Links between Poverty and Poor Health in Australia - Case Study Example

Links between poverty and poor health in Australia Poverty affects the social, cultural, political, and physical aspects of our existence. Minimal or complete lack of financial resources often prevents us from accessing basic needs and resources that can make possible quality living. Those who are underprivileged often suffer from limited access to basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. Naturally, if they can barely afford these basic needs, most of them will also have difficulty accessing health services. This is the trend in most parts of the globe. In the case of Australia, the aborigines are the ones who are most affected by poor health and poverty. This paper shall establish the link between poverty and poor health in Australia. It shall illustrate how poverty is the greatest threat to health. It shall also demonstrate how poor people get sick more often than wealthier people. It shall also discuss why the poor have longer life spans as compared to their wealthier counterparts. Poor economic, social, political, and physical conditions shall be linked with the health of the people. The aborigines shall be the focus group of this paper because they are the ones most affected by poverty and poor health in Australia. Historically, the aborigines have been considered by the government as fit only for menial labor; they are considered uneducated and capable of learning only basic education. As a result of these precepts, these aborigines have become very dependent on the government. At some point, the government decided that the aborigines had to be “protected because they are unable to care for themselves or until they measure up to [our] civilization” (Eckerman, et.al., 1992). This decidedly spelled the doom for the aborigines who were not able to improve their situation through better education and better jobs. And with limited resources and dependence on government rations, health problems were bound to follow. Before the Second World War, health rations for the aborigines were limited to tea, flour, sugar, and salt beef. These rations did not promote good health to these natives. Only after the Second World War were the rations improved and attention to the deplorable conditions of the aborigines was brought to the spotlight. This attention did little to improve the conditions of the aborigines who suffered from a variety of illnesses and other health problems. Information gathered of aboriginal conditions from the 1980s to the early 90s revealed that aboriginal infant mortality is at least twice as high compared to non-aboriginal people; the leading causes of death for aborigines are circulatory diseases, respiratory diseases, and infective/parasitic diseases. Leprosy cases increased among aborigines despite the fact that the disease is almost non-existent among non-aborigines; the cases of TB, diabetes, and hepatitis B also rose among the natives; and alcohol and drug abuses were prevalent in their population (Eckerman, et.al., 1992). Health experts claim that these problems are a result of the aborigines’ “dispossession, their marginalization, and the creation of their dependence on various government and welfare services” (Eckerman, et.al., 1992). The health problems mentioned above are problems that could have been prevented through proper maintenance and quality health services. Vaccinations for Hepatitis B can limit its prevalence in the community. And with proper health services, prenatal care, adequate diet, and vitamins for pregnant women, aboriginal infant mortality can be decreased. A 2006 survey revealed that about 76% of aborigines live in poverty. They have the lowest income in Australia and most of them live in remote areas where groceries and other commodities cost up to four times more than in the city (Yunkaporta, 2006). As a result, it is difficult for these aboriginal communities to maintain adequate nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. In turn, this situation often leads them to be depressed about their miserable conditions. Eventually, they resort to alcohol and drug abuse. These alcohol and drug problems make their health conditions even worse, causing shorter life spans and a variety of health problems. An obvious solution to the problem is a possible increase in the income of those living in the remote areas. “But in a country where the public, the media and politicians are already howling about Aboriginal people taking too many “benefits” at tax payers’ expense, this is not likely to happen any time soon” (Yunkaporta, 2006). Hence, the health status of these aborigines would most likely get worse before it will get better. Studies have also revealed that aborigines are prone to experience eye, ear, oral health, and skin problems. They suffer from eye afflictions such as cataract, trachoma, and diabetic retinopathy; one in five suffer hearing loss mostly caused by untreated otitis media; many of them have oral health problems such as tooth loss and periodontal diseases; and finally, aboriginal children commonly suffer from skin diseases like scabies and streptococcal pyoderma (Australian Indigenous Infonet, 2005). These studies again point out that health problems are mostly caused by dispossession, dislocation, and disadvantages in education, housing, income and employment of these aborigines. These social and environmental health problems lie behind health risks (like smoking, obesity, physical inactivity) that are common among aborigines (Australian Indigenous Infonet, 2005). The fact that they have no access to quality health services only exacerbates their situation. Unsanitary living conditions are common among the poor aborigines. They live in cramped housing areas with inadequate and poorly maintained facilities, limited or no running water, and limited medical facilities. Transmission of infectious diseases like respiratory illnesses, hepatitis B, and tuberculosis is made easy through unsanitary living conditions. Aborigines become prone to developing the following diseases which are attributable to unsanitary and poor living conditions: trachoma (Medical Journal of Australia, 2008, as cited by Creative Spirits, n.d), chronic ear infection (Crichton, 2002), scabies and pneumonia (World Health Organization, 2009). Improved living conditions can be easily improved through water pumps where children can wash their hands and faces. But in many parts of aboriginal communities in Australia, these are sadly lacking. An alarming revelation about the health of the aborigines is the fact that their poor conditions often cause mental health problems like depression and anxiety. As was previously mentioned, these problems lead many of them to resort to alcohol and drug abuse; but this is just a part of the picture. These mental health problems also cause many of them to attempt and sometimes succeed in committing suicide. Some studies have revealed that “aboriginal people have higher rates of hospitalization for self-harm behavior, particularly self-inflicted cutting or piercing” (Laugharne, 1999). The aborigines also find it difficult to access