Paper short abstract:

This study explores the defects of the current working model of promoting indigenous health in Taiwan. A follow-up study will be carried out to explore if the new model created by the cooperation of the government, local agents and researchers improves the consequences of promoting indigenous health in 2014.

Paper long abstract:

By adopting the approach of formative research, the purpose of this study is to create a new mode to promote indigenous health in eastern Taiwan. The indigenous peoples of Taiwan are suffering from poor health conditions. The life expectancies of indigenous people’s are about ten years shorter than non-indigenous people. The morbidities and mortalities of liver disease caused by over alcohol consumption, tuberculosis, and accident are leading causes of death among indigenous peoples, and significant higher than non-indigenous people. Notably, indigenous health disparity reflects the political, economic, and institutional discrimination of the nation state in certain historical context. To solve indigenous health disparity, the government began a measure to promote indigenous health by adopting the spirit of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion in 1999. By employing anthropological methodologies, this study explored the working model of promoting indigenous health in eastern Taiwan in 2013. Several defects were identified during the first year of this study. To address the defects, researchers worked closely with the government and local agents to improve the working model. Several meetings and workshops were held to empower the government and local agents to create new strategies for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the measures of promoting indigenous health by researchers. A follow-up study will be carried to explore whether or not the new model created by the cooperation of the government, local agents and researchers improves the consequences of promoting indigenous health in 2014.