The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory: engaging with the intervention to improve primary health care

Boffa, John; Bell, Andrew I.; Davies, T.; Paterson, John; Cooper, David E.

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01443.x

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 2 publications

(2 reference statements)

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“…However as our data collection period ceased at the end of the 1 st year of life for infants born 2004–2006, few of the infants in our study were part of these checks. Further government funding was also provided to remote communities to expand primary health service delivery [53]. A number of new approaches are now underway in remote NT communities to improve child health services and improve quality of care including a new evidence based health care delivery program targeting under 5s (Healthy Kids Under 5 Program), designated qualified Child and Family Health Nurses who will provide community based care thus increasing flexibility and access to services and increasing the numbers of community-based family support workers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adherence to management guidelines for growth faltering and anaemia in remote dwelling Australian Aboriginal infants and barriers to health service delivery

Bar-Zeev

Kruske

Barclay

et al. 2013

BMC Health Serv Res

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BackgroundRemote dwelling Aboriginal infants from northern Australia have a high burden of disease and frequently use health services. Little is known about the quality of infant care provided by remote health services. This study describes the adherence to infant guidelines for anaemia and growth faltering by remote health staff and barriers to effective service delivery in remote settings.MethodsA mixed method study drew data from 24 semi-structured interviews with clinicians working in two remote communities in northern Australia and a retrospective cohort study of Aboriginal infants from these communities, born 2004–2006 (n = 398). Medical records from remote health centres were audited. The main outcome measures were the period prevalence of infants with anaemia and growth faltering and management of these conditions according to local guidelines. Qualitative data assessed clinicians’ perspectives on barriers to effective remote health service delivery.ResultsData from 398 health centre records were analysed. Sixty eight percent of infants were anaemic between six and twelve months of age and 42% had documented growth faltering by one year. Analysis of the growth data by the authors however found 86% of infants experienced growth faltering over 12 months. Clinical management and treatment completion was poor for both conditions. High staff turnover, fragmented models of care and staff poorly prepared for their role were barriers perceived by clinicians’ to impact upon the quality of service delivery.ConclusionAmong Aboriginal infants in northern Australia, malnutrition and anaemia are common and occur early. Diagnosis of growth faltering and clinicians’ adherence to management guidelines for both conditions was poor. Antiquated service delivery models, organisation of staff and rapid staff turnover contributed to poor quality of care. Service redesign, education and staff stability must be a priority to redress serious deficits in quality of care provided for these infants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adherence to management guidelines for growth faltering and anaemia in remote dwelling Australian Aboriginal infants and barriers to health service delivery

Bar-Zeev

Kruske

Barclay

et al. 2013

BMC Health Serv Res

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“…The use of unique ranges in the literature warrants further attention. For example, several authors report a life expectancy gap of 17–20 years 63–65. Two publications66,67 cite a range of 13–17 years based on the estimates of Vos et al,16 Hill et al17 and the AIHW 68.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Closing the Gaps: competing estimates of Indigenous Australian life expectancy in the scientific literature

Rosenstock

Mukandi

Zwi

et al. 2013

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

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Objective: Closing the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and other Australians within a generation is central to national Indigenous reform policy (Closing the Gap). Over time, various methods of estimating Indigenous life expectancy and with that, the life expectancy gap, have been adopted with differing, albeit non-comparable results. We present data on the extent of the gap and elucidate the pattern of use and interpretations of the different estimates of the gap, between 2007 and 2012.Methods: An extensive search was conducted for all peer-reviewed health publications citing estimates of and/or discussing the life expectancy of Indigenous Australians, for the period 2007–2012.Results: Five predominant patterns of citation of the gap estimates were identified: 20 years, 17 years, 15–20 years, 13 years, and 11.5 years for males and 9.7 years for females. Some authors misinterpret the most recent estimates as reflecting improvement from the 17-year figure, rather than the result of different methods of estimation. Support for the direct methods used to calculate Indigenous life expectancy is indicated.Conclusions and Implications: A specific estimate of the life expectancy gap has not been established among stakeholders in Indigenous health. Agreement on the magnitude of the gap is arguably needed in order to evaluate strategies aimed at improving health outcomes for Indigenous Australians. Moreover, measuring progress towards ‘closing the gap’ depends on the availability of comparable estimates, using the same techniques of measurement to assess changes over time.

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“…Further, this approach bypassed the Aboriginal leadership, undermining their sense of control over their communities and destiny. It overtook and failed to acknowledge progress that was already being made by Aboriginal health services 6 . The psychological and emotional effects of this are not negated by the later increase in consultation and improvements in health service funding that have occurred.…”

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confidence: 99%

How can Australia do better for Indigenous health?

Tait¹

2011

Medical Journal of Australia

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The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory: engaging with the intervention to improve primary health care

Cited by 13 publications

References 2 publications

Adherence to management guidelines for growth faltering and anaemia in remote dwelling Australian Aboriginal infants and barriers to health service delivery

Adherence to management guidelines for growth faltering and anaemia in remote dwelling Australian Aboriginal infants and barriers to health service delivery

Closing the Gaps: competing estimates of Indigenous Australian life expectancy in the scientific literature

How can Australia do better for Indigenous health?

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