is a state of complete physical, mental
and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease/infirmity
is a continually changing process. it is
highly subjective
4 DIMENSIONS OF HEALTH
PHYSICAL: wellness of the body
and absence of chronic pain or
discomfort
MENTAL/EMOTIONAL: state of well being where
we realise our abilities and cope with normal
stresses of life, work productively and make a
contribution to society
SPIRITUAL: relates to a sense of purpose and
meaning in our life and to feeling connected
with others and society
SOCIAL: ability to interact w/ other
people in an interdependent and
cooperative way
PERCEPTIONS OF HEALTH
are influenced by
personal
interpretation of
health
environment
behaviours/lifestyle
past level of health
attitudes about health conveyed by
peers, family, media
value of importance to be
healthy
beliefs about our
capacity to achieve
good health
IMPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENT PERCEPTIONS OF
HEALTH
INDIVIDUAL LEVEL: have significant influence on their lifestyle choices and behaviours relating to
health, an incorrect/distorted assessment of health can lead to harmful
misconceptions/reinforce bad stereotypes
POLICY LEVEL: with individuals having different perceptions of health
it means that it costs more $ for government to take care of those who
have poor health
MORTALITY: number of deaths in a given population from a
particular casuse
MORBIDITY: incidence/level of illness/sickness in a
given population
LIFE EXPECTANCY: average number of years
of life remaining to a person at a particular
age based on current death rates
HEALTH BEHAVIOURS OF YOUNG PEOPLE
INDIGENOUS
poorer levels of health
negative perception of health
death rates of 4x higher
than non-indigenous
lower life expectancy, live 20
years less than general
population
likely to experience chronic illness
that reduces quality of life
suffer higher rates of asthma, diabetes
& injury resulting in hospitalisation
more likely to experience risk factors
associated with poor health such as
obesity, tobacco use, physics inactivity
REMOTE &
RURAL
higher death rates
more hospital admissions for particular problems such
as injuries/poisioning
more likely to engage in risky health
behaviours such as high-risk drinking
and poor dietary habits
LOW SOCIOECONOMIC
more likely to experience poor levels
of health compared to others
death rates are twice as high as
less disadvantaged areas
higher injury rate
MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS
group of mental illnesses where a person
experiences disturbances of mood or thought that
lead to difficulties functioning normally
the number of people who
reported experiencing high levels
of distress is increasing
depressions, anxiety and substance abuse is
accounted for 75% of the burden of disease
INJURIES
particularly sustained from motor
accidents and intentional self-ham
leading cause of ill-health, hospitalisation
and death in this age group
injuries responsible for 2/3 of premature deaths by young
people, males 3x higher in yrs of life lost than females
increasing prevalence of a number of chronic
health problems and rising incidence of certain
communicable diseases such as diabetes cerebal
palsy
PROTECTIVE
BEHAVIOURS
are those behaviours that are likely to enhance a
person's level of health, EG eating the right
amount of fruit and vegetables
RISK BEHAVIOURS
are those health behaviours that have been found to
contribute to the development of health problems or poorer
levels of health, EG smoking
HEALTH LITERACY is the ability to understand and
interpret health information and use it to promote and
maintain good health
ACQUISITION OF SKILLS related to making, problem solving,
communicating, interacting and moving to contribute to improved health
as having these skills to empower people to make healthier choices
KNOWLEDGE comes from a variety of sources - parents,
siblings, peers, teachers, internet, media
GENETICS outline our potential to achieve a certain level of health a number of
genetic disorders lead to ill health and decreased life expectancy, also plays a role in
determining a persons predisposition to certain diseases and health problems
SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS relate to society in which
people live and the cultural practices and expectations
that exist within these communities EG family, peers,
media, religion, culture
FAMILY has a significant influence on
health and well-being
FAMILIES play a role in promoting good health,
encouraging good health behaviour, family
expectations, main source of health information
and support
PEERS have a powerful influence on the decision people
make relating to health and the type of behaviours they
undertake
MEDIA has a powerful influence through its significant role is disseminating
information relating to health. Also influences values and attitudes EG
images that associate smoking with positive personal qualities like
popularity
EXPECTATIONS OF SOCIETAL FORMS - images conveyed
through media promote certain expectations and risk
behaviours that arise from expectations
SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS relate to a person's level of income,
education and employment.
WHO stated that the social conditions in which people live powerfully influence their chances to be
healthy. Indeed factors such as poverty, social exclusion and discrimination, poor housing, unhealthy
early childhood conditions and low occupational status are important determinants of most diseases,
deaths and health inequalities between and within countries'
EDUCATION is likely to increase their
understanding of health protective and risk
factors enabling people to develop skills that
assist them in accessing health info + services
when required
EMPLOYMENT being able to secure satisfying
meaningful and regular employment has
positive influence, unemployed Australia have
mortality rates that are 50% higher than
employed
INCOME those who have higher income have more
money available to spend on health-related products +
services, they have freedom to choose from a greater
range of options
poverty increased individuals exposure to risk behaviours that
are likely to harm their health and also restricts their access to
health services and products
MEDICARE Aust gov
funded health shame that
subsides the cost of
medical services for all
Australians and aims to
ensure medical care is
affordable
POSITIVES available to everyone, makes health care
accessible, covers minimal procedures and GP visits
NEGATIVES not all services covered, long waiting for
procedures, waiting for treatment can lead to ongoing
pain, reduced capacity to go about daily life etc
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS are things present in
environment in which people live and work that can
affect their health in a positive or negative way
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION those living in rural/remote areas experience poorer health outcomes due to
having higher death rates and higher levels of health risk factors inc smoking, inactiveness, excessive
drinking etc
DISTANCE FACTOR have to travel long distances for work, household related
issues + socialising, greater risk of injury due to danger e.g. long distances,
poor road quality, speed, fatigue, animals, distance factor may lead to poor
mental health + depression
CLIMATE + LIFESTYLE FACTOR likely to face harsh
living conditions as well as severe weather
conditions
INDIGENOUS FACTOR 24% of ppl living in remote areas and 45% of ppl living in
very remote identify as indigenous, increases exposure to health risks. EG safe
housing - electricity, clean running water, adequate sewerage systems resulting
in diseases
BIG CITY LIFE high levels of air pollution from emissions of vehicles
and heavy industry increases risk of respiratory infections, asthma,
bronchitis and CVD
ACCESS TO
TECHNOLOGY increases
availability and variety of
tech impact young
peoples health,
increases sedentary
behaviour
TECH IN RURAL/REMOTE AREAS increased use
of computers/internet provided ppl with
greater access to accurate health info that
supports improvements in knowledge +
awareness
ROYAL FLYING SERVICE, allows ppl to
access health care and gain info
immediately when needed
BARRIERS lack on infrastructure can restrict access ppl to fast and
reliable tech, cost of devices, computer literacy + reduced tech support