australias health

• health trends in australia:

  1. People are living longer in Australia.
  2. Health consciousness is on the rise, with more exercise and less smoking and drinking.
  3. Obesity and chronic conditions are still challenges.
  4. Indigenous Australians have lower life expectancy.
  5. COVID-19 impacted hospitalizations and had higher death rates for certain groups.
• health inequities in australia:

  • Indigenous Health Gap: Indigenous Australians face significant health disparities compared to non-Indigenous Australians. Factors such as higher rates of chronic diseases, lower life expectancy, and limited access to healthcare services contribute to this gap.
• health inequities in australia:

  • Social Determinants of Health: Socioeconomic factors such as income, education, employment, and housing significantly influence health outcomes in Australia. Those in lower socioeconomic groups often experience poorer health due to limited access to resources and healthcare services.
• health inequities in australia:

  • Rural and Remote Health: Australians living in rural and remote areas encounter barriers to accessing healthcare services, including a shortage of healthcare professionals, limited healthcare infrastructure, and challenges in transportation to reach medical facilities.
• health inequities in australia

  • Geographic location: Health inequities can vary significantly based on geographic location within Australia. Urban areas may have better access to healthcare facilities and resources compared to regional, rural, and remote areas, leading to disparities in health outcomes.
• Determinants of health – what influences health outcomes

  1. Social and economic factors: Income, education, and social support networks.
  2. Physical environment: Access to clean air, water, and safe housing.
  3. Health behaviors: Lifestyle choices like diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
  4. Genetics: Family history and genetic factors.
  5. Healthcare access and quality: Availability, affordability, and quality of healthcare services.
• Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) HealthLife Expectancy Gap:

  • Indigenous Australians have a life expectancy around 8-10 years lower than non-Indigenous Australians.
  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2018: the estimated life expectancy at birth was 71.6 years for Indigenous males and 75.6 years for Indigenous females, compared to 80.2 years for non-Indigenous males and 83.4 years for non-Indigenous females.
• Indigenous health:

  • Chronic Disease Burden: Indigenous Australians experience a higher prevalence of chronic diseases compared to non-Indigenous Australians. For instance, Indigenous Australians are 1.3 times more likely to have cardiovascular disease and over three times more likely to have diabetes compared to non-Indigenous Australians, as reported by AIHW.
• Indigenous health:

  • Social Determinants of Health:
  • For example, in 2018, around 23% of Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over reported high or very high levels of psychological distress, compared to 12% of non-Indigenous Australians, as reported by AIHW.
• social determinants of health

  non-medical factors that influence health outcomes
• give an example of a health trend in australia about life expectancy

  people are living longer in australia