Characteristics and Needs of Specific Populations

Ways populations can be defined as

Demographic

Social

Geographical

Behavioural risk

Medical/biological factors

Epidemiological burden of disease

Demographic

Factors such as age, gender, race, ethinicity

Social

Socioeconomic status, income level, education attained/grade level, marital status or health care coverage

Geographical factors

Region, state, specific area or location

Behavioural Risk

factors such as smoking, alcohol, risk taking

Epidemiological burden of disease

Populations with prevalence/incidence of disease or illness eg HIV, postnatal, depression

Characteristics of a population group

• Have a direct impact upon the health of that group

• then creates challenges and needs

Needs

An essential or very important requirement - rather than just desirable - something that is necessary to live a health life

Specific populations

Subgroup of the main populations of a country or state

A group of people with similar characteristics and needs

Characteristics

similarities that cause a population to be categorised the same

these can be defined by researching information about their demographics and epidemiology

NEEDS of ATSI

Increase access to culturally appropriate health care

More health infrastructure built in indigenous

Targeted chronic condition prevention

CALD

Qualified health interpreters ad translators

Culturally appropriate health support resources

Community and social support

Elderly

Better access to health care and services

access to aged care

more access to employment, deducation and income

mental health suprt services

Veterens

Mental health support

trauma informed medical care

Example

Characteristic: rural and remote populations have poorer health stats due to their isolation and access to health services, often letting health concerns develop too far

Need: greater access to primary/secondary prevention techniques such as mobile clinics, patient travel beenfit schemes, school clinics, etc.

Equity

absence of unfair, unavoidable or remediable differences among groups of people, whether those groups are defined socially, economically, demographically or geographically or by other dimensions of inequality

Access

Healthy society must offer adequate services + resources

• unequal access to these basic needs

• ppl with extreme disadvantage such as living in poverty or very remote locations, need to be allocated increased resources for improvements in their health to occur

Equality

The state of being equal, having the same rights, social status, etc.

What inequities exist for ATSI?

Geographic barriers

stress and mental health

access to healthcare

Geographic barriers

• many are in rural, remote areas

• health care services may be limited

• further exacerbate health disparities

stress and mental health

chronic stress from socioeconomic pressures and discrimination

• can lead to a higher prevalence of mental health issues

• which are often under resourced in these communities

access of health care

• lower standard of health infrastructure in indigenous communities

• long wait lists or high travel time to urban areas for specialist

Systemic racism and discrimination

• ongoing experiences of racism within society and health care settings diminish access to quality services and reinforce social exclusion

chronic disease and mental health

higher rates CVD, CKD and mental illness

lower life expectancy han non atsi aussies

cultural safety and trust

Lack of trust in mainstream health services

compounded by past negative experiences

can discourage timly health seeking behaviour

CALD inequities

Language barriers, low health literacy, discrimination and stigma, cultural barriers financial hardship

Language barriers

Limited english makes it hard to explain symptoms or understand treatment

Low health literacy

Migration stress

limited early care

increases rsik

cultural norms may inhibit help seeking

Cultural Barriers

Some health services don’t align with cultural beliefs

some cultural norms may inhbit treatment

financial hardship

Low income jobs and high costs limit health care access