Inquiry Q1

Question 1

Daily Living Conditions

Answer 1

Relates to housing, access to nutritious foods, access to appropriate healthcare, income levels, working conditions, level of employment
Poor living conditions including older inadequate housing and overcrowding and lead to increased communicable diseases, injury and increased stress levels.
Lack of job security can lead to anxiety and depression

Question 2

Quality of early years of life

Answer 2

Safe, supportive, loving environments are vital for intellectual, social and emotional development as good role modelling will help develop behaviors and resilience to cope with challenges
Safe, stimulating learning environments whether at home or in child care help to support developmental and health care needs
Inequities exist for those who have negative experiences such as abuse, neglect and stress which can seriously harm the way children grow and develop and their long term health outcomes.
Genetics can increase the risk of some diseases such as heart disease, breast cancer, diabetes
Passive smoking and toxic chemical pollution can cause allergies and asthma
Mothers who drink or take drugs while pregnant can lead to the child having diseases/deformities

Question 3

Access to services and transport

Answer 3

Access to health and educational facilities, transport, social services and recreational amenities is essential for protecting and improving health
People who are socioeconomically disadvantaged are more likely to need to, yet less likely to use preventative health services such as dentists, immunization clinics, cancer screening, preferring to delay seeking medical treatment and thereby increasing hospital admissions
Indigenous people have cultural barriers and this may limit their access
Geographically remote communities are more likely to have to travel long distances for routine services

Question 4

Socioeconomic Factors

Answer 4

Highest exposure to health risk factors leading to poorer health outcomes and lower life expectancy
Poorer nutrition, health, physical activity
Increased levels of smoking and alcohol abuse
Greater incidence of morbidity and mortality for issues such as heart disease, injury, diabetes type 2
Poverty cycle
Attitudes passed down through the family can contribute to the devaluing of work and education by younger people
ATSI people are more likely to be below the poverty line (31%) compared with non ATSI (13%)
People living outside capital cities were more likely to be on the lowest household income band and remote dwellers have even greater levels of poverty, with the cost of living, apart from housing, much higher.
ATSI People are: 3.6 x more likely to smoke daily, 1.6 x more likely to be obese, 2 x more likely to have COPD in people aged 45+, 2 x more likely to have diabetes, 2 x more likely to die from lung cancer

Question 5

Social attributes

Answer 5

Socially excluded people often feel powerless and disconnected and are denied opportunities that are available to others
45% of ATSI people experience social exclusion
Repeated exposure to discrimination may result in stress, depression, anger, low self esteem

Question 6

Government policies and priorities

Answer 6

The government aims to ensure that public health strategies reduce. health inequities. This can be demonstrated by increased funding provided for priority health issues such as CVD, mental health
Existing legislation of positive health outcomes include: Medicare, PBS, antidiscrimination laws, taxes on tobacco and alcohol, non smoking laws, safety standards for workers, close the gap
Governments aim to reduce poverty and social inequity by addressing the social determinants of health such as policy responses to income, welfare and employment through Centrelink, free public education, public housing, transport concessions