smc-5504-60-Indigenous/TSI health

Explain the prevalence of diabetes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and outline TWO possible determinants contributing to this health issue. (4 marks)

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*Cause-and-effect language that directly addresses the “Explain” keyword is bolded in the answer below.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults have approximately twice the diabetes rate of non-Indigenous Australians (7.9% vs 4.1%).

Determinant 1

Limited access to affordable fresh food in remote communities results in ATSI Peoples buying processed foods high in sugar and fat.
This dietary pattern directly causes insulin resistance and weight gain, which leads to Type 2 diabetes development.
As a result, diabetes incidence rises significantly in these communities.

Determinant 2

Historical dispossession from traditional lands resulted in loss of traditional hunting/gathering practices and native food sources.
This disruption caused a shift from nutrient-rich bush foods to Western processed diets.
Additionally, cultural barriers in healthcare prevent early diabetes screening and management, allowing the disease to develop undetected and untreated.

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*Cause-and-effect language that directly addresses the “Explain” keyword is bolded in the answer below.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults have approximately twice the diabetes rate of non-Indigenous Australians (7.9% vs 4.1%).

Determinant 1

Limited access to affordable fresh food in remote communities results in ATSI Peoples buying processed foods high in sugar and fat.
This dietary pattern directly causes insulin resistance and weight gain, which leads to Type 2 diabetes development.
As a result, diabetes incidence rises significantly in these communities.

Determinant 2

Historical dispossession from traditional lands resulted in loss of traditional hunting/gathering practices and native food sources.
This disruption caused a shift from nutrient-rich bush foods to Western processed diets.
Additionally, cultural barriers in healthcare prevent early diabetes screening and management, allowing the disease to develop undetected and untreated.

Discuss how THREE epidemiological measures are used to explain the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.

In your response, include specific examples from health reports to illustrate the role of these measures. (5 marks)

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*PEEL – Solution is structured using the PEEL method; [P] Identify the point, [E] expand on the point with a link to question asked, [Ev] apply evidence/examples, [L] linking sentence back to question.

Mortality rates

[P] Mortality rates are used to identify inequities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status.
[E] This measure shows progress and ongoing inequities.
[Ev] Australia’s Health 2024 reports cardiovascular deaths fell 22% for Indigenous Peoples, yet remain higher than non-Indigenous rates.
[L] This creates evidence of success and challenges requiring continued focus.

Infant mortality rates

[P] Infant mortality rates provide insight into maternal health services, living conditions and healthcare access.
[E] Infant mortality rates have improved from 6.9 to 5.4 per 1,000 births but are still nearly double non-Indigenous rates of 3.1 per 1,000 births.
[Ev] While indicating healthcare access, remote data collection is extremely challenging and can be incomplete.
[L] Despite limitations, this measure is an important determinant of maternal and child health programs.

Prevalence of disease

[P] Prevalence measures the proportion of a population affected by specific conditions.
[E] This reveals chronic conditions requiring programs, although undiagnosed cases affect the accuracy of statistics.
[Ev] For example, the prevalence of diabetes among Indigenous adults (7.9%) is almost double the rate of non-Indigenous Australians (4.1%).
[L] This highlights areas requiring intervention programs and reveals the impact of social determinants of health, including food security and healthcare access in remote communities.

Show Worked Solution

Mortality rates

[P] Mortality rates are used to identify inequities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status.
[E] This measure shows progress and ongoing inequities.
[Ev] Australia’s Health 2024 reports cardiovascular deaths fell 22% for Indigenous Peoples, yet remain higher than non-Indigenous rates.
[L] This creates evidence of success and challenges requiring continued focus.

Infant mortality rates

[P] Infant mortality rates provide insight into maternal health services, living conditions and healthcare access.
[E] Infant mortality rates have improved from 6.9 to 5.4 per 1,000 births but are still nearly double non-Indigenous rates of 3.1 per 1,000 births.
[Ev] While indicating healthcare access, remote data collection is extremely challenging and can be incomplete.
[L] Despite limitations, this measure is an important determinant of maternal and child health programs.

Prevalence of disease

[P] Prevalence measures the proportion of a population affected by specific conditions.
[E] This reveals chronic conditions requiring programs, although undiagnosed cases affect the accuracy of statistics.
[Ev] For example, the prevalence of diabetes among Indigenous adults (7.9%) is almost double the rate of non-Indigenous Australians (4.1%).
[L] This highlights areas requiring intervention programs and reveals the impact of social determinants of health, including food security and healthcare access in remote communities.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 029

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 028