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Follow-up Study Of Indigenous Adults In North Queensland: Chronic Diseases And Sexual Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,493,700.00
Summary
This study aims to follow up a cohort of Indigenous adults in rural and remote north Queensland communities who participated in the Well Persons Health Check (funded by OATSIH) during 1998-2000. Out of the 2,862 Indigenous participants, 2,503 (87.5%) agreed to have another Check in a few years time. A follow-up study is proposed for the consenting WPHC participants (any any other adults who wish to participate). This study will have 5 main objectives: 1. Estimate the incidence rate of chronic di ....This study aims to follow up a cohort of Indigenous adults in rural and remote north Queensland communities who participated in the Well Persons Health Check (funded by OATSIH) during 1998-2000. Out of the 2,862 Indigenous participants, 2,503 (87.5%) agreed to have another Check in a few years time. A follow-up study is proposed for the consenting WPHC participants (any any other adults who wish to participate). This study will have 5 main objectives: 1. Estimate the incidence rate of chronic disease conditions (diabetes, renal disease, CVD) and the main determinants of these in the north Queensland cohort (It is expected that Torres Strait Islanders will have different patterns to Aborigines), 2. Estimate the change over a 5 year period in risk factors and complications (including hospitalisations) of those with existing chronic conditions 3. At a community level, evaluate the effectiveness of local interventions aimed at health improvement (e.g. one community has drastically changed rules about alcohol availability, other communities have significantly improved the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, still others have commenced family savings programs which improve the availability of money over the week and enable savings to buy fridges etc). 4. Estimate whether the early detection of chlamydia and gonorrhoea (using routine urine PCR testing) has lowered the community prevalence of bacterial STIs, and 5. Evaluate the effectiveness of local health promotion programs (e.g. tobacco control initiatives, healthy weight programs). The study will be undertaken in collaboration with Apunipima Cape York Health Council, the Torres Strait Health Council and relevant local community organisations. It will involve skills development for local Indigenous researchers and practitioners. Results will be given back to communities and individuals, with opportunities for further planning.Read moreRead less
An Examination Of The Causes Of Mortality Following Imprisonment In New South Wales Using Data-linkage.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$205,500.00
Summary
Prisoner populations are characterised by poor health status including infectious diseases, injury, risk taking behaviours (eg. smoking and self-harm), mental illness, and substance abuse. Serosurveys of blood borne viruses such as hepatitis C and hepatitis B conducted in Australian and overseas prison settings have found that over one third of inmates have been exposed to these viruses with higher rates detected in injecting drug users and female inmates. Few attempts have been made to examine ....Prisoner populations are characterised by poor health status including infectious diseases, injury, risk taking behaviours (eg. smoking and self-harm), mental illness, and substance abuse. Serosurveys of blood borne viruses such as hepatitis C and hepatitis B conducted in Australian and overseas prison settings have found that over one third of inmates have been exposed to these viruses with higher rates detected in injecting drug users and female inmates. Few attempts have been made to examine the causes of mortality among prisoners following release from detention. Most interest has focused on overdoses in the period immediately following release; the aim of this study will examine all causes of death among individuals exposed to the correctional environment and compare these to death rates for NSW. Correctional centres house a largely male (94% in NSW) population with backgrounds of disadvantage in all areas, including Indigenous Australians, people of lower socio-economic status, those with a mental illness, and the intellectually disabled. There are currently over 21,000 (June 2001) prisoners detained in Australian correctional centres with approximately 39% housed in NSW. Fifteen percent of the NSW prisoners are Indigenous but comprise only 2% of the general population. The aims of this project will be to: (1) Identify all causes of death among ex-prisoners in NSW for the period 1985 to 2001; (2). Compare death rates in the study group with those in the NSW community; (3) Correlate pre-release health information contained in medical records with specific causes of death; (4) Compare causes of mortality among various sub-groups eg. injecting drug users, the mentally ill, violent offenders, and the intellectually disabled; (5) Examine causes of mortality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous inmates; and (6) use this information to develop pre-release programmes aimed at reducing excess mortality among this group.Read moreRead less
The Sydney Myopia Study: Prevalence And Risk Factors For Myopia And Other Eye Conditions In School-age Children.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$596,375.00
Summary
