Variations in the Health Status of Population Groups
in Australia.
Australians generally enjoy good health and are among the healthiest people in the world;
however, health is not shared equally by all Australians, and different groups experience
different levels of health. When focusing on variations in health status, we will consider four
population groups in Australia:
> Males and females
>Higher and lower socioeconomic status groups
>Rural and remote populations, and
>Indigenous populations.
MALES AND FEMALES
There are significant differences in the health status of males and females in
Australia, and whether a person is male or female has a complex effect on their
health. To begin with, however, it is important to make a distinction between two
terms that are frequently used when discussing male and female health – sex and
gender:
> A person’s sex refers to them being genetically or biologically male or female.
> Gender refers to socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities and attributes
that a given society considers appropriate for males and females.
LIFE EXPECTANCY
In terms of life expectancy, Australian females born in 2005 could expect to live an
average of 83.3 years and a male could expect to live to 78.5 years. In the past 100
years in Australia, life expectancy has been consistently higher for women than for
men, although the size of the difference has varied. In recent years, the gap has
narrowed. This has largely been attributed to significant reductions in the death rates
of males aged 45 years and over, and particularly to the reduction in the heart
disease deaths among males.
MORTALITY
Gender has a powerful impact on mortality: there are distinct differences in the
causes of mortality between males and females. In 2005, male deaths outnumbered
female deaths, with a death rate ratio of 107 males to 100 females.
>For males, coronary heart disease was followed by lung cancer, cerebrovascular
disease, other heart diseases, prostate cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), colorectal cancer, unknown primary site cancers, diabetes and
suicide/ Injuries.
> For females, coronary heart disease was followed by cerebrovascular disease,
other heart diseases, dementia and related disorders, breast cancer, lung cancer,
COPD, colorectal cancer, diabetes and pneumonia and influenza.
> One of the factors that accounted for the increasing differences between male
and female death rates is the dramatic decrease in maternal mortality since the
early part of last century.
> Cancer deaths increased for women, However men with cancer are more likely to
die.
>In each age group, males are more likely to die of deaths from accidents,
poisoning and violence than women.
> The suicide rate is higher for males than females.
MORBIDITY
Despite women having longer life expectancy than men, they have higher rates of
illness and disability. They are also more likely to report illness than men, both for
recent and long-term conditions.
The greater morbidity for women compared to men may be partly explained by
biological reasons associated with childbirth, menstruation and menopause.
However, even when all aspects of reproductive health are controlled, women still
have acute illness rates roughly 20–30 per cent higher than men’s (apart from injury).
How can we explain the variations between Males and
Females?
Socially determined behaviour and the fact that more men typically work in
high-risk industries could account for higher male mortality rates. In particular
risk-taking behaviour and aggressive behaviour have traditionally been
considered more acceptable for men than women in Australian society.
During childhood, boys are more prone to accidents due to either preferences
for particular types of activities, or differences in maturation of their physical
abilities. This may extend to sport and other activities as males get older. Some
men, particularly younger ones, think they are indestructible, and this can lead to
destructive behaviours, such as alcohol or drug binges, reckless driving or other
risky behaviours.
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Men are more likely than women to avoid medical treatment and less likely to
undergo screening for illnesses, such as cancer.

Women are more likely to have regular contact with doctors due to
menstruation, contraception and pregnancy issues. Men do not have similar
issues that require them to regularly see a doctor and are less likely to
recognise and act on signs of risk.
Men have lower rates of illness because they are less likely to perceive
symptoms, communicate about or express them and seek professional help.
This may be because of societal expectations for male behaviour. Men are
encouraged to be ‘tough’ and in control of their emotions. Complaining of
feeling ill or visiting a health professional may be seen as ‘weak’, a threat to their
masculinity or simply a waste of time.
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Factors such as education status, employment and income are important
determinants of health. Males from low socioeconomic backgrounds
comprise one of the unhealthiest subgroups in Australia. They are more likely
to get sick than those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds and are more
likely to die from a range of health issues.

There is a direct link between employment status and men’s health. For
example, rises in unemployment lead to proportional rises in male death rates

Male depression is associated with an increased risk of health disorders, such
as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Men are more likely to resort to
destructive behaviours to deal with their depression – the suicide rate for
males between the ages of 15 and 24 has tripled in the past three decades.
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Other behavioural factors that impact on health status include physical
activity (exercise) and food intake.
Figure 2.1.6
Burden (DALYs) by broad cause group,
Australia, 2003
Source: Begg, S., Vos, T., Barker, B.,
Stevenson, C., Stanley, L. and
Lopez, A. 2007, The Burden of Disease
and Injury in Australia 2003, AIHW,