Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Effect of swimming pools on antibiotic use and clinic attendance for infections in two Aboriginal communities in Western Australia

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Silva, D.
    Lehmann, Deborah
    Tennant, M.
    Jacoby, P
    Wright, H.
    Stanley, F
    Date
    2008
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Silva, Desiree and Lehmann, Deborah and Tennant, Mary and Jacoby, P and Wright, Helen and Stanley, F. 2008. Effect of swimming pools on antibiotic use and clinic attendance for infections in two Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Medical Journal of Australia 188 (10): pp. 594-598.
    Source Title
    Medical Journal of Australia
    Additional URLs
    http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/188_10_190508/sil10658_fm.html
    ISSN
    0025 729X
    Faculty
    Faculty of Health Sciences
    Centre for Developmental Health
    School
    Centre for Developmental Health (Curtin Research Centre)
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/16735
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Objective:To determine whether installation of swimming pools in remote Aboriginal communities reduces infection-related outpatient attendances and prescription of antibiotics. Design and setting: Swimming pools were opened in Jigalong and Mugarinya, Western Australia, in September 2000. We examined local clinic records to document illnesses occurring in children and adolescents under 17 years of age between 1998 and 2005. In Jigalong, we examined records of those enrolled in an ongoing study evaluating the effect of swimming pools on health. In Mugarinya, we examined clinic records of those residing there permanently.Main outcome measures:Clinic attendance rates for skin, middle-ear and respiratory tract infections and trauma, and prescription rates for antibiotics were analysed by using a community-based selection method in Jigalong, and a clinic-based selection method in both communities for comparison of the two communities and the two methods. Results: We examined records of 131 children in Jigalong and 128 children in Mugarinya. After the pools had been installed, clinic attendance rates for skin infections declined by 68% in Jigalong and by up to 77% in Mugarinya. In Jigalong (where the pre-pool prevalence of infections was higher than in Mugarinya), rates of antibiotic prescription declined by 45%, as did clinic attendance for middle-ear infections (61% reduction) and respiratory tract infections (52% reduction). Conclusion: Swimming pools in remote communities are associated with reduced prevalence of skin infections. Where disease prevalence is high, pools are also associated with reduced rates of antibiotic prescriptions and middle-ear and respiratory tract infections. In communities with resident health staff, examination of clinic records is an efficient method of monitoring the effects of public health interventions on the burden of infectious diseases.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • A prescription for resistance: Management of staphylococcal skin abscesses by general practitioners in Australia
      Parrott, C.; Wood, G.; Bogatyreva, E.; Coombs, Geoffrey; Johnson, P.; Bennett, C. (2016)
      Objectives: We investigated the management of staphylococcal abscesses (boils) by general practitioners (GPs) in the context of rising antibiotic resistance in community strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Design, Setting, ...
    • How patients use repeat antibiotic prescriptions: the impact of dosing directions
      Thompson, Angus; Peterson, Gregory; Bindoff, Ivan; Stafford, Andrew (2017)
      Background: Repeat prescribing of antibiotics is widespread in Australia. This may be associated with risks to individual patients and contribute to inappropriate antibiotic use. Aim: To characterise the time intervals ...
    • Drug-Related Problems Detected in Australian Community Pharmacies: The PROMISe Trial
      Williams, M.; Peterson, G.; Tenni, P.; Bindoff, I.; Curtain, C.; Hughes, J.; Bereznicki, L.; Jackson, S.; Kong, D.; Hughes, Jeffery (2011)
      BACKGROUND: Drug-related problems (DRPs) are a major burden on health care systems. Community pharmacists are ideally placed to detect, prevent, and resolve these DRPs. OBJECTIVE: To determine the number and nature of ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.