Are there health benefits from improving basic nutrition in a remote Aboriginal community?

BACKGROUND

Otitis media, chronic suppurative otitis media, and skin infections are common in many Aboriginal communities.

METHOD: Primary school students in a remote Aboriginal community were examined by blood testing. Audiometry was compared before and 6 months after children were provided with fresh fruit each school day, as were rates of skin infections, and the prescription of antibiotics for otitis media and skin infections.

RESULTS

All 12 students who completed both points of hearing testing had slight or greater hearing loss at baseline. Five had improved hearing at 6 months and seven (58%) had no change. Mean antibiotic prescriptions decreased from seven to 1 per month. All 15 tested had low serum vitamin C concentrations and 11 had abnormal iron studies, suggesting their poor health might be caused by poor nutrition.

DISCUSSION: Although many other factors may have contributed to the improvements, the results suggest nutrition as a possible factor for poor health outcomes in remote Aboriginal communities, which could be easily overcome. A randomised trial should be conducted.