SmarterEd

Aussie Maths & Science Teachers: Save your time with SmarterEd

HMS, HIC 2019 HSC 28b

Explain the factors which may adversely affect the health of young people and the strategies implemented to overcome them.   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

  • Individual factors adversely affect young people’s health through predetermined characteristics and personal behaviours. Low self-esteem and risk-taking attitudes increase vulnerability to substance abuse and unsafe sexual practices. This occurs because adolescent brain development affects decision-making capacity. Male young people experience higher injury rates due to impulsivity and peer pressure influences. Consequently, motor vehicle accidents and sporting injuries represent leading causes of youth mortality and morbidity.
  • Socioeconomic factors create health disparities through family income and educational access. Low socioeconomic status limits access to healthy food choices and recreational facilities. This leads to higher rates of obesity and mental health issues among disadvantaged youth. Family breakdown and unemployment contribute to social isolation and stress-related conditions. Therefore, young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds experience poorer health outcomes across multiple indicators.
  • Environmental factors influence health through geographical location and infrastructure availability. Rural and remote young people face reduced access to healthcare services and mental health support. This results in delayed treatment for chronic conditions and higher suicide rates. Poor housing conditions and overcrowding expose young people to infectious diseases and respiratory problems. Additionally, limited transport optirestrict ons participation in health-promoting activities and social connections.
  • Strategies address these factors through targeted interventions and policy changes. Youth mental health services like headspace provide accessible support for psychological wellbeing issues. These services work by offering early intervention and culturally appropriate care in community settings. School-based health education programs develop health literacy and decision-making skills among adolescents. This approach enables young people to make informed choices about substance use and sexual health practices, reducing risk-taking behaviours significantly.

Show Worked Solution

  • Individual factors adversely affect young people’s health through predetermined characteristics and personal behaviours. Low self-esteem and risk-taking attitudes increase vulnerability to substance abuse and unsafe sexual practices. This occurs because adolescent brain development affects decision-making capacity. Male young people experience higher injury rates due to impulsivity and peer pressure influences. Consequently, motor vehicle accidents and sporting injuries represent leading causes of youth mortality and morbidity.
  • Socioeconomic factors create health disparities through family income and educational access. Low socioeconomic status limits access to healthy food choices and recreational facilities. This leads to higher rates of obesity and mental health issues among disadvantaged youth. Family breakdown and unemployment contribute to social isolation and stress-related conditions. Therefore, young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds experience poorer health outcomes across multiple indicators.
  • Environmental factors influence health through geographical location and infrastructure availability. Rural and remote young people face reduced access to healthcare services and mental health support. This results in delayed treatment for chronic conditions and higher suicide rates. Poor housing conditions and overcrowding expose young people to infectious diseases and respiratory problems. Additionally, limited transport optirestrict ons participation in health-promoting activities and social connections.
  • Strategies address these factors through targeted interventions and policy changes. Youth mental health services like headspace provide accessible support for psychological wellbeing issues. These services work by offering early intervention and culturally appropriate care in community settings. School-based health education programs develop health literacy and decision-making skills among adolescents. This approach enables young people to make informed choices about substance use and sexual health practices, reducing risk-taking behaviours significantly.

♦♦ Mean mark 50%.

HMS, HIC 2019 HSC 23

Explain how environmental determinants contribute to the health inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.   (5 marks)

Show Answers Only

  • Geographical isolation limits access to healthcare services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This leads to delayed treatment and higher mortality rates from preventable conditions.
  • Remote locations create barriers to specialist medical care and emergency services. Consequently, chronic diseases like diabetes progress untreated, resulting in severe complications and increased morbidity.
  • Poor housing conditions in remote communities expose families to overcrowding and inadequate sanitation. This causes higher rates of infectious diseases and respiratory conditions among Aboriginal children.
  • Limited infrastructure restricts access to clean water and proper waste management. This results in increased risk of waterborne diseases and environmental health hazards.
  • Distance from major centres reduces employment opportunities and educational access. Therefore, economic disadvantage perpetuates poor health outcomes across generations.
  • Inadequate transport systems prevent regular healthcare visits and health screenings. This means early intervention opportunities are missed, leading to worse long-term health outcomes.

