IThe Difference In Life Expectancy Is Related To A Number Of Heath

IThe Difference In Life Expectancy Is Related To A Number Of Heath IThe Difference In Life Expectancy Is Related To A Number Of Heath Issues, One Being Type 2 Diabetes â€" Essay Example > IntroductionAccording to the World Health Organization health does not necessary mean the absence of illness or disease but it is the state of absolute physical, social and mental welfare (Australia Institute of Health and Welfare 2007). Eating health, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep play a significant role in disease prevention. However, a good social network, higher self esteem and continued personal growth also play an important role in our overall health. It has been observed that the Aboriginal people face more health difficulties than the other Australians. They have low life expectancy and experience more cases of disability and deteriorating quality of life. In 2003 it was estimated that 95,976 Aboriginal people in Australia suffer from numerous diseases and injuries. This represented 3.6% of the total number of disease and injury in Australia for a class of people that makes up to 2.5% of the total population. They mostly suffered from cardiovascular disease s, diabetes, chronic respiratory, cancer and mental disorders (Australian Institute of health and welfare 2008). This essay will tend to explain the factors which have contributed to the general decline in health among the Aboriginal people and at the end, come up with solutions to these health problems. The primary factors contributing to the decrease in the health of the Aboriginal people are socioeconomic factors, behavioral factors and environmental factors. We are be able to control some of these factors which influence our health and well being where as some are beyond or control capabilities (AIHW 2007). These factors are discussed below in detail; Socioeconomic factorsSocioeconomic factors have significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the Aboriginal people in Australia. Aboriginal people have lower incomes, low rates of employment, high rates of illiteracy and lower rates of home ownership than the other Australians (AIHW 2008). Aboriginal people are socioeconomic ally disadvantaged and so they are likely to engage in health risk behaviors such as smoking and drinking alcohol and violence which make them more vulnerable to certain diseases. For the period 1960-2001, it was estimated that the life expectancy of the Aboriginal people was 59 years for the men and 65 years for the women. This could only correspond to the life expectancy for the Australian men inhabitants in 1901 -1910 and the women inhabitants in 1920-1922 respectively. In contrast, the life expectancy for all Australians for the period 1998-2004 was 77 years for men and 82 years for women. This represented a disparity of almost 17 years (ABS 2006a). Education has impacted negatively on the general health of the Aboriginals. Lower levels of education are linked with lower income and low employment opportunities and vice versa (Raphael 2004). Lowly educated people or the so termed illiterate people have low skills and knowledge to lead a good health lifestyle and are also not in a position to have access to enhanced health care services. Most Aboriginals people are poorly educated and hence suffer from poor health (ABS 2006g). The other socioeconomic factor which impacts on the health of the Aboriginal people is employment. There are low rates of employment among the Aboriginal people (Raphael 2004). There has been higher rate of diseases, disabilities and mortality reported among unemployed people than among employed people (ABS 2006a). This is because unemployed people are not in a position to buy healthy goods and services such as nourishing food, afford a good house and quality health care which makes them suffers poor health. High rates of depression and low self esteem has been recorded among unemployed people due to the psychological and social effects associated with unemployment (AIHW 2007). There is also a strong relationship between occupation and health for those people who are employed. People who work in labor-intensive and jobs which requir e low skills are likely to experience ill health, more disability and higher mortality rates than people in management career (Marmot 2004). Most aboriginal people work in blue collar jobs which involve low skills and are poorly paid. These jobs also expose them to high risks of physical hazards such as collapsing of a quarry or land slides (Raphael 2004).