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Other reviews

2005

Zubrick SR, Silburn SR, Lawrence DM, Mitrou FG, Dalby RB, Blair EM, Griffin J, Milroy H, De Majo JA, Cox A, JL (2005)

The social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people

Perth: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Curtin University of Technology

The intention of the Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS) was to build knowledge to develop preventative strategies that promote and maintain the healthy development and the social, emotional, academic, and vocational wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This report, the second of five volumes for disseminating the survey results, presents data collected on the social and emotional wellbeing of 3,993 children aged 4-17 years. Factors discussed include: demography; geographic location; social and environmental influences; biological stresses (such as low birth weight, chronic infections and poor nutrition); and health risk factors. The long-term effects on the health and wellbeing of children who have a carer who was forcibly separated from their natural family by a mission, the government or welfare, are also examined.

Compared with the general population, it was found that Aboriginal people experience greater challenges associated with the emotional or behavioural difficulties of their children. The higher proportion of children at high risk of difficulties, and the lower adult-to-child ratio in the Aboriginal population result in proportionally fewer adult carers to assist children who experience difficulties. The findings demonstrate the problems faced by many Aboriginal communities and families but they also include information on children and young people who are doing well and living healthy lives despite past or current adversity.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

 
Last updated: 10 August 2009
 
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