Groups Experiencing Health Inequities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Nature and Extent of Inequalities
- Higher mortality and morbidity rates.
- Higher infant mortality rates.
- Exposure to life threatening events (assault, self-harm).
- Malicious health habits (e.g. 2x smoking routines than non-ATSI).
Sociocultural Determinants
- Sub par state of living
- Unhygienic habitat
- Unbalanced diet, which is high in saturated fat and refined carbs
- Uncontrolled way of life
- Less physical inactivity
Environmental Determinants
- No long term storage capacity for fruits and vegetables
- Need to travel for longer distances and period
- Reduced access to health facilities due to residing in remote areas
Role of Communities in Addressing Inequalities
- Launch awareness and promotion campaigns for educating on healthy lifestyle protocols
- Finding out possible ways to overcome individual barriers
Role of Governments in Addressing Inequalities
- Closing the Gap strategy
- Allocating balanced funding across all groups to eradicate inequities
- “Health for Life” program for working towards primary, child and maternity health care

Socioeconomically Disadvantaged People

Nature and Extent of Inequalities
- Higher mortality rates
- Low expectancy of life
- Low rate of survival from diseases
- 6 times incidence of lung cancer and more likely to have asthma and diabetes
Sociocultural Determinants
- Take part in activities that promote major health complications
- No regards of hygiene and primary health facilities because of lack of communication
- Lower income grade limits access to education
Environmental Determinants
- Lack of proper living arrangements
- Homelessness limits access to services as they are required to travel to distances for seeking services
- Children are brought up in an unhygienic environment
Role of Communities in Addressing Inequalities
- Private organizations can launch support services
- NGOs can work for promoting awareness and launch health campaigns
Role of Governments in Addressing Inequalities
- Providing a minimum form of shelter
- Allocating sufficient funding to address the needs of people
- Making healthcare free for underprivileged people

People in Rural and Remote Areas

Nature and Extent of Inequalities
- Higher mortality and morbidity rates
- Poorer health status as compared to people in urban areas
- Lower life expectancy
- Higher rates of mental illness
Sociocultural Determinants
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Elevated alcohol consumption
- Higher levels of smoking
Environmental Determinants
- GPs are found but in less number with fewer facilities
- Inadequate distribution of medical technology and other necessary equipments for treatment and therapy
Role of Communities in Addressing Inequalities
- Development of Multi Purpose Service Programs that combine different community service approaches including awareness campaigns, health checkup campaigns and free treatments
Role of Governments in Addressing Inequalities
- Distribution of funding ensuring equity
- Remote health campaigns on a national level
- Remote health facilities should be created with adequate opportunities of monitoring and treatment

Overseas-born People

Nature and Extent of Inequalities
- Longer life expectancy
- Lower death rates
- Lower hospitalisation rates
- Lower prevalence of lifestyle risk factors for disease
Sociocultural Determinants
- Lower health literacy due to language barriers
- Language barriers also result in low participation in socialization which can often help in gaining health literacy
Environmental Determinants
- Restrict their lives within communities, which decreases the necessity to learn English
- Language barriers restrict them from gaining health services that available in cities
Role of Communities in Addressing Inequalities
- Offer English lessons for free or for minimum fees
- Multilinguals can assist in filling up forms and making them understand the different levels of healthcare
Role of Governments in Addressing Inequalities
- Translation services
- Appointing multicultural service officers
- Multilingual phone support

The Elderly

Nature and Extent of Inequalities
- Affected by chronic illnesses, sometime more than one
- Have the highest rate of injury related hospitalizations
Sociocultural Determinants
- Have to be dependent on their children for care at old age
- Often children are hesitant to become a caregiver
Environmental Determinants
- All areas do not have easily accessible health facilities and specialist care
- Movement becomes difficult with age
- Reduction of income restricts living in urban areas
Role of Communities in Addressing Inequalities
- Meals on Wheels – works in providing food services to those elders who cannot travel much
- Retirement villages include services like social activities, GP home visits and transportation
Role of Governments in Addressing Inequalities
- Government funded organizations that help elderly with everyday activities
- Prevention and intervention campaigns for disease management
- Promoting strategies for healthy ageing

People with Disabilities

Nature and Extent of Inequalities
- Have poorer health compared to other Australians
- Have higher rates of consultation with GPs owing to both physical and mental stress
Sociocultural Determinants
- Some disabilities are genetically inherited
- Disability is highly prevalent in ATSIs
Environmental Determinants
- Disabilities often restrict access to health services
- Limitations aren’t always restricted to the individual because of this disease. Sometimes, the service pipeline restricts people from getting access to health services (Example: some services require phone calls to be made which can be difficult for people with disabilities)
Role of Communities in Addressing Inequalities
- Door to door assessment with health services
- Remote GP consultations
- Social groups
- Helping find simple jobs they can do
- Promoting awareness
Role of Governments in Addressing Inequalities
- National Disability Strategy – aims to address inequity in health services among people with disabilities
- Fund many community and healthcare programs that provide services to people with disabilities