Respiratory health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Australian Capital Territory

  1. NJ Glasgow1,
  2. EA Goodchild1,
  3. R Yates1,
  4. A-L Ponsonby2

Article first published online: 16 SEP 2003

DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1754.2003.00209.x

Issue

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health

Volume 39, Issue 7, pages 534–539, September 2003

Additional Information

How to Cite

Glasgow, N., Goodchild, E., Yates, R. and Ponsonby, A.-L. (2003), Respiratory health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Australian Capital Territory. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 39: 534–539. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1754.2003.00209.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Academic Unit of General Practice and Community Care, Canberra Clinical School of the University of Sydney, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, and

  2. 2

    National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University and the Menzies Centre for Population Health Research, University of Tasmania,Hobart,Tasmania, Australia

*NJ Glasgow, Academic Unit of General Practice and Community Care, PO Box 254, Jamison Centre, ACT 2614 Australia. Fax: +61 2 6251 4165; email: Nicholas.Glasgow@calvary-act.com.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 16 SEP 2003
  2. Article first published online: 16 SEP 2003
  3. Accepted for publication 23 January 2003.

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Keywords:

  • Aboriginal;
  • asthma;
  • atopy;
  • respiratory;
  • tobacco

Objectives:  To measure the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and atopic disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (indigenous) and non-indigenous children in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

Methods:  A two-stage questionnaire survey of children in the ACT with stage two completed for children identified by parents as having respiratory symptoms or asthma in the first stage cross-sectional survey. Participants in the study were: (i) all new entrant primary schoolchildren aged 4−6 years in 1999, 2000 and 2001, 217 being indigenous children and 10 604 being non-indigenous children (80% of eligible); and (ii) Year 1−6 primary schoolchildren in 2000, with 216 being indigenous children and 14 202 being non-indigenous children (52% of eligible). Respiratory symptoms (including recent wheeze and parent-reported asthma) and other factors were measured by parental questionnaire.

Results:  Indigenous kindergarten children had more recent wheeze (21%, odds ratio (OR) 1.4 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0−2.0)) and parent-reported asthma (24%, OR 1.8 95% CI 1.3−2.5) than non-indigenous children (both 15%). However, indigenous children had less eczema (25%, OR 0.7 95% CI 0.5−0.9) and hayfever (14%, OR 0.7 95% CI 0.5−1.0) than non-indigenous children (32% and 19%, respectively). Among children with respiratory symptoms, the symptom severity did not differ between groups, but indigenous children were exposed to more environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) (63%, OR 3.5 95% CI 2.1−5.9) than non-indigenous children (32%).

Conclusions:  Indigenous children in the ACT have more respiratory morbidity but less of the atopic diseases of hayfever and eczema than non-indigenous children. Whether the respiratory morbidity represents ‘asthma’ or results from increased ETS exposure is unclear and needs to be further explored.

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