High prevalence of early onset anaemia amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants in remote northern Australia

Aquino, Danielle, Leonard, Dympna, Hadgraft, Nyssa, and Marley, Julia V. (2018) High prevalence of early onset anaemia amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants in remote northern Australia. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 26 (4). pp. 245-250.

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DOI: 10.1111/ajr.12403

View at Publisher Website: https://doi.org/10.1111/ajr.12403

Abstract

Objectives: To describe baseline growth and prevalence of anaemia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants and young children enrolled in a nutrition promotion and anaemia prevention program in remote northern Australia.

Design: Retrospective review of most recent growth parameters and haemoglobin records during the 3 months prior to and 1 month after recruitment into a prospective study conducted between 25 May 2010 and 6 May 2012.

Setting: Primary health care clinics in six remote Aboriginal communities (east Kimberley, Western Australia (n = 1); Northern Territory (n = 4); Cape York, Queensland (n = 1)).

Participants: Two hundred and sixty-two of the estimated 311 (84%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants and young children aged 6-24 months residing in participating communities.

Main outcome measures: Prevalence of anaemia, stunting, underweight and overweight at recruitment. Results: At recruitment, 42% of participants were anaemic, 18% stunted, S% underweight and S% overweight. Anaemia prevalence was higher than estimates (26-27%) in routine surveillance programs in remote communities and substantially higher than estimates (1.8-4.9%) in the general Australian population. One-quarter of participants were anaemic prior to 6 months of age.

Conclusions: The unexpectedly high prevalence of anaemia and stunting in these communities highlight the need for continued preventive health programs focused on ensuring adequate nutrition amongst infants, young children and their mothers. The early onset of anaemia and stunting suggests a comprehensive anaemia prevention approach is needed, including greater emphasis on maternal and pre-pregnancy health and nutrition to increase infants' iron stores at birth and sustain these to 6 months of age.


Item ID:	55299
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1440-1584
Keywords:	Aboriginal health, anaemia, child health, health service research, Indigenous populations
Copyright Information:	© 2018 National Rural Health Alliance Ltd.
Sensitivity Note:	May be culturally sensitive for Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
Date Deposited:	05 Sep 2018 09:05
FoR Codes:	32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3210 Nutrition and dietetics > 321099 Nutrition and dietetics not elsewhere classified @ 33% 32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3213 Paediatrics > 321302 Infant and child health @ 33% 45 INDIGENOUS STUDIES > 4504 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing > 450403 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child health and wellbeing @ 34%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9203 Indigenous Health > 920302 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health - Health Status and Outcomes @ 34% 92 HEALTH > 9205 Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) > 920501 Child Health @ 33% 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920411 Nutrition @ 33%
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