ObjectivesIndigenous women continue to experience rates of stillbirth, preterm birth and low birth weight, two to three times higher than other women in high-income countries. The reasons for disparities are complex and multifactorial. We aimed to assess the extent to which adverse birth outcomes are associated with maternal cannabis use and exposure to stressful events and social health issues during pregnancy.Design/settingCross-sectional, population-based survey of women giving birth to Aboriginal babies in South Australia, July 2011–June 2013. Data include: maternal cannabis use, exposure to stressful events/social health issues, infant birth weight and gestation.Participants344 eligible women with a mean age of 25 years (range 15–43 years), enrolled in the study. Participants were representative in relation to maternal age, infant birth weight and gestation.Results1 in 5 women (20.5%) used cannabis during pregnancy, and 52% smoked cigarettes. Compared with mothers not using cannabis or cigarettes, mothers using cannabis had babies on average 565 g lighter (95% CI −762 to −367), and were more likely to have infants with a low birth weight (OR=6.5, 95% CI 3.0 to 14.3), and small for gestational age (OR=3.8, 95% CI 1.9 to 7.6). Controlling for education and other social characteristics, including stressful events/social health issues did not alter the conclusion that mothers using cannabis experience a higher risk of negative birth outcomes (adjusted OR for odds of low birth weight 3.9, 95% CI 1.4 to 11.2).ConclusionsThe findings provide a compelling case for stronger efforts to address the clustering of risk for adverse outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and point to the need for antenatal care to address broader social determinants of adverse perinatal outcomes. Integrated responses—collaboratively developed with Aboriginal communities and organisations—that focus on constellations of risk factors, and a holistic approach to addressing social determinants of adverse birth outcomes, are required.

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IMPORTANCE Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. International estimates suggest overall oral HPV prevalence is 7.5%, with prevalence of oral HPV types 16 and 18 being 1.6%; prior Australian estimates suggest oral HPV prevalence is 2.3%, with HPV-16 and HPV-18 being 1.3%. OBJECTIVES To estimate the prevalence of oral HPV infection among Indigenous Australians and to report the prevalence of factors associated with high-risk HPV types (ie, HPV-16 and HPV-18) and HPV types linked with Heck disease (ie, HPV-13 and HPV-32). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional study analyzed HPV screening results from saliva samples collected from 1011 Indigenous Australians between February 2018 and January 2019. Data were analyzed from May 2018 to May 2019. Recruitment occurred through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations in South Australia. Eligibility included identifying as Indigenous, residing in South Australia, and being aged 18 years or older. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Saliva samples were collected, with microbial DNA for genotyping extracted. Sociodemographic parameters, health-related behaviors, and sexual history data were collected. Analyses were stratified by sex as well as by HPV types 13 and 32 (Heck disease) and 16 and 18 (high risk of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma). Multivariable analyses were conducted to obtain adjusted odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS Data were obtained for 910 participants (median [interquartile range] age, 37 [27-51] years); 595 participants (65%) were female and 572 (63%) resided in nonmetropolitan locations. In all, 321 saliva samples (35.3%; 95% CI, 32.2%-38.4%) were positive for oral HPV (106 [33.7%] men; 215 [36.1%] women). The highest prevalence was found for HPV types 13 and 32 (207 [22.7%] total; 60 [19.0%] men; 147 [24.7%] women) followed by HPV types 16 and 18 (30 [3.3%] total; 9 [2.9%] men; 21 [3.5%] women). After multivariable analysis, risk factors associated with HPV types 13 and 32 included nonmetropolitan residential status (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.10-3.88) and not having had a tonsillectomy (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.05-7.16). Among women, having obtained a high school education or less was associated with lower odds of HPV-16 and HPV-18 infection (OR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.03-0.97). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Prevalence of oral HPV infection in a large sample of Indigenous Australians was high, with one-third testing positive. The most prevalent HPV types were those associated with Heck disease. The prevalence of HPV types associated with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma exceeded both Australian and international population-level estimates.