Australian and New Zealand journal of public health
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Jun 2009
Association of natural fluoride in community water supplies with dental health of children in remote indigenous communities - implications for policy.
To map the geographic distribution of fluoride in water supplies and child dental caries in remote Indigenous communities of the Northern Territory (NT). To examine the association between fluoride levels, household and community factors, access to services and child dental caries in these communities and to model the impact on the caries experience of children of introducing water fluoridation. ⋯ Introduction of fluoridation of water supplies into communities with inadequate natural fluoride is a vital measure for improving the dental health of children living in remote NT communities.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Apr 2009
Assessing alcohol guidelines in teenagers: results from a 10-year prospective study.
To assess the value of drinking guidelines applied in adolescence for predicting alcohol-related outcomes in young adulthood. ⋯ These findings support the emphasis in the NHMRC guidelines on abstaining from alcohol during the adolescent years. Any drinking, even at the low-risk level, may not be appropriate in adolescence. However, refinements that could better capture the risk of adolescent drinking in women would be useful.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Feb 2009
ReviewAustralian asylum policies: have they violated the right to health of asylum seekers?
Notwithstanding recent migration policy amendments, there is concern that Australian asylum policies have disproportionately burdened the health and wellbeing of onshore asylum seekers. There may be a case to be made that Australian governments have been in violation of the right to health of this population. The objective of this paper is to critically examine these issues and assess the implications for public health practice. ⋯ While the 'right to health' framework has much to offer public health, it is an undervalued and poorly understood discipline. The author argues for more education, research and advocacy around the intersection between heath and human rights.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Feb 2009
Comparative StudyMonitoring local trends in Indigenous tobacco consumption.
To compare two methods of monitoring tobacco consumption in remote Indigenous communities. ⋯ This wholesale data could be used to monitor local trends in remote Indigenous tobacco consumption, facilitating the evaluation of the impact of tobacco control activities and informing future work to reduce Indigenous smoking and its harms.