Introduction
Social inequality refers to a situation whereby certain groups in a society do not have equal access to human rights, property, health care and education due to difference in social status. Social inequality is often linked to racial and wealthy inequality such that the way people behave socially is dependent on the opportunities and wealth they can generate for themselves. The socio-economic problems that are present among most Australian nationals have been blamed for the increased inequality among the remote communities. This group is also at a higher risk of getting infected as they live in unhygienic conditions which act as predisposing factors to various diseases. Consequently, poor economic backgrounds means that they are unable to access high quality health care hence easily succumb to minor illnesses. Health care providers and nurses have a direct contact with the people who inhabit the rural and remote settings of Australia hence they are in a better position of educating them on ways of preventing minor illnesses.
Discussion
Part 1: The affected community
Majority of the people residing in rural Australia are indigenous aboriginal natives who have lived in the same geographical region as their grandparents for quite a long period of time.Rural or remote areas are often characterized by open fields with very low population density. Most people who reside in rural areas are not conversant with high educational levels such that they only qualify for menial jobs in the countryside. The terms of payment in rural areas are usually lower hence a lager part of the population earns meager salaries if they are employed. Due to lack of a wider job market in rural areas, some of the employers tend to exploit their workers which presenting minimal wages which may not be enough to cater for the needs of the employee. Therefore, it is not uncommon to find that most of the people in rural areas cannot afford the basic needs and to them health care becomes a luxury especially if the government does not provide subsidized medication and facilities in the remote areas. Thus, economically these communities are at a disadvantage and chances of improving their earning potential is dampened by lack of enough funds and facilities to engage in advanced academic pursuits Berkman, Cutler, and Meara, (2002)
Despite the fact that the communities residing in rural areas of Australia are financially poor, most of them are indigenous natives who have been occupying the land since the early years. Thus, this is a community which has great potential of improving their livelihood but poor allocation of national resources has hindered this move. The tendency to allocate more resources to the marginal areas of the country has not been emphasized on thus widening the gap between the communities in rural areas with their counterparts in urban areas. Infrastructure such as roads and public social amenities are in low supply such that those which are present are already congested while the government employees working there are overworked hence they provide services inefficiently. Consequently, poor means of transport means that it is even difficult to access the social amenities such that a woman who is in labor may easily die or loose her baby while being transported to a health facility. Similarly, the community finds it difficult to market their farm produce due to unreliable means of transport which are inadequate. This further increases poverty levels as those who are able to afford personal chattered planes to transport farm produce are able to reap much from their efforts.
Communities which reside in rural and remote areas are more prone to infectious diseases such as cholera, flu in addition to skin disease. This is due to poor sanitation and unhygienic living conditions such that an ailment spreads over a large area and several people succumb to it because they are unable to access health care facilities. Low literacy levels have also contributed to emergence of diseases caused by factors associated with ignorance. Lack of knowledge in ways of preventing and containing common infections such as flu, has cost the Australian government many lives Marmot, (2005),
Part two: Social structures and health experiences
Indigenous Australians have been experiencing a low life expectancy due to problems associated with accessing healthcare. Due to poor financial status, most of them are unable to access quality health care in good time before their health deteriorates hence they die before getting to the health facility or else when they get there cannot afford the medication the is prescribed. Recent survey shows that this group of people being composed of more low income earners cannot afford balanced diets which are nutritious. Therefore, they tend to have a higher affinity for nutritional diseases such as anemia and their women often give birth to underweight children who are sickly Marmot, (2005),
Poor economic times for the resident’s means that they are unable to access individualized health care that is often offered in private health centers due to the exorbitant fees charged there. This leads to only a small population of the wealthy gaining access to that type of health care. Such scenarios show that the mortality rates of the poor become higher while that of the rich is lowered.
The environments in which the resident so rural Australia live and work in are also determinants of their health outcomes. Ignorance due to high illiteracy levels leads to poor decision-making processes as well as reducing the chances of such individuals to fight for their rights at the work place. This poses great health problems as the working conditions may not be favorable for prolonged habitation and some employers may make employees stay in such environments for longer periods to increase the out put. Health problems as a result of poor working conditions include cancer of the lungs, back problems and damage to eyesight. Employees who are conversant with their rights should sue such employers but then those who are not aware of environmental policies such as these have no basis for suing the employer Greg, Lewins, and White, (2003).
Consequently, most of the companies in rural areas are equipped with basic first aid facilities and expertise such that when an employee falls sick in the course of his/her duty basic first aid cannot be administered to them. Similarly, the medication available may not be equally helpful because poor roads means that private pharmacies may be dispensing poor quality expired drugs. Those who can afford to buy medication in advance may be unwilling to dispense the drug without attachment of a small fee as a bribe Marmot, (2005),
The social disparity among the rich and the poor has direct effects on the health out come of people living in low class areas where health care is seen as a privilege for the wealthy rather than as a basic need. The rich are able to afford superior health services more easily as they are better connected. Alternatively, they are able to construct high quality houses which provide security against draughts, mosquitoes and extreme weather while those at the lower end live in houses which can barely keep out mosquitoes or bad weather. Hence, diseases that are caused by bad weather and mosquitoes are more common among the low income earner than those at the higher end.
Part 3: How registered nurses may empower clients during interactions
Registered nurses are usually qualified to deal with wound management among the patients and during routine checkups they may create awareness on various ways in which the patients can manage their own wounds even before consulting a doctor. This will minimize infections in addition to maintaining the productivity of the client in his/her daily activities. Ways of keeping the wound clean and avoiding contamination form external pathogens are made known to the patients. However, this information should not be restricted to caring for wounds only as similar cases such as containing flu should also be relayed Turrell, Stanley, Oldenburg (2006).
Similar important information based on reckless behavior which poses risks to the people living in remote and rural areas of Australia should be passed on to the patients such that they are able to evade them. Such behaviors include unprotected sex and uncensored consumption of alcohol. By containing such risky behaviors most of the communicable diseases will be eliminated or else reduced.
One way of empowering clients would be by making them realize that they are responsible for their own health despite the disparity in terms of financial constraints that could be facing them. this will make them adopt more realistic hygienic situations and in the process prevent most illnesses such that the issue of accessing health care may not be prove to be a hindrance to their health experiences.
Conclusion
The indigenous Australian communities living in rural and remote areas are greatly affected by social inequality especially when accessing health care facilities. Their general lives are also greatly affected by the nature of their being geographically located far from townsSocial inequality has substantial effects on the general health care of individuals all over Australia and especially in the rural and remote areas. The financial status of an individual has a greater impact in determining the quality of health care which they can access. Consequently, lack of basic education for majority of community members also contributes to poor health experiences. Registered nurses have a critical role to play in ensuring that the mortality levels of these people are lowered by active participation on their basic health.
References
Turrell G, Stanley L, de Looper M & Oldenburg B (2006).Health inequalities in Australia: morbidity, health behaviors, risk factors and health service use.AIHW. Iss. 72 pp176
Berkman, L. Cutler, D. and Meara, E. (2002). Social inequality and health: the impact of social, economic and health policies on population health. Rusell Sage Foundation.
Marmot, M. (2005), public Health: social determinants of health inequalities. Retrieved from: www.the lancet. Vol.365 pp. 1099-1104
Greg, A., Lewins,F. and White, K. (2003), inequality in Australia. Cambridge University Press
