1. Socioeconomic influences on
health status

2. “the wealthier you are, the
healthier you are”

3. Low socioeconomic groups are at risk of:
• Lower health status
• Shorter LE (-3yrs)
• Higher morbidity and
mortality (including IMR)
• Lower quality of life

4. Characteristics Low SES groups experience the following:
 Higher rates of morbidity
 Higher rates of mortality across nearly all causes
of death
 Higher rates of hospitalisation
 Higher rates of cancers overall, particularly lung
 Higher rates of health problems (2x)
 Increased rate of suicide (both men and women)

5. Characteristics cont…
 Increased rates of stroke;
 Increased rate of
respiratory disorders;
 Increased morbidity and
mortality associated with
motor vehicle accidents;

6. Lower socioeconomic status are more likely to have the
Biological Determinants
Lower socioeconomic status
are more likely to have the
following conditions:
Overweight/obesity
Hypertension
Diabetes (2x)
CVD
Low birth weight babies
(30-40% more likely) –

7. Behavioural Determinants
Lower socioeconomic status are more likely
to:
Smoke regularly
Be less physically active
Drink alcohol at harmful doses
Have a poorer diet (↓F&V)
Consult doctors more often
Use preventative health care less
often e.g. immunisation

8. Social Determinants Lower levels of education are a main cause of
poor health status
More likely to be unemployed
Higher rates of social exclusion
Less income is available for
medical care not covered by
Medicare

9. Social Determinants
 Food insecurity where less income is available to buy a
wide variety of food
 Lower education means less choices of occupations.
Manual/menial jobs may increase risk factors for injury,
boredom, stress
 Housing conditions are likely to be poorer, overcrowded,
inadequate cooking facilities
 Clip: Health Inequalities – Social Determinants of Health

10. Strategies ‘A Fairer Victoria 2008’  a state government • aimed at
initiative
• aimed at
strengthening communities
and people
• addressing social disadvantage and promoting inclusion
and participation
• improving education
• helping people into work
• improving health and wellbeing
• developing livable communities

11. Revise Use the determinants of health to explain the
health status of different socio-economic
groups in Australia.