Introduction
In 2011, the estimated population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians was 669 000, of which the majority was aged between 0-24 (ABS 2016b). Improving physical health of young Indigenous Australians is, therefore, essential to promote population health and public health. This report will employ the modified national indicator framework of young people’s health and wellbeing (AIHW 2010) to provide a comprehensive overview of young Indigenous Australians’ current major physical health status and argue the need for priority direction. Thereafter, it will explore the selected health determinants that influences this population’s physical health, and finally discuss the ‘Deadly teeth’ programme that aims to improve …show more content…
2017). In Indigenous children, type 1 diabetes is the most common chronic condition (AIHW 2015). Up to 31 December 2013, 167 Indigenous children ( 1 in 1500 children) had type 1 diabetes (AIHW 2015). Type 2 diabetes has also seen an increase in young Indigenous people, with mean annual incident 6.9 times higher than their non-indigenous counterparts (Tran et al. 2014). Besides genetic predisposition, these chronic conditions are mostly nutrition-associated disorders (Anderson et al. 2015; Gracey, MS. 2007). Many young Indigenous Australians experience nutritional deficiencies in both remote and urban areas (ABS 2015). Under-nutrition, over-nutrition and modern lifestyles can be associated with the increased incidence of these chronic conditions (Ashman et al. 2016; Maple-Brown, Sinha & Davis …show more content…
However, other infectious diseases, such as respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea, ear infections and scabies, remains high (Kearns et al. 2013). In particular, the prevalence of giardia positive was up to 66.7% in remote Indigenous community due to contaminated water and poor living environment (Asher et al. 2014). Sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea, are the highest in Indigenous women aged from 15 to 19 (Graham et al. 2012). These infections are often associated with hygiene, poor sanitation, the health literacy, beliefs towards the diseases, breastfeeding practice, the exposure to infections and immunisation coverage in Indigenous population (Kearns et al.
In 2011, the estimated population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians was 669 000, of which the majority was aged between 0-24 (ABS 2016b). Improving physical health of young Indigenous Australians is, therefore, essential to promote population health and public health. This report will employ the modified national indicator framework of young people’s health and wellbeing (AIHW 2010) to provide a comprehensive overview of young Indigenous Australians’ current major physical health status and argue the need for priority direction. Thereafter, it will explore the selected health determinants that influences this population’s physical health, and finally discuss the ‘Deadly teeth’ programme that aims to improve …show more content…
2017). In Indigenous children, type 1 diabetes is the most common chronic condition (AIHW 2015). Up to 31 December 2013, 167 Indigenous children ( 1 in 1500 children) had type 1 diabetes (AIHW 2015). Type 2 diabetes has also seen an increase in young Indigenous people, with mean annual incident 6.9 times higher than their non-indigenous counterparts (Tran et al. 2014). Besides genetic predisposition, these chronic conditions are mostly nutrition-associated disorders (Anderson et al. 2015; Gracey, MS. 2007). Many young Indigenous Australians experience nutritional deficiencies in both remote and urban areas (ABS 2015). Under-nutrition, over-nutrition and modern lifestyles can be associated with the increased incidence of these chronic conditions (Ashman et al. 2016; Maple-Brown, Sinha & Davis …show more content…
However, other infectious diseases, such as respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea, ear infections and scabies, remains high (Kearns et al. 2013). In particular, the prevalence of giardia positive was up to 66.7% in remote Indigenous community due to contaminated water and poor living environment (Asher et al. 2014). Sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea, are the highest in Indigenous women aged from 15 to 19 (Graham et al. 2012). These infections are often associated with hygiene, poor sanitation, the health literacy, beliefs towards the diseases, breastfeeding practice, the exposure to infections and immunisation coverage in Indigenous population (Kearns et al.