1. Introduction
Indigenous Australians suffer significant disadvantages in life expectancy, health and welfare status in comparison to non- indigenous Australians with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular, liver and respiratory diseases contributing significantly to this disparity. Complex interrelated factors such as high-risk behaviours, limitations in access to health services, cultural and historic beliefs and influences on the management of these conditions have a significant role in the observed health inequity. The overall social and economic disadvantage and disparity in health infrastructure, employment, housing and education is associated with and contributory to several of these risk factors. Some of these social determinants are explored here in the context of type 2 diabetes in the Australian indigenous peoples.
2. Type 2 Diabetes in the Australian Aboriginal and Torres …show more content…
In 2011, 21 % of the ATSI population were estimated to live in remote areas in comparison to the 2% of non-indigenous Australians living in rural areas (AIHW 2015a). With over 250 known languages and about 120 still spoken, there is great cultural, linguistic and traditional diversity among the ATSI population (Marmion, Obata and Troy, 2014).
There is considerable disparity in health, social and welfare outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. The age-standardised unemployment rate in the ATSI population is over 4 times greater, homelessness rate 14 times higher, incarceration rate 13 times over and the average weekly household income significantly lower than non-indigenous Australians (AIHW 2015a).Life expectancy at birth is about 10 years lower and the mortality rates about 1.6 times greater in the ATSI group (AIHW
Indigenous Australians suffer significant disadvantages in life expectancy, health and welfare status in comparison to non- indigenous Australians with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular, liver and respiratory diseases contributing significantly to this disparity. Complex interrelated factors such as high-risk behaviours, limitations in access to health services, cultural and historic beliefs and influences on the management of these conditions have a significant role in the observed health inequity. The overall social and economic disadvantage and disparity in health infrastructure, employment, housing and education is associated with and contributory to several of these risk factors. Some of these social determinants are explored here in the context of type 2 diabetes in the Australian indigenous peoples.
2. Type 2 Diabetes in the Australian Aboriginal and Torres …show more content…
In 2011, 21 % of the ATSI population were estimated to live in remote areas in comparison to the 2% of non-indigenous Australians living in rural areas (AIHW 2015a). With over 250 known languages and about 120 still spoken, there is great cultural, linguistic and traditional diversity among the ATSI population (Marmion, Obata and Troy, 2014).
There is considerable disparity in health, social and welfare outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. The age-standardised unemployment rate in the ATSI population is over 4 times greater, homelessness rate 14 times higher, incarceration rate 13 times over and the average weekly household income significantly lower than non-indigenous Australians (AIHW 2015a).Life expectancy at birth is about 10 years lower and the mortality rates about 1.6 times greater in the ATSI group (AIHW