Ambulatory services in an aboriginal community and a west Queensland rural area

The aim of this study was to compare the incidence/prevalence of diseases in persons attending for ambulatory care at a Queensland Aboriginal community and a farming area in western Queensland. Data were analysed for attendances for disease management from 1 May 1994 to 31 April 1995 at Cherbourg Hospital and from 1 March 1995 to 28 February 1996 at Alpha Hospital. Over these periods the hospitals and associated clinics were the only local ambulatory services available to each community. The numbers of visits for management of disease were 6.0 per person per year at Cherbourg and 4.3 per person per year at Alpha. At each location 78% of the population visited the service for disease management. At Cherbourg, the commonest diagnoses were skin diseases, mainly associated with scabies, accidents and injuries, and respiratory diseases. At Alpha the commonest problems were accidents and injuries, and respiratory disorders, followed by musculoskeletal, skin and CNS disorders. The rate of diabetes was higher in the Cherbourg group, but involved only 5% of the population and was thus not a major cause for the use of health services. The rate of visits for cardiovascular disease at Alpha and Cherbourg were similar, but the percentage of persons involved was smaller at Cherbourg. Accidents and injuries, and respiratory diseases were common in both locations. Skin disease, mainly due to scabies, was a major problem in the Aboriginal community and led to many admissions. Many visits involved potentially preventable diseases.