Factors Influencing COVID-19 Outcomes: An Australian Analysis

This report examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australia, focusing on the political, social, geographical, and cultural factors that have contributed to varying mortality rates compared to other countries. It delves into the determinants of health, analyzing why a higher number of young Australian females are contracting the virus while more deaths occur among older men. The report explores how these determinants affect individuals and communities, challenging assumptions about the disease's spread and impact. It considers factors like political measures (lockdowns and policies), social behaviors (social distancing), geographical influences, and cultural norms (immune strength). The analysis highlights the vulnerability of older populations due to weakened immune systems and the impact of pre-existing health conditions. Furthermore, the report discusses the impact of health determinants such as income, education, and social support on individual health outcomes, especially during a pandemic. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of preventive measures and understanding the complex interplay of various factors in managing the pandemic's impact.

Determinants of Health

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK...............................................................................................................................................1
Discuss what political, social, geographical, and cultural factors have contributed to a lower
number of deaths occurring in Australia compared to other countries?.................................1
Discuss in terms of the determinants of health, why are a higher number Australian females in
their 20s and 30s contracting COVID19, while more deaths are occurring among older men?
................................................................................................................................................2
The impact of the determinants of health on the health of individuals or communities, and
how this may challenge some of your assumptions?..............................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) refers to a severe heath condition which occurs as a
pandemic nowadays at global level. The COVID-19 stands for Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) which is a severe disease caused by a virus that has no
medicine or cure (Chang and et. al., 2020). In context of this project, it is based on the topic of
‘explore the current COVID19 health issue that has impacted the Australian population from a
political, cultural and national perspective’. This essay will focus on impact of political, social
and cultural factors regarding lower death rates in the country. It will also include determinants
of health and deaths among older females as compared to the younger. The impacts of health
determinants on individuals or communities and the way of challenging the relevant assumptions
are given below.
TASK
Discuss what political, social, geographical, and cultural factors have contributed to a lower
number of deaths occurring in Australia compared to other countries?
The COVID-19 is considered as pandemic which is responsible for infected of millions of
people at global level in which some of the get died. It includes the act that the COVID-19
disease has common symptoms like flu or viral fever and coronavirus affect different organs in
human body. However, this health problem is known to be extremely severe because it has no
cure at present time and it is easily spread among people by mouth and nose. Moreover, it has
been analysed that COVID-19 causes many of deaths among but some of factors are responsible
for contributing in order to reduce the deaths in Australia in which few of them are given below.
Political factors: The political factors are responsible for contributing to lowering the deaths
caused due to COVID-19 by taking effective measures. It includes the primary step of political
party of present government to carry out lockdown for reducing the spread of COVID-19 among
citizens that helps to decrease the deaths among people (Kinner and et. al., 2020). However, it is
observed that specific policies and regulatory strategies have been applied in the country for
reducing the spread of coronavirus to save lives of people effectively. It consist several strategies
to carry mouth masks, hand gloves, PPE kits, close public places like shopping malls, theatres,
bus stands etc. and the most important social distancing which is favourable to remain healthy.
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Social factors: The social factors includes the social norms which are taken by public itself like
maintaining social distance and avoid to go outside of the house along with following guidelines
provided by people. It is observed that some of psychological problems were developed among
society due to remaining in house for a long time in lockdown which involves hypertension,
anxiety and stress between people. Meanwhile, it is observed that people remain quarantined at
their home and avoid travelling which is helpful to reduce the infection spread which leads to
reduction in deaths (McKibbin and Fernando, 2020). Moreover, the people become sensitive to
interaction with others which is favourable to reduce the deaths due to COVID-19 in Australia.
Geographical factors: The geographical factor plays an important role in those areas like villages
and backward areas where people only focus to fulfil their basic needs by cultivations and crop
yielding. They have limited contacts with city area and depend upon their land and crops to fulfil
their basic need of hunger to spend lives comfortable. However, these people are safe from
COVID-19 as nobody visit these places by taking infection along with them due to which people
lives in backward areas of Australia were safe which is suitable for reducing relevant deaths
among citizens. It is very important to remain far away from city areas at this time and spend
time with cultivated crops and farms to maintain better health condition by avoiding the infection
of COVID-19.
Cultural factors: The culture is all about considering religious and traditional values or norms on
daily basis. It includes the practice of worship god or some holly trees in specific occasion or
