Australian Indigenous

Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin
Vol 4 No 3 July 2004 - September 2004: ISSN 1445-7253

A peer-reviewed electronic journal from the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Journal articles

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Bailie RS, Si D, Robinson GW, Togni SJ, d’Abbs PHN (2004)
A multifaceted health-service intervention in remote Aboriginal communities: 3-year follow-up of the impact on diabetes care.
Medical Journal of Austalia;181(4):195-200.
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Cairney S, Maruff P, Burns CB, Currie J, Currie BJ (2004)
Saccade dysfunction associated with chronic petrol sniffing and lead encephalopathy.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry;75(3):472-476

This article explores the effectiveness of monitoring saccadic eye movement as a diagnostic tool for determining central nervous system changes associated with chronic petrol sniffing. The study assessed saccade function in chronic petrol sniffers, with a history of lead encephalopathy, from two remote Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land, north Australia. The findings show that saccadic eye movements were effective in determining neurological impairments in both current sniffers and abstinent sniffers. The findings have implications for further research in the area of diagnostic determination of basal ganglia abnormalities in abstinent and non-abstinent sniffers.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Chan KH, Segasothy M (2004)
Gouty arthritis in Australian Aboriginals: more common than previously suspected [letter]
Medical Journal of Australia;181(3):172
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Clough AR, Wang Z, Bailie RS, Burns CB, Currie BJ (2004)
Case-control study of the association between kava use and ischaemic heart disease in Aboriginal communities in eastern Arnhem Land (Northern Territory) Australia.
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health; 58:140-141

This paper presents the findings of a case-control study examining hospital admissions for ischaemic heart disease in the Northern Territory and possible associations with kava use. It suggests the findings have implications for future research into the relationship between kava use and abnormalities in cardiac output and performance.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Davis JS, Currie BJ, Fisher DA, et al. (2004)
Prevention of opportunistic infections in immunosuppressed patients in the tropical Top End of the Northern Territory.
Northern Territory Disease Control Bulletin;11(1):7-13
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Endean C, Roberts-Thomson K, Wooley S (2004)
Anangu oral health: the status of the Indigenous population of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands.
Australian Journal of Rural Health;12(3):99-103

This article describes the oral health of Indigenous Australians in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands in South Australia. Findings from a survey of 356 Anangu adults and 317 children are compared with previous surveys and national data. The survey found that children experience high levels of dental carries, and adult diabetics experience severe periodontal disease and frequent tooth loss. The findings have implications for oral health promotion strategies and general health strategies.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Hall SE, Bulsara CE, Bulsara MK, et al. (2004)
Treatment patterns for cancer in Western Australia: does being Indigenous make a difference?
Medical Journal of Austalia;181(4):191-194
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Hanna J (2004)
Impact of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccination on Hib meningitis in children in Far North Queensland, 1989 to 2003.
Communicable Diseases Intelligence;28(2):255-257

Over the four years 1989 to 1992 there were 28 cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis in children aged under five years in Far North Queensland.4 Thirteen (46%) of the cases were in Indigenous children, indicating that the rate of the disease was about 3.5 times greater in these children than in non-Indigenous children. However, no cases of Hib meningitis have occurred in Indigenous children in Far North Queensland in the 10 years following the addition of Hib vaccines to the Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule in 1993. There was only one case of Hib meningitis, in a (vaccinated) non-Indigenous child, between 1994 and 2003. About 70 cases of Hib meningitis in children were prevented by Hib immunisation in Far North Queensland between 1994 and 2003; possibly as many as five deaths and 12 cases with neurological sequelae were also prevented.

Communicable Diseases Intelligence abstract - copyright Commonwealth of Australia reproduced by permission.

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Hull BP, McIntyre PB (2004)
What do we know about 7vPCV coverage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children?
Communicable Diseases Intelligence;28(2):238-243

In 2001, a publicly funded pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (7vPCV) program commenced for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged under two years. At present, there is very little knowledge about the uptake of 7vPCV vaccine amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This study examined the rollout and use of 7vPCV vaccine in Australia and estimated immunisation coverage for Indigenous children at the age of 12 months for 7vPCV vaccine. To calculate 7vPCV coverage we chose four consecutive 3-month birth cohorts born between 1 October 2001 and 30 September 2002. The immunisation status of children in each birth cohort was assessed at 12 months for the third dose of 7vPCV vaccine. The largest absolute number of 7vPCV doses was given in Queensland, the Northern Territory and New South Wales. As the 7vPCV program matured, a progressively higher proportion of total doses was administered to children under the age of 12 months consistent with the introduction of the program. For all jurisdictions except the Northern Territory and Western Australia, where it has remained reasonably constant, estimated coverage increased over the most recent birth cohorts but was still less than 50 per cent for all states except the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia. This study provides the first national measure of 7vPCV immunisation coverage among Indigenous children in Australia. With the likely improvement over time in the recording of 7vPCV vaccinations and Indigenous status on the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register, the validity of coverage estimates is likely to increase.

Communicable Diseases Intelligence abstract - copyright Commonwealth of Australia reproduced by permission.

