Indigenous Australians are almost four times more likely than the rest
of the population to carry the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers,
according to a report in the "Medical Journal of Australia".
The report's co-author, Professor Barry Marshall, says poor hygiene is
the main reason why 91 per cent of people in rural Aboriginal
communities carry the bacteria.
He has called for increased education and other preventative measures in
Indigenous communities.
"Although ulcers now are a pretty minor issue in the white population in
Australia, you would predict that they're going to be a continued
problem in Indigenous communities in Australia," he said.
"And they're out there [in remote areas] - they don't have the
facilities for having endoscopies et cetera." |
