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Is Aboriginal nutrition a priority for local government? A policy analysis

journal contribution
posted on 2017-11-01, 00:00 authored by C Helson, R Walker, C Palermo, K Rounsefell, Y Aron, C Macdonald, P Atkinson, Jennifer BrowneJennifer Browne
Copyright © The Authors 2017. Objective The present study aimed to explore how Australian local governments prioritise the health and well-being of Aboriginal populations and the extent to which nutrition is addressed by local government health policy. Design In the state of Victoria, Australia, all seventy-nine local governments' public health policy documents were retrieved. Inclusion of Aboriginal health and nutrition in policy documents was analysed using quantitative content analysis. Representation of Aboriginal nutrition 'problems' and 'solutions' was examined using qualitative framing analysis. The socio-ecological framework was used to classify the types of Aboriginal nutrition issues and strategies within policy documents. Setting Victoria, Australia. Subjects Local governments' public health policy documents (n 79). Results A small proportion (14 %, n 11) of local governments addressed Aboriginal health and well-being in terms of nutrition. Where strategies aimed at nutrition existed, they mostly focused on individual factors rather than the broader macroenvironment. Conclusions A limited number of Victorian local governments address nutrition as a health issue for their Aboriginal populations in policy documents. Nutrition needs to be addressed as a community and social responsibility rather than merely an individual 'behaviour'. Partnerships are required to ensure Aboriginal people lead government policy development.

History

Journal

Public health nutrition

Volume

20

Issue

16

Pagination

3019 - 3028

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Location

Cambridge, Eng.

ISSN

1368-9800

eISSN

1475-2727

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2017, The Authors

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