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The health of Australia’s males: a focus on five population groups

by Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Abstract

This report examines the health of Australian males, in particular five population groups including men of different characteristics relating to: Indigenous status, remoteness, socioeconomic disadvantage, region of birth, and age.

Detailed information is provided on the five population groups including:

• demographic and socioeconomic characteristics
• lifestyle factors
• health status
• health service use.

Some of the key findings in relation to Indigenous males were:

• poorer health than overall population
• lower life expectancy
• higher rates of alcohol and other drug use
• higher rates of chronic disease including diabetes, kidney disease and some forms of cancer
• higher rates of other health conditions uncommon in the general population including acute rheumatic fever, scabies and trachoma
• higher rates of hospitalisation.

This report is the second in a series about male health in Australia, the report was the first to be funded under the National male health policy launched in 2010. It recognises the distinct health needs of males and the concerns related to their biology and roles in society. These needs being illustrated by the different rates of injury, illness and mortality, attitudes towards health and risks, and the way each group uses health services.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Links

• View report: The health of Australia’s males: a focus on five population groups
• View report: The health of Australia’s males: a focus on five population groups summary
• View report: The health of Australia’s males: a focus on five population groups (PDF - 4.0 MB)
• View media release: Some groups of Aussie men worse off than others when it comes to health
• View website: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare