Health and wellbeing outcomes of programs for Indigenous Australians that include strategies to enable the expression of cultural identities: a systematic review

Indigenous people have long maintained that strong cultural identities are critical to health and wellbeing. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine whether interventions that entail strategies to enable expression of cultural identities for Australian Indigenous peoples are associated with measurable improvements in health and wellbeing. Peer-reviewed articles that reported quantitatively expressed health and wellbeing outcomes involving Indigenous Australian participants only were included. The cultural intervention component was defined and assessed by Indigenous researchers on the team. A narrative analysis was conducted. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42015027387). Thirteen articles describing eleven studies were identified, including one randomised control trial (RCT), one cluster RCT and two studies with non-randomised controls. Other studies reported on case series or cross-sectional studies. All except two studies described multiple intervention strategies. Eight studies showed significant improvement in at least one psychosocial, behavioural or clinical measure, with two showing a positive direction of effect and one showing no improvement. Publication bias may discourage researchers to report negative findings of these interventions. Although studies vary in quality, this review provides evidence that interventions that include opportunities for expression of cultural identities can have beneficial effects for Australian Indigenous peoples

Reproductive factors and risk of hormone receptor positive and negative breast cancer: a cohort study

Background: The association of reproductive factors with hormone receptor (HR)-negative breast tumors remains uncertain. Methods: Within the EPIC cohort, Cox proportional hazards models were used to describe the relationships of reproductive factors (menarcheal age, time between menarche and first pregnancy, parity, number of children, age at first and last pregnancies, time since last full-term childbirth, breastfeeding, age at menopause, ever having an abortion and use of oral contraceptives [OC]) with risk of ER-PR-(n = 998) and ER+PR+ (n = 3,567) breast tumors. Results: A later first full-term childbirth was associated with increased risk of ER+PR+ tumors but not with risk of ER-PR-tumors (= 35 vs. = 19 years HR: 1.47 [95% CI 1.15-1.88] p(trend) < 0.001 for ER+PR+ tumors; = 35 vs. = 19 years HR: 0.93 [95% CI 0.53-1.65] p(trend) = 0.96 for ER-PR-tumors; P-het = 0.03). The risk associations of menarcheal age, and time period between menarche and first full-term childbirth with ER-PR-tumors were in the similar direction with risk of ER+PR+ tumors (p(het) = 0.50), although weaker in magnitude and statistically only borderline significant. Other parity related factors such as ever a full-term birth, number of births, age-and time since last birth were associated only with ER+PR+ malignancies, however no statistical heterogeneity between breast cancer subtypes was observed. Breastfeeding and OC use were generally not associated with breast cancer subtype risk. Conclusion: Our study provides possible evidence that age at menarche, and time between menarche and first full-term childbirth may be associated with the etiology of both HR-negative and HR-positive malignancies, although the associations with HR-negative breast cancer were only borderline significant

Adiposity, hormone replacement therapy use and breast cancer risk by age and hormone receptor status: a large prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Associations of hormone-receptor positive breast cancer with excess adiposity are reasonably well characterized; however, uncertainty remains regarding the association of body mass index (BMI) with hormone-receptor negative malignancies, and possible interactions by hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use. METHODS: Within the European EPIC cohort, Cox proportional hazards models were used to describe the relationship of BMI, waist and hip circumferences with risk of estrogen-receptor (ER) negative and progesterone-receptor (PR) negative (n = 1,021) and ER+PR+ (n = 3,586) breast tumors within five-year age bands. Among postmenopausal women, the joint effects of BMI and HRT use were analyzed. RESULTS: For risk of ER-PR- tumors, there was no association of BMI across the age bands. However, when analyses were restricted to postmenopausal HRT never users, a positive risk association with BMI (third versus first tertile HR = 1.47 (1.01 to 2.15)) was observed. BMI was inversely associated with ER+PR+ tumors among women aged ≤49 years (per 5 kg/m2 increase, HR = 0.79 (95%CI 0.68 to 0.91)), and positively associated with risk among women ≥65 years (HR = 1.25 (1.16 to 1.34)). Adjusting for BMI, waist and hip circumferences showed no further associations with risks of breast cancer subtypes. Current use of HRT was significantly associated with an increased risk of receptor-negative (HRT current use compared to HRT never use HR: 1.30 (1.05 to 1.62)) and positive tumors (HR: 1.74 (1.56 to 1.95)), although this risk increase was weaker for ER-PR- disease (Phet = 0.035). The association of HRT was significantly stronger in the leaner women (BMI ≤22.5 kg/m2) than for more overweight women (BMI ≥25.9 kg/m2) for, both, ER-PR- (HR: 1.74 (1.15 to 2.63)) and ER+PR+ (HR: 2.33 (1.84 to 2.92)) breast cancer and was not restricted to any particular HRT regime. CONCLUSIONS: An elevated BMI may be positively associated with risk of ER-PR- tumors among postmenopausal women who never used HRT. Furthermore, postmenopausal HRT users were at an increased risk of ER-PR- as well as ER+PR+ tumors, especially among leaner women. For hormone-receptor positive tumors, but not for hormone-receptor negative tumors, our study confirms an inverse association of risk with BMI among young women of premenopausal age. Our data provide evidence for a possible role of sex hormones in the etiology of hormone-receptor negative tumors

