Making Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders History In The Pilbara: An Evidence-based Prevention Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,703,824.00
Summary
This project creates and evaluates a community-oriented Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder prevention program. Based on an internationally recognised model, the program will be delivered through the Pilbara’s Aboriginal Health Organisations and WA Country Health Service and will assist Aboriginal women, partners, community and health providers. Program success will result in a reduction in alcohol use during pregnancy, and increased community and health providers’ knowledge, attitudes and practice.
Improving The Management Of Youth With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder In The Justice System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,499,897.00
Summary
Rates of Aboriginal youth incarceration in Western Australia are among the highest nationally. There is an urgent need to understand the extent of involvement of youth with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in the justice system, and develop strategies to prevent continued engagement with the justice system. This research will establish the first Australian estimate of FASD among youth in detention and develop and evaluate a new model of service delivery and clinical management.
Waist Circumference And Absolute Risks Of Chronic Diseases: Evidence For Establishing Waist Circumference Cutoffs For Aboriginal Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$356,978.00
Summary
The gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and other Australians is unacceptable. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney failure are major diseases contributing to such a gap. Waist circumference is an important risk marker of those chronic diseases for health promotion and intervention. However, cutoff values for Aboriginal Australians are lacking, which limits its use in this population. In this project, we will provide evidence of multiple sources for establishing appropriate cutoff v ....The gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and other Australians is unacceptable. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney failure are major diseases contributing to such a gap. Waist circumference is an important risk marker of those chronic diseases for health promotion and intervention. However, cutoff values for Aboriginal Australians are lacking, which limits its use in this population. In this project, we will provide evidence of multiple sources for establishing appropriate cutoff values for Aboriginal people.Read moreRead less
ARDAC (Antecedents Of Renal Disease In Aboriginal Children) Follow-up Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$298,268.00
Summary
Indigenous people world-wide have higher rates of kidney failure than non-Indigenous people. Aboriginal Australians have the highest rates of kidney failure in the world, especially in those living in remote areas. The reasons for this are complex, and include well-known environmental risk factors that contribute to many diseases in Aboriginal people - socio-economic disadvantage, higher rates of infection, smoking, alcohol abuse and poor nutrition. There are also biological risk factors more sp ....Indigenous people world-wide have higher rates of kidney failure than non-Indigenous people. Aboriginal Australians have the highest rates of kidney failure in the world, especially in those living in remote areas. The reasons for this are complex, and include well-known environmental risk factors that contribute to many diseases in Aboriginal people - socio-economic disadvantage, higher rates of infection, smoking, alcohol abuse and poor nutrition. There are also biological risk factors more specific to kidney disease such as low birth weight babies, reduced kidney volume, female sex, family history of kidney disease, genetic influences, over and under-nutrition and high blood pressure. Many of these risks may take effect in childhood, resulting in silent kidney damage that may become chronic in adulthood when diabetes and other influences take effect. In order to clarify the degree of risk early influences have on Aboriginal kidney disease before adult confounders complicate the picture, a unique study of early signs of kidney disease in outwardly healthy Aboriginal children was planned. These school children come from different locations across NSW, and have a non-Aboriginal comparator group. The first primary aims are complete: To determine: 1. Rates of blood and protein in the urine, and high blood pressure in Aboriginal as compared to non-Aboriginal children. These are the early markers, or antecedents of kidney disease; 2. If these antecedents differ over urban, coastal, rural and remote regions, and socio-economic areas; 3. Any association between antecedents and other risk factors such as age, gender, birth weight and growth; Secondary aims are currently underway: To determine: 1. The natural history of these antecedents of kidney disease by following these children for a further 4 years; 2. Which risk factors are more likely in children with persisting antecedents -ie the children more likely to develop serious kidney disease.Read moreRead less
Early Life And Contemporary Influences On Body Composition, Mental Health, And Chronic Disease Risk Markers In The Aboriginal Birth Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,117,044.00
Summary
The Aboriginal Birth Cohort study has been following the health of Aboriginal babies in the Northern Territory for the last 30 years. The participants were healthy till adolescence, but overweight and risk factors of diseases such as diabetes, kidney and heart disease are emerging. This follow-up will show when and whether these risk factors develop into disease, which factors are protective and which identify early those most at risk of developing diseases that cause the gap in life expectancy.
Aboriginal Australians are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at approximately 10 times the rate of non-Aboriginal Australians. Since 2002, the ARDAC Study has examined the early markers of kidney and heart disease in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children and adolescents. The study aims to determine if the increased risk of chronic kidney and heart disease seen in Aboriginal adults begins during adolescence and young adulthood as an increased prevalence of chronic disease risk factors.
Understanding The Connections Between Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Culture, Health And Wellbeing To Support Action To Improve Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,915,802.00
Summary
Little is known about the inter-relationship of cultural factors and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes and these relationships have not been quantified. Through a large cohort study, this research will produce data that combines standard health measures with newly developed quantitative measures of cultural factors, supported by data linkage infrastructure. Robust analytical methods will be used to inform policy and program development.
The Longitudinal Study Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Peoples Wellbeing (Mayi Kuwayu)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,891.00
Summary
The focus of Mayi Kuwayu will be to examine how improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing are linked to things like connection to country, cultural practices, ritual, spirituality and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language use. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been saying for a long time that culture affects overall wellbeing.
Novel Interventions To Address Methamphetamines In Aboriginal Communities, Including A Randomised Trial Of A Web Based Therapeutic Tool Used To Treat Dependence In Clinical Settings.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,177,908.00
Summary
Methamphetamine use in Aboriginal communities has gained much media attention, despite limited research studies to ascertain the full extent of its use and its impact. We propose a randomised trial of a web based therapeutic tool for use in Aboriginal Medical Services to treat clients using methamphetamines. In addition we will characterise the health and well-being of Aboriginal people who use methamphetamines and trial unique Aboriginal community led interventions to address methamphetamines.
Training Health Professionals In Tobacco Cessation And Evidence Translation For Aboriginal Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$832,723.00
Summary
Our published pilot investigations have shown that smoking cessation programs among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians are profoundly lacking, with current tobacco prevalence estimates still at 45%. Through a cluster randomised delayed intervention controlled trial design, our proposal includes a opportunistic approach to training existing health professionals in tobacco cessation with a number of methods to reduce tobacco prevalence amongst Indigenous Australians.