Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Status 2019 OVERVIEW of ABORIGINAL and TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH STATUS 2019
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Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status 2019 OVERVIEW OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH STATUS 2019 The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet’s mission is to contribute to improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health by making relevant, high quality knowledge and information easily accessible to policy makers, health service providers, program managers, clinicians and other health professionals (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers) and researchers. The HealthInfoNet also provides easy- to-read and summarised material for students and the general community. The HealthInfoNet achieves its mission by undertaking research into various aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and disseminating the results (and other relevant knowledge and information) mainly via the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet websites (https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au), The Alcohol and Other Drugs Knowledge Centre (https://aodknowledgecentre.ecu.edu.au) and Tackling Indigenous Smoking (https://tacklingsmoking.org.au). The research involves analysis and synthesis of data and information obtained from academic, professional, government and other sources. The HealthInfoNet’s work in knowledge exchange aims to facilitate the transfer of pure and applied research into policy and practice to address the needs of a wide range of users. Recognition statement The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet recognises and acknowledges the sovereignty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the original custodians of the country. Aboriginal and Torres Strait cultures are persistent and enduring, continuing unbroken from the past to the present, characterised by resilience and a strong sense of purpose and identity despite the undeniably negative impacts of colonisation and dispossession. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout the country represent a diverse range of people, communities and groups each with unique identity, cultural practices and spiritualties. We recognise that the current health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been significantly impacted by past and present practices and policies. We acknowledge and pay our deepest respects to Elders past and present and emerging throughout the country (https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/acknowledging-country). In particular, we pay our respects to the Whadjuk Nyoongar people of Western Australia on whose country our offices are located. Contact details Professor Neil Drew Director Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet Edith Cowan University 2 Bradford Street Mount Lawley, Western Australia 6050 Phone: (08) 9370 6336 Email: [email protected] Website: healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au ISBN 978-0-6487974-0-1 ©Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet 2020 2 | © 2020 Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au OVERVIEW OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH STATUS 2019 Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status, 2019 Publication team Production editor Christine Potter Production coordinator Christine Potter Executive editor Neil Drew Contributing authors 2019 Anomie Jane Burns Neil Drew Michelle Elwell Vilma FitzGerald Joanne Hoareau Christine Potter Miranda Poynton Tamara Swann Avinna Trzesinski Publication layout Michelle Pierre 2020 Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet Perth, Western Australia Suggested citation: Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet (2020) Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status, 2019. Retrieved [access date] from https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/learn/health-facts/overview- aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-health-status healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au © 2020 Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet | 3 OVERVIEW OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH STATUS 2019 Table of Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................................7 Key facts ..........................................................................................................................................................................................9 Social and cultural concepts ........................................................................................................................................................16 Social indicators............................................................................................................................................................................16 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population .......................................................................................................................18 Births and pregnancy outcomes ..................................................................................................................................................19 Age of mothers .......................................................................................................................................................................20 Total fertility rates ..................................................................................................................................................................21 Antenatal care ........................................................................................................................................................................21 Birthweight .............................................................................................................................................................................21 Mortality ........................................................................................................................................................................................22 Age-standardised death rates ...............................................................................................................................................23 Expectation of life ...................................................................................................................................................................23 Age at death ...........................................................................................................................................................................25 Infant mortality ......................................................................................................................................................................25 Causes of death ......................................................................................................................................................................26 Maternal mortality .................................................................................................................................................................27 Avoidable mortality ................................................................................................................................................................27 Hospitalisation ..............................................................................................................................................................................28 Separation rates.....................................................................................................................................................................28 Age-specific separation rates ................................................................................................................................................29 Causes of hospitalisation .......................................................................................................................................................29 Potentially preventable hospitalisations ..............................................................................................................................30 Selected health conditions ..........................................................................................................................................................31 Cardiovascular health ............................................................................................................................................................31 Cancer.....................................................................................................................................................................................35 Diabetes ..................................................................................................................................................................................39 Social and emotional wellbeing (including mental health) .................................................................................................40 Kidney health (renal disease) ................................................................................................................................................45 Injury, including family violence ............................................................................................................................................49 Respiratory health..................................................................................................................................................................50