TY - JOUR
T1 - Anaemia Health Literacy of Community Members and Health Practitioners: Knowledge of Best Practice Guidelines in a Remote Australian Aboriginal Community
AU - Kearns, Therese
AU - Ward, Felicity
AU - Puszka, Stefanie
AU - Gundjirryirr, Roslyn
AU - Moss, Bonnie
AU - Bailie, Ross
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Anaemia is a critical public health problem in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for which the health literacy of community members and health practitioners is unknown. Worldwide, pregnant women and children have the highest anaemia rates and are the major groups targeted for screening and intervention programs. In the Northern Territory, Australia, 15% of Aboriginal mothers are anaemic during pregnancy and up to 25 % of children aged 0-5 years are anaemic, with the highest prevalence of 31% identified in those aged 6-11 months. Anaemia can have adverse effects on physical and cognitive development in the early years and has long-term implications for the development of chronic diseases later in life. The aim of this study was to assess anaemia health literacy of community members and health practitioners knowledge of anaemia best practice guidelines in a remote Aboriginal community where English is not the first language. Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with 39 community members and 12 health practitioners. Among community members there were mixed levels of anaemia health literacy with the majority assessed as having good literacy. Health practitioners had a very good level of anaemia knowledge that was excellent for one group.
AB - Anaemia is a critical public health problem in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for which the health literacy of community members and health practitioners is unknown. Worldwide, pregnant women and children have the highest anaemia rates and are the major groups targeted for screening and intervention programs. In the Northern Territory, Australia, 15% of Aboriginal mothers are anaemic during pregnancy and up to 25 % of children aged 0-5 years are anaemic, with the highest prevalence of 31% identified in those aged 6-11 months. Anaemia can have adverse effects on physical and cognitive development in the early years and has long-term implications for the development of chronic diseases later in life. The aim of this study was to assess anaemia health literacy of community members and health practitioners knowledge of anaemia best practice guidelines in a remote Aboriginal community where English is not the first language. Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with 39 community members and 12 health practitioners. Among community members there were mixed levels of anaemia health literacy with the majority assessed as having good literacy. Health practitioners had a very good level of anaemia knowledge that was excellent for one group.
U2 - 10.13189/ujph.2017.050105
DO - 10.13189/ujph.2017.050105
M3 - Article
VL - 5
SP - 32
EP - 39
JO - Universal Journal of Public Health
JF - Universal Journal of Public Health
IS - 1
ER -