The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a report that details both significant health improvements and challenges for the Northern Territory's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Report entitled "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2008 report: detailed analyses" says:
- Risky alcohol consumption rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Territorians are lower than in all other jurisdictions except Tasmania;
- The mortality rate for NT Aboriginal babies has decreased by about 26% since 1997;
- Immunisation rates for NT Aboriginal children are now higher for all age groups than in other jurisdictions;
- Life expectancy for Aboriginal women in the NT is 65.2 years, compared to the Australian Indigenous average of 64.8 years;
- Rates of avoidable mortality in Aboriginal Territorians have declined significantly between 1991 and 2006.
Acting Chief Executive, Jenny Cleary said: "The health of Aboriginal women in the NT continues to show reasons for real optimism with life expectancy increasing 3.2 years since 1996. But we need to do more with Aboriginal men to lift life expectancy. Other areas of concern included continuing high levels of tobacco consumption and high rates of hospitalisation following assaults," he said.
Ms Cleary added that health is also determined by living conditions and economic and social circumstances. It is also influenced by individual choices on matters like diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking.
Twice as many Aboriginal people reported that they had abstained from alcohol than was the case for non Aboriginal Australians, however a greater proportion who do drink, drink at levels posing risks to their health.
The most common causes of death amongst Aboriginal people between 2002 and 2006 were circulatory diseases, injury, poisoning and cancer respectively.
The full report can be downloaded online at:
http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10664
Media Contact: Cameron Jackson, DHF Media Liaison Officer 0401 116 144
Release date: 19 January 2009
