Indigenous women have been described as facing a “double-burden” – for being discriminated against as a woman and further for being Indigenous.
If we add weight bias, defined by the Canadian Obesity Network as “the negative stereotyping of individuals living with obesity,” some Indigenous women experience a triple burden. It is important to be aware of these concepts to understand the dynamics at work when Indigenous women access services, programs, or health care.
Some people may feel scared to see their doctor and confront their health issues. Please keep in mind that Indigenous women may be deterred from seeing their doctor due to their anxiety about systemic racism within the healthcare system, or made to feel bad about their weight or health issues.
Often people in positions of authority, like a doctor, can make women second-guess themselves. They may leave their doctor’s appointment feeling insecure about their ability to effectively communicate or feel it is a waste of time to seek help from someone who is not culturally sensitive.
The best way to prepare them is to have a discussion about their previous experiences:
Do you get the help you are seeking when you visit your family physician?
Have you had a negative experience with the medical system?
Have you brought along a family member to support you at your doctor’s appointment?
What would make you feel prepared to have a good visit with your family doctor?
Remind them that a family doctor is on a set schedule of appointments and that they may feel rushed when they visit them. If this is the case, they should tell their doctor all of their concerns and then prioritize them and, as necessary, talk to their doctor about setting up multiple appointments to address all of their health concerns.
Patient Advocacy and Navigating the Health Care System
Over the past two years of creating and facilitating the Women Warriors Eight Weeks to Healthy Living program, I have heard many stories from participants regarding racism within the health care system and their frustration receiving quality care as an obese patient. The primary purpose of our program is to provide free fitness classes and nutrition education with an Indigenous focus. Our secondary function is to help participants connect to health care professionals, and teach participants to become their own best advocates within the health care system.
The above information was from my podcast interview with Dr. Sonja Wicklum, co-founder of the Women Warriors program, family medical doctor, and clinical assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine of the University of Calgary.
In our podcast interview, Dr. Wicklum stated: “I tell my own patients that our system is not setup for long visits as a rule. If you have multiple questions, prioritize them and then if the answers take a significant amount of time for the first few, then book back for the next week and ask more questions. Your physician will have no problem doing that. I think you have to have an element of practicality about our health care system.”
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Here are some tips for preparing for your doctor’s appointment:
Make a list of your concerns before you go. Be prepared with a list of concerns for your doctor so that you can stay on topic and not forget anything. If you feel you need mental health support include this on your list.
Bring a support person. This can be a friend or family member. When our health is poor and/or we’re scared of the outcome, our listening skills can be affected. The extra pair of ears can help you discern what is important and the next steps you need to take to address your health. You may forget certain statements made or you may forget to bring things up. If your support person is aware of your concerns in advance, then they can help ensure you are conveying your concerns.
At the visit: Stay focused on the facts of your symptoms and the dates they occurred. For example, “On this date I experienced fatigue and a headache. It lasted for two hours and I had to take an extra-strength Tylenol.”