HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 016

Analyse how environmental factors contribute to health inequities between urban and rural Australian communities. (8 marks)

--- 22 WORK AREA LINES (style=lined) ---

Show Answers Only

*PEEL – Solution is structured using an adjusted PEEL method; [P] Identify components and their relationship, [E] explain the interaction/influence between them, [Ev] provide evidence showing the relationship in action, [L] linking sentence back to question.

[P] Geographic isolation interacts with healthcare infrastructure availability.
[E] The relationship between distance and service access shows rural residents can face 4+ hour journeys to specialists.
[Ev] This leads to delayed cancer diagnoses, with rural patients presenting at later stages 30% more often than urban counterparts.
[L] This establishes a cause-effect pattern linking remoteness to poorer health outcomes.
[P] Environmental hazards operate on multiple levels across different settings.
[E] Rural areas experience agricultural chemical exposure while urban zones face air pollution, creating distinct health risks.
[Ev] Farm workers show 40% higher pesticide-related illness rates, whereas city residents develop respiratory conditions from traffic emissions.
[L] These elements combine to produce location-specific health inequities.
[P] Infrastructure quality directly influences physical activity opportunities.
[E] A positive relationship between built environments and exercise shows rural areas are at a disadvantage due to their lack gyms, paths and public transport.
[Ev] As a consequence, rural obesity rates exceed urban by 20%, because limited infrastructure restricts movement options.
[L] This interaction demonstrates how environment shapes health behaviours.
[P] Water quality is a critical socioeconomic resource.
[E] A lack of funding and environmental management shows rural towns can often struggle with poor water quality and contamination.
[Ev] For example, bore water dependency results in 25% of rural communities exceeding safe mineral levels, causing kidney problems.
[L] Together, these factors determine how environmental inequities create measurable health disparities between urban and rural populations.

Show Worked Solution

[P] Geographic isolation interacts with healthcare infrastructure availability.
[E] The relationship between distance and service access shows rural residents can face 4+ hour journeys to specialists.
[Ev] This leads to delayed cancer diagnoses, with rural patients presenting at later stages 30% more often than urban counterparts.
[L] This establishes a cause-effect pattern linking remoteness to poorer health outcomes.
[P] Environmental hazards operate on multiple levels across different settings.
[E] Rural areas experience agricultural chemical exposure while urban zones face air pollution, creating distinct health risks.
[Ev] Farm workers show 40% higher pesticide-related illness rates, whereas city residents develop respiratory conditions from traffic emissions.
[L] These elements combine to produce location-specific health inequities.
[P] Infrastructure quality directly influences physical activity opportunities.
[E] A positive relationship between built environments and exercise shows rural areas are at a disadvantage due to their lack gyms, paths and public transport.
[Ev] As a consequence, rural obesity rates exceed urban by 20%, because limited infrastructure restricts movement options.
[L] This interaction demonstrates how environment shapes health behaviours.
[P] Water quality is a critical socioeconomic resource.
[E] A lack of funding and environmental management shows rural towns can often struggle with poor water quality and contamination.
[Ev] For example, bore water dependency results in 25% of rural communities exceeding safe mineral levels, causing kidney problems.
[L] Together, these factors determine how environmental inequities create measurable health disparities between urban and rural populations.