Barriers and Enablers of Health Service Utilisation for Childhood Skin Infections in Remote Aboriginal Communities of Western Australia

Hendrickx, D; Amgarth-Duff, I; C Bowen, A; R Carapetis, J; Chibawe, R; Samson, M; Walker, R

Barriers and Enablers of Health Service Utilisation for Childhood Skin Infections in Remote Aboriginal Communities of Western Australia

Hendrickx, D Amgarth-Duff, I C Bowen, A R Carapetis, J Chibawe, R Samson, M Walker, R

Permalink

Publisher:: MDPI AG
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, (3), pp. 808-808

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download full textAdobe PDF (485.21 kB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hendrickx, D
dc.contributor.author	Amgarth-Duff, I
dc.contributor.author	C Bowen, A
dc.contributor.author	R Carapetis, J
dc.contributor.author	Chibawe, R
dc.contributor.author	Samson, M
dc.contributor.author	Walker, R
dc.date.accessioned	2021-06-18T02:10:53Z
dc.date.available	2021-06-18T02:10:53Z
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, (3), pp. 808-808
dc.identifier.issn	1660-4601
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/149613
dc.description.abstract	<jats:p>In Australia, children living in remote Aboriginal communities experience high rates of skin infections and associated complications. Prompt presentation to primary care health services is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment. We performed a qualitative study in four remote Aboriginal communities in the Pilbara region of Western Australia to explore factors that affected health service utilisation for childhood skin infections in this setting. The study consisted of semistructured interviews and focus group discussions with parents and carers (n = 16), healthcare practitioners (n = 15) and other community service providers (n = 25). We used Andersen’s health service utilisation model as an analytical framework. Our analysis captured a wide range of barriers that may undermine timely use of health services for childhood skin infections. These included general factors that illustrate the importance of cultural competency amongst healthcare providers, patient-centred care and community engagement. Relating specifically to health service utilisation for childhood skin infections, we identified their apparent normalisation and the common use of painful benzathine penicillin G injections for their treatment as important barriers. Health service utilisation in this setting may be enhanced by improving general awareness of the significance of childhood skin infections, actively engaging parents and carers in consultation and treatment processes and strengthening community involvement in health service activities.</jats:p>
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	MDPI AG
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3390/ijerph17030808
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	Toxicology
dc.title	Barriers and Enablers of Health Service Utilisation for Childhood Skin Infections in Remote Aboriginal Communities of Western Australia
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	17
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/IMPACCT
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2021-06-18T02:10:52Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	17
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

In Australia, children living in remote Aboriginal communities experience high rates of skin infections and associated complications. Prompt presentation to primary care health services is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment. We performed a qualitative study in four remote Aboriginal communities in the Pilbara region of Western Australia to explore factors that affected health service utilisation for childhood skin infections in this setting. The study consisted of semistructured interviews and focus group discussions with parents and carers (n = 16), healthcare practitioners (n = 15) and other community service providers (n = 25). We used Andersen’s health service utilisation model as an analytical framework. Our analysis captured a wide range of barriers that may undermine timely use of health services for childhood skin infections. These included general factors that illustrate the importance of cultural competency amongst healthcare providers, patient-centred care and community engagement. Relating specifically to health service utilisation for childhood skin infections, we identified their apparent normalisation and the common use of painful benzathine penicillin G injections for their treatment as important barriers. Health service utilisation in this setting may be enhanced by improving general awareness of the significance of childhood skin infections, actively engaging parents and carers in consultation and treatment processes and strengthening community involvement in health service activities.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/149613