Ear disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

This resource sheet reviews past and current programs, research and strategies (both government and non-government) for the prevention and treatment of ear disease in Indigenous children. Introduction Ear disease and the associated hearing loss are significant health problems for Indigenous children. Children in many Indigenous communities suffer from chronic ear disease, in particular otitis media, at rates that well exceed the 4% threshold at which a disease is regarded as a major public health problem. Ear disease, particularly where it leads to hearing loss, is a large contributor to poor educational achievement and higher unemployment and, as a consequence, greater contact with the criminal justice system later in life. While the roots of this disease essentially lie in disadvantage and poverty, a number of environmental factors, individual genetics and microbial genomic factors also contribute. Preventing ear disease in Indigenous children by tackling these factors is a high priority. While the social and biological bases of ear disease are reasonably well understood, many programs and strategies for its prevention do not appear to have worked effectively. In some cases, programs to prevent ear disease and associated hearing loss have been implemented without sufficient planning and high quality evidence. However, recent health services delivered under the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory (SFNT) strategy have shown some success in reducing hearing loss, the prevalence of otitis media, and the severity of hearing impairment. This resource sheet reviews past and current programs, research and strategies (both government and non-government) for the prevention and treatment of ear disease in Indigenous children. While the focus of the document is on preventing ear disease, programs aimed at treating infection and minimising hearing loss are also reviewed

Australia\u27s health 2000 : the seventh biennial report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Australia\u27s Health 2000 is the seventh biennial health report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It is the nation\u27s authoritative source of information on patterns of health and illness, determinants of health, the supply and use of health services, and health services costs and performance.This 2000 edition serves as a summary of Australia\u27s health record at the end of the twentieth century. In addition, a special chapter is presented on changes in Australia\u27s disease profile over the last 100 years.Australia\u27s Health 2000 is an essential reference and information source for all Australians with an interest in health

Australia\u27s health 2002 : the eighth biennial report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Australia\u27s Health 2002 is the eighth biennial health report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It is the nation\u27s authoritative source of information on patterns of health and illness, determinants of health, the supply and use of health services, and health service costs and performance. Australia\u27s Health 2002 is an essential reference and information resource for all Australians with an interest in health

Physical activity and the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations people

For First Nations people in Australia, ‘social and emotional wellbeing’ (SEWB) is the foundation of physical and mental health. It is a term that aligns with First Nations ways of knowing, being and doing, and the concept that the self is inseparable from (and embedded within) family and community. This holistic approach is vital in addressing the significant psychological distress experienced by First Nations adults, because it acknowledges historical, cultural and societal influences. Engaging in physical activity is a part of First Nations culture, traditional customs, practices and connection to Country. It fosters cultural identity and community cohesion — integral components of SEWB for First Nations people — and offers holistic health benefits and protection against mental health issues and chronic diseases. While physical activity rates are higher among First Nations children compared with non-Indigenous children, a decline is observed in adulthood, prompting a need to understand changes and respond with effective strategies to increase participation in physical activity. This article summarises existing evidence on physical activity and First Nations SEWB. It describes the policy context and actions as well as program approaches implemented with First Nations adults and children living in Australia. It concludes with a summary of the key messages from this report that is essential information for understanding First Nations physical activity participation and SEWB

A proposal for the Australian Health Measurement Survey program

Copyright © 2003 Commonwealth of AustraliaThis document is the Business Case for the Australian Health Measurement Survey (AHMS) program proposal that was prepared for presentation to the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council (AHMAC) on May 2002. The associated appendices are also included

Nationwide monitoring and surveillance concepts: Physical activity

© Commonwealth of Australia 2003This paper sets out the current situation in trends in the physical activity of Australians based on the most recent national surveys. It summarises the body of evidence and costings which set out the benefits of physical activity, identify physical inactivity as a major risk factor involved in preventable disease, disability and death, and estimated human and health system costs arising from these preventable events. Some of the current national multisectoral alliances and strategies to address the general goal of increasing levels of physical activity in the population are overviewed, together with the work being undertaken to underpin the strategies (such as work on measurements and standardisation of surveillance questions). It examines the identified characteristics of subgroups of the currently surveilled population and argues for an extension of surveillance to other subgroups (such as children, older people and indigenous populations) and to environmental factors. Possible national performance indicators are set out in long and short term frameworks, and related concepts are briefly discussed in terms of their inclusion in population surveillance and monitoring instruments

