Health Challenges Facing Aboriginal Children in Australia

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Table of Contents

Abstract
Introduction
Background
Literature Review
Methods
Study population
Recruitment
Bias and Confounding
Validity and Conclusion
References

Abstract

This study uses a qualitative interview methodology, and summarises data collected using quantitative methods with health issues as its fundamental principle. Health issues have been maintained by employing a number of methods. Reference groups, active engagement with community members, training of Aboriginal research assistants and keeping in contact with community members to build trust and conduct the research are used in our recruitment to further develop partnership between the community leaders and the researchers and to maintain feedback. Each step undertaken to gather and analyse the data, validate the findings and present research outcomes in which communities find comprehensive, accessible and facilitative in growth and continues development. The purpose of this research is to develop a better understanding of health issues and social aspects of Aboriginal children with respect to the major problem of health in the remote Aboriginal communities of the Kalgoorlie and Esperance Regions of Western Australia.

Introduction

Reviews literature on health issues facing aboriginal children and social dynamics of Aboriginal population in Australia are discussed here. A thorough investigation on health issues affecting these communities are illustrated which provides a synthesis of the existing problems. This literature review is coined around personal and situational issues, as well as empirical research on the health concerns with support of reviewed of population studies and themes are summarized. As the cultural context of health issues has a major influence on Aboriginal communities, sociological literature on this pandemic is highlighted (Sayers et al, 2003). To affirm this analysis, researchers linked various responses to research from the related areas and concluded with references for future research on the health and sociological dimensions. The current literature was reviewed using MEDLINE and searched online article using Google as health issues facing Aboriginal children in Australia as my headline and designed my research article around a systematic review to perform a thorough literature search and critical appraisal of individual studies to identify the valid and applicable evidences.

Background

The study was designed in a safe environment with trained Aboriginal research assistants to allow Aboriginal children to express freely and openly as much as possible. The researcher was well acquainted with the neighbourhood and the aboriginal community and had considerable experience working with this people. This equipped him with considerable knowledge of the region and population to be studied and relate well with personal experiences of the aboriginal people. It took 10 months before the study commenced to gain more understanding of health problems facing the community and to gain the necessary approval.

Literature Review

Cases of malnutrition have been on the rise in Aboriginal children from northern and central Australia, particularly in remote Aboriginal communities of the Kalgoorlie and Esperance Regions of Western Australia (Brewster, 2000, p.125). Reports by AIATSIS (2000) evidenced that remote communities of Australia have reported high rates of hospital admission, with most cases in respiratory and enteric infections, growth retardation an iron deficiency. Growth failure has also been reported to be experienced by poor hygiene and overcrowding. Researchers have examined these health issues of Aboriginal children from both from local schools and pre-schools in the Western region were standpoints in an effort to identify service gaps regarding health issues.

Methods

The design for the research study used face-to-face interviews to obtain raw data about health problems facing the Aboriginal children (Rubin and Rubin, 1995). Qualitative research methods comprising of participant observation and interviews, and quantitative methods of randomly selecting participants were utilised because they were considered appropriate to the cultural and language differences that exists in Aboriginal communities in Australia (Punch, 1998).This research was designed in the qualitative and quantitative genre of data collection as I believe this approach will allow us to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of health issues surrounding Aboriginal children. Our research methodology of using participant observation, and interviewing helped us gain better understanding on the complexities of social, economic and cultural factors impacting on them. Qualitative approaches were believed to be appropriate as they are likely to yield more honest opinions in obtaining in-depth understanding of the meanings and events by obtaining raw data from participants.

Study population

Children between 4-12 years of age were drawn from Aboriginal communities and interviewed within the communities. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (2001), the Aboriginal population sample is estimated to be 3,475 in the 5 towns, of which population of 4-12 years old in the region comprises of school going children. While the focus of this study was on children alone, parents and community members were also included to obtain a holistic view of the social and cultural issues facing the children in the community. Service providers that included children workers, clergymen, and health workers were also included. The sampling techniques were randomised sampling (Polgar & Thomas, 2008), asking community members on the opinions to healthcare and for selection of individuals for face to face interviews. Random sampling used for face to face interviews to achieve saturation (Grove, 2007).

