Health Science Data by Lucy Andrew

Children's Body Mass Index in Australia

2018-01-22 01:38:00 UTC

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2015, National Health Survey: First Results, 2014-15, cat. no. 4364.0.55.001, viewed 22 January 2017, <http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4364.0.55.001Main+Features12014-15?OpenDocument>

AGEING AND HEALTH

2018-01-26 02:35:08 UTC

Liz Halloran (Student)
People worldwide are living longer. Today, for the first time in history, most people can expect to live into their sixties and beyond. By 2050, the world’s population aged 60 years and older is expected to total 2 billion, up from 900 million in 2015. Today, 125 million people are aged 80 years or older. By 2050, there will be almost this many (120 million) living in China alone, and 434 million people in this age group worldwide. By 2050, 80% of all older people will live in low- and middle-income countries.

World Health Organization. (2018). Ageing and health. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs404/en/ [Accessed 26 Jan. 2018].

Sally Coates (student) NCD's

2018-02-04 10:13:44 UTC

Despite non-communicable diseases (NCD) estimated to be responsible for 91% of all deaths, WHO (2014) report Australia having no ‘evidence-based national guidelines/protocols/standards for the management of major NCDs through a primary care approach’.

60% of this NCD burden is attributable to cardiovascular disease and cancers.

Reference

World Health Organisaton (WHO) 2014, World Health Organization - Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) Country Profiles, 2014, viewed 4 Feb 2018, <http://www.who.int/nmh/countries/aus_en.pdf?ua=1>

2018-02-05 00:35:50 UTC

Only 20% of American adults perform 2.5 hours of aerobic activity and 2 days of muscle strengthening activity per week, as recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (Sullivan & Lachman 2017).

Reference

Sullivan, A & Lachman, M 2017, 'Behavior change with fitness technology in sedentary adults: A review of the evidence for increasing physical activity', Frontiers in Public Health, vol. 4.

Suicide Rates amongst Older Men - Annette Paysden (student)

2018-02-05 00:54:36 UTC

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2016), in 2016, 378 people between the ages of 55 and 64 years old committed suicide in Australia. Of those 378 people, 78% were men.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2016, Causes of death, Australia, 2016, cat no. 3303.0, ABS, Canberra, viewed 5th February 2018. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/47E19CA15036B04BCA2577570014668B?Opendocument

Physical Activity in 2-4 year olds. Brenda Larmour (Student)

larby004 — 2018-02-05 04:29:27 UTC

Children aged 2-4 years should engage in physical activity for healthy development, learning and development. During 2011-12, QLD and NT 2-4 year olds spent significantly longer participating in outdoor physical activity per day compared to the national average (ABS 2015).

Reference
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2015, 'Australian health survey: Physical activity, 2011-2012', ABS, Canberra, viewed 5th February 2018, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/PrimaryMainFeatures/4364.0.55.004?OpenDocument

Diabetes in adults

2018-02-05 07:26:42 UTC

In 2014/2015 the growth in adults with diabetes in various age groups increased as adults by tripling from 5%@ 45 - 54 to 12% @ 55-64, and men had tripled in this age group. (ABS 2015)
Reference
abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/by%20subject/4364.55.001-2014-15-main%20features-diabetes%melltus-12

Who is Talking about Polio Vaccinations on Social Media?

2018-02-05 10:43:04 UTC

In the Facebook group “Parents talk about the Polio vaccination”, an active group with various participants, 321 commentators submitted 2289 comments, with 64 % of the comments written by women. Most (92 %) people involved were parents. The comments were both personal (referring to specific situations) and general in nature (referring to symptoms or wide implications). A few (13 %) of the commentators were physicians (n = 44), who were responsible for 909 (40 %) of the items in the sample. Half the doctors and 6 % of the non-doctors wrote over 10 items each. This Facebook group formed a unique platform where unmediated debates and discussions between the public and medical experts took place.

Orr D Et.Al. 2018, Social media as a platform for health-related public debates and discussions: the Polio vaccine on Facebook, Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, https://ijhpr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13584-016-0093-4 Accessed 05/02/18

Diabetes and obesity - Lisa Amess (student)

2018-02-06 01:55:35 UTC

One of the main risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes is being overweight or obese, as excess body weight can interfere with the body's production of, and resistance to, insulin. In 2014-15, adults aged 18 years and over who were obese had higher rates of Type 2 diabetes (11.6%) than adults who were overweight (4.9%), who in turn had higher rates of Type 2 diabetes than adults who were of normal weight (1.9%).

