The health program run by the community in distant land Arnhem shows promising results for the inhabitants of the first nations

Native Australians are more than twice as possible as non-bright Australians to suffer from diseases, especially Chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease.

Health differences are worse in distant and very distant areas. The burden of diabetes in a distant Aboriginal population in northern territory, where it affects more than one in four Adults over the age of 20 are among the highest in the world.

Yolŋu (or Yolngu) residents of the northern earth Arnhem, a gigantic, distant area in NT, keep one of the The oldest lively culture in the world. They also represent one of the largest indigenous groups in Australia.

However, people in these communities face before The largest number of deaths that can be avoided In Australia, mainly from a chronic disease. A diet with too much sugar, sophisticated and processed food products, smoking and an unhealthy lifestyle contribute to the health crisis of this region.

Starting from 2014, older women of Yolŋu in Galin’k, one of the largest communities in the north -eastern part of the Earth Arnhem, developed a unique program of change of diet and lifestyle called Hope for health. Since then, the program works sporadically and includes health retreat in the country, individualized health coaching as well as group classes and classes.

Recently He evaluated this program. We have found that it offers significant benefits that can reduce the risk of chronic disease among Yolŋu people.

Holistic approach

Most of Yolŋu live in Aboriginal region in distant communities of various sizes and have a deep uninterrupted relationship with the family country.

Health and well -being are considered a holistic concept that combines good physical, social, emotional, cultural, spiritual and ecological well -being at both individual and community levels.

. Hope for health The program is based on the values ​​of Margikundhamirrr (known and sharing understanding) and Goŋ-ŋthanhamirrr (supporting and walking side by side) to enable Yolŋu to obtain control over their health.

Within four months, the program focuses on providing people with knowledge about introducing their own lifestyle to improve health and prevent chronic illness.

Includes:

• About health in the country: It is an engaging 12-day bush retreat focusing on re-combination with the tradition of life, food and treatment from the earth as well as learning the body and health.

• Support and mentoring in the community: Over 14 weeks after the retreat, this part of the program focuses on overcoming barriers in introducing lifestyle changes. It includes group classes to identify vigorous food options in stores, storage and cooking fresh products and lands on a vigorous lifestyle.

• Individual and home health coaching: This is done during a retreat, and then in homes or selected places of participants. Health coaches explain the results of blood tests to participants, offer education in their language and helps in setting goals such as reducing sugar intake, smoking or increasing exercises.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8ssxxcmr-o

What we found

Together with colleagues in Doherty Institute And other collaborators we rated the Hope Program for Health in the second half of 2022.

We assessed the results such as body weight and blood sugar levels among 55 adults before and after their participation in the program. All participants were overweight or obesity at the beginning.

We have recently published our findings in Medical Journal of Australia.

At the end of the program, 52% of participants reduced their HBA1C – a measure of blood sugar level – by at least 0.3%. About 33% of participants lost at least 3% of body weight.

Such changes are called “clinically crucial” because they are gigantic enough for doctors to see real health benefits, such as a reduced risk of chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.

Other results we looked at, also improved. In general, the participants at the end had smaller waist circuits, the lower part of the body, better “good” cholesterol levels, drank less sweet drinks and did more everyday exercises.

Why did it work?

Behavioral change is not necessarily straightforward to achieve in those communities that have a completely different language and culture from the mainstream of Australia.

Our study is the first in distant Aboriginal communities that comprehensively assess the lifestyle change program with such promising results.

The study project cannot prove that the intervention has directly caused changes. This means that there could be other factors that contributed to the results.

Randomized controlled study would ensure stronger proof that the program has led to an observed improvement in health, but these studies may be inappropriate in distant indigenous communities. In this study, the community was concerned about the delay of the program for some people will hurt their health. In addition, many wanted their further family to take part, which hinders to choose a representative control group that would be needed for this type of research.

Nevertheless, our results suggest support for culturally sensitive health initiatives, such as hope for health, is of key importance to reducing the burden of chronic diseases in distant indigenous communities.

We believe that hope for health worked because it was led by Yolŋu people and is based on the knowledge, language and culture of Yolŋu. Education provided to distant Aborigines, such as Yolŋu, must be Liya-Lapmarnhamrr. This means in a way that brings revelation and understanding.