cultural day. Basically, the people belong to different communities and cultures having their own
traditions of life to follow them (Weinkove and et. al., 2020). It has been analysed that some of
cultural values includes the process of avoiding smuggling of healthy products which are helpful
to increase the immune strength that is favourable to avoid the COVID-19 disease. Meanwhile, it
will provide support to deliver these healthy products to common citizens of Australia for
increasing their internal body strength in order to avoid the COVID-19 infection for remaining
healthy.
Discuss in terms of the determinants of health, why are a higher number Australian females in
their 20s and 30s contracting COVID19, while more deaths are occurring among older
men?
The older people are more vulnerable to COVID-19 due to which physicians has been suggested
to provide extra care for them. It includes the fact that older people has weak immunity due to
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which coronavirus attack the easily and acquire severe condition. However, it has been analysed
that older people should strictly follow the instructions that they should not go outside anywhere
to avoid the risk of occurring COVID-19 disease to them. It consist the fact that older people has
slow metabolism and weakened immune system which is responsible to occurring more deaths
among the as compared to young individuals in Australia. Meanwhile, it is also required to
children should be more cared and remain separated from old people on home for maintain social
distance in order to avoid the COVID-19 disease among them. The people having problem of
heart disease, diabetes, lung problems etc. are mostly at risk of acquiring the COVID-19.
On the other hand, it has been analysed that young females in Australia are not at high risk but
old ones has high death rates among them. It includes the fact that older men because they have
slow metabolic activity and reduced immune strength which is responsible for occurrence of
COVID-19 disease among them (Sacks and et. al., 2020). However, the females of 20s and 30s
have strong immune system and strong metabolism which is helpful to fight against health
problems along with COVID-19 disease in order to remain healthy in Australia. It is necessary
for older men to take extra precautions to intake healthy food items and maintain social
distancing by avoiding going outside the house for remaining disease free. Meanwhile, it has
been analysed that older men were mostly have health problems blood pressure, heart disease,
diabetes, ling infections etc. due to which they have more death rates as compared to young
females of the country.
The impact of the determinants of health on the health of individuals or communities, and how
this may challenge some of your assumptions?
The determinants of health include number of factors which are responsible for affecting the
lifestyle and habits of people which affect their health condition accordingly. It includes the main
elements like biological, behavioural, sociocultural, economic and ecological factor which
impact on health condition of an individual (Wand and et. al., 2020). In context of COVID-19
disease among population of Australia, it has been analysed that there are various kinds of health
determinants which impact on their health status that are mentioned here. It consist income &
social status, social support networks, education & literacy, employment or working conditions,
social environments, physical atmosphere, personal health practices & coping skills and healthy
child development. These factors are responsible affecting the heath of people because low
education level and poor economic status influence their mind sets so that they mostly believe in
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myths rather than facts. This will leads to them for adopting inappropriate lifestyle practices
which facilitate to increase risk of acquiring COVID-19 disease among them. It is observed that
poor financial condition leads to not gaining proper and immediate treatment which leads to
develop extreme complicated condition or been death in few of cases.
In addition to this, it has been identified that health determinants impact on an individual by
influencing their lifestyle which directly affects their health in either positive or negative manner.
It is observed that poor education and economic condition develops insecurity in community
regarding unhealthy condition of an individual. However, it includes the assumptions that if a
person has COVID-19 disease then whole community are at risk of acquiring the same problem.
The strict followers in community of social distancing and other precautions are responsible for
challenging the above mentioned assumption by avoiding COVID-19 disease among them in
Australia. It is very important to frequently wash hands, immediate sanitize hands after sneezing
and maintain social distancing in effective manner.
CONCLUSION
From the above project, it has been concluded that COVID-19 disease is considered as pandemic
occurring in current situation from which millions of people get infected at global level. it is
observed that every country is facing the pandemic and government provide instructions for
citizens in order to avoid the infection of coronavirus. however, it includes several determinants
of health like education level, economic condition, behaviour factors and many more which
facilitate to increase or reduce the risk of occurring COVID-19 disease among them.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Chang, S. L. & et. al. (2020). Modelling transmission and control of the COVID-19 pandemic in
Australia. arXiv preprint arXiv:2003.10218.
Kinner, S. A. & et. al. (2020). Prisons and custodial settings are part of a comprehensive
response to COVID-19. The Lancet Public Health, 5(4), e188-e189.
McKibbin, W. J., & Fernando, R. (2020). The global macroeconomic impacts of COVID-19:
Seven scenarios.
Weinkove, R. & et. al. (2020). Managing haematology and oncology patients during the COVID‐
19 pandemic: interim consensus guidance. Medical Journal of Australia.
Sacks, L. J. & et. al. (2020). Considerations for people with diabetes during the Coronavirus
Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.
Wand, A. P. F. & et. al. (2020). Covid-19: The implications for suicide in older
adults. International Psychogeriatrics, 1-16.
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