In the most recent Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: 2012-2013, only 39.2% of Indigenous Australians over the age of 15, reported their health to be very good or excellent, while 7.2% considered their health to be poor (ABS, 2013). Additionally, the First Results report identifies several long- term health conditions affecting Indigenous Australians: Asthma (17.5%); ear diseases and hearing loss (12.3%); circulatory and heart disease (12.0%); and diabetes or high sugar levels (8.2%). Further health implications were revealed by the ABS survey: tobacco smoking (415); alcohol consumption of more than two standard drinks daily (18.0%); and an excess of four standard drinks on any one occasion (53.6%); illicit substance
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Child Mortality rates help to provide an insight into the social and environmental conditions in which children grow and develop. Between 1998 and 2013, there has been a significant decline in Indigenous child mortality rates of 31% (Australian Government, 2014). These improvements are due to the improved social and public health conditions such as sanitation and health education, furthermore, the introduction of Immunisations and by better treatment in neonatal intensive care and interventions for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) (ABS, 2002). In 2009-13, there were 621 deaths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 0-4, these mortality rates are 1.9 times higher than non-Indigenous rates. In 2008-12 the common cause of death of the infants were conditions originating in the perinatal period (48%) such as fetal growth disorders, birth trauma, complications of pregnancy, and cardiovascular and respiratory disorders. The second leading cause (19%) was signs, symptoms and ill-defined conditions, this includes SIDS. Thirdly, congenital malformations accounting for 15% of indigenous infant deaths. There has been a significant decline in infant mortality rates in the last decade mostly due to the reduction from signs, symptoms and ill-defined conditions (including SIDS) and conditions of the perinatal period. For child mortality rates (1-4 years) half of the deaths …show more content…
Some of these factors have improved in recent years, for example, between 2000-11, there has been a 9% decline in low birth weight. However, there is still a significant a great difference in Indigenous and non-Indigenous rates of low birthweight (two times higher). Both infant and child mortality among Indigenous Australians are declining and the gaps in mortality are narrowing. This significant improvement in the understanding of the certain aspects of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders lives are affecting these infant and child mortality rates to help implicate that into the primary health care to support pregnancies and childhood development (Al-Yaman, Ring, Dixon and Lovett,
Child Mortality rates help to provide an insight into the social and environmental conditions in which children grow and develop. Between 1998 and 2013, there has been a significant decline in Indigenous child mortality rates of 31% (Australian Government, 2014). These improvements are due to the improved social and public health conditions such as sanitation and health education, furthermore, the introduction of Immunisations and by better treatment in neonatal intensive care and interventions for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) (ABS, 2002). In 2009-13, there were 621 deaths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 0-4, these mortality rates are 1.9 times higher than non-Indigenous rates. In 2008-12 the common cause of death of the infants were conditions originating in the perinatal period (48%) such as fetal growth disorders, birth trauma, complications of pregnancy, and cardiovascular and respiratory disorders. The second leading cause (19%) was signs, symptoms and ill-defined conditions, this includes SIDS. Thirdly, congenital malformations accounting for 15% of indigenous infant deaths. There has been a significant decline in infant mortality rates in the last decade mostly due to the reduction from signs, symptoms and ill-defined conditions (including SIDS) and conditions of the perinatal period. For child mortality rates (1-4 years) half of the deaths …show more content…
Some of these factors have improved in recent years, for example, between 2000-11, there has been a 9% decline in low birth weight. However, there is still a significant a great difference in Indigenous and non-Indigenous rates of low birthweight (two times higher). Both infant and child mortality among Indigenous Australians are declining and the gaps in mortality are narrowing. This significant improvement in the understanding of the certain aspects of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders lives are affecting these infant and child mortality rates to help implicate that into the primary health care to support pregnancies and childhood development (Al-Yaman, Ring, Dixon and Lovett,