Australian Aboriginal mortality and coronary heart disease : a demographic inquiry
Date
1991
Authors
Hogg, Robert Stephen
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Abstract
This thesis has attempted to evaluate whether Australian Aboriginal mortality patterns
are different from those exhibited by indigenous groups in other countries or by the
general Australian population; and whether the high rate of coronary heart disease
among Australian Aborigines is attributable to the underlying prevalence of specific
lifestyle (risk) factors. At a macro-level, I have compared contemporary mortality
patterns of and risk factor prevalence levels among Australian Aborigines and other
indigenous groups. At a micro-level, I have made the same comparisons between
Aborigines living in western New South Wales (especially those in Bourke) and other
Australians.
This study has made four important points regarding these issues. The first point is that
although Australian Aborigines and other indigenous groups have similar patterns of
high adult mortality, the relative importance of some more notable causes of death is
strikingly different. The second point is that Aborigines have much higher total and
age-specific death rates than other Australians, especially during adulthood and most
notably from circulatory system diseases. The third point is that, compared with the
general Australian population, Bourke Aborigines have much higher risk factor
prevalence levels for a number of coronary heart disease risk factors. The fourth and
final point is that Bourke Aboriginal risk factor prevalence levels tend to vary quite
considerably by several demographic, environmental, and social-cultural conditions
(risk markers) — more specifically, by age, location, employment status, and pay
period.
Overall, these findings suggest that the mortality pattern of Australian Aborigines is
experienced by no other population; and that lifestyle factors, which are influenced by
often uncontrollable conditions, can at least partially account for the observed high rate
of coronary heart disease.
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Thesis (PhD)
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