T o evaluate interventions, assess potential improvements and determine long-term progress in dietary change, it is essential to have an accurate method to measure food consumption. Electronic visual recording such as digital photography has been shown to aid estimation of cafeteria consumption among college students with high accuracy when compared with food intake weight (r=0.92) 1 and among preschoolers when compared with weighed intake (r=0.96 p<0.001). 2 Recording intake over three days has been found to provide an accurate average of daily dietary intake among children. 3 It has been suggested that dietary intake be collected in remote communities for at least 3 -4 days because variation in dietary intake is likely to be high among populations where food expenditure varies with the pay cycle. 4 This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of using electronic visual recording in combination with food records to evaluate individual level dietary intake over a four-day period in Aboriginal infants and children. MethodologyThe study was conducted in a remote Aboriginal community with a population of about 2,300 people, 5 where household food preparation facilities and food storage were limited. 6 All people with an interest in nutrition were eligible. Participants were recruited to attend classroom-based incommunity training for two weeks. The first component of the training was delivered over one week and aimed to build the research skills of participants. A practical exercise involved each participant collecting dietary intake from a child related to them and younger than 10 years of age over four consecutive days, including two week days, Saturday and Sunday. The foods and drinks were estimated using household measuring utensils and electronically recorded by mothers before and after consumption using a digital camera or an Apple iPod Touch angled at 45 degrees and held one armlength away from the object. The research team comprised three people (one project officer, one dietitian and one communitybased worker). One or two research team members who had a close relationship with the community visited participating households daily to: i) support the mothers to complete food records; ii) provide batteries or to recharge the iPod if necessary; iii) download the photos and movies onto a laptop and; iv) clarify any doubts. The second component of the classroom-based training aimed to provide information on nutritional needs. This was delivered over two days after the practical activity of collecting dietary intake data. The participants were given a statement of attainment for the nutrition unit at certificate IV level.At least two of the research team members, including a dietitian, analysed all electronic photographs and videos regarding brand, flavour, serving sizes, and time and date of AbstractObjective: To assess the feasibility of using electronic visual recording in combination with food records to evaluate dietary intake in Aboriginal infants and children.Methods: All foods and drinks consumed by t...

Anaemia is a critical public health problem in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for which the health literacy of community members and health practitioners is unknown. Worldwide, pregnant women and children have the highest anaemia rates and are the major groups targeted for screening and intervention programs. In the Northern Territory, Australia, 15% of Aboriginal mothers are anaemic during pregnancy and up to 25 % of children aged 0-5 years are anaemic, with the highest prevalence of 31% identified in those aged 6-11 months. Anaemia can have adverse effects on physical and cognitive development in the early years and has long-term implications for the development of chronic diseases later in life. The aim of this study was to assess anaemia health literacy of community members and health practitioner's knowledge of anaemia best practice guidelines in a remote Aboriginal community where English is not the first language. Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with 39 community members and 12 health practitioners. Among community members there were mixed levels of anaemia health literacy with the majority assessed as having 'good' literacy. Health practitioners had a 'very good' level of anaemia knowledge that was excellent for one group.