mental health services, which only drive them further into depression and self-destructive behavior. A report by the Children, Youth and Women’s Service revealed that many aborigines suffered from poor nutrition because they could not afford to avail of proper and nutritious foods. “Diet varies greatly among communities, but in general the Aboriginal diet has changed from a varied nutrient-dense diet to an energy-dense diet, high in saturated fat and refined sugars and low in fruit and vegetables” (Department of Health, 2004). And this poor diet eventually leads to various health problems like cardiovascular and circulatory problems, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. These aborigines cannot afford a properly balanced diet and they go more for what is rationed to them and what is within their budget regardless of the nutritional content or health risks that their diet might bring. Studies have revealed that “high income indigenous families are only 1.2 percentage points less likely to experience long-term health problems than low income families” (Hunter, 1999). A practical consideration in considering treatment of illnesses and other health concerns is the fact that treatment costs a lot of money, money that the aborigines do not have a lot of. As a result, if they are afflicted with illnesses that require regular monitoring and maintenance, they end up with continually deteriorating health conditions which eventually lead to their death. The wealthier families can afford to pay for as much medication as is needed to treat their illnesses and to prevent any long-term health problems. They can also afford to go for yearly routine check-ups, to buy the best medicines, vitamins, and healthy fruits and vegetables. And the impoverished aborigines can barely afford to feed their families. Aside from the indigenous Australians, other social groups also suffer from poor health due to poverty. These groups are the unemployed, sole parent families, young people in low income households, and households of workforce age whose main source of income is government income (Australian Council of Social Service, 2003). Unemployment is also linked to poor health. Again, the affordability of quality health care is decreased with limited resources. Studies have also revealed that unemployment also contributes to mental health problems that eventually lead to “alcohol and other drug use, unprotected sex and violence” (Glasson, as quoted by Flannery & Tokley, 2003). Suicide is also a risk factor among the unemployed. Being employed naturally increases feelings of self-esteem and general wellness, and the opposite only builds up risky mental health problems, especially to the young Australians. Sole parent families also suffer from poor health due to poverty. It is difficult for sole parents to find work employment which will give them the best work deals considering their family situation. They end up often overworked, stressed, and consequently depressed about their situation. Sole parent workers usually end up in low paying jobs with insufficient support services (Department for Communities Office for Women’s Policy, n.d). With low pay, comes limited affordability of resources, from food to clothing, housing to medical services. As a result, they become vulnerable to all sorts of health problems and risks, not to mention impending mental health problems. Those who rely on government income are dependent on what and how much the government grants to them. Grants from the government are limited, hence access to health services for illnesses and health concerns is also limited. Most recipients to these grants are those who are partially or permanently disabled. And they are subjected to various problems and health risks. “People with disabilities often have higher costs of medication, equipment or aids, appropriate housing, transport and personal care and other services” (Australian Council of Social Service, 2003). As a result, they sometimes end up with worsening health conditions, aside from various mental health problems due to their depressing situation. There is a powerful and definitive link between poverty and poor health. Quality health services do not come for free, therefore, those who cannot afford to shell out the cost of quality health care are vulnerable to poor health and inadequate health services. This is especially seen among the dispossessed aborigines who suffer from lack of employment and inadequate education. The poverty that they face contributes to a variety of health problems like circulatory, respiratory, kidney, skin, eye, oral health, and other problems. Other social groups like the unemployed, sole parent families, the disabled also suffer the same poor health conditions as their aboriginal counterparts. And their poor state affects not just their physical, but also their mental health. Works Cited Aboriginal Health (n.d) Creative Spirits. Retrieved 26 April 2009 from http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/health/ Australian Council of Social Service (June 2003) The Bare Necessities: Poverty and Deprivation in Australia Today. Retrieved 26 April 2009 from http://www.acoss.org.au/upload/publications/submissions/319__paper%20127_povinquiry.pdf Australia’s disturbing health disparities set aboriginals apart. (2009) World Health Organization. Retrieved 26 April 2009 from http://www.who.int/entity/bulletin/volumes/86/4/08-020408/en/index.html Centre for Health Promotion, Children, Youth, and Women’s Health Service. (14 May 2004) Department of Health, Government of Australia. Retrieved 26 April 2009 from http://www.chdf.org.au/i-cms_file?page=128/FPHreport.pdf Crichton, S. (16 August 2002) Poor living conditions blamed for chronic ear infections in Aboriginal kids. Australian Medical Association. Retrieved 26 April 2009 from http://www.ama.com.au/node/580 Eckermann, A., et.al. (1992) Bridging Cultures in Aboriginal Health. Sydney: Elsevier Australia Flannery, J. & Tokley, J. (12 August 2003) Prolonged Unemployment harmful to health. Australian Medical Association. Retrieved 26 April 2009 from http://www.ama.com.au/node/1331 Hunter, B. (1999) Three Nations, Not One: Indigenous and other Australian Poverty. Australian National University. Retrieved 26 April 2009 from http://www.anu.edu.au/caepr/Publications/WP/CAEPRWP01.pdf Laugharne, J. (1999) Poverty and mental health in aboriginal Australia. Psychiatric Bulletin. Retrieved 26 April 2009 from http://pb.rcpsych.org/cgi/reprint/23/6/364.pdf Summary of Australian Indigenous Health. (2008) Health InfoNet. Retrieved 26 April 2009 from http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/health-facts/summary Welfare to work changes: Impact on sole parent women. (n.d). Department for Communities Office for Women’s Policy. Retrieved 26 April 2009 from http://www.community.wa.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/032F7D25-8652-451B-85D1-04EB275F00D5/0/WelfaretoWorkChangesImpactonSoleParentWomen.pdf Yunkaporta, T. (22 July 2006) Aboriginal Poverty Statistics. Suite 101. Retrieved 26 April 2009 from http://aboriginalrights.suite101.com/article.cfm/aboriginal_poverty_statistics Read More