The general health of a cohort of Aboriginal children (0–7 years) in Sydney

In both urban and rural locations, the health of Indigenous children is worse than that of non-Indigenous Australian children.1 General data on the health of urban Indigenous children are scarce.2 Here we describe reports by parents about specific common childhood illnesses in urban Aboriginal children and parental responses to these illnesses.The data were collected from a birth cohort of 149 Aboriginal children and their parents (Gudaga Study, recruited 2005–2007),3 using best practice methods for research in an Aboriginal community.4 During semi-annual structured interviews with an Aboriginal project officer, parents provided information about respiratory tract infections (“a cold, runny nose, cough, bronchitis, or chest infection”), gastrointestinal conditions (“vomiting and/or diarrhoea”), ear health (“problems with his/her ears”), asthma/wheeze, and tonsillitis that had been experienced by their child in the preceding month. The parent’s response to these conditions was coded as “gave medication” or “sought professional advice”; 96% of those who sought professional advice reported having seen their doctor or general practitioner. Parents were also asked to rate their own general health and that of their child on a 5-point Likert scale. Data were analysed according to the child’s age group at interview. We did not attempt to verify parental responses or to justify the responses reported