The Social Determinants of Health in Australia

Running Head: THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN AUSTRALIA
THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN AUSTRALIA
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THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN AUSTRALIA
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Role of social determinants of health in CVD...........................................................................2
Socioeconomic conditions and lack of education..................................................................2
Inequities in access to healthcare...........................................................................................3
Social support network and physical environment................................................................3
Gender and cultural disparity.................................................................................................4
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................4
References..................................................................................................................................5

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Introduction
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the predominant causes of mortality in
Australia. The World Health Organization published an estimation of 17.9 million deaths
mediated by cardiac disorders worldwide, a grave concern for public health. The risk factors
entailing cardiac ailments are highly attributable to the social indicators in a society. Thus,
the purpose of this paper is to shed light on the social determinants of cardiovascular health
and highlight the prevailing health disparities associated with CVD risk in Australia.
Role of social determinants of health in CVD
The social conditions where the people of a region are living and healthcare systems
are known as the “social determinants of health”. These are factors that determine the health
outcomes based on the impact of social indicators such as money, global resources, and
power at all levels of society on health. There is a prevalence rate of one out of 6 Australians
to be impacted by cardiac disorders, aggravating Australia’s burden of CVD (.health.gov.au,
2020). The social elements of CVD risk are the core indicators of heart health in the
Australian population describing the underlying “causes of causes” for the emerging burden
of CVD among the indigenous and low-income group population, who are the worst sufferers
of the health inequalities (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2020). The
multifactorial social environment increases cardiovascular disease risk by an uneven
distribution of healthcare policies or programs that do not suffice the needs of these
populations. To bridge the prevailing gap in health equality, it is crucial to address the
following factors:
Socioeconomic conditions and lack of education
Low socioeconomic group experiences the highest form of inequalities in terms of
income, the wage gap, and health resource access. By analyzing the prevalence rates of CVD,

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it is noticeable that the lower-income group has significant mortality and morbidity rates
caused by heart diseases (Martínez-García et al., 2018). They are vulnerable to the risk of
developing CVD due to multiple social factors such as financial insecurity, extensive
physical activity to sustain, and unavailability of appropriate healthcare awareness and
systems. The existence of a social gradient also affects the life expectancy and increases the
disease risk in the socioeconomically disadvantaged group. Their lack of family assets, poor
job rates, housing issues, scarce funds for pension or healthcare, leads to a reduced quality of
life. All of these together expose them to a lifestyle that aggravates the risk factors for CVD
and its comorbidities stemming out of disturbed sleep and diet patterns, and improper
physical activities. As a result, they have reduced access to education. School and college
dropout rates are the highest among this population, indicating the burden of financial
constraints (Zhao et al., 2015).
Inequities in access to healthcare
Lack of economic feasibility, income disparity, and unemployment are the primary
factors that often contribute to the rise in ununiform healthcare facilities availed by the
underprivileged group in Australia (Marmot et al.,2018). There is an established gap between
the distribution of healthcare systems between the different social groups, based on their
positions on the social ladder. These further inculcate the health inequalities into the society,
resulting in a higher prevalence of alcoholism and mental stress in the lower-income group,
which adds on to their risk factors for CVD.
Social support network and physical environment
Social inclusion and connections are independent health determinants in the society
that play a role in mediating disease risk. Supportive social networks promote healthy
relationships between communities and help in forming sustainable and equal societies. Due

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to the difference in the social status of the low-income group, they are frequently subjected to
social exclusion and hostile circumstances (Holt-Lunstad & Smith, 2016). The absence of
proper social assistance and informational support may lead to negative health outcomes for
the disadvantaged population. Adverse physical environment triggers their mental health,
which further impacts the CVD risk by progressing the risk factors in lifestyle (Havranek et
al.,2017).
Gender and cultural disparity
Inequality among the ethnic minority groups is a major public health concern in
Australia, as they are often denied access to proper healthcare systems based on racism and
cultural differences. This reflects poorly on the insufficient public health policies that fail to
deliver health care and treatments evenly within their population. Gender bias also leads to
the rise in the CVD burden by not addressing the gaps in gender equality and reducing the
social stigma that persists (O’Neil et al., 2018; Taylor & Guerin, 2019).
Conclusion
It is evident from this paper that a spectrum of social variables acts across the life
course to mediate and accelerate the risk factors for cardiovascular disorders. The
socioeconomically disadvantaged population faces the wrath of this vicious cycle of social
burden, exposing them to an increased risk of mortality and morbidity. It is, therefore, crucial
to identify such interconnected social determinants, understand their mutual interactions, and
strategically address the impending crisis that affects a particular section of the public health.

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References
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2020). Cardiovascular disease, Deaths from
cardiovascular disease - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Retrieved 23
March 2020, from
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/heart-stroke-vascular-disease/cardiovascular-health-
compendium/contents/deaths-from-cardiovascular-disease
Havranek, E. P., Mujahid, M. S., Barr, D. A., Blair, I. V., Cohen, M. S., Cruz-Flores, S., ...
& Rosal, M. (2015). Social determinants of risk and outcomes for cardiovascular
disease: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation,
132(9), 873-898.
Holt-Lunstad, J., & Smith, T. B. (2016). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for
CVD: implications for evidence-based patient care and scientific inquiry.
Marmot, M. (2018). Social Determinants, Capabilities and Health Inequalities: A Response to
Bhugra, Greco, Fennell and Venkatapuram Adler, N. E., Glymour, M. M., &
Fielding, J. (2016). Addressing social determinants of health and health inequalities.
Jama, 316(16), 1641-1642.
Martínez-García, M., Salinas-Ortega, M., Estrada-Arriaga, I., Hernández-Lemus, E., García-
Herrera, R., & Vallejo, M. (2018). A systematic approach to analyze the social
determinants of cardiovascular disease. PloS one, 13(1).
O’Neil, A., Scovelle, A. J., Milner, A. J., & Kavanagh, A. (2018). Gender/sex as a social
determinant of cardiovascular risk. Circulation, 137(8), 854-864.
Taylor, K., & Guerin, P. (2019). Health care and Indigenous Australians: cultural safety in
practice. Macmillan International Higher Education.

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Www1.health.gov.au. (2020). Department of Health | Cardiovascular disease. Retrieved 23
March 2020, from
https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/chronic-cardio
Zhao, S., Zhao, H., Wang, L., Du, S., & Qin, Y. (2015). Education is critical for
medication adherence in patients with coronary heart disease. Acta cardiologica,
70(2), 197-204.