Sanjeev Thapa|Kedir Y. Ahmed|Allen G. Ross
Beyond statistics: health inequities in rural and remote communities of Australia
Charles Sturt University|Charles Sturt University|Charles Sturt University
gbd 2019 australia collaborators analyses global burden diseases data 1990 2019 noted downward trend agestandardised death rates noncommunicable diseases general increase 6 years life expectancy australia1gbd 2019 australia collaboratorsthe burden trend diseases risk factors australia 19902019 systematic analysis global burden disease study 2019lancet public health 2023 8 e585e599summary full text full text pdf pubmed scopus 5 google scholar believe national data presented fully capture burden disease rural first nation communities 7 million 28 people 260 000 32 first nations peoples reside rural remote areas australia 1700 small towns populations smaller 10 000 people community effectively collecting analysing population data presents sampling statistical challenge national averages create proxies local communities might reflective health gaps although lifeexpectancy gap approximately 8 years first nations peoples nonindigenous peoples national level high 13 years rural areas northern territory2zhao li sq wilson burgess cp improved life expectancy indigenous nonindigenous people northern territory 19992018 overall underlying cause deathmed j aust 2022 217 3035crossref scopus 7 google scholar furthermore median age death differed first nations nonindigenous communities least 20 years rates varying substantially among rural areas figure3public health information development unittorrens university australiasocial health atlas australia population health areashttpsdatasagovaudatadatasetsocialhealthatlasofaustraliapopulationhealthareadate 2018date accessed august 15 2023google scholar important difference disease burden metropolitan rural areas solely based socioeconomic differences continues substantial disparity healthcare access availability skilled workforce prevention early diagnosis improved case management noncommunicable disease4thomas sl wakerman j humphreys js ensuring equity access primary health care rural remote australiawhat core services locally availableint j equity health 2015 14 111crossref pubmed scopus 95 google scholar low health literacy institutionalised racism scarcity cultural representation within healthcare system make harder socioeconomically disadvantaged populations including first nations peoples access mainstream healthcare services australian federal state health authorities must refrain exclusively relying statelevel nationallevel data determine health priorities allocate funds accordingly also imperative generate evidence develop programmes address specific needs rural communities declare competing interests