African Australians’ health information needs and community-based health literacy solutions at the point of care

The University of Technology Sydney is working with African Health to find out African Australians’ specific health information needs and information delivery during consultations with general practitioners and other health care providers. 

This project will advance knowledge on the specific health information needs of African Australians from both consumers’ and providers’ perspectives and identify community-based health literacy interventions at the point of care that could work for this community. 

Findings from this study will inform the theory and practice of advancing the health literacy of African Australians. 

Health literacy is a significant contributor to better health outcomes.

About the team

• Dr Abela Mahimbo – Senior Lecturer in Public Health, Lead investigator
• Dr Michael Camit – Adjunct Fellow, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Co-Investigator
• Dr Sheila Uyirwoth – General Practitioner (Mascot Medical, NSW), Co-director of African Health), Co-investigator
• Dr Cordelia John – General Practitioner (Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Centre), Co-director of African Health, Co-investigator

About African Health

African Health is a social enterprise of like-minded health professionals who aim to improve health literacy and access to healthcare for African, Ethnically Diverse, and Migrant communities. 

They are a digital health informatics organisation focused on improving health literacy and access for Africans and other ethnic minority groups. Their vision is to facilitate access to world-class healthcare for all BIPOC groups in Australia and beyond. 

The problem

African Australians, particularly refugees, have a higher burden of comorbidities and potentially poorer health outcomes. 

Compounding these are multi-level barriers at individual, community, and structural levels that impede their access to health care, contributing to health inequities and disparities. 

The health literacy of migrant and refugee patients attending primary care facilities is inadequate, with difficulties related to information about health care and health promotion. 

However, not much is known about African Australians’ specific health information needs and information delivery preferences at the point of care.

The solution

Authentic engagement with African Australian communities and health care providers is required to co-produce culturally sensitive health promotion interventions at the point of care. 

This project aims to do this by:

1. Undertaking research with African Australian communities and healthcare providers that will provide insights into the current health literacy environment for African Australians and their health information needs.
2. Co-designing a prototype resource with African Australian communities and healthcare providers to advance African Australians’ health literacy at the point of care.
3. Implementing and evaluating the prototype using mixed methods research to determine the resource's effectiveness in improving health literacy and health outcomes for African Australians.

Project outcomes

1. We will provide an evidence base on African Australians’ specific health information needs and information delivery preferences at the point of care.
2. We will co-design a prototype health promotion resource for African Australians that will be piloted and implemented in select practices.
3. We will evaluate the resource’s effectiveness in improving health literacy and health outcomes for African Australians.

Funding