Caring for Country Questionnaire: Measuring Indigenous Health
Author Information
Author(s): Christopher P Burgess, Helen L Berry, Wendy Gunthorpe, Ross S Bailie
Primary Institution: Menzies School of Health Research
Hypothesis
Higher levels of participation in caring for country activities would deliver more opportunities for exercise and a more nutritious diet and would thus be associated with a lower BMI.
Conclusion
The study indicates preliminary support for the validity of the caring for country concept and its association with lower body mass index.
Supporting Evidence
- Greater participation in caring for country activities was associated with lower body mass index.
- The questionnaire demonstrated adequate internal consistency and validity.
- Participants from homelands showed better health outcomes compared to those from centralized populations.
- Health behaviors linked to caring for country included increased physical activity and healthier dietary choices.
Takeaway
This study shows that when Indigenous Australians participate in caring for their land, they tend to be healthier and weigh less.
Methodology
Participants were 301 Indigenous adults aged 15 to 54 years, recruited during a cross-sectional program of preventive health checks, and a questionnaire was validated using psychometric tests.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias as volunteers may be more health-conscious and not representative of the broader population.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, which limits causal inference, and there may be selection bias as participants were volunteers for a health check.
Participant Demographics
Participants were 301 Indigenous adults (177 men, 124 women) aged 15 to 54 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 1.1–11.2 for women, 95% CI = 1.6–9 for men
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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