Characteristics and Needs of Specific Populations

Why is the study of specific populations important?

Focused on understandning disease and illness within a country + improving wellbeing.

What are priority population groups?

Specific populations that do not enjoy the same level of health as the general population and are therefore identified as priority population groups

What are characteristics?

similarities that cause a population to be categorised as the same

Why are characteristics important?

Large factor in determining needs of a population

Characteristics such as gender, age, ethnicity and significant shared life events can all act as determining factor for identifying a specific population

What are Specific populations?

Subgroup of the main population of a country or state. A group of people with similar characteristics.

How are Characteristics defined?

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

Why are individuals with similar characteristics grouped together?

As they are likely to experience similar health outcomes and can be targeted together

This helps health services cater for the needs of people within the population more effectively

Needs flowchart

The characteristics of a population group have a direct impact upon the health of the group, creating challenges and needs

Needs

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

How are needs determined

Researching epidemiological data can help determine the specific population's needs, as well as gather other qualitative data, such as interviews and surveys that capture the population's experiences.

• By researching the health status of the population, it can determine what they need in terms of prevention, health care and support.

What should you be able to describe for each population?

• characteristics

• needs

• access issues

• equity issues

What is the definition of access?

The ability to obtain or make use of a service or product

What is equitiy?

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

What is inequity?

Unfair or unjust treatment, policy or practice.

Characteristics of ATSI

Low SES • High % of young people (40% under 15) • 25% remote or very remote • More likely to leave school earlier • Higher rates of unemploymen

Characteristics of cald

• People born overseas coming to Australia • English as a second language (ESL) • May be of refugee status

Characteristics of elderly

Above the age of 65 (Aus. pension age) • 1 in 5 older people have severe or profound disability (physical or mental)

characteristics of veterans

Any current or previous member of the armed forces including army, navy, air force etc • 53% aged 65 years and over • 86% male • 28% based in QLD • 170 000 current • 500 000 former

Characteristics of incarcerated

A person legally committed to prison as a punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial • Higher proportion of male than female • Average age 33 years • 35% haven't completed Yr 10 education

Characteristics of rural and remote

Children travel to the city for secondary / tertiary education • Higher levels of low SES • Trade and labour jobs are more common • Higher proportion of older age people

Characteristics of homeless

No stable or secure housing; living rough, in shelters, or temporary accommodation. • 20% homeless are ATSI • 56% male • 20% 25-35yrs • 1 in 7 under 12 years old

Characteristics of LGBTIQ+

10% of 16-24 yr olds (highest numbers in all age groups) • Higher substance use than general population: • 36% illicit drug use in past 12 months • 42% smoked in the past 12 months

Characteristics of PLWD

1 in 5 people have a disability • Twice as common over 65 years • 44% owned their home, 27% were renting • 54% employment rate • 17% aged 15–64 years had completed a bachelor degree or higher • Higher rates of seggs assault

NEEDS of ATSI

Increase access to culturally appropriate health care

More health infrastructure built in indigenous

Targeted chronic condition prevention

Needs of CALD

Qualified health interpreters ad translators

Culturally appropriate health support resources

Community and social support

Needs of Elderly

Better access to health care and services

access to aged care

more access to employment, deducation and income

mental health suprt services

Needs of Veterens

Mental health support

trauma informed medical care

Needs of incarcerated

Substance addiction programs • Higher education and skills programs within prisons • Infectious disease management

Needs of rural and homeless

Better access to health care and services • Access to aged care • More access to employment, education and income • Mental health support services

Needs of homeless

Mobile community healthcare services • Increased availability of public, share and crisis housing option

Needs of LGBTIQ

An ex member of the armed forces including army, navy, air force, marines or coast guard

Needs of PLWD

Accessible buildings & disability-aware staff • Assistive technologiesmobility aids, hearing aids, screen readers • Coordinated care (NDIS, aged care, health) • Equal minimum wage

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

systemic racism and discrimination

chronic disease and mental health

cutural safety and trust

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

Elderly Social Inequities

Social isolation and mental health

higher rates of chronic diseases

financial barriers

limited access to healthcare

ageism in healthcare

aged care inequities

Social isolation and mental health

Reduced mobility and fewer social connections increase loneliness. • Highest rates amongst the elderly

Higher rates of chronic disease

Higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, and dementia.

