A HEALTH PROFILE OF ADULTS IN A NORTHERN-TERRITORY ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PREVENTABLE MORBIDITIES

We conducted a brief health survey of adults in an isolated Northern T erritory Aboriginal community, whose standardised mortality rates are the second highest in Australia. The screen revealed high rates of smo king and excessive drinking, of preventable infections and their seque lae, and of hypertension, insulin resistance, diabetes and renal disea se. The infectious morbidities were more pronounced and the life-style morbidities almost entirely new since a health screen in 1957. Most m orbidities were strongly associated with identifiable risk factors, su ch as overweight, smoking, excessive drinking, skin sores and scabies, all of which which are amenable to modification. Problems with food s upply and pricing, poor food choices and diversion of money to cigaret tes, beer and gambling all contributed to poor nutrition. Low birthwei ght probably compounds the risk for serious adult disease associated w ith these environmental influences. This profile highlights the failur e of current systems to deal with health needs. Improvements in infras tructure, education and employment, and reinvigoration of preventive a nd primary health care programs, assumption of responsibility for heal th by the community and by individuals themselves, and better manageme nt of existing morbidities are essential to rectifying this shameful s ituation.