Factbox on indigenous health

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2001
Factbox on indigenous health

SYDNEY, AAP - A snapshot of indigenous health:



LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH

Indigenous males: 56 years (non-indigenous males: 76)

Indigenous females: 63 years (non-indigenous females: 82)



DEATH RATES

Death rate for indigenous males aged 35-54 years is 5 to 6 times higher than for non-indigenous
Australians.

Death rate for indigenous Australians aged 25-34 years and 55-64 years is 3 to 5 times
higher than for non-indigenous Australians



HOSPITALISATION

2.6 per cent of hospital patients were identified as indigenous males, while only 2.1
per cent of the population are indigenous males.

2.9 per cent of hospital patients were identified as indigenous females, while only
2.2 per cent of the population are indigenous males.



DIABETES

There were 10 times more hospital patients for Type 2 diabetes for indigenous males
than non-indigenous males.

There were 15 times more hospital patients for Type 2 diabetes for indigenous females
than non-indigenous females.



MOTHERS AND BABIES

Average age of indigenous mothers: 24.4 years-old (non-indigenous mothers: 28.9)

Over 80 per cent of indigenous mothers who gave birth were under 30, compared with
54 per cent of non-indigenous mothers



Source: The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Peoples 2001 (The Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare)



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KEYWORD: INDIGENOUS HEALTH FACTBOX

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.