A systematic review of the evidence that swimming pools improve health and wellbeing in remote Aboriginal communities in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To provide an overview of the evidence for health and wellbeing benefits associated with swimming pools in remote Aboriginal* communities in Australia.


METHODS
Peer-reviewed and grey literature from 1990 to 2014 was searched to identify studies set in remote Australia that evaluated health and wellbeing benefits that have been associated with swimming pools. Studies were categorised using an evidence classification scale.


RESULTS
Twelve studies met our search criteria. All prospective studies that collected data on skin infections found access to swimming pools to be associated with a drop of skin sore prevalence and -where measured- severity. Studies documenting ear and eye infections showed mixed outcomes. Many wider community and wellbeing benefits were documented in various studies, although many of these were primarily anecdotal in nature.


CONCLUSIONS
Although a case can be made regarding skin infections and the broader wellbeing benefits that swimming pools may bring to remote Aboriginal communities, the benefit to ear and eye health remains unresolved.


CONCLUSIONS
The decision to provide swimming pools to remote Aboriginal communities should not hinge on the demonstration of direct health benefits alone. Equity considerations and the potential broader benefits such amenities may entail are equally important.
Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia.
David
D
Hendrickx
Child Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory.
Anna
A
Stephen
Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia.
Deborah
D
Lehmann
Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia.
Desiree
D
Silva
Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium.
Marleen
M
Boelaert
Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia.|Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Western Australia.
Jonathan
J
Carapetis
Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia.
Roz
R
Walker
D001315:Australia; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D012423:Rural Health; D013551:Swimming Pools
Aboriginal health; ear infections; rural health; skin infections; swimming pools