Using data linkage to improve the completeness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status in communicable disease notifications in Victoria.
OBJECTIVE
The burden of notifiable diseases in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians cannot be accurately estimated due to under-reporting of Indigenous status. We used data linkage to improve completeness of Indigenous status in people notified with viral hepatitis and gonococcal infection.


METHODS
Notifications made between 2009 and 2010 were linked with Victorian hospitalisation data (1997-2011). Notification rates by Indigenous status and rate ratios were calculated before and after linkage.


RESULTS
There were 12,448 cases of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and gonococcal infection notified in Victoria in 2009-2010, with Indigenous status missing in 61.6%, 67.8%, 33.1% of these conditions, respectively. Of the total notified cases, 82% were able to be linked. Following linkage, the proportion of notifications with missing Indigenous status decreased to less than 0.2% for all conditions. Age-standardised notification rates among both Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people increased for all conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Data linkage improved completeness of Indigenous status in notifications for viral hepatitis and gonococcal infection in Victoria. Completeness of these data is integral to monitoring progress in closing the Indigenous life expectancy gap.


CONCLUSIONS
Greater emphasis is needed on addressing prevention, treatment and care for viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections for Indigenous Victorians.
Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance, Health Protection Branch, Department of Health Victoria.
Stacey L
SL
Rowe
Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance, Health Protection Branch, Department of Health Victoria.|WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, The Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria.
Benjamin C
BC
Cowie
D000328:Adult; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000208:ethnology; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health; communicable diseases; data linkage; surveillance