Aboriginal women share their stories on keeping the heart strong

A new study led by University of South Australia PhD candidate Katharine McBride in partnership with Aboriginal women suggests the Government’s failure to approach health from an Aboriginal perspective is partly to blame for the life expectancy gap especially in cardiovascular disease the leading cause of death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Katharine McBride and Vicki Wade Source: Katharine McBride

The study explored the perspectives of 28 Aboriginal women from five different communities across central and southern Australia, with the work overseen by an Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Group.

Via yarning circles, women identified 10 attributes which either kept their heart strong or put it at risk, and the drivers of these.

According to Katharine McBride the government’s strategy, focusing solely on clinical and behavioural cardiovascular risk factors, fails to recognise the Aboriginal conceptualisation of health which is centred on strength, resilience and connectedness.

“Current strategies to address heart disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are framed within a western context and focus on bad behaviour and a deficit approach,” Katharine McBride says.

The study, titled “ Good Heart: Telling Stories of Cardiovascular Protective and Risk Factors for Aboriginal Women” is published in Heart, Lung and Circulation.