Understanding Indigenous Health: A Call to Action for Equity and Respect
Understanding Indigenous Health: A Call to Action for Equity and Respect
By Marena Keci
Alumna Elizabeth Stranges, MD, provided critical insights into the health challenges and strengths of the Indigenous communities she serves during an Indigenous Peoples’ Day event hosted by the Center for Community and Global Health at the Stritch School of Medicine.
Stranges, a general internist at the Chinle Comprehensive Healthcare Facility on the Navajo Nation, highlighted the systemic barriers Indigenous patients face, rooted in a history of structural violence. For many, limited access to healthcare facilities, transportation difficulties, and financial hurdles exacerbate existing health disparities. According to an American Bar Association report, Native Americans have a life expectancy 4.4 years shorter than the general U.S. population and face higher mortality rates from preventable conditions such as diabetes, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and chronic liver disease.
She shared the example of Mrs. Yazzie, an 80-year-old widow with multiple chronic conditions, including arthritis and diabetes. Living alone with minimal caregiving support, Mrs. Yazi struggles with mobility and self-care, underscoring the urgent need for resources such as increased caregiver hours and accessible medical equipment.
Cultural considerations play a significant role in Indigenous healthcare. Stranges shared the story of Mrs. Begay, a 60-year-old woman reluctant to seek medical care due to traditional Navajo beliefs. In Navajo culture, illness and death are often considered taboo, creating additional barriers to accessing care. Mrs. Begay arrived at the clinic with severe breathing difficulties, requiring immediate intervention. Her care plan needed to respect her traditional values while addressing her critical health needs.
A call to action
Stranges concluded her talk with a call to action: healthcare providers must continuously educate themselves about the social and structural determinants of health and challenge biases. Recommended readings like Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz offer deeper insights into Indigenous perspectives and histories.
For those inspired to support Indigenous health equity, Stranges urges fostering systemic change while respecting the traditions and values of the communities served.
Mark Torrez, MEd, was among those inspired by the event.
“As someone who is also non-Native, it was a good reminder that health equity is a collective movement,” said Torrez, program manager for Stritch’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. "Each of us has a responsibility to consider what we're doing in our everyday practice(s) to advance the status of those in need.”
To learn more, watch the full Zoom recording.
By Marena Keci
Alumna Elizabeth Stranges, MD, provided critical insights into the health challenges and strengths of the Indigenous communities she serves during an Indigenous Peoples’ Day event hosted by the Center for Community and Global Health at the Stritch School of Medicine.
Stranges, a general internist at the Chinle Comprehensive Healthcare Facility on the Navajo Nation, highlighted the systemic barriers Indigenous patients face, rooted in a history of structural violence. For many, limited access to healthcare facilities, transportation difficulties, and financial hurdles exacerbate existing health disparities. According to an American Bar Association report, Native Americans have a life expectancy 4.4 years shorter than the general U.S. population and face higher mortality rates from preventable conditions such as diabetes, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and chronic liver disease.
She shared the example of Mrs. Yazzie, an 80-year-old widow with multiple chronic conditions, including arthritis and diabetes. Living alone with minimal caregiving support, Mrs. Yazi struggles with mobility and self-care, underscoring the urgent need for resources such as increased caregiver hours and accessible medical equipment.
Cultural considerations play a significant role in Indigenous healthcare. Stranges shared the story of Mrs. Begay, a 60-year-old woman reluctant to seek medical care due to traditional Navajo beliefs. In Navajo culture, illness and death are often considered taboo, creating additional barriers to accessing care. Mrs. Begay arrived at the clinic with severe breathing difficulties, requiring immediate intervention. Her care plan needed to respect her traditional values while addressing her critical health needs.
A call to action
Stranges concluded her talk with a call to action: healthcare providers must continuously educate themselves about the social and structural determinants of health and challenge biases. Recommended readings like Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz offer deeper insights into Indigenous perspectives and histories.
For those inspired to support Indigenous health equity, Stranges urges fostering systemic change while respecting the traditions and values of the communities served.
Mark Torrez, MEd, was among those inspired by the event.
“As someone who is also non-Native, it was a good reminder that health equity is a collective movement,” said Torrez, program manager for Stritch’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. "Each of us has a responsibility to consider what we're doing in our everyday practice(s) to advance the status of those in need.”
To learn more, watch the full Zoom recording.