Australian Aboriginal Health and Change

Abstract

THE MAJOR health problems facing Australia's Aboriginal population are reviewed and an attempt is made to assess the genetic and environ mental, social and cultural factors to which they may be attributed. Among Aborigines living in remote areas under semi-tribal conditions, recent improvements in health, though considerable, have not been commensurate with the greatly increased expenditure on health and welfare services. The outcome is due to loss of control by Aborigines over their own lives, including matters concerning health, and partly to failure of white medical and welfare personnel to communicate with people holding different beliefs about health and disease. Poor health of Aborigines living in cities and rural areas can be attributed largely to their poverty, which in turn stems from discrimina tion in employment, housing and community services.