Using data linkage to improve the completeness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status in communicable disease notifications in Victoria

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Stacey L Rowe, Benjamin C Cowie

Abstract

The burden of notifiable diseases in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians cannot be accurately estimated due to under-reporting of Indigenous status. We used data linkage to improve completeness of Indigenous status in people notified with viral hepatitis and gonococcal infection. Notifications made between 2009 and 2010 were linked with Victorian hospitalisation data (1997-2011). Notification rates by Indigenous status and rate ratios were calculated before and after linkage. There were 12,448 cases of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and gonococcal infection notified in Victoria in 2009-2010, with Indigenous status missing in 61.6%, 67.8%, 33.1% of these conditions, respectively. Of the total notified cases, 82% were able to be linked. Following linkage, the proportion of notifications with missing Indigenous status decreased to less than 0.2% for all conditions. Age-standardised notification rates among both Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people increased for all conditions. Data linkage improved completeness of Indigenous status in notifications for viral hepatitis and gonococcal infection in Victoria. Completeness of these data is integral to monitoring progress in closing the Indigenous life expectancy gap. Grea...Continue Reading

References

May 31, 2008·BMC Health Services Research·Donna B Mak, Rochelle E Watkins
May 31, 2008·The Lancet Oncology·Joan CunninghamJohn R Condon
Nov 6, 2012·The Medical Journal of Australia·Jennifer H MacLachlan, Benjamin C Cowie
Oct 5, 2013·Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health·Jennifer H MacLachlanBenjamin C Cowie

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Citations

Nov 9, 2016·Bulletin of the World Health Organization·Andre Louis WattiauxKristine Macartney
Dec 6, 2018·Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health·Stacey L RoweAllen C Cheng
Dec 13, 2017·Theoretical Biology & Medical Modelling·Marcos AmakuEduardo Massad
Nov 2, 2019·Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health·Rebecca A ShipstoneJohn M D Thompson
Aug 21, 2019·Communicable Diseases Intelligence·Cassidy K NelsonKatherine B Gibney
Sep 20, 2019·Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health·Jennifer H MacLachlanBenjamin C Cowie

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