Health Journey Mapping to Identify Strength and Resilience as experienced by an Aboriginal Woman with Kidney Disease

Abstract

The narrative told about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health often focuses on ill health, with large gaps in measured health outcomes between First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians. For chronic kidney disease, it is estimated that the burden of disease for First Nations peoples is seven times greater that of non-Indigenous Australians. However, First Nations definitions of health are not purely biomedical focusing on illness and disease. They are instead inclusive of all aspects of an individual’s lived experience, including their connection to body, mind, spirit, community, family, culture, and land. Using a Western scientific lens to examine the health of First Nations peoples further colonises their experiences and fails to portray their lived reality. Research can employ a narrow approach when identifying the lived experiences of First Nations, however decolonised research methods offer new approaches to hearing their untold stories. This project was conducted collaboratively with a female member of the Aboriginal Kidney care together: improving outcomes now (AKction) Reference Group, to map and identify how she thrived in her journey despite having kidney disease. Research yarning, a culturally appropriate research method, and thematic analysis were conducted with her collaboration to answer how she demonstrated strength and resilience throughout her journey. Findings highlighted that her kidney health journey was complex, with kidney health forming only one aspect of her journey. The participant demonstrated resilience while facing complex challenges, using her connections, actions, and mindset to thrive and not just survive her journey.