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DIETARY PATTERNS IN A RURAL ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY IN SOUTH‐WEST AUSTRALIA
Author(s) -
HITCHCOCK NANCY E.,
GRACEY MICHAEL
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1975.tb140418.x
Subject(s) - geography , rural community , obesity , calorie , socioeconomics , environmental health , gerontology , medicine , sociology , endocrinology
A study was made of dietary patterns and nutrient intakes In a large Aboriginal community living in and around a country town in south‐west Australia. It was found that these people lived in three distinct groups: under miserable conditions on a reserve outside the town; under somewhat better conditions in transitional houses on the outskirts of the town; in standard State Housing Commission houses in the town. There were important social differences between these three groups. People living on the reserve were older, less educated, more under‐employed and more poorly housed than the others. Dietary patterns and nutrient intakes were worst on the reserve; results from the transitional group were intermediate between the other two. Amongst the dietary problems found in the children were low energy (calorie) and vitamin C intakes. There was evidence of earlier nutritional deprivation. Amongst the adults, obesity was common, particularly in women. The unsatisfactory dietary practices in this community are closely related to several social factors, Including the standard of housing. Improvement In all these factors Is a prerequisite to the substantial improvement In Aboriginal health standards.