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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THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN AUSTRALIA
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,