A community-based program to reduce acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in northern Australia

In Australia’s north, Aboriginal peoples live with world-high rates of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and its precursor, acute rheumatic fever (ARF); driven by social and environmental determinants of health. We undertook a program of work to strengthen RHD primordial and primary prevention using a model addressing six domains: housing and environmental support, community awareness and empowerment, health literacy, health and education service integration, health navigation and health provider education.

Citation:
Kerrigan V, Kelly A, Lee AM, Mungatopi V, Mitchell AG, Wyber R, et al. A community-based program to reduce acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in northern Australia. BMC Health Serv Res. 2021;21(1).

Keywords:
Aboriginal health; Community led healthcare; Health services; Rheumatic heart disease; Social determinants of health

Abstract:
In Australia’s north, Aboriginal peoples live with world-high rates of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and its precursor, acute rheumatic fever (ARF); driven by social and environmental determinants of health. We undertook a program of work to strengthen RHD primordial and primary prevention using a model addressing six domains: housing and environmental support, community awareness and empowerment, health literacy, health and education service integration, health navigation and health provider education.