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Delivery of child health services in indigenous communities: implications for the federal government's emergency intervention in the Northern Territory

Bailie, Ross S., Si, Damin, Dowden, Michelle C., Connors, Christine M., O'Donoghue, Lynette R., Liddle, Helen E., Kennedy, Catherine M., Cox, Rhonda J., Burke, Hugh P., Thompson, Sandra C. and Brown, Alex (2008). Delivery of child health services in indigenous communities: implications for the federal government's emergency intervention in the Northern Territory. Medical Journal of Australia,188(10):615-618.

Document type: Journal Article
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Title Delivery of child health services in indigenous communities: implications for the federal government's emergency intervention in the Northern Territory
Author Bailie, Ross S.
Si, Damin
Dowden, Michelle C.
Connors, Christine M.
O'Donoghue, Lynette R.
Liddle, Helen E.
Kennedy, Catherine M.
Cox, Rhonda J.
Burke, Hugh P.
Thompson, Sandra C.
Brown, Alex
Journal Name Medical Journal of Australia
Publication Date 2008
Volume Number 188
Issue Number 10
ISSN 0025-729X   (check CDU catalogue  open catalogue search in new window)
Start Page 615
End Page 618
Total Pages 4
Place of Publication Australia
Publisher Australiasian Medical Publishing Company
Field of Research 1117 - Public Health and Health Services
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract Objectives:
To describe delivery of child health services in Australian Aboriginal communities, and to identify gaps in services required to improve the health of Aboriginal children.

Design:
Cross-sectional baseline audit for a quality improvement intervention.

Setting and participants:
297 children aged at least 3 months and under 5 years in 11 Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, Far West New South Wales and Western Australia in 2006.

Main outcome measures:
Adherence to guideline-scheduled services including clinical examinations, brief interventions or advice on health-related behaviour and risks, and enquiry regarding social conditions; and recorded follow-up of identified problems.

Results:
Documentation of delivery of specific clinical examinations (26%–80%) was relatively good, but was poorer for brief interventions or advice on health-related behaviour and risks (5%–36%) and enquiry regarding social conditions (3%–11%). Compared with children in Far West NSW and WA, those attending NT centres were significantly more likely to have a record of growth faltering, underweight, chronic ear disease, anaemia, or chronic respiratory disease (P < 0.005). Only 11%–13% of children with identified social problems had an assessment report on file. An action plan was documented for 22% of children with growth faltering and 13% with chronic ear disease; 43% of children with chronic respiratory disease and 31% with developmental delay had an assessment report on file.

Conclusion:
Existing systems are not providing for adequate follow-up of identified medical and social problems for children living in remote Aboriginal communities; development of systems for immediate and longer-term sustainable responses to these problems should be a priority. Without effective systems for follow-up, screening children for disease and adverse social circumstances will result in little or no benefit.
Description for Link Link to published version
URL https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2008/188/10/delivery-child-health-services-indigenous-communities-implications-federal


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