Conference Papers
Session H2.1. Primary Health Care, Health Awareness and risk for young people
1. Rhonda Garad: Why indigenous women need to know about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
For the first time in Australia, a definitive body of research into Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) has been undertaken; the resultant evidence based guideline has significant implications for the health of indigenous women with particular importance for young indigenous women. The prevalence of PCOS among Indigenous women is as high as 1 in 5 (21%) with major, long term associated health risks such as diabetes, heart disease and infertility. The Jean Hailes Foundation collaborated with an alliance of the leaders in PCOS, from the research, clinical and community sectors and developed an evidence base guideline for the early detection, assessment and management of PCOS. A key finding from the guideline is that early detection is vital to the long term health of women with PCOS. Currently up to 70% of women with PCOS are unaware of the condition therefore it is imperative that a comprehensive public health campaign is undertaken to raise awareness particularly in high risk groups such as indigenous women. Women with PCOS have up to four times the risk of developing heart disease which is the leading cause of premature death in women. In addition, women with PCOS have four to seven times the risk of developing diabetes; a disease that results is reduced quality of life and increased morbidity. However, preventative health measures can significantly reduce the development of both diseases and will also reduce the risk of infertility and obesity. The Foundation has a successful 18-year history of delivering positive health outcomes to Australian women through an innovative mix of research, education and clinical care and will use this experience to implement a PCOS awareness campaign across Australia.
Author bio: Rhonda is a Registered Nurse who has working in the area of preventative health for some years. In addition, Rhonda has lectured in Health Sciences at Monash University Melbourne. Currently she is working in the area of research translation with the Jean Hailes Foundation for women’s health.
2. Joanne Luke, Paul Stewart, Ian Anderson and Reg Thorpe: Good Health and Koori Youth: Findings from the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service’s Young People’s Project
This paper uses data collected in 1997/9 by the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) as part of the Young People’s Project to explore the determinants of good health for 172 Koori youth aged 12–30 years. Chi-squared tests were used to assess associations between self-reported ‘good health’ and social, cultural, emotional and behavioural determinants. Statistical analysis revealed that having strong family support, high self-esteem, satisfaction with life, strong social networks, achievement at school/TAFE/university, participation in sport, strong friendships and healthy eating were the determinants significantly associated (at the p=0.05 level) with ‘good health’. These findings suggest that policies and practices encouraging strong Koori families and communities are essential in creating strong Koori youth.
Author bio: Joanne Luke is an Aboriginal research assistant with the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service with a Bachelor in Science and a Master in Public Health. Joanne has a keen interest in community-based research. Aside from her involvement with the analysis of the VAHS Young People’s Project data, she’s also working on projects around comprehensive primary health care and cardiovascular disease.
3. Katrina Hopkins: Predictors of psychosocial functioning in Aboriginal young people exposed to high family-level risk
Many Aboriginal families experience high levels of disadvantage and stress that undermine their capacity to provide for the needs of their children. The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS) found some 20% of Aboriginal children in WA live in families experiencing 7-14 life stress events in the previous 12 months, with high levels of stress associated with increased risk of emotional or behavioural difficulties in young people. How do young people adapt to high risk circumstances and maintain positive emotional or behavioural functioning? While there are many uplifting stories of individuals overcoming high odds, there has been no quantitative estimate of the extent of resilient functioning in the WA Aboriginal youth population. Using the WAACHS dataset of 1,073 youth aged 12-17 years, we define resilient psychosocial functioning, and using hierarchical logistic regression techniques empirically investigate the extent to which 18 factors in young people’s environments are associated with their positive adaptation. Using a subsample of high-risk exposed young people we found increased likelihood of resilient psychosocial functioning for young people with a prosocial friend, and two factors significantly associated with reduced psychosocial functioning. Our analyses revealed young people in more socioeconomically advantaged areas, and self-reporting higher levels of cultural knowledge, were less likely to adapt positively in the context of high risk families. These results highlight the importance of having a prosocial friend, and for better understanding of the needs of young people in social transition, and the circumstances under which young people with high levels of cultural knowledge are less resilient in the context of high risk families.
Author bio: Katrina is a PhD candidate and recipient of an Australian Postgraduate Award, Curtin University of Technology Postgraduate Scholarship, and a Stan & Jean Perron Award for her doctoral research in resilience in Aboriginal youth. Katrina has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Psychology, a Graduate Diploma in Organizational Psychology, and a Masters in Health Sciences from Curtin University of Technology, and a Diploma of Education in School Psychology from the University of Western Australia. Katrina has worked in State and Federal government departments and the private sector in policy development and strategic planning for Aboriginal housing and infrastructure and environmental health. While in State Government she chaired an inter-government agency working group that coordinated and implemented the first environmental health needs survey of conditions in all Western Australian discrete Aboriginal communities.