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Background: Compared to other Australian women, Indigenous women are frequently at greater risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. We examined pre-pregnancy factors that may predict hypertension in pregnancy in a cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in north Queensland Methods: Data on a cohort of 1009 Indigenous women of childbearing age (15-44 years) who participated in a 1998-2000 health screening program in north Queensland were combined with 1998-2008 Queensland hospitalisations data using probabilistic data linkage. Data on the women in the cohort who were hospitalised for birth (n = 220) were further combined with Queensland perinatal data which identified those diagnosed with hypertension in pregnancy. Results: Of 220 women who gave birth, 22 had hypertension in the pregnancy after their health check. The mean age of women with and without hypertension was similar (23.7 years and 23.9 years respectively) however Aboriginal women were more affected compared to Torres Strait Islanders. Pre-pregnancy adiposity and elevated blood pressure at the health screening program were predictors of a pregnancy affected by hypertension. After adjusting for age and ethnicity, each 1 cm increase in waist circumference showed a 4% increased risk for hypertension in pregnancy (PR 1.04; 95% CI; 1.02-1.06); each 1 point increase in BMI showed a 9% adjusted increase in risk (1.09; 1.04-1.14). For each 1 mmHg increase in baseline systolic blood pressure there was an age and ethnicity adjusted 6% increase in risk and each 1 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure showed a 7% increase in risk (1.06; 1.03-1.09 and 1.07; 1.03-1.11 respectively). Among those free of diabetes at baseline, the presence of the metabolic syndrome (International Diabetes Federation criteria) predicted over a three-fold increase in age-ethnicity-adjusted risk (3.5; 1.50-8.17). Conclusions: Pre-pregnancy adiposity and features of the metabolic syndrome among these young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women track strongly to increased risk of hypertension in pregnancy with associated risks to the health of babies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current knowledge about infertility and access to infertility treatment among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is extremely limited. We conducted an online survey of Medical Directors of registered ART providers in Australia (n = 59) to obtain preliminary information on this topic. Six (10%) Directors responded; only two reported routinely collecting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status of clients. While the low response rate prevents generalising the findings, the poor engagement may indicate gaps in awareness of fertility issues for this group. This warrants further investigation, to understand whether Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are appropriately accessing infertility care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, women and men are disproportionately affected by a range of risk factors for infertility including sexually transmitted infections, polycystic ovary syndrome and obesity. However, very little is known about the occurrence of infertility in this group or how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people access fertility treatments. This opinion piece aims to reflect on current evidence concerning infertility risk factors and infertility per se among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, highlighting gaps in the literature about access and outcomes in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Compared to other Australian women, Indigenous women are frequently at greater risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. We examined pre-pregnancy factors that may predict hypertension in pregnancy in a cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in north Queensland.Methods: Data on a cohort of 1009 Indigenous women of childbearing age (15-44 years) who participated in a 1998-2000 health screening program in north Queensland were combined with 1998-2008 Queensland hospitalisations data using probabilistic data linkage. Data on the women in the cohort who were hospitalised for birth (n = 220) were further combined with Queensland perinatal data which identified those diagnosed with hypertension in pregnancy.Results: Of 220 women who gave birth, 22 had hypertension in the pregnancy after their health check. The mean age of women with and without hypertension was similar (23.7 years and 23.9 years respectively) however Aboriginal women were more affected compared to Torres Strait Islanders. Pre-pregnancy adiposity and elevated blood pressure at the health screening program were predictors of a pregnancy affected by hypertension. After adjusting for age and ethnicity, each 1 cm increase in waist circumference showed a 4% increased risk for hypertension in pregnancy (PR 1.04; 95% CI; 1.02-1.06); each 1 point increase in BMI showed a 9% adjusted increase in risk (1.09; 1.04-1.14). For each 1 mmHg increase in baseline systolic blood pressure there was an age and ethnicity adjusted 6% increase in risk and each 1 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure showed a 7% increase in risk (1.06; 1.03-1.09 and 1.07; 1.03-1.11 respectively). Among those free of diabetes at baseline, the presence of the metabolic syndrome (International Diabetes Federation criteria) predicted over a three-fold increase in age-ethnicity-adjusted risk (3.5; 1.50-8.17).Conclusions: Pre-pregnancy adiposity and features of the metabolic syndrome among these young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women track strongly to increased risk of hypertension in pregnancy with associated risks to the health of babies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]