Inequity in Coronary Heart Disease among Indigenous Australians

Health and Society
Assessment 3
Extended ResponseTemplate
Choose one health issue from the list below:
 Smoking
 Coronary heart disease
Answer all of the three questions below based upon this one health issue.
Each extended response should be approximately 500 words in length each.
The reference list for all three extended response should be provided under the references heading
of this template.

Question 1
Discuss two different reasons for inequity between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous
Australians in relation to this health issue.
Indigenous Australians compared to non-indigenous Australians have poor health
outcomes. Life expectancy with indigenous Australian is low; heart diseases are the leading
cause of deaths among indigenous Australians the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are
likely to suffer from heart attack and die without getting medical attention. According to
studies, this group of Australians does not receive the needed medical procedures and
diagnosis such as coronary bypass surgery (ROTHSTEIN, 2018, p.123). Although a
significant number of indigenous Australians are admitted to hospitals with coronary related
issues, the statistics do not account for the procedure rates. Regarding territory the western
and northern territories parts of Australia, there are higher incidences of coronary diseases
compared to New South Wales and Queensland that have lower rates. Indigenous Australians
in the western region are thrice likely to experience heart diseases compare non-indigenous
Australians. Another aspect to note is the likely hood of those living in remote areas reporting
coronary related diseases unlike those living in urban areas.
Torres Strait Islanders and the aboriginals are a disadvantaged group regarding social
indicators when compared to other Australians. Despite continued improvement in health
care and reduction in mortality rates this group of people until exhibit poor health. The life
expectancy of indigenous Australian according to 2015 research is 17 years; they develop
chronic diseases in their early stages of growth, a reason for increased cases in the number of

those hospitalized (SMITH, 2016, p.102). In the year 2004, the comparison of gender showed
that the number of indigenous males and females hospitalized due to coronary heart diseases
was higher compared to non-indigenous. Other prevalence reported in indigenous Australians
included overweight, high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes. Although behavioural and
biomedical risk factors account for the incidences in indigenous population, other
determinants included socioeconomic, environmental, historical and cultural factors
(FUSTER& KELLY 2010, p.67).
Research on coronary heart diseases adds psychosocial especially social isolation,
depression, and lack of social support as other factors that lead to coronary heart diseases. It
is evident that there are inequalities in the Australian health sector affecting Torres islanders
and the aboriginal; the disparity is the primary cause of deaths and reduced survival. A
comparison of procedure and in-hospital fatality rates for indigenous Australians is worse
compared to other Australians. The indigenous Australians suffering from coronary heart
diseases are likely to die in hospital and cannot access required revascularization and
angiography that other Australians can access (ICHOLS et al., 2016, p.345). Although
indigenous Australians have, other co-occurring diseases influenced by among factors stated
above, there is need to reduce the gap inequality in access to health and treatment of severe
diseases as coronary heart diseases. To attain the equality and save lives it is vital that the
planning and delivery of health services are aware of the factors leading to the inequality as
this will aid in bridging the and coming up with comprehensive health service delivery.