Strthritis in Hlth and Sity rtiv - Term Paper Example

Running Head: Оstеоаrthritis Оstеоаrthritis in Hеаlth and Sосiеty Реrсерtivе Name Institution Date Оstеоаrthritis in Hеаlth and Sосiеty Реrсерtivе Introduction Osteoarthritis is a health issue in the Australian Community. It is a disease that is most common among the population that is identified by one having pain at the joints and the impairment of movement which is highly associated with cartilage gradually wearing (Bennell & Hinman, 2011). More than 1.6 million Australians are affected by osteoarthritis with the prevalence rising with age and particularly after the age of 45 years (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2010, p.2). The most common symptoms of osteoarthritis are a response of body joints which are complex and adaptive to stresses that are genetic, environmental and biomechanical in nature. This paper will focus on three major social determinants that impact the prevalence of osteoarthritis among communities in Australia including income, age and lifestyle. Firstly, the paper will demonstrate how income levels increases osteoarthritis among the populations. Description of how increase in age increases the chances of being affected by osteoarthritis among communities. Additionally, lifestyle also influences osteoarthritis and is a determining factor in its prevalence among communities. Specifically, this essay will demonstrate how these factors influence osteoarthritic prevalence among communities in Australia. It will also describe how these three factors interact with each other to influence osteoarthritis. The essay will also propose a relevant and plausible health promotion and/or prevention strategy that addresses these social determinants. Income is the first social determinant that influences osteoarthritis. The distribution of income among Australian community determines the prevalence of osteoarthritis among the population. Income is not equally distributed among the populations whereby the Indigenous people are found to live in poverty (Hall & Patrinos 2010, p.5). Income directly affects the prevalence of osteoarthritis in the sense that, costs are incurred to treat the disease. According to AIHW (2009, p.14), in the year 2004 to 2005, osteoarthritis accounted for $ 1.2 billion for health expenditure in Australia. Health expenditure component for osteoarthritis were services for admitted patients that accounted for $ 898 million. This was a major portion that was attributable to joint replacements. In the year 2007, prescription for medicine to manage osteoarthritis cost consumers $7.4 million while the Australian Government $36.9 million (AIHW 2010, p. 22). The fact that income is unevenly distributed and most of the Indigenous people are low income earners, it means that, this population cannot meet the high costs of treating osteoarthritis hence increasing its effect to the people. Low income earning among this population is also a contributor to the increase of this disease among the Indigenous people in Australia since they cannot maintain a healthy living due to lack of finances. Considering low income earning populations in Australia, osteoarthritis is more prevalent among these communities due to poverty (Hall & Patrinos, 2010). Poverty is the main cause of homelessness among the Aboriginal populations in Australia. Homeless people are highly exposed to poor nutrition, lack of social support and no access of health services. This increases their chances of contracting diseases that are chronic like osteoarthritis. This means that, homeless populations usually have a likeliness of having conditions that are chronic and severe than the general population. The reason is that, treatment and accessibility to the treatment is usually limited and inaccessible (Bennell & Hinman, 2011). The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2012) argue that, inadequate housing also results from low income levels and influences osteoarthritis. It has negative impacts on the health of persons. Homelessness is mostly frequent with the Aboriginal people in Australia that increases their higher chances of morbidity and mortality. These people experience huge barriers to the accession of health care services that are safe and effective. Homeless people usually have a high risk of getting many diseases that can be prevented such as osteoarthritis, that induce them to health complications that are unnecessary and deaths that are premature. The second social determinant is age. As a health issue in our society, Osteoarthritis usually increases with increase in age. Therefore, more aged people will be found to be affected by Osteoarthritis more than young people. The burden that is posed by Osteoarthritis among individuals as well as the society is increasingly substantial. This is as a result of dynamics in population, quality of life which is related to health that is impaired and the impact of Osteoarthritis socio economically (Bennell & Hinman, 2011). The most affected people by osteoarthritis are at the age of 45 and above. The current statistics show that, for every ten females at the age of seventy five and above, there are four of them have osteoarthritis (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2010). Most of the aged population in Australia of found in the Indigenous areas than in major cities. This is one of the reasons why osteoarthritis is common among the Aboriginal populations in Australia. The aged are usually prone to osteoarthritis because their bones are not strong enough. According to Evans (2011), due to increased age, osteoarthritis among the aged population in Australia is as a result of alteration of the posture as well as the appearance of adults. The aged also experience thinning of vertebral disks that shortens the body trunk and reduces height after every year. The leaching of calcium