Integrating cultural considerations and developmental screening into an Australian First Nations child health check
Natasha Reid
A * , Marjad Page B , Theresa McDonald B , Erinn Hawkins C D , Wei Liu D , Heidi Webster D E , Codi White D , Doug Shelton F , Mary Katsikitis G , Andrew Wood H , Bronwyn Draper B , Karen Moritz A I and Dianne C. Shanley C D
A Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, 62 Graham Street, Brisbane, Qld 4101, Australia.
B Gidgee Healing, Mount Isa, Qld, Australia.
C School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
D Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
E Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia.
F Women’s and Children’s Health Services, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
G College of Education and Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
H School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia.
I School of Biomedical Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
Australian Journal of Primary Health 28(3) 207-214 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY20300
Submitted: 14 December 2020 Accepted: 5 December 2021 Published: 15 March 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of La Trobe University.
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to integrate cultural considerations and developmental screening into a First Nations child health check. The ‘Share and Care Check,’ an optimised child health check, was co-designed with a remote Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and led by Aboriginal Health Practitioners/Workers. Of 55 families who completed the Share and Care Check, the majority of participants indicated that their family/child was connected with their tribe and country. However, half of the caregivers reported that they or their child would like to know more about their tribe. The most common developmental screening outcome was no functional concerns (32.7%), followed by having one area identified as a functional concern (24.5%) and two functional concerns (16.3%). All caregivers reported that the Share and Care Check was culturally appropriate, and the majority also reported that it was helpful. Data obtained from questions regarding cultural and developmental aspects of health can assist health providers regarding the best pathway of support for a child and their family. This could ultimately contribute to closing the gap through the provision of holistic culturally appropriate services.
Keywords: annual health check, child health assessment, cultural connections, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, first nations, neurodevelopment, primary care.
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