TY - JOUR
T1 - Using community-led development to build health communication about rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal children
T2 - a developmental evaluation
AU - Mitchell, Alice G.
AU - Diddo, Joseph
AU - James, Alistair Djalolba
AU - Guraylayla, Laurie
AU - Jinmarabynana, Cindy
AU - Carter, Abigail
AU - Rankin, Stanley Djalarra
AU - Djorlom, Gideon
AU - Coleman, Carolyn
AU - Scholes, Mason
AU - Haynes, Emma
AU - Remenyi, Boglarka
AU - Yan, Jennifer
AU - Francis, Joshua Reginald
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding for ongoing work was provided by the Australian Government under the Strong Communities for Children Program, instigated by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and now managed by the National Indigenous Australians Agency. This funding is administered locally at Maningrida through the Malála Health Service Aboriginal Corporation. We are grateful for the ongoing support of Rheumatic Heart Disease Australia, an organisation funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, which supported AM's visits to Maningrida during 2019.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - Objective: A high prevalence of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among Aboriginal children in northern Australia is coupled with low understanding among families. This has negative impacts on children's health, limits opportunities for prevention and suggests that better health communication is needed.Methods: During an RHD echocardiography screening project, Aboriginal teachers in a remote community school created lessons to teach children about RHD in their home languages, drawing on principles of community-led development. Access to community-level RHD data, previously unknown to teachers and families, was a catalyst for this innovative work. Careful, iterative discussions among speakers of four Aboriginal languages ensured a culturally coherent narrative and accompanying teaching resources. Results: The evaluation demonstrated the importance of collective work, local Indigenous Knowledge and metaphors. As a result of the lessons, some children showed new responses and attitudes to skin infections and their RHD treatment. Language teachers used natural social networks to disseminate new information. A community interagency collaboration working to prevent RHD commenced. Conclusions and implications for public health: Action to address high rates of RHD must include effective health communication strategies that value Indigenous Knowledge, language and culture, collaborative leadership and respect for Indigenous data sovereignty.
AB - Objective: A high prevalence of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among Aboriginal children in northern Australia is coupled with low understanding among families. This has negative impacts on children's health, limits opportunities for prevention and suggests that better health communication is needed.Methods: During an RHD echocardiography screening project, Aboriginal teachers in a remote community school created lessons to teach children about RHD in their home languages, drawing on principles of community-led development. Access to community-level RHD data, previously unknown to teachers and families, was a catalyst for this innovative work. Careful, iterative discussions among speakers of four Aboriginal languages ensured a culturally coherent narrative and accompanying teaching resources. Results: The evaluation demonstrated the importance of collective work, local Indigenous Knowledge and metaphors. As a result of the lessons, some children showed new responses and attitudes to skin infections and their RHD treatment. Language teachers used natural social networks to disseminate new information. A community interagency collaboration working to prevent RHD commenced. Conclusions and implications for public health: Action to address high rates of RHD must include effective health communication strategies that value Indigenous Knowledge, language and culture, collaborative leadership and respect for Indigenous data sovereignty.
KW - community-led development
KW - developmental evaluation
KW - health communication
KW - Indigenous Knowledges
KW - rheumatic heart disease
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105301038&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/1753-6405.13100
DO - 10.1111/1753-6405.13100
M3 - Article
C2 - 33970522
AN - SCOPUS:85105301038
SN - 1326-0200
VL - 45
SP - 212
EP - 219
JO - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
JF - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
IS - 3
ER -