HLTH340 Assessment 2

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Running Header: HKLTH340 – Assignment 2
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HKLTH340 – Assignment 2
HKLTH340 – Assignment 2
HKLTH340 – Assignment 2
Influence of Social Determinants – Ageing Population in Australia
Australia akin to most of the higher income nations possesses large proportion as well as growing levels of elderly population (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016). Even though the smaller set of proportion concerning the overall population are older as compared to say Japan or else Western Europe, close to 15 per cent of population in Australia have aged 65 years or else over, as well as be expected for increasing to about 22.5 per cent by the year 2050 (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016). This increasing share in population concerning elderly can be noted to be driven on account of two key set of factors, that is, the decline with respect to the mortality rates of adults, and the lower rates in fertility (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016).
In this context, it has to be noted that social factors represent the key determinants with respect to health as well as wellbeing across Australia (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016). The increased levels of income, occupation, or else education in a person indicate that are healthier and the said phenomenon can be stated in being social gradient for health. At a general context, people who from the lower socioeconomic clusters can be stated to have higher risk with respect to poorer health, possess higher rates for illness, death and disability, as well as live short lives as compared to ones who come from higher groups (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016). To take an example, between the years 2001 and 2007, both men as well as women who are aged 20 amongst lowest of the socioeconomic sets can expect for living 2.6 years lesser than the people from highest group (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016). The socioeconomic position could be measured by way of employing the single characteristics, like that of occupations, education, or else income, , or even the composite measures akin to that of Index for Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantages (“IRSD”) (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016). This IRSD illustrates an average or else overall levels concerning socioeconomic disadvantages pertaining to population within specific area; and the same do not illustrate the ways in which individuals who live within same area shall differ amongst one other within the stated the socioeconomic factors (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016). It can be noted that people who shall live within lowest of the socioeconomic areas shall in addition be termed in being lowest of the socioeconomic group, as well as the people who live amongst highest of the socioeconomic areas in being highest of the socioeconomic group (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016).
The key social determinants having an impact over health amongst the ageing people include the following – [i] educational attainment, and the same can be stated to be interlinked with effective health all through one’s life. In effect, education enables people in achieving and sustaining stable employment, possess secure levels of income, live within sufficient housing, provision for their families as well as cope / manage ill health in the manner of assisting them for making informed choices concerning healthcare (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016). The education levels of individuals thus impact not just their respective health, but in addition that of the respective family, specifically the dependent children (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016), [ii] Occupation can be noted to possess stronger interlink with position within respective society, as well as usually be affiliated to higher levels of education / income levels, further attainment of higher education enhances the overall likelihood with respect to high status occupations as well as the said occupations usually come complemented with high incomes (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016), and [iii] Income as well as wealth hold crucial roles with respect to socioeconomic positions, and hence with respect to health (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016). In addition to enhancing socioeconomic positions, higher levels of income enable the attainment of greater access towards goods / services which offer health benefits, like that of better housing / food, more options for health care, as well as greater choices with respect to healthy pursuits (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016). The losses in income by way of injury, disability, and illness could in an adverse manner impact the individual level socioeconomic positions as well as health (Steptoe et al., 2015; Bloom et al., 2015; Sajjad et al., 2016; O'Loughlin et al., 2016).
The approach of social determinants can be stated to be underpinned in the manner of...