Variations in the health status of population groups in Australia Including: males and females higher and lower socioeconomic status groups rural and remote populations Indigenous populations

Australian males and females Life expectancy Over the past 100 years in Australia, life expectancy has been consistently higher for women than for men, although the size of the difference has varied Q: Why do you think this is so? Q: What may have caused the variations?

Mortality In 2005, male deaths outnumbered female deaths, with a ratio of 107 males to 100 females The leading cause of death for males and females is coronary heart disease Q: Do you think gender has an impact on mortality? Explain. Australian males and females

Morbidity In general, women have a higher rates of illness and disability than men Women are more likely to report illness than men Q: Why do you think women are generally more likely to report illness than men? Is this true in your experience?

Australian males and females… explaining the variations Socially determined behavior High-risk industries Risk-taking behaviour Aggressive behavior Avoiding medical treatment Screening for illness Regular contact with doctors Physical activity and food intake Destructive behaviours Perceptions & attitudes REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Higher and lower socioeconomic status groups in Australia The wealthier you are, the healthier you are Q: Do you agree with this statement?

Higher and lower socioeconomic status groups in Australia Life expectancy In Australia, life expectancy varies with socioeconomic status For example, in a boy born in an area of greatest disadvantage could expect to live 3.6 years less than a boy born in area of least disadvantage Q: Why do you think this is so?

Higher and lower socioeconomic status groups in Australia Mortality People from lower socioeconomic groups have higher rates of mortality overall, as well as for most individual causes of death For example, in , diabetes-related mortality in the most disadvantaged areas was 82% higher than in the least disadvantaged areas Q: Why does socioeconomic status have a negative impact on mortality in Australia?

Higher and lower socioeconomic status groups in Australia Burden of disease Populations in areas with lower socioeconomic status experience proportionally more burden than populations in areas with higher socioeconomic status The most disadvantaged populations have 37.7% greater burden than the least disadvantaged burdens (2003)

Socioeconomic status groups in Australia… explaining the variations Limited opportunities Preventative health services Resources DENTISTRY emergency services Power to make choices Social gradient accidents Regular contact with doctors Opportunities Long-term health conditions Exercise Obesity Life chances HIGHER INCOME Risk factors DAILY SERVES OF FRUIT Smoking

Rural and remote populations in Australia Life expectancy Life expectancy decreases with increasing remoteness Compared with major cities, the life expectancy in regional areas is 1 – 2 years lower and up to 7 years lower in remote areas Q: Why do you think this is so? Q: What may have caused the variations?

Rural and remote populations in Australia Morbidity Australian’s in rural and remote areas are more likely to have certain chronic diseases For example, preventable cancers such as those associated with UV, smoking and those detectable through screening (e.g. cervical) Q: Why do you think the incidence of preventable cancers, depression, diabetes and arthritis in females is higher in rural and remote areas?

Rural and remote populations in Australia Burden of disease 64.5% of the burden of disease in Australia comes from major cities (because they account for two-thirds of the population) Males experience more of this burden in all areas, but particularly in remote areas Total burden per head of population increases with remoteness, due to higher rates of burden for most causes, particularly injuries

Rural and remote populations… explaining the variations Behaviours associated with poorer health Overweight and obesity POLUTION Higher levels of smoking Sedentary behavior ISOLATION Harmful drug and alcohol use Screening for illness ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Regular contact with doctors Eating adequate daily fruit and vegetables

Indigenous populations in Australia Life expectancy Estimated life expectancy at birth for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is much lower than for other Australians The gap is approximately 10 years Q: Why do you think this is so? Q: What causes the variation?

Indigenous populations in Australia Mortality 71% of Indigenous Australians who died in were younger than 65 (as opposed to 21% for non-Indigenous population) In , the three leading causes of death were diseases of circulatory system, external causes (e.g. accidents, self-harm and assault) and neoplasms (including cancers)

Indigenous populations in Australia Morbidity Indigenous people have higher rates of ill health than any other group in Australia – Indigenous newborns are more likely to be underweight – One in eight Indigenous people reported having a long- term heart condition – Smoking related cancers are more common – Cervical cancer is more common; breast cancer is less common – Indigenous Australians are 3.5 times more likely to contract diabetes than non-Indigenous Australians

Indigenous populations in Australia Burden of disease The burden of disease and injury among Indigenous Australians in 2003 was estimated by the AIHW in 2008 to be just under DALYs This represents 3.6% of the total burden of disease in Australia for a population that makes up 2.5% of the total population

Indigenous populations in Australia… explaining the variations Nutrition TRADITIONS & CUSTOMS SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS Physical activity BODY WEIGHT Drugs Regular contact with doctors Immunisation Breastfeeding education HOUSING SMOKING Alcohol use BMI remote & rural Eating adequate daily fruit and vegetables