Reducing indigenous mortality in Australia: lessons from other countries

Abstract

Mortality rates from all causes in Maoris in New Zealand and Native Americans have fallen substantially since the early 1970s. Comparable mortality rates for Australian Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders in 1990–1994 were at or above the rates observed 20 years ago in Maoris and Native Americans, being 1.9 times the rate in Maoris, 2.4 times the rate in Native Americans, and 3.2 times the rate for all Australians. Circulatory diseases, respiratory diseases, injuries and endocrine diseases (mostly diabetes) are responsible for almost 70% of these excess deaths. Mortality rate trends in indigenous populations in other countries suggest the feasibility of substantial and rapid reductions in mortality rates of Australia's indigenous people.

Uncovering a Hidden Epidemic: A Study of the Current Burden of Heart Failure in Australia

“…To support this action, funding and infrastructure support to facilitate current efforts to develop a national dataset to formally measure and monitor the burden of HF in Australia should be implemented. This funding should also facilitate the cost-effective screening of at risk individuals, including those from lower socio-economic groups 43 and the Indigenous population, 44 to determine whether they have underlying HF and therefore require appropriate treatment/management. Most importantly, there should be widespread implementation of programs that effectively apply evidence-based treatment/management of HF, particularly in the post-discharge setting.…”

Outreach and improved access to specialist services for indigenous people in remote Australia: the requirements for sustainability

“…11 They have a well documented history of alienation, discrimination, and dispossession from land, 12 and a fundamental challenge lies in tackling the marginalised position of indigenous people within Australian society. Public health challenges that remain unmet, such as clean water, effective sanitation, adequate housing, and a healthy food supply, are especially acute in rural and remote areas.…”

Sociocultural Influences on Body Image Concerns and Body Change Strategies Among Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australian Adolescent Girls and Boys

“…Therefore, young Indigenous women and men may feel alienated from their own cultural group in relation to body image concerns, believe that they receive little feedback about their bodies, and so seek feedback from the dominant cultural group to determine appropriate behavior. Another factor that may also contribute to their alienation is that, unlike African Americans, many Indigenous Australians living in urban areas may not have a well-integrated identity and supportive community (Ring & Firman, 1998).…”

“…In addition, as we only examined perceived sociocultural messages, future researchers need to examine the actual messages transmitted by family and friends and compare these to the perceived messages. In all spheres of health, Indigenous Australians fare worse than both non-Indigenous Australians and Indigenous people in other countries such as the United States and New Zealand (Ring & Firman, 1998). As this is a very disadvantaged group in terms of physical, social, and mental health (Hunter, 2000), the study of body image concerns and body change strategies among Indigenous Australian youth ought to be conducted in relation to a broad range of health issues.…”