National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

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https://hdl.handle.net/2328/26653

This is a collection of NHMRC-funded research publications authored by Flinders academics.

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Browsing National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) by Subject "Aboriginal Australians"

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    Aboriginal Australians' experience of social capital and its relevance to health and wellbeing in urban settings.
    (Elsevier, 2013-11) Browne-Yung, Kathryn; Ziersch, Anna Marie; Baum, Fran; Gallaher, Gilbert
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    Challenges and strategies for cohort retention and data collection in an indigenous population: Australian Aboriginal Birth Cohort
    (BioMed Central, 2014-02) Lawrance, M; Sayers, Susan M; Singh, Gurmeet R
    Background Longitudinal prospective birth cohort studies are pivotal to identifying fundamental causes and determinants of disease and health over the life course. There is limited information about the challenges, retention, and collection strategies in the study of Indigenous populations. The aim is to describe the follow-up rates of an Australian Aboriginal Birth Cohort study and how they were achieved. Methods Participants were 686 babies enrolled between January 1987 and March 1990, born to a mother recorded in the Delivery Suite Register of the Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) as a self-identified Aboriginal. The majority of the participants (70%) resided in Northern Territory within rural, remote and very remote Aboriginal communities that maintain traditional connections to their land and culture. The Aboriginal communities are within a sparsely populated (0.2 people/ km2) area of approximately 900,000 km2 (347sq miles), with poor communication and transport infrastructures. Follow-ups collecting biomedical and lifestyle data directly from participants in over 40 locations were conducted at 11.4 years (Wave-2) and 18.2 years (Wave-3), with Wave-4 follow-up currently underway. Results Follow-ups at 11 and 18 years of age successfully examined 86% and 72% of living participants respectively. Strategies addressing logistic, cultural and ethical challenges are documented. Conclusions Satisfactory follow-up rates of a prospective longitudinal Indigenous birth cohort with traditional characteristics are possible while maintaining scientific rigor in a challenging setting. Approaches included flexibility, respect, and transparent communication along with the adoption of culturally sensitive behaviours. This work should inform and assist researchers undertaking or planning similar studies in Indigenous and developing populations.
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    Cultural respect strategies in Australian Aboriginal primary health care services: beyond education and training of practitioners
    (John Wiley and Sons, 2014-08) Freeman, Toby; Edwards, Tahnia; Baum, Fran; Lawless, Angela Patricia; Jolley, Gwyneth Margaret; Javanparast, Sara; Francis, T
    Objective. There is little literature on health service level strategies for culturally respectful care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. We conducted two case studies: , one Aboriginal community controlled, and one state government managed primary health care service to examine cultural respect strategies, client experiences, and barriers to cultural respect. Methods. Data were drawn from 22 interviews with staff from both services, and four community assessment workshops, with a total of 21 clients. Results. Staff and clients at both services reported positive appraisals of the achievement of cultural respects. Strategies included being grounded in a social view of health, including advocacy and addressing social determinants, employing Aboriginal staff, creating a welcoming service, supporting access through transport, outreach, and walk-in centres, and integrating cultural protocol. Barriers included communication difficulties, racism and discrimination, and externally developed programs. Conclusions. Service level strategies were necessary to achieving cultural respect. These strategies have the potential to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. Implications. Primary health care’s social determinants of health mandate, the community controlled model, and the development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce need to be supported to ensure a culturally respectful health system.
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    From targets to ripples: tracing the process of developing a community capacity building appraisal tool with remote Australian indigenous communities to tackle food security
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2014) Brimblecombe, Julie; van den Boogaard, C; Ritchie, J; Bailie, Ross Stewart; Coveney, John David; Liberato, S
    BACKGROUND: The issue of food security is complex and requires capacity for often-unrelated groups to work together. We sought to assess the relevance and meaning of a commonly used set of community capacity development constructs in the context of remote Indigenous Australia and through this propose a model to support capacity. METHODS: The assessment was conducted with four communities and took place over five steps that involved: (i) test of clarity of construct meaning; (ii) inductive derivation of community capacity constructs; (iii) application of these constructs to the capacity of community multi-sector food-interest groups; (iv) a cross-check of these constructs and their meanings to literature-derived constructs, and; (v) achieving consensus on tool constructs. Data were collected over a three-year period (2010-2012) that involved two on-site visits to one community, and two urban-based workshops. These data were augmented by food-interest group meeting minutes and reports. RESULTS: Eleven community capacity development constructs were included in the proposed model: community ownership, building on strengths, strong leadership and voice, making decisions together, strong partnerships, opportunities for learning and skill development, way of working, getting together the things you need, good strong communication, sharing the true story, and continuing the process and passing on to the next generation. The constructs derived from the literature and commonly used to appraise community capacity development were well accepted and could be used to identify areas needing strengthening. The specifics of each construct however differed from those derived from the literature yet were similar across the four communities and had particular meaning for those involved. The involvement of elders and communication with the wider community seemed paramount to forming a solid foundation on which capacity could be further developed. CONCLUSION: This study explored an approach for ascribing context specific meanings to a set of capacity development constructs and an effective visual appraisal tool. An approach to tackling food security in the remote Indigenous context where community capacity goals are considered in parallel with outcome goals, or at least as incremental goals along the way, may well help to lay a more solid foundation for improved service practice and program sustainability.
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    Incidence of visual impairment due to cataract, diabetic retinopathy and trachoma in indigenous Australians within central Australia: the Central Australian Ocular Health Study
    (Wiley-Blackwell, 2012-10-29) Landers, John; Henderson, Timothy R; Craig, Jamie E
    Background: To estimate the incidence and causes of visual impairment for the purposes of service provision among the indigenous Australian population within central Australia from its most common causes, namely cataract, diabetic retinopathy and trachoma. Design: Clinic-based cohort study. Participants: One thousand eight hundred eighty four individuals aged =20 years living in one of 30 remote communities within the statistical local area of 'Central Australia'. Methods: From those initially recruited, 608 (32%) participants were reviewed again between 6 months and 3 years (median 2 years). Patients underwent Snellen visual acuity testing and subjective refraction. Following this, an assessment of their anterior and posterior segments was made. Baseline results were compared with those who were reviewed. Main Outcome Measures: The annual incidence rates and causes of visual impairment (vision worse than Snellen visual acuity 6/12 in at least one eye). Results: The incidence of visual impairment in at least one eye was 6.6%, 1.2% and 0.7% per year for cataract, diabetic retinopathy and trachoma, respectively (7.9%, 1.5% and 0.7% per year for those aged =40 years). Advancing age was the main risk factor common to all three. Conclusion: It is important to be mindful not only of the prevalence of disease in a community but also of the rate at which new cases are occurring when allocating resources to address the ocular health needs of this region. Compared with historical data, diabetic retinopathy is emerging as a new and increasing threat to vision in this population.