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Women's Business: Aboriginal Women's Health
AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF MIDWIVES INCORPORATED
WOMEN'S BUSINESS: A B O R I G I N A L WOMEN'S HEALTH Report of workshop held on 18 September 1993 Report prepared by Pauline Glover A very successful women's business w o r k s h o p was held in Adelaide on Saturday, 18 September 1993, following the national ACMI Conference. The aim of the w o r k s h o p was to raise the awareness of the midwife to the cultural aspects of Aboriginal w o m e n ' s health care, specifically related to pregnancy and childbirth. The workshop facilitators were Pauline Glover and Laurel McCarthy o n behalf of ACMI. There were 23 participants at the workshop. (A list of participants and a full w o r k s h o p report is available from your State or Territory delegate). The workshop was conducted in a relaxed environment and was not rigidly structured. This was to allow stories to be told and ideas to be exchanged. The discussion focussed on women's health and participants were able to develop an awareness of the health care needs of Aboriginal women. Judi Brown, the national president, formally opened the w o r k s h o p and welcomed participants. The w o r k s h o p delegates then introduced themselves and described their area of work and their interest in Aboriginal women's health. The workshop divided into three smaller groups to address some specific issues: the health care system: health care providers (Aboriginal health workers, midwives and doctors), and h o w they impact on care; the environment and the cultural factors that need to be considered in the provision of care. There was agreement from all groups that the primary care-giver should be a woman. This relates to the fact that for the Aboriginal w o m e n pregnancy and birth are women's business and this needs to be respected. Nura (Director of the Nganampa Women's Project) strongly supported this by saying, "woman's private parts are sacred and a vaginal examination will scare the baby away". The groups identified that an understanding of Aboriginal culture was needed by all health care workers and that the provision of care should not be based on assumptions. W h e n working with the Aboriginal health workers the 'white' health care provider needs to ask "Is this the right way?" DECEMBER 1993
Dislocation from the community and the role of the escort was identified as problematic. The need to attract qualified people to work in Aboriginal communities was expressed. Aboriginal w o m e n are adverse to coming to hospital because for them it represents bureaucracy/government. The need for communication and trust were expressed as very real needs. It was suggested that antenatal clinics are not needs-based and the same contract is given to all w o m e n regardless of what they want. The Aboriginal w o m e n suggested that the obstetrician should be a consultant and should wait to be invited to provide care. The discussion was rich and impossible to capture in this brief report. The workshop concluded (with energy levels fading fast) that providing care for Aboriginal w o m e n was not a matter of black and white. Continuity of care, choice, control, cultural awareness/sensitivity and c o m m u n i t y were words that kept recurring throughout the day. The following areas were identified as needing to be addressed: 9 ACMI c o n d u c t a women's business w o r k s h o p in each State or Territory. 9 The role of hospital midwives could be expanded into the community. 9 Aboriginal health workers could give primary care in hospitals. 9 The need for consultation and support in high risk areas - - education of Aboriginal health workers in midwifery/obstetrics. 9 Facilitate visits for rural Aboriginal health workers so that they can tell the w o m e n in the c o m m u n i t y what to expect w h e n they are hospitalised. 9 A joint committee on maternity services needs to address the cultural aspects of care. 9 Networking and resource allocation needs to be explored, ACMIJOURNAL
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WOMEN'S BUSINESS: A B O R I G I N A L WOMEN'S HEALTH Report of workshop held on 18 September 1993 Report prepared by Pauline Glover A very successful women's business w o r k s h o p was held in Adelaide on Saturday, 18 September 1993, following the national ACMI Conference. The aim of the w o r k s h o p was to raise the awareness of the midwife to the cultural aspects of Aboriginal w o m e n ' s health care, specifically related to pregnancy and childbirth. The workshop facilitators were Pauline Glover and Laurel McCarthy o n behalf of ACMI. There were 23 participants at the workshop. (A list of participants and a full w o r k s h o p report is available from your State or Territory delegate). The workshop was conducted in a relaxed environment and was not rigidly structured. This was to allow stories to be told and ideas to be exchanged. The discussion focussed on women's health and participants were able to develop an awareness of the health care needs of Aboriginal women. Judi Brown, the national president, formally opened the w o r k s h o p and welcomed participants. The w o r k s h o p delegates then introduced themselves and described their area of work and their interest in Aboriginal women's health. The workshop divided into three smaller groups to address some specific issues: the health care system: health care providers (Aboriginal health workers, midwives and doctors), and h o w they impact on care; the environment and the cultural factors that need to be considered in the provision of care. There was agreement from all groups that the primary care-giver should be a woman. This relates to the fact that for the Aboriginal w o m e n pregnancy and birth are women's business and this needs to be respected. Nura (Director of the Nganampa Women's Project) strongly supported this by saying, "woman's private parts are sacred and a vaginal examination will scare the baby away". The groups identified that an understanding of Aboriginal culture was needed by all health care workers and that the provision of care should not be based on assumptions. W h e n working with the Aboriginal health workers the 'white' health care provider needs to ask "Is this the right way?" DECEMBER 1993
Dislocation from the community and the role of the escort was identified as problematic. The need to attract qualified people to work in Aboriginal communities was expressed. Aboriginal w o m e n are adverse to coming to hospital because for them it represents bureaucracy/government. The need for communication and trust were expressed as very real needs. It was suggested that antenatal clinics are not needs-based and the same contract is given to all w o m e n regardless of what they want. The Aboriginal w o m e n suggested that the obstetrician should be a consultant and should wait to be invited to provide care. The discussion was rich and impossible to capture in this brief report. The workshop concluded (with energy levels fading fast) that providing care for Aboriginal w o m e n was not a matter of black and white. Continuity of care, choice, control, cultural awareness/sensitivity and c o m m u n i t y were words that kept recurring throughout the day. The following areas were identified as needing to be addressed: 9 ACMI c o n d u c t a women's business w o r k s h o p in each State or Territory. 9 The role of hospital midwives could be expanded into the community. 9 Aboriginal health workers could give primary care in hospitals. 9 The need for consultation and support in high risk areas - - education of Aboriginal health workers in midwifery/obstetrics. 9 Facilitate visits for rural Aboriginal health workers so that they can tell the w o m e n in the c o m m u n i t y what to expect w h e n they are hospitalised. 9 A joint committee on maternity services needs to address the cultural aspects of care. 9 Networking and resource allocation needs to be explored, ACMIJOURNAL
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