Doctors Reform Society of Australia
			supporting health care reforms to ensure justice, equity and quality care for all
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Author
Ben Bartlett is a public health physician working in Aboriginal health.

Introduction
Aboriginal adult mortality rates are the highest in the world apart from regions gripped by war.  In the Northern Territory, infant and child mortality remains three times that of other Australians, but this has dropped from four to six times since 1979.  The improved infant/child mortality reflects improved health care services, and particularly primary health care services to Aboriginal people and the efficiency of medical interventions directed at communicable disease.  However, over this same period, adult (particularly young adult) mortality has worsened.  The persistently high adult mortality rates reflect the prevalence in Aboriginal communities of substance abuse, suicides, community violence, and poor nutrition, and the poor impact medical interventions have on these.........
 

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			This page was last updated on 10th February, 2003.
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