scholarly journals Problems in diagnosing sexually transmitted infections in remote Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Gary David Lum
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Indigenous Population ◽  
Chlamydia Infection ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Indigenous Australian ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Torres Strait

Times are changing. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Strategy 2005-2008 provides current commentary on the problems facing Australia?s Indigenous population. While the rates of sexually transmitted infections have always been higher in Indigenous Australians, there is some evidence of increasing rates of HIV infection. The rate of Chlamydia infection in non-Indigenous Australians has doubled between 1999 and 2003, while the rate of infection in some populations of Indigenous Australians has moved from 658 per 100 000 to 1140 per 100 000 population. Indigenous Australians are forty-times more likely to be infected with the gonococcus than non-Indigenous Australian men and women. It should not be surprising that Indigenous Australian rates of syphilis are unacceptably high at ~250 per 100 000 population and almost non-existent in the non-Indigenous population.

scholarly journals Sexually transmitted infections in an African migrant population in Portugal: a base-line study

2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (03) ◽  
pp. 326-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Távora-Tavira ◽  
Rosa Teodósio ◽  
Jorge Seixas ◽  
Emília Prieto ◽  
Rita Castro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Chlamydia Infection ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Prevalence Studies ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Sub Saharan

Background: For geographical and recent historic reasons, Portugal is a gateway and home for immigration from sub-Saharan countries. Misconceptions related to these populations often lead to consider them as high-frequency clusters for dissemination of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Epidemiological evidence-based data is needed to elucidate these issues and baseline prevalence studies are the starting point for this. Methodology: A prospective study was conducted in 220 African migrants (171 men and 49 women), recently arrived in Portugal, at the time of their first consultation. The presence of STIs was evaluated using a clinical syndromic approach and biological confirmation for gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection, syphilis, Hepatitis B and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Results: Global prevalence of the targeted infections were 1.8% for gonorrhoea, 0 % for Chlamydia infection, 4.1% for Syphilis, 5.9% for HBsAg presence and 7.3% for HIV infection. Globally, 16.4% of the studied persons had at least one sexually transmitted infection. Conclusions: We concluded that prevalence rates encountered in this population is similar to that of non-migrant Portuguese populations with a high risk for sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore migration from sub-Saharan Africa doesn’t seem to constitute a particularly critical isolated factor for public health risk of STIs in the community.

scholarly journals Introduction

2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Mackinlay ◽  
Katelyn Barney
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Working Relationships ◽  
Colonial History ◽  
Indigenous Australian ◽  
Indigenous Students ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Pedagogical Approaches

Indigenous Australian studies, also called Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, is an expanding discipline in universities across Australia (Nakata, 2004). As a discipline in its own right, Indigenous Australian studies plays an important role in teaching students about Australia's colonial history and benefits both non-Indigenous and Indigenous students by teaching them about Australia's rich and shared cultural heritage (Craven, 1999, pp. 23–25). Such teaching and learning seeks to actively discuss and deconstruct historical and contemporary entanglements between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and, in doing so, help build better working relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. As educators in this discipline, it is important for us to find pedagogical approaches which make space for these topics to be accessed, understood, discussed and engaged with in meaningful ways.

Another Country: Non-Aboriginal Tertiary Students' Perceptions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

1997 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
English Language ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Indigenous Australian ◽  
Bachelor Of Arts ◽  
Indigenous Perspectives ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
The University

Even though Aboriginal people are from Australia it does not mean they speak the English language (non-Aboriginal tertiary student).Jo Lampert's (1996) research discussed in her articleIndigenous Australian perspectives in teaching at the University of Queenslandspeaks volumes about the challenges of attempting to make university curricula inclusive of Indigenous Australian perspectives. She documents the often ambivalent attitudes of academics towards opening up the curriculum to Indigenous Australians. The research discussed here seeks to add to our understanding of this process, focussing this time on the response of students to the introduction of Australian Indigenous perspectives into a single unit within a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching program. The impetus to reflect on the process came with the shock of reading student papers, written at the end of the unit, and finding that effective communication about the educational needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples did not seem to have taken place, making a closer analysis of the teaching/learning process imperative. This investigation will address questions abouthowuniversities can communicate effectively about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

scholarly journals Sexually Transmitted Infections

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-10
Author(s):  
LE Nicolle
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Early Death ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
Chlamydia Infection ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
High Risk Populations