Visibility in health statistics: a population data linkage study more accurately identifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Births in Victoria, Australia, 1988-2008

ABSTRACT Objectives An accurate picture of infant mortality informs society of its social progress. It is a key indicator of how effective public health policies and programs are in caring for the most vulnerable in our society. Currently, at the population level, Victorian data on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander births and deaths are excluded from Australian vital statistics. The Victorian Aboriginal Mortality Study aimed to provide a more complete and accurate population profile of Aboriginal births in Victoria using population data linkage of Victorian statutory and administrative datasets. Approach Two population statutory datasets, the Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC) and Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (RBDM) were linked, using probabilistic matching with mother’s name and surname, child’s date of birth and sex, for all births that occurred in Victoria between 1988 and 2008, inclusive to more accurately ascertain births to mothers and fathers who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (hereafter respectfully ‘Aboriginal’). Results Over 1.34 million files, reporting births between 1988 and 2008, were linked. However, due to data integrity issues for Indigenous identification prior to 1998, the years between 1999 and 2008 only were used in the development of the birth cohort. Matching the VPDC with the RBDM resulted in identifying an additional 4,333 live births where mother and/or father identified as Aboriginal, representing an 87% increase in the number of births previously recorded as Aboriginal by the VPDC*. The largest increase (186%) in the number of births where mother and/or father identified as Aboriginal births was observed within the Victorian metropolitan areas. Conclusion This is the first time that the VPDC and RBDM birth data were linked in Victoria. The matched birth information established a more complete population profile of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander births. These data will provide a more accurate baseline to enhance the Victorian and Australian governments’ ability to plan services, allocate resources and evaluate funded activities aimed at eliminating disparity experienced by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. Importantly, it has established a more accurate denominator from which to calculate Aboriginal infant mortality rates for Victoria, Australia. *Until 2009, the mother’s Indigenous identification only was recorded in the VPD

Using population data linkage to make the invisible, visible: patterns and trends in mortality for Victorian born Aboriginal compared with non-Indigenous Victorian infants

ABSTRACT Objectives The disparity between the infant mortality rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (forthwith respectfully ‘Aboriginal’) and non-Aboriginal populations in Australia is well documented. However, major public health initiatives and campaigns aimed particularly at halving the Aboriginal infant mortality rate are hindered by the lack of comprehensive and accurate data. To date, infant and child mortality rates for Victorian born Aboriginal children have not been reported in national statistics. The aim of Victorian Aboriginal Child Mortality Study was to accurately measure the patterns and trends of Aboriginal infant mortality and to report the disparities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infants born in Victoria, Australia between 1999 and 2008 inclusive. Approach We used best practice methodologies to link total population data and comprehensive mortality case review to classify and code the deaths to determine, for the first time, all-cause and cause-specific mortality for Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal infants born in Victoria from 1999 to 2008. Results Between 1999 and 2009, Aboriginal infants were twice as likely to die in in the first year of life as non-Aboriginal infants. Infant cumulative mortality rates (CMR) were higher among Aboriginal births (9.1/1000 livebirths in 1999-2003 and 9.4/1000 livebirths in 2004-2008) than non- Aboriginal births (4.7/1000 livebirths in 1999-2003 and 4.5/1000 livebirths in 2004-2008). For Aboriginal infants there was an observed decrease in the rate of neonatal deaths, and conversely an increase in the postneonatal CMR (from 2.2/1000 livebirths in 1999-2003 and 3.8/1000 livebirths in 2004-2008). Among Aboriginal infants there was an increase in deaths attributed to prematurity (3.1/1000 livebirths in 1999-2003 and 4.3/1000 livebirths in 2004-2008) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (1.0/1000 livebirths in 1999-2003 and 1.7/1000 livebirths in 2004-2008). There were significantly more potentially preventable deaths among Aboriginal infants than in non-Aboriginal infants [infection (0.6/1000 Aboriginal livebirths vs 0.2/1000 non-Aboriginal livebirths, RR 2.5 95%CI 1.1-5.6) injury (0.6/1000 Aboriginal livebirths vs 0.1/ 1000 non-Aboriginal livebirths, RR 5.8 95%CI 2.5-13.5), and SIDS (1.4/1000 Aboriginal livebirths vs 0.28/1000 non-Aboriginal livebirths, RR 5.0 95%CI 2.9-8.6)]. Conclusion This is the first time that all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates for Victorian born Aboriginal and non-Indigenous infants have been reported. The observed increasing disparities between Aboriginal and non- Indigenous infants, especially due to preventative causes, such as infection, injury and SIDS, in the post neonatal period, demand immediate action in partnership with Aboriginal communities. Collaborative action must focus on both access to primary health care and better living conditions