Available in full on the Communicable Diseases Australia website:
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Hunter E, Brown J, McCulloch B (2004)
Encouraging practitioners to use resources: evaluation of the national implementation of a resource to improve the clinical management of alcohol-related problems in Indigenous primary care settings.
Drug and Alcohol Review; 23:89-100

This paper discusses an evaluation of the 2001 implementation of the National recommendations for the clinical management of alcohol-related problems in Indigenous primary care settings. The evaluation involved pre- and post-workshop questionnaires and a focus group session. The findings of the evaluation suggest that decisions to produce guidelines and resources should recognise that their impact is often constrained by the effectiveness of their implementation.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Jan S, Conaty S, Hecker R, Bartlett M, Delaney S, Capon T (2004)
A holistic economic evaluation of an Aboriginal community-controlled midwifery programme in Western Sydney.
Journal of Health Services Research and Policy;9(1):14-21

This study presents the findings of a holistic economic evaluation of the Daruk community's Aboriginal community-controlled midwifery service in Western Sydney. Antenatal clinic records from the New South Wales Midwives Data Collection for the period 1991-1996 were examined for antenatal attendance and perinatal outcomes. Qualitative analysis of interviews and focus groups was also undertaken. The findings highlighted the value of the clinic to the Aboriginal community and the importance of improved antenatal services and outcomes, with programmes representing 'value for money'.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Jeffries-Stokes C (2004)
Aboriginal perspective on middle ear disease in the arid zone of Western Australia.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health;40(5-6):258-264

This article explores the perceptions, knowledge and experience of otitis media (OM) among Aboriginal people of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area in Western Australia, and identifies barriers to compliance and treatment. The study involved a qualitative design, with structured interviews conducted in three community focus groups comprised of 56 key informants and 22 mothers of babies that had experienced OM. The findings show that although the people interviewed were concerned about the consequences of OM, few understood the characteristics of the condition. The study has implications for awareness campaigns and screening interventions.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Kuipers P, Allen O (2004)
Preliminary guidelines for the implementation of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) approaches in rural, remote and Indigenous communities in Australia.
Rural and Remote Health;4(online):291. Retrieved from http://rrh.deakin.edu.au
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Maple-Brown L, Brimblecombe J, Chisholm D, O'Dea K (2004)
Diabetes care and complications in a remote primary health care setting.
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice;64(2):77-83

This article reports the findings of a study that assessed the prevalence of complications in diabetics from a remote Australian Aboriginal community. Assessment was conducted based on a number of clinical risk factors. The findings demonstrate high levels of cardiovascular disease in the sample population, but quality primary health care in providing detection of diabetes complications and follow-up services.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

McGaughran JM, Kimble R, Upton J, George P (2004)
Hereditary pancreatitis in a family of Aboriginal descent.
Journal of Paediatric Child Health;40:487-489

This article examines the genetic situation of a family of Aboriginal descent in relation to hereditary pancreatitis. Based on the presentation of an 11-year old girl to hospital with acute pancreatitis, it is a case report which includes details of genetic testing of the girl's family. It was found that the girl's father and her paternal grandmother were carriers of a genetic mutation which can cause hereditary pancreatitis. The findings have implications for extensive screening of patients with a family history of repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis, and avoidance of ethnic stereotyping in patient assessment.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Menzies R, McIntyre P, Beard F (2004)
Vaccine preventable diseases and vaccination coverage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Australia, 1999 to 2002.
Communicable Diseases Intelligence;28(2):127-159

This report complements the Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Vaccination Coverage reports produced biannually since 2000 by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases in association with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It integrates the available sources of routinely collected data relevant to the current status of vaccine preventable diseases and vaccine coverage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. It aims to better inform Indigenous communities, Indigenous health care providers and planners of immunisation services of the current status and future needs for vaccine prevention in Indigenous people. The data presented here demonstrate that vaccination programs have had a significant impact on the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Several areas are highlighted for further development of vaccination policy recommendations, in particular high rates of preventable hepatitis A and B, influenza and pneumococcal disease. Areas where more research is needed include means to more accurately monitor vaccination status, the applicability of meningococcal serogroup B vaccines when available, and effective ways of increasing vaccination coverage and timeliness of vaccination. Such issues need to be considered and implemented in full cooperation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Communicable Diseases Intelligence abstract - copyright Commonwealth of Australia reproduced by permission.

Available in full on the Communicable Diseases Australia website:
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Valery P, Masters IB, Chang A (2004)
Snoring and its association with asthma in Indigenous children living in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula area.
Journal of Paediatric Child Health;40:461-465

This article explores the relationship between snoring and asthma development in children and adolescents living in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula area. A population-based cross-sectional study based on face-to-face interviews found that the prevalence of snoring was higher among males, and that children were more likely to experience snoring if they had reported wheezing. The findings pave the way for further research into the prevalence of obstructive sleep problems among Indigenous Australians.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Vindigni D, Griffen D, Perkins J, Da Costa C, Parkinson L (2004)

Prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions, associated pain and disability and the barriers to managing these conditions in a rural, Australian Aboriginal community.
Rural and Remote Health;4(online):230. Retrieved from http://rrh.deakin.edu.au
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