Obesity In Australia: An Analysis Of Social Determinants And Nursing Practices

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Analyse Obesity in Australia.

Obesity is a pressing and real health issue in Australia. It is more prevalent in children or young individuals than in adults. Moreover, various analysis procedures of the situation are more concentrated to the young population since they determine the state of the condition in future years and stages of life such as adulthood. As per record, Australia has been identified as one of the fattest nations of the world. The description is influenced by the increasing cases of the obesity epidemic (Wang, 2012, p. 5). It can be defined as a condition where individuals have excess fat which results from intake of excess kilojoule which exceeds the used energy. Moreover, the situation is confirmed and calculated by the body mass index. The process includes dividing an individual’s weight by their height in square meters (Schabert, 2013, p. 6). Additionally, the procedure assists in differentiating between obesity and overweight concepts which correlate regarding symptoms. Nevertheless, obesity is impacted by various factors in the environment. They include socio-political issues, assumptions and dominant values that shape multiple health Australian health systems and the practice of nurses (Wright, 2012, p. 16).

Moreover, the condition is primarily caused by factors that affect feeding habits among the Australian population. Statistics in health departments of Australia reveal that obesity is dominant among children and they predict the prevalence of the situation among adults (Sav, et al., 2013, p. 670). It is also clear that individuals in the female gender have higher cases of obesity than males in Australia. In matters relating to age, obesity is more prevalent and incident among the young Australian population and has a direct relationship with the situation at adulthood (Witten, 2016, p. 9). Moreover, the prevalence of obesity in different geographical locations of Australia is propelled by socioeconomic status of the people, and their history of alcohol consumption and smoking. Therefore, this paper will analyze obesity and the socio-political, historical, assumptions and dominant values that impact it in Australian nursing practices.

Social determinants of health

Various factors lead to the increased obesity epidemic in Australia. They include social determinants of health that influence the health status of Australians as well as the quality of healthcare services received by the affected individuals (Badland et al., 2013, p. 68). One of the primary determinants of obesity prevalence in Australia is poverty.  The latter affects the socioeconomic aspects of individuals concerning education, income, food and geographic distribution or locations. An analysis conducted on education qualifications among Australians imply that most of the financially advantaged individuals have higher qualifications in education such as masters, degrees, and diplomas. Moreover, the individuals have minimal chances of being obese.

Social determinants of health

 On the other hand, individuals that cannot afford quality education have lower qualifications in education and high chances of being obese. Research conducted in 2004 to 2005 revealed that obesity infected twenty-one percent of individuals without non-school qualifications (Mitrou et al., 2014, p. 281). Also, nineteen percent of individuals with lower school qualifications due to poverty were obese. Correspondingly, the statistical figure indicated that only thirteen percent of individuals with high qualifications and from financially stable backgrounds suffered from obesity.

Concerning income, fifty-three percent of individuals from both high and low-income categories were classified as obese. Further analysis established that twenty-one percent of the low-income families suffered from obesity compared to fifteen percent from high-income households (Viner et al., 2012, p. 1646). Furthermore, research reveals that poverty is more dominant in remote areas than in urban areas. Hence, the prevalence of obesity in remote regions was twenty-three percent and higher than in an urbanized region where the rate of obesity was seventeen percent between 2004 and 2005.

Further research focusses on feeding habits exhibited by individuals from both financially stable and unstable households. An analysis shows that individuals from financially stable families feed on a proper diet and hence the rate of obesity is meager (Artuso, 2013, p. 83). On the other hand, low-income families face some difficulties of obtaining appropriate diets recommended by nutritionists. Also, their remote area of residence might have insufficient grocery stores of supplying proper food requirements other than snacks. Therefore, these factors propel to high rates of obesity among low-income families.

Discrimination and Code of Conduct in Nursing Practice

Also, poor Australians might be subjected to health disparities in Australian health systems. It means that they might be discriminated against by receiving low quality or no services from professionals and other healthcare providers in Australian health systems. Moreover, the study reveals that only a few percentages of poor people acquire health assurances (World Health Organization, 2013, p. 1). Thus, most of them are incapable of meeting health expenses related to obesity and other chronic infections. On the other hand, most the wealthy patients acquire health assurances. Thus, they are subjected to high-quality healthcare services.

As mentioned above, there are various cases of health discrimination that are experienced by patients as they seek quality healthcare from Australian healthcare facilities. The vice is characterized by various factors which include socioeconomic, political and ethnicity aspects (Baum et al., 2013, p. 141). According to a report revealed by the World Health Organization, there are vast disparities in health subjected to indigenous Australians while quality healthcare services are provided to the rest of the Australian population. The issue results in various social health problems in their environment that undermine their community.

Discrimination and Code of Conduct in Nursing Practice

Moreover, it implied that most of the indigenous Australians have thrived in remote areas that are far away from urban settings for an extended period. Therefore, most of them are incapable of accessing quality healthcare services when scenarios of obese emerge among them. Another social problem that prevents them from accessing quality healthcare services in the urban setting of Australia is poor and inadequate infrastructure (Phelan et al., 2015, p. 324). It reduces their capability of driving to the nearest healthcare facilities which are many kilometers away from them. Correspondingly, analysis conducted by WHO to determine the types of disparities thriving among Australians revealed that only a team from the army medics visit the remote areas once in the whole year.

On the other hand, the political and historical aspects are another determinant of discrimination in Australian healthcare facilities as well as poverty. Historically, most health facilities that treat chronic infections like obesity and other diseases in Australia were established by in the colonial period. Also, the first healthcare services were facilitated by colonial administrators hence creating the background of nursing practices offered (Olsson et al., 2013, p. 459). The historical issues blend with politic aspects of funding the services provided in the hospital. Funding assists in meeting high health expenses especially in treating or controlling chronic infections such as obesity. Therefore, the Australian state governments in collaboration with the national government have a significant role in providing healthcare services.

