Comparing indigenous health status across regions: a numerical example of uncertainty.
OBJECTIVE
To illustrate how regional variation in data quality could explain some or all of the apparent regional differences in the health status of Indigenous Australians.


METHODS
A series of simple hypothetical numerical examples is provided, with varying assumptions regarding the accuracy of identification of Indigenous deaths.


RESULTS
The apparent difference in Indigenous mortality in remote compared with urban areas is of a magnitude that could be explained by relatively modest regional differences in data quality.


CONCLUSIONS
Determinations of relative health status within the Indigenous population must take into account the impact of variability in data quality.
Cunningham
Joan
J
Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Northern Territory. joan.cunningham@menzies.edu.au
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009026:Mortality; D012424:Rural Population; D035501:Uncertainty; D014505:Urban Population