Understanding the heart - views of Aboriginal women

 An original article published recently in Heart, Lung and Circulation:

Good Heart: Telling Stories of Cardiovascular Protective and Risk Factors for Aboriginal Women, by Katherine F. McBride et. al

Heart, Lung and Circulation (2021) 30, 69–77 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2020.09.931

Gives health workers insight and understanding of how the women they treat view the world, as well as the knowledge and beliefs they hold as essential to maintaining heart health. An essential read for those working in Cardiovascular Care.

The adapted grounded theory study seeks to explore Australia Aboriginal women's views of cardiovascular protective and risk factors. A total of twenty-eight women from Central and South Australia participated. The women identified the heart as being central to their wellbeing, both spiritually and physically. Attributes identifies  that keep a woman's heart strong, as well as those that make it sick as well as socio-ecological factors that impact on a woman's ability to care for her heart. Identifying as Aboriginal women, the connection to family and community. having a healthy life and body and being engaged in their own health care are identified as being essential to maintaining a healthy heart.

Figure 2 Visual depiction of Aboriginal women’s stories of a strong, healthy heart.

Source: Heart, Lung and Circulation (2021) 30, 69–77 

The authors conclude that there are gaps in the way cardiovascular risk assessment is provided and managed, gaps in the cultural safety of primary health care services, and gaps in the communication of the sex-specific warning signs of a heart attack, all of which must be addressed.

"This research is unique in terms of exploring Australian Aboriginal women’s conceptualisation of heart health. Aboriginal women have identified what is important for a healthy heart; this is not matched in the delivery or quality of services to meet cultural, spiritual and psychological health needs. There is an urgent need for the health system’s responses to improve the knowledge and provision of cardiovascular risk assessment and management for women; address the emotional and cultural safety of primary health care services and; effectively communicate the warning signs of myocardial infarction to and with Aboriginal women. Further to this, addressing social, economic and political drivers are fundamental for enabling Aboriginal women to care for their heart."