Mortality Differences by Geographic Region - Essay Example

"Mortality Differences by Geographic Region" is an outstanding example of a paper on social and family issues. After reading the article entitled “Mortality differences by geographic region” that proffered pertinent issues relative to disparities in mortality rates among geographic regions of Australia, one strongly agrees with the contentions presented therein. It was eminent that significant factors were contributory to the increase in mortality rates across regions, including the accessibility to the region; the profile of indigenous people who reside in identified regions; socioeconomic factors and health access; income level; and preponderance to vices (alcohol intake and smoking). Aside from the article, the study conducted by Eberhardt & Pamuk (2004), the authors acknowledged that “if health disparities are to be successfully addressed, the relationship between place of residence and health must be understood” (p. 1682).

            The proposed practical strategies that were categorized into upstream, midstream, or downstream strategies provided illuminating interventions that different government agencies could implement to address health concerns and aim to eliminate or minimize risks that increase the mortality rates. A greater understanding of risk factors could provide health practitioners with designing appropriate strategies to improve access to health programs, especially in educating people from very remote geographical regions. Apart from education, there is a need to actively ensure that community health services be availed by increasing accessibility or establishing health centers within these areas where it was identified that the highest mortality rates are exhibited. As noted by Eberhardt & Pamuk (2004), “demographic and socioeconomic

factors, such as race, ethnicity, education, and income, also are strongly related to health and

vary between rural and urban settings, and these factors contribute to health differences

among rural and nonrural residents” (p. 1684). Regular monitoring and evaluation of these factors would be highly valuable in the pursuit of addressing health concerns to reduce mortality rates, as required.

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