Hospitalization of infants for infections in Western Australia, 1980-91.

Rates of hospitalization of Aboriginal infants in Western Australia from 1980 through 1991 for infections were much higher than for other infants and were consistently higher in rural areas than in metropolitan areas. There were substantial declines in rates of hospital admissions and bed occupancy of rural Aboriginal infants for respiratory and gastrointestinal infections during the study period; changes in rates for other infections were less marked and less consistent. Despite recent improvements, Aboriginal infants are hospitalized much more frequently and for longer than other infants because of these diseases. Hospitalization rates reflect many factors including disease incidence and severity but also are affected by isolation, climatic and physical conditions, and access to medical and nursing care. Preventive health programmes need to be maintained and intensified in order to improve health standards of young Aborigines and to lessen their need for hospital care.