Supporting Indigenous Communities
The majority of the time, Indigenous people have been overlooked in terms of all community privileges, including access to adequate food, education, healthcare, etc. Indigenous Americans in the United States are impacted by numerous health inequities, according to research. They encounter obstacles when trying to access medical services. In Indigenous communities, high levels of poverty, food insecurity, violence, and unfavorable socioeconomic conditions are among the bad social drivers of health.
Traditionally, midwives served as the channel to a much wider understanding of wellness across the life stages as the carriers of knowledge on the overall health of our families and people. Being a midwife is an intimate job; thus, we have always had to guard the “secrets” of the family and the community. Because of their profound understanding of the needs of the families and communities they served, midwives were known as “Nation Builders” in some Indigenous communities.
Challenges in Accessing Midwifery Care for Indigenous Peoples
For indigenous peoples, getting access to adequate midwifery care services can be challenging. Finding accessible services is only one aspect of it. It might be challenging to guarantee that Indigenous peoples have access to midwifery care since they frequently face numerous extra obstacles, such as racism or prejudice. Despite all this, the federal government discovered a solution to the issue. Through treaties with Indigenous nations, it has assumed a trust responsibility for the health and welfare of Indigenous peoples by offering direct health care services, such as maternity care, as well as monetary support to tribally managed health systems.
Native American programs run by the federal government are underfunded and have far fewer resources than other federal health care programs. This is true even though they provide care for a population that has experienced serious historical trauma and related health issues. It is challenging to receive care because of geographic isolation and manpower shortages in the medical field.
Health Care Services and Financial Support for Indigenous Communities
The integrity and diligence of your midwifery team will determine how well you interact with the indigenous communities around your area of practice. Any business alliance needs to have mutual respect. You will get off to a good start if you keep in mind that you are building a business-to-community relationship rather than a business-to-business relationship.
In addition to the distinct value each person brings, whether they are a child, youth, adult, or elder, whether they are a woman, a man, another person, or both, midwives must comprehend the significance of having a balanced representation across ages and stages of life. Each member of our community must play a part in fulfilling that role, just under their existence.
Getting to know more about the Indigenous community needs a deeper connection with the birth values they share. We have the course available for you! Visit us at empoweringmidwiferyeducation.com
How we work. The Nature Conservancy. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2022, from https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/how-we-work/ Supporting Indigenous Communities for Your Midwifery Practice
Great Midwifery Course: Indigenous Birth Cultures in US https://midwiferybusinessconsultation.teachable.com/p/cultural-diversity-us-indigenous-birth