Health promotion initiatives and delivery timelines.

<p>Health promotion initiatives and delivery timelines.</p

Distributions of correct questions by work setting: Pre- and post- intervention.

<p>Distributions of correct questions by work setting: Pre- and post- intervention.</p

Clinical outcomes associated with albuminuria in central Australia: a cohort study

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage-kidney disease (ESKD) continue to be under-diagnosed and a major burden for Aboriginal communities in central Australia. The aim of this study was to examine the risk of poor clinical outcomes associated with elevated albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) among Aboriginal people in central Australia.\ud \ud Methods: Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the risk of end stage kidney disease (ESKD), dialysis, CVD (cardiovascular disease) and mortality associated with participants' baseline albuminuria reading from a 10-year cohort study of Aboriginal people (n = 623) from three communities in central Australia. Predictors of progression of albuminuria were also examined in the context of the Kidney Health Australia (KHA) Risk Matrix.\ud \ud Results: A baseline ACR level of >= 3.5 mg/mmol was associated with an almost 10-fold increased risk of ESKD (95% CI 2.07-43.8) and a 15-fold risk of dialysis (95% CI 1.89-121). Albuminuria >= 3.5 mg/mmol was also associated with a borderline 63 % increased risk of CVD (95% CI 0.98-2.71). No significant association was observed with mortality from all-causes or chronic disease. Diabetes and a waist-to-hip ratio >= 0.90 independently predicted a two-fold increased risk of a progression to higher ACR levels.\ud \ud Conclusions: A single measure of moderately increased albuminuria was a strong predictor of renal failure in this population. A single spot urine ACR analysis in conjunction with the KHA Risk Matrix may be a useful and efficient strategy to screen for risk of CKD and progression to dialysis in remote communities. A focus on individuals with diabetes and/or central obesity for strategies to avoid increases in albuminuria may also prevent future CKD and CVD complications

Low rates of predominant breastfeeding in hospital after gestational diabetes, particularly among Indigenous women in Australia

Abstract Objectives: To investigate rates of ‘any’ and ‘predominant’ breastfeeding in hospital among Indigenous and non‐Indigenous women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: A retrospective study of singleton infants born from July 2007 to December 2010 at Cairns Hospital, Australia, following GDM pregnancy, using linked hospital and birth data (n=617 infants), with a subsample of medical record reviews (n=365 infants). Aggregate data were used to compare to breastfeeding rates among infants born following non‐GDM pregnancy (n=7,894 infants). Results: More than 90% of all women reported any breastfeeding before hospital discharge. About 80% of women without GDM reported predominant breastfeeding. Despite significant increases over time (p<0.0001), women with GDM were less likely to predominantly breastfeed (OR 0.32, 95%CI 0.27–0.38, p<0.0001); with lower rates among Indigenous women (53%) compared with non‐Indigenous (60%) women (OR 0.78, 0.70–0.88, p<0.0001); and women having a caesarean birth or pre‐term infant. Conclusions: Rates of predominant in‐hospital breastfeeding were lower among women with GDM, particularly among Indigenous women and women having a caesarean or pre‐term birth. Implications: Strategies are needed to support predominant in‐hospital breastfeeding among women with GDM