Rural and remote areas. By Sham Khamis, Derek Ah Chong, Vaoesea Fepuleai, Adrian Tairua and Katerina Visesio.

People in rural and remote areas Rural and remotes refers to people living in isolated areas for example country side. 34 per cent of the Australian population live in rural or remotes. The health of people who live in this area is poorer that those who live in urban areas.

Inequities they experience They experience poorer access to health care services and are more likely to suffer more from disease and illnesses, and limited access to technology and health technology to be able to receive help from health care services. They have harsh working conditions, sun exposure. Which means their life expectancy rate will be decreasing.

People living in rural ad remote areas are more likely to: Be smokers Drink alcohol in hazardous quantities be overweight or obese Be physically inactive Have lower levels of education Have poorer access to specialist and other medical services Have risky occupation Be at higher risk on the road due to longer travelling distances

Statistics People in rural and remote areas are able to receive health services closer to where they live from the Royal There have been and improvement in death rates in rural and remote locations with 3 per cent decline in male death rates and a two per cent decline in female death rates. This is largely due to a reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer death rates.