U3 AOS1 Understanding HWB (4) Flashcards
Blood glucose regulation (ATSI)
Indigenous Australians are more likely to experience high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels that are not considered high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes indicate impaired glucose regulation and impaired glucose regulation is greater among Indigenous Australians.
Blood pressure (ATSI)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males were more likely than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females to have high blood pressure, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults were significantly more likely than other Australian adults to have high blood pressure.
Bodyweight (ATSI)
Indigenous girls are more likely to be underweight compared to non-indigenous girls. Additionally, they are also more likely to be obese. Indigenous males of the same age also had increased levels of underweight and obesity compared to non-indigenous Australians. Indigenous Australian adults are also more likely to be obese compared with non-Indigenous adults.
List the environmental factors contributing to the variations in health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations
Air, water, and sanitation quality, and access to physical resources.
Access to physical resources (ATSI)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples live in either regional or remote Australia, they are exposed to poor to road quality including, higher speed limits, poor road condition, a higher risk of collision with wildlife and livestock. Therefore, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are limited in the access to resources such as healthcare facilities and treatment options, specialist and diagnostic services.
Air, water, and sanitation quality (ATSI)
Due to poor quality housing, Indigenous Australians experience higher levels of unsafe drinking water and non-functioning sanitation systems, increasing the prevalence of infectious diseases such as influenza and pneumonia. Due to the high rates of tobacco use, passive smoking exposure for children is high for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.
List the sociocultural factors contributing to the variations in health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations
Social expectations, overcrowding and homelessness, social networks (family; peers and community), employment status, level of education, and socioeconomic status.
Social expectations (ATSI)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are less likely to access healthcare than other Australians.
Overcrowding and homelessness (ATSI)
Indigenous Australians lived in homes that required one or more additional bedrooms and were more than three times as likely as other households to be deemed overcrowded.
Social networks (peers and community), (ATSI)
Indigenous Australians have a strong sense of belonging as many of them identify with a clan, tribal, or language group providing what seems to be a supportive network to Indigenous Australians. However, in times of crisis Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been unable to access social support when compared with non-Indigenous Australians.
Social networks (family), (ATSI)
Hospitalisation due to violence is significantly higher in Indigenous communities compared with non-Indigenous. This indicates that the family environment may have a greater negative influence on the health status of Indigenous Australians compared to non-Indigenous Australians.
Employment status (ATSI)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have relatively low levels of employment and relatively high levels of unemployment compared to non-Indigenous Australians. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are inclined to participate in low-skilled labour work, increasing risks of a number of health conditions and injury.
Employment status effect on HWB, (ATSI)
Unemployment can contribute to a range of psychological outcomes, including anxiety and social isolation as well as mental disorders. Substance abuse is more prevalent among the unemployed than those engaged in permanent employment.
Level of education (ATSI)
Completion of Year 12 among Indigenous students is still lower than non-Indigenous populations. A lower level of education reduces opportunities for employment and decent income. Literacy skills are greatly impacted by education so Indigenous Australians who have low levels of education have reduced literacy skills compared to non-Indigenous Australians, resulting in the inability to understand health promotion messages increasing the risk of developing a range of conditions.
Socioeconomic status (ATSI)
Ill health is more prevalent among lower income earners. The impact of a low weekly income can include the inability to purchase essential items. Lower incomes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can also impact on the accessibility of healthcare that is not covered by Medicare (e.g., dental care).
List the biological factors contributing to the variations in health status of high and low socioeconomic status
Body weight, and blood pressure.
Body weight (high and low socioeconomic status)
Australians living in areas of most disadvantage were overweight or obese compared with the least disadvantaged areas. Underweight individuals are more likely to be of low-SES, often due to the link between low income and food insecurity.
Blood pressure (high and low socioeconomic status)
The lower the household income, the greater the likelihood exists of people having high blood pressure. High blood pressure was 1.2 times as high in the low-SES population compared with the high-SES population.
List the sociocultrual factors contributing to the variations in health status of high and low socioeconomic status
Socioeconomic status, level of education, employment status, social networks (family), and access to health information.
Employment status (low and high socioeconomic status)
Unemployment rates are higher for low-SES populations living in the most disadvantaged areas of Australia compared with those of high SES. For both males and females, people who were unemployed were significantly more likely to report fair or poor health than those employed in mainstream jobs.
Socioeconomic status (low and high socioeconomic status)
Those of low socioeconomic status experience reduced income. Having a low income can also increase the psychological distress experienced by those of low-SES, where a lack of financial security can impact on decision-making processes and create a sense of having a lack of control over one’s life. High-SES groups are more likely to have reduced levels of psychological distress due to their financial security.
Level of education (low and high socioeconomic status)
Low-SES populations have lower levels of educational qualifications. Higher levels of education improve employment prospects, thus improving future income. Higher levels of education have been associated with improved health literacy and a reduced likelihood of engaging in health-risk behaviours (e.g., smoking).
Social networks (family), (low and high socioeconomic status)
Family can influence a range of factors that have an impact on health status. Those from a low-SES family may be more likely to experience partner violence. It is evident that as socioeconomic status decreases the proportion of people experiencing partner assault increases. This increases risks of injury as well as mental health problems.
Access to health information (low and high socioeconomic status)
Low-SES groups are less likely to use preventative health measures (for example, getting advice about ways to stop smoking) compared with high-SES groups, and inability to access information may be a contributing factor to this. Low SES leads to less access to resources that provide the information such as media and technology (e.g., internet access).
