Why do vulnerable populations experience poorer health outcomes?

People in vulnerable population groups encounter barriers to accessing mainstream primary health care services. wait times, inadequate service options, lack of transport, cost, lack of fixed permanent address for appointment letters and potentially cognitive impairment such as poor memory.

What groups experience lower levels of health?

Groups experiencing health inequities

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• socioeconomically disadvantaged people.
• people in rural and remote areas.
• overseas-born people.
• the elderly.
• people with disabilities.

Who are the most disadvantaged groups in Australia?

13.1 Indigenous Australians remain the most disadvantaged and marginalised group in Australia. On all the standard indicators of poverty and disadvantage, Indigenous people emerge as the most socially and economically deprived.

Why is there a gap in Indigenous health?

What causes the gap? Chronic diseases occur more often and at a much younger age among Indigenous Australians compared with non-Indigenous Australians (see Chapter 7 ‘How healthy are Indigenous Australians? ‘ and Chapter 4 ‘Chronic diseases—Australia’s biggest health challenge’).

Why are vulnerable populations considered vulnerable?

Vulnerable populations are groups and communities at a higher risk for poor health as a result of the barriers they experience to social, economic, political and environmental resources, as well as limitations due to illness or disability.

What are some barriers to healthcare for vulnerable populations?

poor economy, high unemployment rates, and limited economic resources; high rates of uninsurance and underinsurance; cultural differences that may pose challenges, such as social, cultural, and linguistic barriers that may prevent patients from accessing care; low education or health literacy levels; and.

What is low SES in Australia?

Socioeconomic status (SES) in Australian higher education is determined using a student’s residential address. Low SES students are defined as those students who live in the bottom 25 per cent of SA1 areas in this ranking.

What are the population groups in Australia?

Population groups

• Children & youth.
• Indigenous Australians.
• Men & women.
• Mothers & babies.
• Older people.
• Prisoners.
• Rural & remote Australians.
• Veterans.

Why are indigenous Australians more disadvantaged?

Indigenous Australians experience widespread socioeconomic disadvantage and health inequality. Factors like discrimination and racism, violence, alcohol and drug use and high psychological distress can negatively affect social and emotional wellbeing.

Does poverty contribute to poor health?

Poverty and poor health worldwide are inextricably linked. The causes of poor health for millions globally are rooted in political, social and economic injustices. Poverty increases the chances of poor health. Poor health, in turn, traps communities in poverty.

What is the leading cause of death for Indigenous Australian peoples?

The leading causes of death for Indigenous Australians were: neoplasms (including cancer) (23\% of all deaths), circulatory diseases (for example, heart attack) (23\%), external causes (for example injury and suicide) (15\%), respiratory diseases (9\%), and endocrine, metabolic and nutritional disorders (including diabetes …

What is vulnerable population in healthcare?

Vulnerable populations include patients who are racial or ethnic minorities, children, elderly, socioeconomically disadvantaged, underinsured or those with certain medical conditions. Members of vulnerable populations often have health conditions that are exacerbated by unnecessarily inadequate healthcare.

Why are Australians living in rural areas more vulnerable to disease?

Similarly, Australians living in rural and remote areas tend to have shorter lives and higher rates of disease and injury than their Major cities counterparts. They are also more likely to engage in health behaviours that can lead to adverse health outcomes, such as smoking, risky drinking and being insufficiently active.

How does living outside major cities affect health in Australia?

Australians living outside major cities have significantly poorer health and lower life expectancy than their urban counterparts.

Why are long-term health conditions more common in non-metropolitan Australia?

Long-term health conditions due to injury were 30 per cent more likely in non-metropolitan Australians than in those who lived in major cities – probably as a result of participation in agriculture, forestry, mining and other physically demanding industries endemic to rural and regional areas. 1

What are the effects of chronic diseases in Australia?

Chronic diseases such as diabetes, mental illness and cancer are responsible for nine out of 10 deaths in Australia, and substantially reduce many Australians’ quality of life. 3 They are also economically significant: eliminating chronic diseases could increase the workforce and Australia’s productivity by 10 per cent. 4