for the bones results to osteoarthritis among the aged people. Increased age also leads to weakening of the muscles as well as atrophy which increases the prevalence of osteoarthritis among the aged people. Loss of muscle mass due to disuse of skeletal muscle also increases the prevalence of osteoarthritis among the aged people. Nutritional intake for the aged is important to maintain healthy body. Increase in age poses the risk of the older people experiencing resorption of bone that affects the jaw. Jaws that are weak interfere with the nutritional intake of the aged people because they cannot chew. This affects their health as a result of poor diet that increases the prevalence of osteoarthritis. The aged experience increased wear and tear on their cartilage that reduces flexibility as well as increasing the prevalence of osteoarthritis (Evans, 2011). The third social determinant is lifestyle. The consumption of alcohol, tobacco, food with high fat content, inactive physically and obese are lifestyle conditions that increase the prevalence of osteoarthritis among populations in Australia. Describing lifestyle and its influence on osteoarthritis, it is evident that, a healthy lifestyle among people is a source of healthy society (O’Halloran & Pan, 2009). Unhealthy lifestyle is highly associated with chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis among populations in Australia. People are advised to take a healthy diet to minimize the risk of developing chronic diseases that are related to diet. Unhealthy lifestyle is the cause of obesity which is a high risk factor to the development of osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. People who are overweight are found to develop most of the symptoms of osteoarthritis (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012). Lifestyle and its effect on the prevalence of osteoarthritis is based on how well populations are financially stable. Osteoarthritis usually increases with increased social disadvantage that comes with lifestyles that are less healthy as well as poor health. A good example is the prevalence of osteoarthritis among the indigenous populations in Australia who live in the lowest socioeconomic areas. These populations are found to live unhealthy lifestyles like smoking tobacco at a rate twice higher than those living in the highest socioeconomic areas in the major cities (Australian Orthopaedic Association, 2011). Unhealthy lifestyles lead to healthy problems like osteoarthritis due to macular degeneration for which smoking and obesity are among the significant risk factors. Therefore, it is important for people to live healthy lifestyles to prevent developing healthy problems such as osteoarthritis (Australian National Preventive Health Agency, 2013). The above explained factors interact to influence the prevalence of osteoarthritis among populations in Australia. Low levels of income, unhealthy lifestyle and aged populations are most likely associated with the Indigenous people. Due to low levels of income, people live an unhealthy lifestyle which is a threat to osteoarthritis. The aged people live among the indigenous populations, these people do not have any source of income or their source of income is low. Therefore, poverty is highly experienced among these aged populations. It is evident that, these factors interact and the presence of one factor may influence another or the other two. To prevent osteoarthritis, it is important to for people to be aware of the risk factors that contribute to osteoarthritis. This will enable them identify the risk factors and work towards avoiding them. In relation to poverty, people need to be empowered to allow them access basic needs (Bennell & Hinman, 2011). This will enable them have access to improved living standards, better housing and a healthy lifestyle. They will be able to access treatment for osteoarthritis with ease. Conclusion Osteoarthritis is a health issue that needs to be taken serious by everyone in the society. The aged are more at risk than young people. Citizens are advised to seek ways of reducing poverty and living a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risks of osteoarthritis. If osteoarthritis is not dealt with, it will continue killing many of the people in our society. The above described measures should be taken seriously to kick osteoarthritis out of Australia. References Australian National Preventive Health Agency. (2013). State of Preventive Health 2013. Report to the Australian Government Minister for Health. Canberra; ANPHA. Australian Orthopaedic Association. (2011). Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry. Annual Report. Adelaide: AOA. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) (2010). A snapshot of arthritis in Australia 2010. National Centre for Monitoring Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions. Arthritis Series. 13:3-6. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2012). Australia’s Health 2012. The thirteenth biennial health report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Bennell, K. & Hinman, R. (2011). A Review of the Clinical Evidence for Exercise in Osteoarthritis of the Hip and Knee. J Sci Med Sport. 14(1): 4–9. Hall, G. & Patrinos, H. (2010). Indigenous Peoples, Poverty and Development: Draft Manuscript. Evans, N. (2011). Older Adults and Their Care. Wild Iris Medical Education, Inc. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). (2009). Guideline for the Non- Surgical Management of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis July 2009. South Melbourne: RACGP. O’Halloran, J. & Pan, Y. (2009). Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions. In: Britt H & Miller GC (eds). General Practice in Australia, Health Priorities and Polices 1998 to 2008. General Practice Series. No. 24. Cat. no. GEP 24. Canberra: AIHW, 185–206. Read More