Health of populations in northern Queensland aboriginal communities: change and continuity.

We show that Australian Aborigines living in North Queensland have had an impressive decline in infant mortality over the past 50 years. Since the early 1970s, much of the decline can be attributed to preventive and curative medical services. On the other hand, the growth trajectory of infants and children has improved only slightly since the early 1970s, and mean and median weights are still well below international standards.

Rheumatic fever and chronic rheumatic heart disease in Yarrabah aboriginal community, north Queensland. Establishment of a prophylactic program.

Objective: To establish a program for the prevention of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in a semi-isolated Aboriginal community in far north Queensland and to test its efficacy.

Design: A prevalence study of acute rheumatic fever and chronic rheumatic heart disease was conducted in the community in 1985 and subjects with possible acute rheumatic fever were assessed. A prophylactic antibiotic program was instituted.

Ventilatory standards for clinically well aboriginal adults.

Objective: To obtain reference standards for ventilatory function of clinically well Australian Aboriginal adults.

Design: A cross-sectional assessment of the population of a North Queensland Aboriginal community.

Setting: A specialist clinical and public health service.