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) other than HIV have reappeared as an important public health problem in developed countries (1). In the late 1970s and early 1980s, research and treatment of the 'classic' STIs - gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia - were a major focus of infectious diseases practice and research. There were large outbreaks of syphilis in parts of Canada (2), penicillin-resistantNeisseria gonorrhoeaewas a concern (3), and high rates ofChlamydia trachomatisinfection with complications of pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy were being reported (4,5). Then, HIV infection emerged, with its spectre of a wasting, early death. There was no effective treatment, and safe sexual practices were embraced and adhered to by high-risk populations as the only effective way to avoid infection. These practices effectively prevented other STIs; rates of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia infection plummeted in developed countries (5). For at least a decade, it appeared that HIV might be an end to all STIs, at least for some parts of the world. STIs continued unabated in developing countries, as many epidemiological and therapeutic studies explored the association of STIs with HIV infection.

scholarly journals Interventions to improve health literacy among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Nash ◽  
Amit Arora
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Indigenous Australian ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Improve Health

Abstract Background Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to experience poorer health outcomes than other population groups. While data specific to Indigenous Australians are scarce, a known social health literacy gradient exists linking low health literacy and poor health outcomes within many minority populations. Improving health literacy among Indigenous Australians is an important way to support self-determination and autonomy in both individuals and communities, by enhancing knowledge and improving health outcomes. This review aims to rigorously examine the effectiveness of health literacy interventions targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Methods A systematic review across six databases (The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, ProQuest Dissertation and Thesis and Web of Science) was performed for publications evaluating interventions to improve health literacy among Indigenous Australian adults using search terms identifying a range of related outcomes. Results Of 824 articles retrieved, a total of five studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. The included studies evaluated the implementation of workshops, structured exercise classes and the provision of discounted fruit and vegetables to improve nutrition, modify risk factors for chronic diseases, and improve oral health literacy. All interventions reported statistically significant improvement in at least one measured outcome. However, there was limited involvement of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members in the research process and participant retention rates were sub-optimal. Conclusion There is limited evidence on interventions to improve health literacy in Indigenous Australian adults. Participation in interventions was often suboptimal and loss to follow-up was high. Future studies co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members are needed to improve health literacy in this population.

scholarly journals Alcohol consumption and dependence is linked to the extent that people experience need satisfaction while drinking alcohol in two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Conigrave ◽  
Emma L. Bradshaw ◽  
Katherine M. Conigrave ◽  
Richard M. Ryan ◽  
Scott Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Need Satisfaction ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Indigenous Australian ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Torres Strait

Abstract Background Unhealthy alcohol use is a key concern for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (‘Indigenous Australian’) communities. Due to systematic disadvantage and inter-generational trauma, Indigenous Australians may be less likely to have satisfied basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness). When people are need-thwarted, they may engage in compensatory behaviours to feel better in the short-term. We explore the relationship between perceived basic psychological needs satisfaction and alcohol consumption use among Indigenous Australians. Better understanding the functions that alcohol may play for some Indigenous Australian drinkers may aid communities, clinicians, and policy makers in improving programs for reducing drinking-related harms. Methods We performed a cross-sectional survey of Indigenous Australians (aged 16 years or older) living in two South Australian communities. Participants were eligible if they had consumed any alcohol in the past 12 months. Spearman correlations and linear regressions were used to determine if feeling more autonomous, competent, and related to others (need satisfied) while drinking, was linked to alcohol consumption and dependence. Results Controlling for participant demographics, reporting feeling need satisfied while drinking was linked to drinking more alcohol per day, reporting more frequent symptoms of alcohol dependence, spending more money on alcohol, and scoring higher on the AUDIT-C. Conclusions Unhealthy drinking may partly stem from attempts to satisfy basic psychological needs. Programs which support Indigenous Australians to meet basic psychological needs could reduce attempts to meet psychological needs through alcohol consumption.

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