Providing guideline-recommended preventive cardiovascular care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women: exploring gender differences with a medical record review in primary health care
Katharine McBride
A B * , Natasha J. Howard B C , Christine Franks B D , Veronica King D E , Vicki Wade D F , Anna Dowling D G , Janice Rigney D , Nyunmiti Burton D H , Julie Anne Mitchell D I , Susan Hillier A , Stephen J. Nicholls J , Catherine Paquet A K § and Alex Brown B C §
A Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
B Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
C Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
D Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Group, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
E Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia.
F Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia.
G College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia.
H Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council, Alice Springs, NT 0870, Australia.
I The Heart Foundation of Australia, Woolloomooloo, NSW 2011, Australia.
J Victorian Heart Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia.
K Faculté des Sciences de l’Administration, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
Australian Journal of Primary Health 28(6) 498-507 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY22064
Submitted: 11 September 2021 Accepted: 14 July 2022 Published: 19 August 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of La Trobe University
Abstract
Background: For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, the premature burden of cardiovascular disease is affecting their capacity to fulfil roles in society, and promote the health and wellbeing of future generations. In Australia, there is limited understanding of the difference in primary preventive cardiovascular care experienced by women, despite knowledge of sex and gender differentials in health profile and receipt of guideline-based acute care. This paper sought to explore the health profile and receipt of assessment and management of cardiovascular risk for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women accessing preventive primary health care, and investigate gender differentials.
Method: Records of 1200 current clients, 50% women, aged 18–74 years from three Aboriginal Health Services in central and South Australia for the period 7/2018–6/2020 were reviewed.
Results: Twelve percent had documented cardiovascular disease. Compared with men, women with no recorded cardiovascular disease had a greater likelihood of being overweight or obese, a waist circumference indicative of risk, diabetes, and depression. Women were less likely to report being physically active.
Conclusions: The research concluded that gaps exist in the provision and recording of guideline-recommended primary preventive care regardless of sex. These are stark, given the evident burden.
Keywords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Australia, cardiovascular disease prevention and control, health equity, healthcare quality assurance, Indigenous peoples, primary health care, women.
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