Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, disparities in health: an overview of chronic wounds

Abstract

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face persistent health disparities that arise from structured marginalisation and prejudice as a result of dispossession and genocide promoted by colonisation. The significantly increased prevalence of chronic diseases, particularly diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, is a major contributor to the development of chronic wounds and related complications, including amputations and premature mortality. In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face a 5–6 times higher risk of developing chronic wounds and a 32.5 times higher risk of suffering an amputation compared to non-Indigenous Australians, revealing a disproportionate burden. Inequalities in social determinants of health, including inadequate nutrition, transgenerational trauma and varied healthcare systemic barriers, contribute to the perpetuation of health disparities. This review highlights recently reported data on the risk of chronic wound development in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and correlated factors, emphasising the critical need for targeted research into chronic wound management, comprehensive data collection, and tailored healthcare to unique social, cultural and geographical contexts, as efforts to mitigate the current disparities in health in relation to wound care.