Australian Indigenous

Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin
Vol.3 No.2 April 2003 - June 2003: ISSN 1445-7253

An electronic journal from the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Journal articles

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Blumer C, Roche P, Spencer J, et al. (2003)
Australia's notifiable diseases status, 2001: annual report of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
Communicable Diseases Intelligence;27(1):1-78
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Brown A, Purton L, Schaeffer G, Wheaton G, White A (2003)
Central Australian Rheumatic Heart Disease Control Program. A report to the Commonwealth November 2002.
The Northern Territory Disease Control Bulletin;10(1):1-8
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Chang AB, Masel JP, Boyce NC, Torzillo PJ (2003)
Respiratory morbidity in central Australian Aboriginal children with alveolar lobar abnormalities.
Medical Journal of Australia;178(10):490-494
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Currie BJ, Clough AR (2003)
Kava hepatotoxicity with Western herbal products: does it occur with traditional kava use?
Medical Journal of Australia;178(9):421-422
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Guyula T, Bryce S (2002)
Medical Yolngu in 6 sessions.
The Northern Territory Disease Control Bulletin;9(4):28
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This article advertises the availability of a CD designed for health professionals working with Aboriginal people who speak the Yolngu dialect in Australia's Top End. The CD is designed to address the communication difficulties that exist between health practitioners and patients and contribute to poor health outcomes in the region. It outlines the differences between English and Yolngu and is aimed at providing a relevant working knowledge of the Yolngu language.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

View resource abstract for further information about the CD.

Hanna J, McCulloch B (2003)
Uptake of influenza vaccine among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island adults in north Queensland, 2002.
Communicable Diseases Intelligence;27(1):102-104
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Hoban R and the Rumbalara community (2002)
Mental health promotion and work: Rumbalara community's roundtable discussion 2002.
Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health;1(3):1-10

This paper presents the issues raised at a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Rumbalara community regarding the relationship between mental health and work. The role of work and its impact on the lives of people within the close-knit Rumbalara community is discussed. Examples of real-life stories and situations are provided.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Kelly A (2003)
Top End Rheumatic Heart Disease Program. A Report to the Commonwealth: February – November 2002 (abbreviated).
The Northern Territory Disease Control Bulletin;10(1):9-11
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Kong KM (2003)
Surgical training - a personal Koori journey.
Medical Journal of Australia;178(10):501-503
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Leonard H, Petterson B, Bower C, Sanders R (2003)
Prevalence of intellectual disability in Western Australia.
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology;17:58-67

This article documents the findings of an intellectual disability prevalence study conducted in Western Australia for children born between 1983 and 1992. Levels of intellectual disability were identified in terms of mild, moderate, severe and profound symptoms. Prevalence rates were compared for males and females, and Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

McDonald SP, Russ GR (2003)
Burden of end-stage renal disease among Indigenous peoples in Australia and New Zealand.
Kidney International; 63(Supplement 83):S123-S127

This article documents and analyses the burden of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among the Indigenous populations of Australia and New Zealand. Rates of (ESRD) are described using data from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry. Treatment options and outcomes for ESRD are discussed, and the prevalence of comorbidities are presented. Ethnic, socioeconomic, and genetic histories, and the risks they pose to the development of ESRD within these populations, are also discussed.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

McDonald SP, Russ GR (2003)
Current incidence, treatment patterns and outcome of end-stage renal disease among Indigenous groups in Australia and New Zealand.
Nephrology;8(1):42-48

This article examines data from the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry to determine current incidence, treatment and outcomes of end-stage renal disease among the Indigenous populations of Australia and New Zealand. End-stage renal disease in both Indigenous populations exceeded rates for the non-Indigenous populations. Indigenous patients tended to be younger than their non-Indigenous counterparts, and overall mortality rates were significantly higher.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Peachey LG (2003)
Indigenous health: it's time for a change.
Medical Journal of Australia;178(10):503-504
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Roche P, McIntyre P, Spencer J (2003)
Pneumococcal disease in Australia: current status and future challenges.
Communicable Diseases Intelligence;27(1):79-84
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Rowley K, Walker KZ, Cohen J, et al. (2003)
Inflammation and vascular endothelial activation in an Aboriginal population: relationships to coronary disease risk factors and nutritional markers.
Medical Journal of Australia;178(10):495-500
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Shannon C (2002)
Acculturation: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nutrition.
Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition;11(Suppl):S576-S578

This paper is a transcribed version of a presentation given at the Sanitarium International Nutrition Symposium in April 2002. The article outlines the main factors that contribute to poor health outcomes among Indigenous Australians. The article highlights the role of nutrition, but other factors are also discussed, including: smoking; obesity; education; unemployment; housing; economic disadvantage; geographical remoteness and isolation.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Shephard MDS, Allen GG, Barratt LJ, et al. (2003)
Albuminuria in a remote South Australian Aboriginal community: results of a community-based screening program for renal disease.
Rural and Remote Health;3 (online):156. Retrieved from http://rrh.deakin.edu.au
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Wong LC, Amega B, Barker R, et al. (2002)
Factors supporting sustainability of a community-based scabies control program.
Australasian Journal of Dermatology;45:274-277

This article describes a successful intervention to reduce scabies and Group A streptococcus skin infection (a common secondary infection), in a large Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory. The findings are based on the 15 month post-intervention period during which the reduction of skin infections was sustained. Community events and competitions were organised to increase scabies awareness and prizes were awarded to conscientious community members.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract