GeographicImpactuponAustralianHealth

Catrina Lindsay N8841292 Steve Badman media type="custom" key="24295804"


 * Artifact **

The artifact chosen is in support of the question of how does gender, ethnicity, sexuality and geography affect morbidity and mortality. The artifact is a television advertisement for Angel Flight Australia that is promoting the effects of living in remote areas, being isolated from hospitals and health centers and how this affects the families and patients from being so far away from home. The artifact was made for a television commercial for Angel Flight Australia to promote the work they do, by flying in and out of different parts of Australia to help those in remote and rural communities, while addressing the distance with signs stating how many kilometers to the hospital, and distanced travelled from home and family. The long distances travelled was addressed with signs stating how many kilometers to the hospital, and distanced travelled from home and family. For example, the artifact shows that it is 650km to the heart surgeon. This emphasises to the viewer the effect of and isolation of living in remote Australia. And the important help of Angel Flight Australia in reducing the distance and providing access to the health facilities free of charge


 * Public Health Issue **

The public heath issue, how does gender, ethnicity, sexuality and geography affect morbidity and mortality in remote and rural communities. People are isolated from hospitals and health centers and families and patients are far away from home. This YouTube clip supports this question by showing the viewers the emotions of patients and the distance patients have to travel to receive health care, by living in a remote area. The public health issue is having equality within each community, by receiving public health programs to assist in the well being of rural and remote Australians.


 * Literature Review **

In Australia, many people live in remote and rural areas. The following review of literature includes research and statistics on the health impact of living in remote and rural parts of Australia. It includes research regarding affects upon financial matters and the mental, social, emotional and physical health of persons living in these parts of Australia. Statistics collected by The Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals the percentage of the population in Australia of that families living in the remote areas. This information indicates that at the time of the census, 30% families were living in rural and remote parts of Australia then those who live in urban cities (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2010).

The publication, ‘Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’ outlines Australia’s population of 20 million people, the review shows that 66% live in capital cities, towns or other major metropolitan centers – 8 million square kilometers across Australia what are referred to rural or remote areas are where the remaining 6 million people live (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2005).


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Image:-(Baxter ,Hayes & Gray, 2011)

Those in remote or very remote areas are more likely to be Indigenous than those living in inner regional areas or major cities; and a greater proportion of those in very remote areas live in multi-family households (Baxter, Hayes & Gray, 2011). Living in remote and regional parts of Australia was also the focus of research conducted by the Baxter, Hayes and Gray. This has shown that there are differences in the physical, economic and social environments between major cities; inner regional and outer regional areas and these may have an effect on children's development. The Studies conducted by Baxter, Hayes and Gray, has found children’s development levels are different from living in a major city compared to living in remote areas (Baxter, Hayes & Gray, 2011). The study found that children's physical, social-emotional and learning outcomes were measured and used to rank them according to whether they did very well or poorly relative to each other (Baxter, Hayes & Gray, 2011). Two development areas were shown through the research. In regards to physical development - children were more likely to do very well in major cities and outer regional areas compared to those in inner regional areas. Social-emotional outcomes in children were similar across the geographic areas; and learning outcomes differences showed that children were more likely to do very well in major cities, followed by inner regional areas and then outer regional areas (Baxter, Hayes & Gray, 2011).

Another publication conducted by the Department of Health and Aged Care have stated that people living in remote and regional areas of Australia, not only being isolated and distanced from services. They also live with droughts, fires and floods in Australia, which has an impact on farming communities. This puts financial stress on families within the farming industry. This stress can precipitate anxiety, depression, family breakdown, grief, anger and other mental health problems (Department of Health and Aged Care, 2000).

The report by Fuller, Edwards, Procter, & Moss (2000) contains researched information and statistics of the mental health of Australian who live in remote and rural parts of Australia. 22 informants living in northern and western South Australia conducted the research. These informant interviewees were a combination of mental health professionals, mental health consumers and human service workers (Fuller et al., 2000). The interview had three themes: 1. They were reluctant to acknowledge mental health problems and the avoidance of appropriate help; 2. Stigma and the avoidance of mental health services; 3 (Fuller et al, 2000). The influence of rural and remote circumstances, of living in remote and rural parts of Australia. Fuller reported that the themes would help in designing mental health interventions for rural and remote communities. The research conducted by McLennan viewed that 18% of adults had a mental disorder while 38% received help and support, while 20-50% received treatment. The report outlined The Australian National Mental Health Strategy showed the affect of mental disorders affected cognitive, emotional or social abilities, also stating that one and five children and adolescents in Australia suffers from a mental health problem (Fuller et al, 2000).

