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Chronic condition risk factor change over time in a remote Indigenous community
Kylie Strate1, Julie Brimblecombe2, Louise Maple-Brown3
1Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Australia; and Miwatj Aboriginal Health Corporation, PO Box 519, Nhulunbuy, NT 0881, Australia. kyliestrate@hotmail.com.
Rural and Remote Health
|January 14, 2020
Summary
Community health initiatives showed some benefits for chronic condition risk factors in an Indigenous community, stabilizing body composition. However, increases in diabetes markers and cholesterol, alongside high smoking rates, indicate a need for broader social and economic policy interventions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Chronic Disease Epidemiology
- Indigenous Health
Background:
- Remote Indigenous communities face significant burdens of chronic diseases.
- Community-led health promotion is a key strategy for improving health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess changes in chronic condition risk factors in a remote Indigenous community.
- To evaluate the impact of a 3-year community-led health promotion initiative.
Main Methods:
- Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted before and after the initiative.
- Longitudinal analysis used multilevel mixed-effects regression on participants from both surveys.
- Key risk factors assessed included body composition, blood pressure, HbA1c, lipids, and smoking prevalence.
Main Results:
- Body composition, blood pressure, and albumin-to-creatinine ratio remained stable.
- Haemoglobin A1c increased in individuals with diabetes (57 to 63 mmol/mol).
- Total cholesterol and triglycerides increased, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol improved. Smoking prevalence remained high (56-57%).
Conclusions:
- Community-led health promotion showed some benefits, particularly in stabilizing body composition.
- Unfavorable trends in diabetes markers and cholesterol, coupled with persistent high smoking rates, necessitate policy interventions addressing social and economic determinants of health.
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