Exploring cross-sectional associations between common childhood illness, housing and social conditions in remote Australian Aboriginal communities

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Steve Guthridge¹  Matthew Stevens²  Ross Bailie²  Elizabeth McDonald²  David Brewster³ 

[1] Health Gains Planning Division, Nth Territory Government Department of Health and Families, Darwin, Nth Territory, Australia;Menzies School of Health Research, Institute of Advanced Studies, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia;School of Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia;

关键词: Skin Infection;    Scabies;    Childhood Illness;    Northern Territory;    Child Health Outcome;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-10-147

 received in 2009-09-08, accepted in 2010-03-20,  发布年份 2010

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThere is limited epidemiological research that provides insight into the complex web of causative and moderating factors that links housing conditions to a variety of poor health outcomes. This study explores the relationship between housing conditions (with a primary focus on the functional state of infrastructure) and common childhood illness in remote Australian Aboriginal communities for the purpose of informing development of housing interventions to improve child health.MethodsHierarchical multi-level analysis of association between carer report of common childhood illnesses and functional and hygienic state of housing infrastructure, socio-economic, psychosocial and health related behaviours using baseline survey data from a housing intervention study.ResultsMultivariate analysis showed a strong independent association between report of respiratory infection and overall functional condition of the house (Odds Ratio (OR) 3.00; 95%CI 1.36-6.63), but no significant association between report of other illnesses and the overall functional condition or the functional condition of infrastructure required for specific healthy living practices. Associations between report of child illness and secondary explanatory variables which showed an OR of 2 or more included: for skin infection - evidence of poor temperature control in the house (OR 3.25; 95%CI 1.06-9.94), evidence of pests and vermin in the house (OR 2.88; 95%CI 1.25-6.60); for respiratory infection - breastfeeding in infancy (OR 0.27; 95%CI 0.14-0.49); for diarrhoea/vomiting - hygienic state of food preparation and storage areas (OR 2.10; 95%CI 1.10-4.00); for ear infection - child care attendance (OR 2.25; 95%CI 1.26-3.99).ConclusionThese findings add to other evidence that building programs need to be supported by a range of other social and behavioural interventions for potential health gains to be more fully realised.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Bailie et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010