The report conducted by Burke et al. (2007), researched the health-related behaviours of Western Aboriginal persons aged between 18-88 years old, 256 women and 258 men. The survey documented the individuals diet, alcohol and smoking habits from 1988-89 to the linking of mortality and hospital admissions to the end of 2002. The results of the survey showed coronary heart disease increased with smoking, the consumption of processed meats, eggs and bread were high. The mortality rate was lower with persons who exercised once a week (Burke et al., 2007). The high levels of smoking, alcohol consumption and dietary choices of men and women increased the risk of coronary heart disease resulting in mortality. In the survey it showed that the lifestyle of Aboriginal Australian affects their health and predicts heart disease and mortality. These behaviours were widespread in this community.


 * Cultural and Social Analysis **

In rural and remote areas of Australia, there are general socioeconomic and demographic trends, but each community is different with unique characteristics of history, culture, population and size than larger community areas (Baxter, Hayes & Gray, 2011). Certain trends that are occurring within remote and regional areas of Australia are that, more indigenous people are more likely to live in more remote areas than regional areas. Rural populations tend to have more children but less young adults (Baxter, Hayes & Gray, 2011). More remote communities, many with significant Indigenous populations and a focus on the  mining industry, tend to have more children, more people of working age and fewer older people. As statistics show from the Australian Bureau of Statistics that 2.3% of remote Australians are aboriginal and living in these parts of Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2010), have a high rate of smoking and alcohol intake that increases the risk of coronary heart disease and death (Burke et al., 2007). Awareness of this topic needs to be addressed, by having more facilities available for residents who live in remote and rural parts of Australia. By having resources such as Angel Flight does assist and help families with health problems in rural and remote parts of Australia. As studies have shown that in rural and remote areas there is a higher number of Aboriginal and Indigenous Australians, there need more support and doctors that can assist people living out on stations with limited resources.


 * Analysis of the artifact and own learning reflections **

The artifact I have shown supports this issue by showing the distance the patient has to travel to receive care, it also outlines the emotions of the patients by being so distant from their families, with the help of Angel Flight it helps the remote community to receive the benefits from health services and assistance. The artifact was made for a television commercial for Angel Flight Australia to promote the work they do, by flying in and out of different parts of Australia to help those in remote and rural communities, while addressing the distance with signs stating how many kilometers to the hospital, and distanced travelled from home and family. Awareness of this topic needs to be addressed by having more facilities available for residents who live in remote and rural parts of Australia. Having resources such as Angel Flight Australia provides assistance and help to families with health problems in rural and remote parts of Australia. As studies have shown that in rural and remote areas of Australia higher numbers of Aboriginal and Indigenous Australians live here, they may need more support and doctors that can assist people living out on stations with limited resources. Personally, coming from a rural part of Australia myself, researching into the effects of health and resources for education compared to people living in urban cities, there needs to be equality within each community. Since researching this topic, I was not aware of the high amounts of mental health illness in remote areas, and suicidal rates within men of the farming industry. The obesity and smoking statistics of people living in these areas also needs to be addressed. There is a need for more public health programs to address these issues. Suggestions include visiting nurses, dentists, doctors, and counselors to give an awareness of these issues to the local communities, and also provide services for them. This information also needs to be given at and educational level, so young people are made aware of these issues and the services available to them.


 * Reference: - **

[|Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2010).] //Australian demographic statistics, June 2010// (Cat. No. 3101.0). Canberra: ABS. Retrieved from []

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. (2000). The Office of Rural Health. Retrieved from [].

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2005). Australia's Health 2004. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra.Retrieved from

[]

Baxter, J., Hayes, A., Gray, M. (2011). Families in regional, rural and remote Australia. [EDB version]. Retrieved from [].

Burke, V., Zhao, Y., Lee, A.H., Hunter, E., Spargo, R.M., Gracey, M.,.... Puddey, I.B. (2007). Health-related behaviours as predictors of mortality and morbidity in Australian Aborigines. //Preventive Medicine,// 44(//2//), 135-142. Retrieved from [].

Fuller, J., Edwards, J., Procter, N., & Moss, J. (2000). How definition of mental health problems can influence help seeking in rural and remote communities. //Australian Journal of Rural Health,// 8(//3//), 148-153. Retrieved from [].

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 * Reflections on other student’s wikis **
 * Reflection 1:- Weapon of Oppression **

Reflection 2:- ' I really love meat' http://healthcultureandsociety2013.wikispaces.com/share/view/64697554