Nationwide monitoring and surveillance data requirements for health: Physical activity

© Commonwealth of Australia 2003This paper sets out the current situation in trends in the physical activity of Australians based on the most recent national surveys. It summarises the body of evidence and costings which set out the benefits of physical activity, identify physical inactivity as a major risk factor involved in preventable disease, disability and death, and estimated human and health system costs arising from these preventable events. Some of the current national multisectoral alliances and strategies to address the general goal of increasing levels of physical activity in the population are overviewed, together with the work being undertaken to underpin the strategies (such as work on measurements and standardisation of surveillance questions). It examines the identified characteristics of subgroups of the currently surveilled population and argues for an extension of surveillance to other subgroups (such as children, older people and indigenous populations) and to environmental factors. Possible national performance indicators are set out in long and short term frameworks, and related concepts are briefly discussed in terms of their inclusion in population surveillance and monitoring instruments

Education programs for Indigenous Australians about sexually transmitted infections and bloodborne viruses

As a group, Indigenous Australians experience poorer health outcomes than other Australians, including in the area of sexual health. Indigenous Australians have substantially higher rates of STIs, BBVs and teen pregnancy than non-Indigenous Australians, particularly for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, infectious syphilis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Efforts to reduce these high rates are compounded by the historical and social context of Indigenous Australians. Although many Australians may experience elements of shame and embarrassment when they access health services for STIs and BBVs, for many Indigenous Australians there also exists a mistrust of ‘mainstream’ (non-Indigenous specific) health services as a result of past injustices and racially differentiated treatment (Arabena 2006). Historically, Indigenous Australians diagnosed with an STI were segregated and placed into privately run hospitals (‘lock hospitals’) that were in poor condition (Hunter 1998)

Defining chronic conditions for primary care with ICPC-2

Background: With the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions, there is need for a standardized definition of chronicity for use in research, to evaluate the population prevalence and general practice management of chronic conditions. Objectives: Our aims were to determine the characteristics required to define chronicity, apply them to a primary care classification and provide a defined codeset of chronic conditions. Methods: A literature review evaluated characteristics used to define chronic conditions. The final set of characteristics was applied to the International Classification of Primary Care-Version 2 (ICPC-2) through more specific terms available in ICPC-2 PLUS, an extended terminology classified to ICPC-2. A set of ICPC-2 rubrics was delineated as representing chronic conditions. Results: Factors found to be relevant to a definition of chronic conditions for research were: duration; prognosis; pattern; and sequelae. Within ICPC-2, 129 rubrics were described as 'chronic', and another 20 rubrics had elements of chronicity. Duration was the criterion most frequently satisfied (98.4% of chronic rubrics), while 88.2% of rubrics met at least three of the four criteria. Conclusion: Monitoring the prevalence and management of chronic conditions is of increasing importance. This study provided evidence for multifaceted definitions of chronicity. While all characteristics examined could be used by those interested in chronicity, the list has been designed to identify chronic conditions managed in Australian general practice, and is therefore not a nomenclature of all chronic conditions. Subsequent analysis of chronic conditions using pre-existing data sets will provide a baseline measure of chronic condition prevalence and management in general practice

Geographical classifications to guide rural health policy in Australia

The Australian Government's recent decision to replace the Rural Remote and Metropolitan Area (RRMA) classification with the Australian Standard Geographical Classification - Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) system highlights the ongoing significance of geographical classifications for rural health policy, particularly in relation to improving the rural health workforce supply. None of the existing classifications, including the government's preferred choice, were designed specifically to guide health resource allocation, and all exhibit strong weaknesses when applied as such. Continuing reliance on these classifications as policy tools will continue to result in inappropriate health program resource distribution. Purely 'geographical' classifications alone cannot capture all relevant aspects of rural health service provision within a single measure. Moreover, because many subjective decisions (such as the choice of algorithm and breakdown of groupings) influence a classification's impact and acceptance from its users, policy-makers need to specify explicitly the purpose and role of their different programs as the basis for developing and implementing appropriate decision tools such as 'rural-urban' classifications. Failure to do so will continue to limit the effectiveness that current rural health support and incentive programs can have in achieving their objective of improving the provision of health care services to rural populations though affirmative action programs