Show Worked Solution

  • Geographical isolation limits access to healthcare services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This leads to delayed treatment and higher mortality rates from preventable conditions.
  • Remote locations create barriers to specialist medical care and emergency services. Consequently, chronic diseases like diabetes progress untreated, resulting in severe complications and increased morbidity.
  • Poor housing conditions in remote communities expose families to overcrowding and inadequate sanitation. This causes higher rates of infectious diseases and respiratory conditions among Aboriginal children.
  • Limited infrastructure restricts access to clean water and proper waste management. This results in increased risk of waterborne diseases and environmental health hazards.
  • Distance from major centres reduces employment opportunities and educational access. Therefore, economic disadvantage perpetuates poor health outcomes across generations.
  • Inadequate transport systems prevent regular healthcare visits and health screenings. This means early intervention opportunities are missed, leading to worse long-term health outcomes.

♦♦ Mean mark 51%.

HMS, HIC 2022 HSC 8 MC

Which of the following is an example of an environmental determinant being changed to effectively target groups most at risk of cardiovascular disease?

  1. Implementing a healthy school canteen policy in all primary schools
  2. Increasing the number of cycleways and walking paths in all local government areas
  3. Providing Australians with a $50 voucher to access sporting facilities within their community
  4. Developing legislation that stops the sale of tobacco products to people under 21 years of age
Show Answers Only

\( B \)

Show Worked Solution

  • B is correct: Infrastructure changes create environments supporting physical activity for cardiovascular health.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Targets children generally, not CVD high-risk groups.
  • C is incorrect: Individual incentive, not environmental change.
  • D is incorrect: Targets smoking behavior, not environmental modification.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 123

Discuss how physical resources in a community can act as both positive and negative determinants of health.   (4 marks)

Show Answers Only

*PEEL – Solution is structured using separate PEEL methods for each side of the argument; [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.

  • [P] Adequate physical resources promote positive health outcomes in communities.
  • [E] Parks, recreational facilities and safe walking paths encourage physical activity and social interaction.
  • [Ev] Research has shown that this reduces obesity rates and improves mental health through community engagement.
  • [L] In this way, well-developed infrastructure supports healthy lifestyle choices.
     
  • [P] In contrast, a lack of physical resources creates barriers to good health.
  • [E] Communities without adequate access to transport or recreational facilities such as playgrounds, parks and sporting ovals experience poorer health outcomes.
  • [Ev] Poor transport infrastructure can create a barrier to healthcare access and individuals who live in communities with inadequate recreational areas are more likely to be sedentary.
  • [L] Consequently, inadequate infrastructure perpetuates health inequities and increases disease and morbidity rates in those areas
Show Worked Solution

*PEEL – Solution is structured using separate PEEL methods for each side of the argument; [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.*

  • [P] Adequate physical resources promote positive health outcomes in communities.
  • [E] Parks, recreational facilities and safe walking paths encourage physical activity and social interaction.
  • [Ev] Research has shown that this reduces obesity rates and improves mental health through community engagement.
  • [L] In this way, well-developed infrastructure supports healthy lifestyle choices.
     
  • [P] In contrast, a lack of physical resources creates barriers to good health.
  • [E] Communities without adequate access to transport or recreational facilities such as playgrounds, parks and sporting ovals experience poorer health outcomes.
  • [Ev] Poor transport infrastructure can create a barrier to healthcare access and individuals who live in communities with inadequate recreational areas are more likely to be sedentary.
  • [L] Consequently, inadequate infrastructure perpetuates health inequities and increases disease and morbidity rates in those areas.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 016

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

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

*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.