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This paper relates to the Australian government's community awareness campaign, as part of the Action Plan to Eradicate Trafficking in Persons, which was announced in October 2003 in response to evidence of human trafficking in Australia. The authors explore the challenges that are likely to be encountered during the implementation of the campaign using empirical data from two Victorian studies, the first of which explored community awareness of trafficking and the second of which examined Victoria Police and local government's responses to trafficking. We conclude that there are significant barriers to both the community and authorities identifying suspicious activities and acting on reports by community. In addition, institution challenges faced by Victoria police and local government in dealing with referred information appropriately will jeopardise the success of the initiative. Keywords: Human trafficking, Australia, Introduction Human trafficking' (hereinafter referred to as trafficking) is a human rights issue of grave concern that has, befittingly, received increasing global attention over recent years. In saying this, trafficking [...]

Collaborative research undertaken in the state of Queensland, Australia, resulted in major changes in cervical cancer screening and treatment for Indigenous women. Guided by an Indigenous statewide reference group and with an Indigenous researcher playing a lead role, qualitative data were collected using interviews, focus groups, and larger community meetings; and case studies were conducted with health workers and community members from diverse rural, remote and urban communities, to explore the different cultural and structural factors affecting understanding and awareness of cervical cancer and Indigenous women's use of and access to health services for screening, diagnosis and treatment. These data were supplemented by an analysis of clinical data and health service checklists. We discuss the methodology and summarize the key social and structural factors that discourage women from presenting for screening or returning for follow-up. These include women's misunderstanding of cervical cancer screening, fear of cancer, distrust of health services, poor recall and follow-up systems, and the economic and social burden to women presenting for treatment. We describe how the research process and subsequent activities provided Indigenous women with a vehicle for their own advocacy, resulting in important policy and program changes. KEYWORDS. Australia, advocacy, cervical cancer, Indigenous health, research ethics

Objective: To identify social, structural and personal factors among Indigenous women in Queensland associated with the detection of breast cancer, and the treatment and post-treatment care and support of cancer. Methods: Qualitative research including interviews, case studies and focus group discussions were conducted, among Aboriginal women and service providers in urban, rural and remote areas of Queensland over nine months in 1998/99. Results: A range of factors were identified as influencing women's willingness to perform BSE, receive screening mammograms, and receive and complete treatment compared to the non-Indigenous population. Personal history of health services, provision of information about mammography, the cost of treatment and care, and availability of personal support, all influenced women's willingness to access services and maintain treatment. Indigenous women in Queensland experience various barriers to effective and appropriate detection, treatment and care of breast cancer. Conclusion: Barriers to diagnosis, treatment and care can be addressed by increasing women's awareness of breast cancer and the benefits of preventative health behaviour, and improving the quality and appropriateness of health care and counselling services for Indigenous women and their families. Implications: Indigenous women's knowledge and practice relating to the early diagnosis and prevention of breast cancer may improve through outreach work with women, to encourage their confidence in preventative health. Women's commitment to preventive health will also be enhanced by improved quality and access to health care, and improved relationships between practitioners and patients.

Abstract Background Excess gestational weight gain (GWG) can affect the immediate and long term health outcomes of mother and infant. Understanding health providers’ views, attitudes and practices around GWG is crucial to assist in the development of practical, time efficient and cost effective ways of supporting health providers to promote healthy GWGs. This study aimed to explore midwives’ views, attitudes and approaches to the assessment, management and promotion of healthy GWG and to investigate their views on optimal interventions. Methods Midwives working in antenatal care were recruited from one rural and one urban Australian maternity hospital employing purposive sampling strategies to assess a range of practice areas. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 15 experienced midwives using an interview guide and all interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results Midwives interviewed exhibited a range of views, attitudes and practices related to GWG. Three dominant themes emerged. Overall GWG was given low priority for midwives working in the antenatal care service in both hospitals. In addition, the midwives were deeply concerned for the physical and psychological health of pregnant women and worried about perceived negative impacts of discussion about weight and related interventions with women. Finally, the midwives saw themselves as central in providing lifestyle behaviour education to pregnant women and identified opportunities for support to promote healthy GWG. Conclusions The findings indicate that planning and implementation of healthy GWG interventions are likely to be challenging because the factors impacting on midwives’ engagement in the GWG arena are varied and complex. This study provides insights for guideline and intervention development for the promotion of healthy GWG.

There is an increase in risky sexual behavior (RSB) in Cambodian female youth aged 10 to 24 years, which can contribute to detrimental sexual and reproductive health due to the increased risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies, or abortions. Bronfenbrenner's social ecological model was used to identify factors at personal, microenvironment, and macroenvironment levels potentially associated with RSB. A systematic literature review employing PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was conducted to search 8 databases for articles published between 1994 and 2019. A risk of bias tool was applied for methodological quality of the 4 included studies. RSB is associated with multiple factors including sexual debut at young age, alcohol and substance abuse, multiple partners, living away from parents or orphan status, peer delinquency, non-use of condoms by partners, transactional sex, low education and socioeconomic status, and no access to sexual and reproductive health services. Multipronged preventive strategies operating at different levels are recommended in terms of including sex education and increasing reproductive health literacy programs at the schools and community programs for safe sex, condom use and sexual negotiation skills, and access to modern contraceptive methods.

Reproductive health research and policies in Cambodia focus on safe motherhood programs particularly for married women, ignoring comprehensive fertility regulation programs for unmarried migrant women of reproductive age. Maternal mortality risks arising due to unsafe abortion methods practiced by unmarried Cambodian women, across the Thai-Cambodia border, can be considered as a public health emergency. Since Thailand has restrictive abortion laws, Cambodian migrant women who have irregular migration status in Thailand experimented with unsafe abortion methods that allowed them to terminate their pregnancies surreptitiously. Unmarried migrant women choose abortion as a preferred birth control method seeking repeat "unsafe" abortions instead of preventing conception. Drawing on the data collected through surveys, in-depth interviews, and document analysis in Chup Commune (pseudonym), Phnom Penh, and Bangkok, the authors describe the public health dimensions of maternal mortality risks faced by unmarried Cambodian migrant women due to various unsafe abortion methods employed as birth control methods.