Infectious conditions

Infectious diseases are those that are caused by bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms, and include diseases like hepatitis, rheumatic fever, tuberculosis, meningococcal disease, pneumonia and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Various vaccinations are recommended for babies and children, young people and adults.

Free childhood vaccination programs in Queensland help to reduce both the incidence of these infections, and serious outcomes that can result from vaccine-preventable diseases [51058]. This means children are protected against infectious conditions like measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B and polio. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) children in Queensland also receive extra protection with vaccines for influenza, tuberculosis, meningococcal B, hepatitis A and pneumococcal [51058] and various campaigns encourage and remind families to vaccinate their children for good health, such as the Bubba Jabs initiative by Queensland Health [38416].

Certain infectious diseases have higher incidence rates amongst First Nations young people and adults, when compared with other Queenslanders. This disparity is an effect of socioeconomic factors and compounded by issues including access to culturally safe and appropriate healthcare. These include blood borne viruses (BBVs) such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and some sexually transmissible infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis [41222]. The high prevalence of STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea among First Nations peoples, particularly those living in remote communities, requires coordinated, culturally appropriate efforts to promote prevention, increase awareness and encourage testing [50518]. Resources such as the Sexual health yarning our way: women’s business and the Sexual health yarning our way: men’s business factsheets produced by the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC), assist these efforts to increase awareness and prevent infection [49551][49550].

Another example, is the Young Deadly Free project by the University of Queensland Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, which has produced resources for First Nations young people, as well as resources for Elders, parents, youth workers and other community leaders on encouraging the community to work together on STI and BBV testing [37100].