Australian and New Zealand journal of public health
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Feb 2017
What do health consumers want to know about childhood vaccination? An evaluation of data from an Australian medicines call centre.
Immunisation is crucial to population health. This study aimed to identify the information needs and concerns of health consumers regarding childhood vaccination. ⋯ The consistent number of vaccine-related calls, particularly about safety, demonstrates an information gap that can contribute to vaccination hesitancy. Health professionals need to know their local immunisation rate and associated carer concerns, to proactively address these information-related barriers to vaccination.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Feb 2017
Prescription opioid dispensing and prescription opioid poisoning: Population data from Victoria, Australia 2006 to 2013.
To describe recent trends in opioid prescribing and prescription opioid poisoning resulting in hospitalisation or death in Victoria, Australia. ⋯ A better understanding is needed of drivers of prescribing and adverse consequences. Together with monitoring of prescribing and poisoning, this will facilitate early detection and prevention of a public health problem.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Feb 2017
'Partnerships are crucial': an evaluation of the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program in South Australia.
To evaluate implementation and outcomes of the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program (AFBP), which provides culturally competent antenatal, intrapartum and early postnatal care for Aboriginal families across South Australia (SA). ⋯ Despite challenges, the AFBP reaches out to women with the greatest need, providing culturally appropriate, effective care through partnerships. Implications for Public Health: Programs like the AFBP need to be expanded and supported to improve maternal and child health outcomes for Aboriginal families.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Feb 2017
Challenges in managing a school-based measles outbreak in Melbourne, Australia, 2014.
To identify barriers to control of a Victorian primary school-based measles outbreak. ⋯ Inadequately vaccinated students constitute a vulnerable population and schools are a potential site for measles outbreaks. Inadequate enforcement of school-based immunisation records impact the management and control of school-based measles outbreaks. Implications for Public Health: There is a need to educate clinicians on measles diagnosis and notification, and schools on the requirement to maintain up-to-date vaccination records. School entry is an opportunity to review student vaccination history and offer immunisations.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Feb 2017
Closing the Aboriginal child injury gap: targets for injury prevention.
To describe the leading mechanisms of hospitalised unintentional injury in Australian Aboriginal children and identify the injury mechanisms with the largest inequalities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children. ⋯ Aboriginal children in NSW experience a significant higher burden of unintentional injury compared with their non-Aboriginal counterparts. Implications for Public Health: We suggest the implementation of targeted injury prevention measures aimed at injury mechanism and age groups identified in this study.