Abstract
Communitarianism acknowledges and values, and not just instrumentally, the bonds that unite and identify communities. Communitarians also value community per se. This paper argues that trust is likely to be stronger in communities where these bonds are greater. Equity in health care is a social phenomenon. In health care, it is apparent that more communitarian societies, such as Scandinavia and within Aboriginal Australia, are likely to value more equity-orientated systems. Where, as in the latter case, this desire for equity takes place against a background of the powerful dominant (white) society treating the minority (black) society as dependent, Aboriginal trust in Australian society and in its public institutions is eroded. Lack of trust and inequity then come to the fore. This paper discusses institutional trust as a facilitator of equity in health care in the specific context of Indigenous health. The example used is Australian Aboriginal health but the principles would apply to other Indigenous populations as in for example South America.
Highlights
Communitarianism acknowledges and values, and not just instrumentally, the bonds that unite and identify communities
This paper considers two facets of trust in the context of equity in health care: institutional trust and generalized trust
The paper concludes by highlighting lack of institutional trust as a major barrier to more equal access to health care, especially where this is accompanied by generalized distrust
Summary
Communitarianism acknowledges and values, and not just instrumentally, the bonds that unite and identify communities. It is apparent that more communitarian societies, such as Scandinavia and within Aboriginal Australia, are likely to value more equity-orientated systems. This paper discusses institutional trust as a facilitator of equity in health care in the specific context of Indigenous health. The relationship between communitarianism and trust is laid out This is followed by a discussion in the section Cultural Security and Trust with specific reference to Aboriginal Australians and the problems of lack of institutional trust. The paper concludes by highlighting lack of institutional trust as a major barrier to more equal access to health care, especially where this is accompanied by generalized distrust
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.