Still, there are difficulties experienced in the way services are offered and the specific ethnic group. The tax-financed health insurance system and Medicare assist in meeting the cost of medication. Almost eighty percent of the healthcare services bills are paid by the government, but doctors still charge some fees on the patients. Therefore, many obese people among others reschedule appointments with professionals since they have insufficient funds to meet their health needs (Rahman 2013, p. 31). Thus, it explains why the financially stable individuals are exposed to higher quality healthcare services than the poor individuals like most of the indigenous Australians. Moreover, this situation exposes how ethics of nursing practice have been disregarded in Australian healthcare systems. Policies imply that all Australians have the right to receive any recommended treatment in public hospitals without being charged. On the same note, state governments carry out management operations which include funding, planning, and regulation of procedures in healthcare facilities.

Correspondingly, nursing in Australia is underpinned by the person-centered care and cultural safety as described by the code of conduct for nurses, code of ethics, and the registered nurses’ standards for practice. The NMBA (2018), imply that nurses will offer services as set by the national law (Cusack, 2018, p. 14). This activity will be facilitated by developing guidelines, standards, and codes that ensure safe nursing practices among midwives as well as other needy patients. Also, the regulations were generated through analysis of nursing practices and behaviors that take place in health facilities. Therefore, the code sets the code of professional behaviors expected from nurses in their practice.

 Likewise, the NMBA of 2016 advocated for improved mobility in nursing practices as well as the provision of high quality and adequate nursing services (Cashin et al., 2017, p. 261). On the other hand, the ethical codes for nurses (ICN 2012) advocate for dignity and respect for human life where every individual has the right to life and quality treatment (Lowe et al., 2012, p. 681). Moreover, nurses should treat the needy patients equally regardless of their ethnicity, socioeconomic status, political affiliations and other factors. Also, respect and consideration of self-centered treatment are also paramount in the nursing practices.  Therefore, analysis of the nursing ethics reveals that the policies are meant for rectifying cases of discrimination thriving in Australian healthcare systems.

Models of Healthcare Services in Australia

Various models of care are applied in Australian healthcare systems and include principles and values. The latter may either support or act as barriers to person-centered care and cultural safety in nursing. It is also a non-negotiable aspect of healthcare where principles and values in Australian healthcare systems optimize the procedures in diverse ways. They include providing self-management education as well as care and support to obese people as part of their nursing practice. Two of the most important models include primary care and community services; and health promotion and disease prevention (Bryce, 2018, p. 16).

In the concept of primary care and community services, several principles and value of patient-centered care and cultural safety are exhibited in Australian healthcare system as far as obesity is concerned. They include respect for patients’ preferences and values, increasing access and coordination of care, provision of emotional support, physical comfort and influencing continuity and transition in healthcare facilities (Gabriel, 2012, p. 789). Other community services offered under the patient-centered and cultural safety practices include educating, informing and improving communication skills towards control and treatment of obesity and involving friends and family members in the process of treatment. It also includes consumer representatives at the community level in evaluation and policy-making for the provision of equal and quality health services.

The other model in the Australian healthcare systems is health promotion and disease prevention. Therefore, principles and values that promote person-centered values and cultural safety include increasing health literacy of affected and the infected individuals (Barry, 2012, p. 781). It also involves providing knowledge on impacts of obesity and the prevention mechanisms of the disease which includes proper feeding habits, regular physical exercises, and early medical interventions. These practices would promote their health and prevent obesity among other ailments. Moreover, involving Australians in the care-centered decision-making of effective treatment and screening procedures of obesity would increase awareness and of the condition thus promoting health and preventing diseases occurrences (Sørensen et al., 2012, p. 80). Also, outcomes based on personal values and decision would assist other individuals in the management of the situation.

 Additionally, the aspect of cultural safety is also significant in the models of healthcare provision (Carman et al., 2013, p. 227). It is essential for practitioners to provide care and promote health concerning various cultures available among the obese patients. It offers ease and understanding in treatment as well as motivation to the patients. Also, it improves the communication aspects centered between the patient and the healthcare provider.

As far as personal-centered values and cultural safety in healthcare models are concerned, they can act as barriers to the provision of quality healthcare services. Some personal decisions and cultural influences may object the policies of nursing ethics thus resulting in biases in obesity treatment and prevention (Morgan, 2012).

Conclusion

In conclusion, this paper has analyzed obesity and how its treatment and control is facilitated in the Australian healthcare system. It is evident that obesity is a chronic health infection that dominates among children and adolescents. The latter predicts the proportion of adults affected by the condition in future. Moreover, the health situation is impacted by various social determinants of health. They include poverty as a socioeconomic factor, political, historical and environmental aspects. Furthermore, the provision of healthcare services is severely affected by health discrimination aspects that are established against the ethical codes for the nursing practice. Therefore, the analysis has revealed the significance of various nursing policies in the ICN (2012) and NMBA (2016 and 2018).

I also recommend that previous or ancient healthcare systems in Australia should be altered to accommodate and address the current obesity and other chronic issues emerging among different individuals from varied communities. Moreover, health policies that govern nurses should ensure that patients are eligible for quality healthcare service despite their differences in the socioeconomic status, level of education, ethnic groups, geographical location and other factors. On the same note, patients should adopt and implement the most fundamental decisions and ideas in their personal-centered treatment mechanisms to avoid bias in treatment.

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