulting with male doctors

Some cultures require women to dress modestly and may make them less likely to want to
expose some parts of their body for examination

There are some beliefs amongst religions associated with food and fasting which may
prevent people accessing services or staying in hospital due to food requirements

In some areas hospitals are not staffed by a particular cultural group meaning medical
professionals may lack understanding of culture and concepts of health and wellbeing
 INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

Access to health services and information is an important factor in ensuring

health and wellbeing.

Access to health services impacts the health status of Australian

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as they have an overall
poorer level of health and greater need for health care compared to
non-Indigenous Australians.

By identifying where access is particularly poor can

assist with planning and policy decisions relating
to health services.

(AIHW, 2016)

STATISTICS

 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are more than two times as likely to
go to hospital compared to non-Indigenous Australians although non-Indigenous
Australians are more likely to undergo a procedure while in hospital (Australian
Institute of Health and Wellbeing [AIHW], 2011)

 Indigenous Australians have longer wait times compared to non-Indigenous

Australians for a range of elective surgeries, including total hip replacement
(AIHW, 2011).