The Physical and Mental Health of Mothers of Aboriginal Children in Out-of-Home Care in Western Australia

Abstract

There is a need to better understand the physical and mental health of mothers of Aboriginal children who enter out-of-home care to prevent removals. Evidence suggests that families involved in child protection systems often experience significant needs that may culminate in child removals. For Aboriginal families, these are compounded by the inter-generational trauma from colonisation which has resulted in health issues, poverty and family violence. This is a retrospective cohort study, using linked administrative data, involving all (17,060) mothers of Aboriginal children born in Western Australia between 2000 and 2013. The health outcomes of mothers whose child was placed in care (8%) were compared to those of mothers whose child was notified to child protection authorities (30%) or had no child protection involvement (62%). A higher proportion of mothers of children in care had mental health diagnoses, hospitalisations related to alcohol/drug issues and assault prior to child removal, compared to mothers of children never in care. Mothers of children in care experienced multiple health issues, including 27% experiencing three or more conditions within 5 years prior to child removal. There is an urgent need to provide appropriate support to these mothers, and for coordination and integration of service provision to address their needs.