DATA FOR DIAGNOSIS, MONITORING AND TREATMENT IN INDIGENOUS HEALTH - THE CASE OF CERVICAL-CANCER

Deficiencies in the availability and quality of data on the health sta tus of Indigenous Australians have long been recognised. For cervical cancer, data demonstrate a 2-5 fold greater incidence rate and an 8-10 fold greater mortality rate for Indigenous women compared to non-Indi genous Australians. However, incidence and mortality data are only ava ilable for some states and there is little or no information available on the geographic or social distribution of risk, or the reasons for risk differentials. There are also little or no data on the utilisatio n of, or preferences for, screening services. Thus, while there is cle arly a need for a cervical cancer control program specifically to targ et Indigenous women, current data are inadequate to inform planning an d implementation, and current systems are inadequate to monitor effect iveness. This situation is the result of insufficient research and ina dequate attention to recording of Indigenous status in routine data sy stems and applies to a greater or lesser extent across the spect!um of health of Indigenous Australians. Health workers across the spectrum in mainstream and Indigenous medical services have a shared responsibi lity for improving the availability and quality of data and ensuring t he appropriate use of information necessary to achieve and monitor imp rovements in service delivery and health status of Indigenous people.