Have the Health Gaps Between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australian Children Changed over Time? Results from an Australian National Representative Longitudinal Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes of health gaps between Indigenous and nonIndigenous children over time and to explore critical factors that contribute to the changes. We employed data consisting of two cohorts of Australian children: infant (0/1 year) and children (4/5 years) that are part of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Health outcomes were measured by physical outcome index (POI) and parent-rated health during 2004, 2006 and 2008. We used first-order autoregressive modelling to examine the longitudinal relationship between the changes in health outcomes and possible contributing risk factors. The results showed that the trends of POIs between Indigenous and nonIndigenous children were closing, while the gap of parentrated health between the two populations persisted. We found that health outcomes (both POI and parent-rated health) at an earlier time point (t -1) were significant predictors of the outcomes at the later time point (t). Carer's depression status, socio-economic position and neighbourhood liveability had significant and consistent impacts on parent-rated health, but had only varying impacts on POIs between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children as well as between the birth cohorts at different time periods. Similarly, low birth weight, carer's binge drinking behaviour and other risk factors showed such varying impacts at a particular time period. The study implied that appropriate interventions accompanied by monitoring of health outcomes are necessary in order to decrease the health gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children.

Primary health care for Aboriginal women and children in the year after birth: findings from a population‐based study in South Australia

“…Maternal and child health are inextricably linked; what happens to mothers during pregnancy and the early years of infancy has major implications for child health and wellbeing, and for health across the life course 6,7 . While Australia has generally high standards of maternal and child health care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children continue to experience poorer health outcomes than non‐Aboriginal women and children 8–10 . Despite longstanding recognition of these disparities, few studies have examined Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's experiences of accessing primary health care in the first year after childbirth 11–13 …”

A Systematic Review of Child Health and Developmental Outcomes Associated with Low Birthweight and/or Small for Gestational Age in Indigenous Children from Australia, Canada and New Zealand

“…Seven studies looked solely at low birthweight as the exposure, while one study looked at both low birthweight and SGA [ 25 ]. Birthweight data sources included: caregiver reports ( n = 5) [ 21 , 24 , 25 , 27 , 28 ], and administrative records ( n = 3) [ 22 , 23 , 26 ].…”

“…Study designed measures were used to assess asthma [ 27 , 28 ] and disability [ 25 ]. Child height and weight measurements were used to calculate BMI [ 24 , 25 ]. No studies used measures that were specifically developed for use with Indigenous children or referenced Indigenous definitions or understandings of health and social and emotional wellbeing [ 29 , 30 ].…”

“…Two studies investigating BMI identified an increased risk of reduced child BMI in those born with a low birthweight and/or SGA [ 24 , 25 ]. Kim and colleagues conducted a prospective longitudinal study of 1949 Indigenous Australian children and reported that low birthweight was associated with lower predicted BMI at 11 years of age for Indigenous boys and girls compared to Indigenous children with a healthy birthweight [ 24 ]. The authors reported that the results were statistically significant for girls ( p = 0.0001), with a trend toward lower BMI for boys.…”

“…The authors reported that the results were statistically significant for girls ( p = 0.0001), with a trend toward lower BMI for boys. However, this finding was presented graphically with unclear numeric labelling, making it difficult to assess exact findings [ 24 ]. There was no indication of whether the discrepancy in child BMI was likely to impact on child health and wellbeing.…”