Improving health service access and wellbeing of young Aboriginal parents in an urban setting: mixed methods evaluation of an arts-based program.

CONCLUSIONS: Ngala Nanga Mai creates an environment of social connectedness, strengthened parenting, maternal and child wellbeing and empowerment. It supports increased utilisation of health, education and support services, and early detection of treatable child health issues.
IMPLICATIONS: Improving the health of Aboriginal children requires new strategies and learning from innovative programs. Solid baseline data, long-term follow-up data and meaningful health outcome data are critical to improving services and health outcomes at the program level. Ultimately, long-term commitment to adequate resourcing is needed in order to deliver broader improvement of child health outcomes.
PMID: 26337824 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health - September 3, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Jersky M, Titmuss A, Haswell M, Freeman N, Osborne P, Callaghan L, Winters J, Fitzpatrick S, Zwi K Tags: Aust N Z J Public Health Source Type: research