Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39800851›Full record

ArticleThe Australian journal of rural health2025

Measuring Food and Water Security in an Aboriginal Community in Regional Australia.

Loretta Weatherall, Alinta Trindall, Trish Tonkin, Joseph Alvin Santos, Dori Patay, Ruth McCausland, Wendy Spencer, Greg Leslie, Eileen Baldry, Keziah Bennett-Brook and 12 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The Australian journal of rural health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Access to Food Within Homes Located in Very Remote Communities in Western Australia-An Observational Study.Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals · 2026
    Observational
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

22 authors.

Loretta WeatherallWalgett Aboriginal Medical Service Limited, Walgett, New South Wales, Australia.
Alinta TrindallThe George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Trish TonkinDharriwaa Elders Group, Walgett, New South Wales, Australia.
Joseph Alvin SantosThe George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Dori PatayThe George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Ruth McCauslandYuwaya Ngarra-Li Partnership, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Wendy SpencerDharriwaa Elders Group, Walgett, New South Wales, Australia.
Greg LeslieGlobal Water Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Eileen BaldryFaculty of law and Justice, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Keziah Bennett-BrookThe George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Julieann CoombesThe George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Tamara MackeanCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Janani ShanthoshThe George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Ty MaddenThe George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Bruce MooreWalgett Aboriginal Medical Service Limited, Walgett, New South Wales, Australia.
Ann-Marie DeaneWalgett Aboriginal Medical Service Limited, Walgett, New South Wales, Australia.
Niall EarleGlobal Water Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Christine Corby GDipWalgett Aboriginal Medical Service Limited, Walgett, New South Wales, Australia.
Melissa NathanWalgett Aboriginal Medical Service Limited, Walgett, New South Wales, Australia.
Sera L YoungAnthropology and Global Health Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.
Emalie RosewarneThe George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Jacqui WebsterThe George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3513-3340

Funding

National Health and Medical Research CouncilNational Heart Foundation of Australia
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo measure current levels and experiences of food and water security in Walgett to guide a community-led program and to provide a baseline measure.

designA community-led cross-sectional survey conducted in April 2022 by trained local researchers.

settingWalgett, a regional town in NSW, Australia.

participantsA total of 251 Aboriginal adults. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURED: Food and water security levels and experiences were measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Household Water InSecurity Experiences (HWISE) Scale. The relationship between food and water insecurity was determined through linear regression analysis.

resultsAlmost half of the respondents experienced food insecurity (46%) or water insecurity (44%) in the last 12 months. Most participants attributed food insecurity to difficulties with food affordability (71%) and availability (63%). More than four in five participants reported relying on purchased or donated bottled water due to main water source interruption (83%) or quality concerns (86%). Water insecurity was associated with food insecurity; HFIAS score increased by 0.43 points for every point higher on the HWISE scale.

conclusionsThis study is the first to measure levels and experiences of food and water security in an Aboriginal community in Australia using validated tools. The results highlight the interconnectedness of food and water insecurity and provide evidence of levels far higher than Australian national level estimates and comparable to low- and middle-income countries. A holistic government response alongside community-led efforts are needed to increasefood and water security to improve health and well-being in remote Aboriginal communities.

Indexed as

Food InsecurityWater InsecurityAdultAustralian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PeoplesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleFood SecurityFood SupplyHumansMaleMiddle AgedNew South WalesSurveys and QuestionnairesWater SupplyYoung AdultAboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderFirst Nations Healthfood securityremote and regional communitieswater security

Identifiers

PMID39800851
PMCPMC11725624

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.