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Improving Access to Primary Care for Aboriginal Babies in Western Australia

Despite Australia’s capacity and generally excellent health services it is a major concern that we are unable to deliver effective health care to many vulnerable Aboriginal mothers and infants. The health of many Australian Aboriginal infants continues to be poor despite substantial investments from federal and state governments.

The early infant period (from birth to three months of age, 0-<3m) is the period when babies are most vulnerable, have the highest hospitalisation rates and are most in need of primary care services. Australian Aboriginal babies are scheduled for six contacts with primary care providers during this period for immunisation (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, poliovirus, rotavirus, pneumococcal vaccines) and preventative care (neonatal screening test, screening and follow up for growth, development, oral health, ear disease, skin infections, family health and wellbeing, and medical examination [the ‘6 week check’]).

However, there is increasing concern in the Aboriginal community that despite high quality hospital based maternity services over 50% of WA Aboriginal babies are not receiving primary care in the early infant period. Over 50% of Aboriginal babies have not received a Medicare number in the first seven days of life and 40% of infants are overdue or have not received basic hepatitis B and DTP immunisations. Hospital admissions are two-fold higher in Aboriginal (51%) than in non-Aboriginal babies (24%) over this period and emergency department presentations are even higher.

The overall aim of our trial is to improve health outcomes in Aboriginal infants in Australia.

The primary objectives are:

  • To determine whether our new model of early infant primary care (population-based birth notification and early infant care coordination) can achieve substantive and sustained improvements in access to early infant primary care for Aboriginal babies across Western Australia (WA)
  • To determine whether the attainment of best practice levels in access to primary care can improve long term health outcomes and reduce hospitalisations in Aboriginal infants aged under three months in WA

The primary hypothesis is that our early infant primary care model will significantly reduce all cause hospitalisations in WA Aboriginal infants from the time they are discharged from hospital after birth to three months of age.

Researchers

Professor Daniel McAullay
Professor Karen Edmond, University of Western Australia
Professor Rhonda Marriott, Murdoch University
Doctor Kimberley McAuley, University of Western Australia
Mr Glenn Pearson, Telethon Kids Institute
Doctor Peter Jacoby, Telethon Kids Institute
Doctor Chantal Ferguson, Department of Health Western Australia

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