Fewer elderly accessing preventative health care & engaging in preventative practices.

Financial barriers

Fixed incomes (pension) make healthcare, medications, and aged care services less affordable. • Higher healthcare needs are more expensive than other age group

Limited access to healthcare

Transport barriers if they don’t drive or feel confident to use public transport.

Lack of access to current technologies to improve health ie smart phones, watches, computers etc

• Requires assistance to access healthcare-vision, hearing, mobility

Ageism in healthcare

Symptoms dismissed as “just aging,” leading to misdiagnosis or lack of treatment. • Poor cultural/social norms around standards of aged care.

Aged care inequities

Staffing shortages & inconsistent care and quality in aged care facilities • Aged care mostly privatised

Inequities for veterans

Co occuring conditions

Access to healthcare

financial barriers

social integration

prevalence of mental health issues

health care resourcing

co occuring conditions

multiple co-occuring conditions require specialist care

wait times are high for psychiatric care

Access to healthcare for veterans

Physical access can be limited due to a disability.

• Stigma associated with ‘soldiers’ accessing treatmen

t • Physical injuries are often more readily accepted for compensation than mental health conditions, creating inequities in service and financial support.

Financial Barriers

Financial Barriers:

• Mental illness may make work unattainable, therefore creating barriers to living standards and access to services.

Social integration

Conditioning making societal integration difficult

• Lack of community level awareness and support for veteran integration

Prevalence of mental health issues

Severity and proportion of mental health challenges greater than general population.

Healthcare resourcing:

• Volume of mental illness outweighs services available

• Complex department systems may be difficult to navigate to find eligibility and access support.

Inequities for incarcerated

Stigma and Bias

Higher burden of chronic and infectious diseases

Security over Healthcare

Higher rates of mental illness

Delayed or restricted treatment

Continuity of care

Stigma and Biases

Stigma from prisoners around accessing support

• Bias among healthcare providers can impact the quality of care prisoners receive, sometimes resulting in less compassionate or lower-priority treatment.

High burden of chronic and infections diseases

Incarcerated people experience higher rates of communicable diseases (e.g., hepatitis C, tuberculosis) and chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, asthma) but less access to preventive care.

Security over health care

Prison security needs (e.g., lockdowns, staff shortages) can override health needs, causing missed appointments or delayed emergency care.

Higher rates of mental illness

Higher rates of mental illness upon leaving prison than entering50% have a diagnosable mental illness.

Delayed or restricted treatment

Inmates may experience delays in diagnosis and treatment compared to people in the general community.

Continuity of Care

Health services often break down upon release — individuals leaving prison frequently lose healthcare connections and medication support.

Rural and Remote Inequities

Limited preventive health care and health education

High burden of disease and low life expectacy

Workplace and environmental health risks

Higher costs of healthcare and living

Mental Health challenges and social isolation

Limited access to healthcare

Limited Preventive Healthcare & Health Education:

• Lower participation in cancer screenings, immunisations, and dental check-ups, alongside higher smoking, alcohol misuse, and obesity rates

Higher Burden of Disease & Lower Life Expectancy:

• Increased rates of chronic diseases (CVD, diabetes, cancer), higher suicide rates, and reduced life expectancy.

Workplace and Environmental Risks

Higher rates of workplace injuries (agriculture, mining) and exposure to natural disasters.

Higher costs of healthcare and living

Increased out-of-pocket expenses for medical services, travel, and fresh food, leading to poor nutrition and financial stress.

