The Medical journal of Australia
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To identify individual and household factors associated with violence among Australian Indigenous women with dependent children. ⋯ The prevalence of violence against Indigenous mothers with young children is alarmingly high across remote and non-remote areas. This study identified distinctive characteristics of victims, but further research is needed to assess potential risk factors, such as history of removal from natural family.
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Otitis media affects nearly all children worldwide. Despite an enormous amount of research, our understanding of this common condition continues to be challenged. New pathogens involved in otitis media are still being identified. ⋯ Despite the lack of recent studies, strategies to minimise the impact the hearing loss associated with otitis media are important. Improvements in education, hygiene practices, and living conditions are likely to reduce the incidence and severity of otitis media. Studies of these types of interventions are needed.
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Otitis media remains a major health problem in Australia, with an unacceptably great dichotomy of incidence and severity of otitis media and its complications between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Among most children with acute otitis media, infection resolves rapidly with or without antibiotics, with ongoing middle ear effusion the only sequela. Overcrowding, poor living conditions, exposure to cigarette smoke, and lack of access to medical care are all major risk factors for otitis media. Estimates of the number of cases of otitis media in 2008 vary between 992,000 and 2,430,000 Australians, with a total estimated cost of $100 - $400 million.
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Otitis media with effusion and recurrent acute otitis media are ubiquitous among Indigenous children. Otitis media causes conductive hearing loss that may persist throughout early childhood and adversely affect social interactions, language acquisition and learning. Control of otitis media usually restores hearing to adequate levels. ⋯ Medical and public health management is required until a child is old enough to undergo surgical closure of the perforation, usually by an age of 7-10 years. Surgical closure of the tympanic membrane stops the aural discharge and improves the hearing sufficiently to avoid the need for hearing aids in most cases. The success rate of surgery conducted in rural and remote Australia is below urban benchmarks; improving this will probably require funding for community-based follow-up.
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To review the outcomes of offering carrier testing for cystic fibrosis (CF) to couples considering pregnancy, and to women in early pregnancy and their partners. ⋯ CF carrier testing for couples using an expanded one-step model will detect about 80% of high-risk couples and enables various reproductive choices. We believe that all couples considering pregnancy, and women in early pregnancy and their partners, should be offered CF carrier testing.