In today’s blog, I will be continuing the discussion of Physical Therapy with an OPENMIND. Last week’s blog post was over physical therapy in Asian and European cultures. This week we will be going over physical therapy practices and cultures of Oceania (Australia and Pacific Islands) and Africa.
With a population of ~1.1 billion people, Africa is the second most populated continent in the world. There are 54 countries, all varying in cultures and languages.7 Africa is said to be the mother of all cultures, so it’s no surprise that most cultures have deep religious influences. Christianity, Islam, and traditional African religions make up the majority of religious views and practices.5 Not only is Africa the second most populated continent in the world, it also holds the most number of diverse languages in the world, there are ~1500 different languages spoken.3 However, the three most spoken languages, mainly for business purposes, are Arabic, French, and English.3 When it comes to healthcare, many African cultures view diseases, and conditions as an attack by evil spirits. As the Western world advances in it’s technology and health care, the African reliance on herbal healing and traditional medicine becomes stronger.6 Problems can arise when foreigners come into these cultures and the native people are reluctant to change their ways in order to better their education and health.
Physical Therapy in Africa
As I mentioned in my first blog, there are many developing countries in Africa that are lacking in the field of physical therapy. The ratio of physical therapists to people is alarming (ex. Tanzania has a ratio of 250 therapists to a population of 38 million).2 Majority of the health professionals found in African countries are either doctors, or nurses. This is mainly due to the lack of funding, education availability, and lack of awareness of the benefits of physical therapy. Fortunately, physical therapists in Africa have started to focus on special projects on palliative care physical therapy with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS.4 There is a high demand for health professionals in areas where the HIV/AIDS population is high. Physical therapists help prevent misusage of treatments leading to readmission to hospitals, are able to help in pain management, and continue to develop active muscle strengthening in these types of patients. People need to be informed that therapy provides a way to improve quality of life, or death for those dealing with terminal conditions/illnesses.
OCEANIA
Australia and the Pacific Islands make up what is now called the continent of Oceania. There are 14 countries in this continent with a total population of ~36 million.7 Majority of the Oceanic population lives in Australia; it is home to ~22 million people.7 The main religions in these countries are Christianity, non-religious, traditional religions. Oceania like Africa, has a large diversity of island cultures and languages. However, English is the most common language spoken, mainly because it’s the official language of Australia which makes up the majority of Oceania. While there is still a strong belief in traditional medicine in these Pacific island and Australian aboriginals, modern medicine is primarily practiced. There is strong research being done in all fields of the healthcare that are not only beneficial to those in these countries, but to people around the world.
Physical Therapy in Oceania
As I was researching information about the current physical therapy practices in Oceania, I came across a brief history article of how physical therapy started in Australia. The following is a part of the history article by the APA (Australian Physiotherapy Association):
“During World War I, physiotherapy began to receive public recognition as a valuable treatment through the rehabilitation of injured soldiers. World War II and the polio epidemics that savaged Australia in the 1950s provided further opportunities for physiotherapists to make a significant contribution to the health of Australians.
Today, physiotherapists work independently and alongside other healthcare practitioners to diagnose, treat, and prevent a wide range of healthcare issues. The APA predicts that physiotherapy will play an increasingly important role in maintaining the health of the community over the coming decades.” 1
Due to the all the technology advances and modern world, the concerns of physical therapists have shifted slightly from those problems found in their history. Australia, similar to Europe, has seen a decrease in physical activity and increase in poor nutrition leading to diabetes, heart diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and overweight/obesity problems.8 Physical therapists are also teaming up to provide health services to prevent these types of problems.
Physical therapy is a practice that is currently growing throughout the world. Whether it be to providing therapy to HIV/AIDS patients in African countries, or continuing research in Australia.
Next week I’ll continue this discussion (series) about Physical Therapy with an OPENED MIND in South America and Central America.
Last BUT not least, I have started a new podcast channel Journey of a Pre-PT Student where you can check out a more personal side of my professional career.
References
1History: Australian Physiotherapy Association. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2017, from http://www.physiotherapy.asn.au/APAWCM/The_APA/About_the_APA/History/APAWCM/The_APA/About_The_APA/History.aspx
2JOHN, E. B., PT, PhD. (2012). Establishing and Upgrading Physical Therapist Education in Developing Countries: Four Case Examples of Service by Japan and United States Physical Therapist Programs to Nigeria, Suriname, Mongolia, and Jordan. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL THERAPY EDUCATION, 26(1), winter, 29-39. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
3Matshego, L. (2016). How Many Languages of Africa Are There? Retrieved March 20, 2017, from https://www.africa.com/many-african-languages/
4Mothabeng, J. (2017, March 07). Africa Region of WCPT. Retrieved March 21, 2017, from http://www.wcpt.org/africa
5Okonkwo, O. (2014, May 11). Top 10 Most Popular Religions in Africa. Retrieved March 17, 2017, from
http://pulse.ng/religion/here-they-are-top-10-most-popular-religions-in-africa-id3048509.html
6White, P. (2015). The concept of diseases and healthcare in African traditional religion in Ghana. HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies, 71(3), 2762nd ser., 2762-2769. Retrieved March 22, 2017, from http://www.hts.org.za/index.php/HTS/article/view/2762/html
7WorldAtlas. (2016, May 3). How Many Countries Are In The World. Retrieved March 10, 2017, from http://www.worldatlas.com/nations.htm
8Hotez, P. J., Kline, K., Loukas, A., McCarthy, J. S., & Pearson, M. (2013). Neglected Tropical Diseases of Oceania: Review of Their Prevalence, Distribution, and Opportunities for Control. PLOS: Neg, 7(1), e1755. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001755
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