Racism is making Indigenous and culturally diverse children physically sick

An Australian-first study has found two or more experiences of racism increases a child’s long term risk of developing chronic diseases.

The study found almost half of students from Indigenous or minority ethnic backgrounds had two or more experiences of racism. Source: AAP

Australian children from Indigenous or culturally-diverse backgrounds who experience racism are at an increased risk of developing dangerous chronic diseases, new research has found. 

An Australian National University study of 120 Victorian primary school-aged children found those who had experienced two or more instances of racism were at higher risk of developing diabetes, heart disease or stroke.

Lead researcher Naomi Priest from the ANU and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute told SBS News the study highlighted that even a relatively few number of experiences of racism could have a detrimental impact on a child’s physical health. 

“There has been quite a lot of work done focused on mental health, but we wanted to explore that further,” she said.

“Findings from our study show that among primary school-aged children these experiences of racial discrimination can get under the skin to influence weight and obesity, blood pressure and markers of inflammation.”

The study found that almost half of the surveyed children from Indigenous or minority ethnic groups said they were the targets of two or more instances of racial discrimination.

Students who experienced racism were at a higher risk of chronic disease. Source: AAP

Those from minority ethnic groups surveyed included Pacific Islanders, Maoris and students with Middle Eastern, African, Latin American, South Asian and South East Asian backgrounds.

“We need to be addressing racial discrimination as a human rights issue of course, but also as a public health issue as well,” Professor Priest said.

Professor Priest said the survey of a relatively small sample size of 120 children, showed the need for more studies into the issue.

But she added that action needed to be taken by governments, schools and health services now.  

“We need to make sure that strategies focused on prevention of chronic disease and mental health also focus on racial discrimination. We need public awareness campaigns, we need programs in schools,” she said.

“We need to make sure that children and families who are having these experiences are getting the healthcare services they need.”

Professor Priest added that more needed to be done to ensure that schools across Australia were a safe place for all students.

“Schools only reflect what’s happening in wider society, so all of society needs to take responsibility for that,” she said.