Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at higher risk of invasive meningococcal disease in NSW

Peter Massey; David Durrheim

doi:10.1071/NB07047

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at higher risk of invasive meningococcal disease in NSW

Peter Massey ^A ^B and David Durrheim ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service

^B Corresponding author. Email: peter.massey@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

NSW Public Health Bulletin 19(6) 100-103 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB07047
Published: 26 June 2008

Abstract

Objective: To assess the completeness of data describing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status in NSW invasive meningococcal disease notifications and determine the relative risk for invasive meningococcal disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in NSW.

Methods: Surveillance data from the NSW Notifiable Diseases Database was reviewed for 5-year periods between 1991 and 2005.

Results: Invalid and missing data on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status decreased from 42% to 8% during the study period. Higher rates of disease were found in young children and significantly higher rates in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 0–4 years compared with their non-Aboriginal counterparts.

Conclusion: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in NSW experience higher rates of notified invasive meningococcal disease than non-Aboriginal children.

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