The mentioned as well as other types of psychological stress have not only been associated with additions and violence but also lack of social support and poor parenting. According to Zeunert, Cerro, Boesch, Duff, Shephard, Jureidini & Braun (2002) the accumulation of the aforementioned psychosocial stressors in most cases increased vulnerability to infections and poor mental health as well as depression, high blood pressure and diabetes. Additionally, high suicide rates among the indigenous people have been linked to substance abuse and poor mental health which are in turn associated with poverty and social exclusion.
Education Education is another social determinants of health among the indigenous Australians. Marmot (2005) inadequate education in most cases results into poor literacy. Studies have indicated that indigenous people due to extreme poverty, they are unable to access formal education. The mentioned affects their ability to attain required information on healthy food preparation or proper nutrition. Additionally, inadequate education makes them to lack the necessary skills required in the labor market.
Thus the ensuing social exclusion and poverty which are experienced by indigenous people and more specifically the aboriginal community causes increased risk of family instability which in most cases manifests itself in form of single parenthood or divorce. According to Carson, Dunbar, Chenhall, & Bailie (2007) it is evident that there are inequities in the distribution of opportunities and resources to the indigenous people in Australia. For example in the education sector. Despite the growth in the number of indigenous people post-secondary degrees particularly women, inadequate educational opportunities clearly manifests the adults inability to promote quality education among their children.
Calma (2007) approximately 50% of the indigenous Australian youth drop out or are forced to drop out of school an aspect that contributes to diminished employment and literacy in addition to adverse poverty in the future. Carter, Hooker, & Davey (2009), poor health impacts negatively on educational attainment of the indigenous Australians. It is hence not evident whether attainment of high education results to better health and vice versa. According to Thomson (2003) mainstream education can results into detrimental influence to not only social but also emotional wellbeing of the Australians.
This is because such kind of education is usually delivered to the indigenous minority and can be linguistically and culturally alienating with adverse implications on the well-being of the young indigenous Australians. Researchers have pointed out that better education results into better health status which in turn leads to high level of labor participation. Food security Carson, Dunbar, Chenhall, & Bailie (2007) poverty has an impact on health due to the fact that in part in determines the food available to the indigenous people and what they can afford to buy.
Hence, individuals with low income are faced with stress food insecurity causing compromised diet that leads to various health complications such as malnourishment, ulcers, diabetes among others. Unhealthy eating is associated more with low level of income, poor education and unemployment is associated with obese or overweight, which is the second highest health risk factor among the indigenous Australians. Diet associated issues like high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, low vegetable and fruit intake are the key contributors to indigenous health burden.
According to Smith (2007) more than 56 percent of the indigenous Australians consumed took less than the recommended five serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruits daily while high percentage do not consume vegetables and fruits at all. Thomson et al (2010) adds that a decade ago Australian indigenous people of reserve lived in households experiencing food insecurities as compared to the rest of the Australian population.
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