Hur ser en god demensvård ut ur ett urfolksperspektiv?

Abstract

The basis for equal health care is knowledge about the needs for different groups in the society. In Sweden it is statutory that health care and health services must be equal. However, Sami people’s health care needs are substantially overlooked in research as well as in policy. As the understanding and also expression of dementia symptoms might be different among Indigenous peoples, states need to address how culture and lifestyle might affect health services provided for Indigenous people. There are for instance, studies regarding Indigenous peoples that show an increased prevalence of dementia compared with the majority populations. Still in Sweden, we lack data on dementia prevalence and its risk factors in the Sami population.

Previous and dated studies have shown some differences in prevalence of diseases between the Sami people and the reference population but in general there is a lack of updated knowledge on Sami people’s health and it is particularly visible in the field of research covering the elderly and dementia.