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Lessons to be learned: Using National Immunisation strategies to improve adherence to acute rheumatic fever secondary prophylaxis
Author(s) -
Liaw Joshua Y,
White Andrew V,
Gorton Susan,
AxfordHaines Louise
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.14596
Subject(s) - medicine , acute rheumatic fever , incidence (geometry) , pediatrics , incentive , rheumatic fever , population , public health , intensive care medicine , environmental health , nursing , physics , optics , economics , microeconomics
Rheumatic heart disease, as a result of a single or recurrent episode of acute rheumatic fever (ARF), remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in northern and remote Australia; ARF has a peak incidence among 5–14‐year‐old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Long‐term regular benzathine penicillin G injections are the only currently successful secondary prevention strategy; however, rates of adherence remain critically low. In contrast, rates of adherence to immunisations on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule are high, even among this target population. This article compares strategies used to implement and improve ARF secondary prophylaxis with those used in the NIP. Some successful NIP strategies, such as Service Incentive Payment for health providers, home‐visiting delivery models and integration into the National Immunisation Register, if applied to ARF secondary prophylaxis have the potential to improve benzathine penicillin G adherence.