Health issues of aboriginal female adolescents in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
The mortality rate and prevalence for some chronic diseases are higher for aborigines compared with the rest of the Taiwanese population. Health professionals in many countries have been concerned with the health of aborigines, but specific health policies for native adolescents have been neglected.


OBJECTIVE
This paper reports a study comparing the general health status of aborigines and non-aborigine female adolescents, based on school enrollment health examinations.


METHODS
A cross-sectional prevalence study with between group comparison was conducted. School enrollment health files were accessed between September 2000 and June 2001. A total of 320 selected female aboriginal students were compared with 237 non-aborigines.


RESULTS
With the exception of eye problems, general health status was inferior for the aboriginal female adolescent students. They had lower mean red blood cell volumes, lower haemoglobin concentrations, more oral decay, a greater prevalence of hepatitis B virus carriers and were more likely to be overweight.


CONCLUSIONS
It seems reasonable to suggest that health intervention strategies specific for indigenous adolescents should be provided. The design of these strategies should target lifestyle modification and provision of more accessible health information. Health professionals, and particularly nurses, are in a prime position to offer advice and support to this group.
Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. meiyen@mail.cgit.edu.tw
Mei-Yen
MY
Chen
Kathy
K
James
Jenny
J
Liao
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D015995:Prevalence; D013624:Taiwan / Q000208:ethnology