This study aims to establish the exact extent of increasing levels of myopia in young Australians and the frequency of other treatable eye conditions such as reduced vision in one eye (amblyopia) and squint. We also aim to exam in detail, risk factors associated with myopia, such as parental myopia, living conditions and educational pressures, particularly those associated with reading and other forms of near-work. Increased understanding of factors leading to increasing myopia prevalence may en ....This study aims to establish the exact extent of increasing levels of myopia in young Australians and the frequency of other treatable eye conditions such as reduced vision in one eye (amblyopia) and squint. We also aim to exam in detail, risk factors associated with myopia, such as parental myopia, living conditions and educational pressures, particularly those associated with reading and other forms of near-work. Increased understanding of factors leading to increasing myopia prevalence may enable design of preventive strategies that could limit future increases in the ocurrence of myopia in Australia. The prevalence of myopia is increasing world-wide. In many Asian countries, it has reached epidemic proportions (80-90%) in young, educated people. In many other countries close to half the younger population is now short-sighted. Data from the Blue Mountains Eye Study and Melbourne Visual Impairment Project in older persons have suggested that the prevalence of myopia is increasing in Australia. Comparison with our recent pilot study on school children indicates that myopia prevalence has increased 2 to 3-fold in recent decades. Myopia or short-sightedness is now one of the five major causes of blindness. In countries where the prevalence of myopia is high, it is one of the top three. Myopia requires expensive optical and-or surgical correction of the refractive error for visual functioning. Unfortunately correction does not prevent the development of visual impairment and blindness from complications of myopia. Late in life, even low myopia is associated with an increased risk of both glaucoma and cataract. Myopia therefore imposes additional major health costs because of the burden of eye disease and the support costs for people affected by myopia-associated low vision or blindness. With increasing prevalence, the health care costs of myopia are likely to continue to rise in Australia.Read moreRead less
The Impact Of Household Infrastructure Improvements On Child Health In Remote Aboriginal Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,350.00
Summary
The impact of the living environment on health has been well documented in the last 150 years and it is widely acknowledged that improvements in the living, working and social conditions of industrial countries have resulted in dramatic improvements in health. In Australia the close correlation between an unhealthy environment and the poor health of the Indigenous population has been clearly recognised. In 1993-94 the Federal Government established infrastructure projects as a component in the i ....The impact of the living environment on health has been well documented in the last 150 years and it is widely acknowledged that improvements in the living, working and social conditions of industrial countries have resulted in dramatic improvements in health. In Australia the close correlation between an unhealthy environment and the poor health of the Indigenous population has been clearly recognised. In 1993-94 the Federal Government established infrastructure projects as a component in the implementation of the National Aboriginal Health Strategy. The selection of communities for funding has been based on need, and the Northern Territory has attracted funding support disproportionate to its total population, but consistent with the level of need. While there is wide acceptance of the relationship between the household environment and health status, and evidence to support this general relationship, there is a need at an international and local level for research that informs specific social policy decisions. The aim of the proposed study is to determine the impact of improvements in household infrastructure on the health of children living in remote Aboriginal communities with a view to informing the development of infrastructure projects. The outcomes of this project will be a significant advance in the understanding of the relationship between the household environment and health status, and of the improvements in health that can be achieved through improvement in household infrastructure. The relationship between specific components of household infrastructure and the ability to conduct each of a number of healthy living practices will be defined, to our knowledge, for the first time. There is a unique opportunity in the Northern Territory to conduct world class research in this area. The new information will be of value in the planning of infrastructure projects in remote Indigenous communities across Australia and in similar settings internationallyRead moreRead less
On The Scene: The Epidemiology Of HIV Among Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) In Victoria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$73,397.00
Summary
This PhD will focus specifically on HIV among men who have sex with men in Victoria in effort to identify factors that may explain recent increases in rates of new HIV diagnoses and explore characteristics associated with HIV risk. It will incorporate surveillance and epidemiological data, examinations of local health promotion and HIV prevention initiatives and incorporate modelling methods for HIV to support HIV prevention programs and inform health and service planning in Australia.
Understanding The Health Effects Of Biomass Smoke In Australian Towns And Cities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$172,392.00
Summary
Wildfires have become more frequent and severe the world over and the health impacts of the associated air pollution is a major gap in the current evidence. Working with lead agencies in air quality regulation, public health and fire management I will examine and compare the health effects of air pollution from deliberate burns, bushfires, wood heaters and other sources of air pollution. The research will focus on respiratory and heart disease to inform public health and individual patient care.