Synopsis

The Aboriginal Birth Cohort Study (ABC) is the largest and longest running Indigenous birth cohort in Australia. Commencing in 1987, it has been following the health of Indigenous people in their place of residence across the Top End. Indigenous Australians fare worse than other Australians on almost every measure of physical and mental health. Compared with non-Indigenous Australians, Indigenous people are more likely to have chronic disease (such as obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease and circulatory problems) occurring at an earlier age, leading to premature mortality and influencing the lower life expectancies in Indigenous people. Babies born to Indigenous women weigh on average almost 200 g less than those born to non-Indigenous women and are twice as likely to be low birthweight (LBW) (< 2500 g). In 1987, the Indigenous LBW rate (13%) in the Northern Territory (NT) was approximately double that of non- Indigenous births. Casual observation suggested that there were high numbers of fetal growth-restricted babies (FGR) delivered to Indigenous women, but difficulties in obtaining reliable gestational ages and conducting long-term follow-up meant the prevalence and outcomes of these Indigenous FGR babies were unknown. These factors led to the commencement of a prospective Aboriginal Birth Cohort study (ABC) to study the antecedents, prevalence and 10-year outcomes of FGR. With evidence linking LBW/FGR to chronic adult diseases being reported, the study was further extended to a life course study. The study’s aim is to investigate the hypothesis that the high rates of chronic non-communicable diseases seen in this population were the result of processes that began in utero and continued after birth (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis).

The ABC study is partnered with the Top End Cohort (TEC) study, a prospective, life course study of non-Indigenous people living in the Top End, NT, Australia.

Summary

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