Mental Health Challenges and Social Isolation

Higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide, with limited mental health services and stigma preventing help-seeking

Limited Access to Healthcare

Fewer hospitals, specialists, and bulkbilling GPs, leading to delayed diagnoses and poorer disease management

Inequities of the homeless

Limited healthcare access

stigma and discrimination

financial barriers

lower life expectancy

mental illness prevalence

high prevalence of substance abuse

Limited healthcare access

Lack if ID for accessing Medicare • Difficulty attending appointments due to transport

Stigma and Discrimination

Experiences of judgement or negative treatment by healthcare staff discourage homeless individuals from seeking care.

Financial Barriers

Even with Medicare, costs associated with prescriptions, transport, or private services create financial barriers.

Lower life expectancy

Less preventive care leads to worse outcomes. • Life expectancy 30 years less than general population • Higher levels of chronic conditions, illness, disease and injury

Mnetal illness prevalence

Rates of severe mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, PTSD) are much higher among the homeless, but access to mental health services is very limited.

High Prevalence of substance abuse

Substance use (alcohol, drugs) is often both a cause and consequence of homelessness — but treatment services are hard to access.

LGBTQ+ inequities

Lack of inclusive services

Disproportionate substance use

Fear of discrimination

Invisibility in Health Records

Increased risk of violence and Abuse

High rates of mental health conditions

Lack of inclusive services

Some healthcare professionals lack training or awareness in gender-affirming or sexuality-inclusive care, leading to inappropriate or insensitive service.

• This is heightened in rural and remote locations.

Disproportionate Substance Use:

• Studies show higher use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, often as a coping mechanism for discrimination and exclusion.

Fear of discrimination

Many LGBTIQ+ people avoid healthcare settings due to previous experiences of discrimination, judgment, or misgendering.

• Fear of being “outed” or judged can prevent LGBTIQ+ people from disclosing vital information or seeking care.

Invisibility

Systems that don’t collect or respect sexual orientation and gender identity data can result in underrepresentation and misdiagnosis.

Increased risk of violence and abuse

LGBTIQ+ people are more likely to experience family, sexual, and identitybased violence, which impacts physical and psychological wellbeing.

Hihger rates of mental health conditions

LGBTIQ+ people experience elevated levels of anxiety, depression, and suicide risk, especially among youth and trans individuals

People with disabilities inequities

Lack of disability services

discrimination and ableism

limited healthcare access

financial hardship

lower employment and income levels

mental health and isolation

Lack of disability services

Health professionals often lack training in disability-inclusive care, which can lead to inappropriate assumptions or lowquality treatment.

Discrimination and Ableism

Many face negative attitudes or assumptions about their capabilities, which can result in dismissed concerns or undertreated symptoms.

Limited Healthcare Access

Many health services are not fully accessible, with challenges like stairs, lack of ramps, narrow doorways, or inaccessible medical equipment.

• People with hearing, vision, or intellectual disabilities may struggle to communicate with healthcare providers, especially where no supports (e.g., interpreters or easy-read materials) are available.

Financial Hardship

Unemployment and high healthcare costs limit care. • Multiple conditions means increased health care costs.

Lower Employment and Income Levels

Socioeconomic disadvantage among PLWD leads to worse access to private healthcare, medications, and out-of-pocket treatments.

Mental Health and Isolation

PLWD in R & R areas face limited specialist availability, long travel distances, and reduced service coordination.

Why should health professionals cater to specifically to needs and how

In order to reduce the risk of the population and decrease inequities

Done through primary prevention (education, immunisations, promotion of health lifestyle), secondary prevention (screening, monitoring, surveillance), building healthy public policy

How can health promotion be targeted towards specific populations?

As a part of a social justice model which supports equity in health (reducing levels of inequities in australia)

How does the identification of priority groups improve the health of the population?

1. Determine the health disadvantage of groups within the population

2. Better understand the determinants of health

3. Identify the prevalence of disease and injury in specific groups

4. Determine the needs of groups in relation to the principles of social justice.