Recruitment

A set of questions were drawn in Aboriginal native language to guide the interview and to ensure consistent information was gathered. The interview protocol covered the key information area (health issues), including opinions on intervention services of the same to uncover their thoughts, perceptions and feelings. The questions were structured in a culturally sensitive manner, using their own language to obtain raw data from participants. In a research sought to measure the occurrence of health threatening issues within Australia with Aboriginal children of 4 years to 12 years, a number of local schools and pre-schools in the Western region were selected in an effort to identify the service gaps regarding health issues.

Bias and Confounding

The problems in collecting data on indigenous population were summarised as follows; health issues in Australia has not been adequately addressed, despite best efforts of number of researchers dedicated to the health and welfare issues of these people. The quality of the data collected here can not serve as conclusive, this is because a relative small portion of the Australian population was used, and the research used different definitions for Aboriginality. There was also a problem in assessing remote indigenous population, hence compromising the results of the study (Valance, p.1). Therefore, the little data collected here can not be relied on for future research. Since health issues in respect of malnutrition, poor hygiene and overcrowding are increasing at an alarming rate, Brewster (2006, p.162) suggests that studying the problem more closely with the affected people of the relevant communities is likely to address the problem adequately.

Validity and Conclusion

This research focused on the health issues facing the Aboriginal children and responses of Aboriginal children and especially their “thinking” about why there is an increase in health issues in their communities. This research principle is founded on two principles;

Aboriginal people have different cultural and language background—which required the researcher to develop models of inquiry
Any attempt to solve problems on Aboriginal communities will be done in partnership with the consent of the Aboriginal communities.

Qualitative research methodology used in this research provided a better chance of identifying the extend of the problem because the sampling strategies are better suited in dealing with small samples. It also equipped the researcher with considerable knowledge of the region and population to be studied contributing to the validity of the results. Face-to face interviews were well guided, informed and driven by personal experiences of the aboriginal people. Also, the 10 months allowance before the study commenced helped the researcher gain more understanding of health problems of the aboriginal people and to gain the necessary approval.

Conclusively, to ensure Aboriginal people are able to have a say, equal opportunity in the research study and design was responsive to the needs of the population under study. The need for ongoing health campaigns of Aboriginal community should be provided and extended to the community, schools and preschools. Health related promotional activities should be encouraged to minimise occurrence of such infections.

References

AIATSIS. (2000). The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Guidelines for Ethical Research in Indigenous Studies, 1, 1

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2001). Census of Population and Housing Australians. Canberra.

Brewster, D. R. (2006). Critical appraisal of the management of severe malnutrition: 4. Implications for Aboriginal child health in northern Australia. Sydney: Oxford University Press.

Brewster, D.R. (2000). Intestinal permeability in protein-energy malnutrition. In: Bhutta ZA, ed. Contemporary Issues in Childhood Diarrhoea and Malnutrition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Grove, S.K. (2007). Statistics for health care research: A practical workbook. Edinburgh: Elsevier Saunders. In: Chapter 10. Understanding the Sampling Section of a Research Report: Sample Criteria, Sample Size, Refusal Rate, and Mortality. Edinburgh: Elsevier Saunders.

Polgar, S., & Thomas, S. A. (2008). Introduction to research in the health sciences. (5th edition). Sydney: Churchill Livingstone (Elsevier).

Punch K. (1998). Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. London, UK: Sage.

Rubin H. J. and Rubin I. S. (1995). Qualitative Interviewing; The Art of Hearing Data. Thousand Oakes, California USA, Sage.

Sayers SM, Mackerras D, Singh G, Bucens I, Flynn K, Reid A. (2003). An Australian Aboriginal birth cohort: a unique resource for a life course study of an Indigenous population. A study protocol. BMC Int. HealthHum. Rights, 3,1.

Vallance R. V. & Tchacos E. (2001). Research: A Cultural Bridge. Presented at Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE).2nd –6 2001 Fremantle.

	Theme1 growth retardation	Theme2 Severe Malnutrition	Theme3 respiratory and enteric infections	Theme4 iron deficiency	Theme5 poor hygiene and overcrowding
AIATSIS. (2000).	*
Brewster, D. R. (2006).		*	*	*	*
Brewster, D.R. (2000).		*
Polgar, S., & Thomas, S. A. (2008).					*
Sayers SM, Mackerras D, Singh G, Bucens I, Flynn K, Reid A. (2003).		*

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