eMJA     The Medical Journal of Australia

Home | Issues | eMJA shop | My account | Classifieds | Contact | More... | Topics | Search   

Research Enterprise — Viewpoint

Indigenous child health: urgent need for improved data to underpin better health outcomes

Emily Fremantle, Yvonne A Zurynski, Deepika Mahajan, Heather D’Antoine and Elizabeth J Elliott
MJA 2008; 188 (10): 588-591
Abstract
  • Accurate data about Indigenous child health is vital to enable us to understand its current state, to acknowledge achievements, and to determine how to reduce inequalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children.

  • We have identified a paucity of national, or nationally representative, data relating to Indigenous child health outcomes, and significant deficiencies in available data.

  • A coordinated national approach will help address current data limitations, including lack of identification of Indigenous status, lack of currency, and lack of information about specific health disorders affecting Indigenous children.

  • To ensure that health data collected are relevant and useful, Indigenous communities must have a role in data collection and management.

Home | Issues | eMJA shop | My account | Classifieds | More... | Contact | Topics | Search

The Medical Journal of Australia    eMJA  

©The Medical Journal of Australia 2008 www.mja.com.au PRINT ISSN: 0025-729X ONLINE ISSN: 1326-5377