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2015, National Health Survey: First results 2014-2015, cat 4364.0.55.001, viewed 6th February 2018. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4364.0.55.001~2014-15~Main%20Features~Diabetes%20mellitus~12

leading causes of death in Australia - Jan Turtun (student)

turjy005 — 2018-02-06 08:15:04 UTC

In 2007, Dementia including Alzheimer disease, caused 7,318 deaths. 2016, Dementia caused 13,126 deaths in Australia. An increase of over 5000 people per year.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016, 'Australian Leading causes of death', ABS, Canberra, viewed 6th February 2018. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/3303.0~2016~Main%20Features~Australia's%20leading%20causes%20of%20death,%202016~3

Alcohol in Aboriginal & Torres Straight Islander Communities - Courtney Pavitt (Student)

2018-02-06 08:29:41 UTC

It has been reported that one in six Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander's aged over 15 years have exceeded the alcohol lifetime risk guidelines (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013). The Bureau also stated that 26% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males exceeded the risk guidelines, compared to 10% of females (ABS, 2013).

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2013, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: First Results, Australia, 2012-13, ABS, viewed 06 February 2018,

Hearing impairment in Austrlia - Matthew Gee (student).

2018-02-06 10:40:01 UTC

In Australia hearing loss affects 5% of people aged between 15 and 50, 29% from 51 to 60, 58% from 61 to 70 and 74% from 71 and older. Sixty per cent of adults with a hearing loss are male, and approximately half of these men are of working age (i.e. 15 to 64 years).(ABS 2016).

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006, The extent and cause of hearing impairment in Australia, viewed 6 February 2018. <https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2008-10/hearing_health/report/c02>

Generation X Rates of Depression - Allison Inglis (student)

2018-02-06 11:25:53 UTC

In Australia in 2014-15, rates of depression were reported at 8.9%, with 12.8% in the 45-54 age group. Women were reported as having higher rates of depression within this age group (14.9%) compared to men (10.5%) (ABS 2015).

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2015, National Health Survey First Results Australia 2014-2015, cat. no. 4364.0.55.001, viewed 6 February 2018, .

2018-02-06 11:29:53 UTC

Cardiovascular diseases within Indigenous communities - Katie-lee Berryman

2018-02-06 23:01:08 UTC

It is reported that in Australia around 12% of the aboriginal and torres strait islander population have heart disease. The female indigenous population have been reported having a higher rate of CVD at 13% compared to 11% of the indigenous male population (ABS 2012/13).
The indigenous population who lived within remote/rural areas were significantly more likely to have a form of CVD at 17% compared to those who lived within non-remote areas at 11% (ABS 2012/13).

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2015, 'Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survery: First Results, Australia 2012-2013', ABS, viewed 7 February 2018 <http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/838B51AF10E6835ECA257C2F00145961?opendocument>

Global Suicide Data- Sarah Garton Haworth (Student)

2018-02-07 04:26:56 UTC

it is reported that globally 800,000 people commit suicide each year. This is the second largest cause of death among 15-29 year olds ( WHO 2015)

World Health Organisation 2015, Suicide data, WHO, Viewed 7 February 2018
<http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/>

Psychological distress levels in 18-24 yr olds - Graham Coffey

coffeywork9 — 2018-02-07 05:19:24 UTC

The ABS (2012) reported that 33.1% of males and 42.2% of females between 18-24 experience moderate to very high levels of distress. Proportionally, this age bracket experiences higher levels of distress than any other. Across all ages the rate was 18.3% of males and 14.7% of females.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2012, Australian Health Survey: First Results, 2011-12, October 2012, cat. no. 4364.0.55.001 (Table 4.2), viewed 7 February 2018

<http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4364.0.55.0012011-12?OpenDocument>

Working towards zero tolerance for female genital mutilation in Sudan

2018-02-07 08:20:26 UTC

Nine years ago, one community in Sudan decided to follow WHO recommendations and abandon the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM).

Since then, Tuti Island, a community of 21 000 residents located at the juncture where the White Nile and Blue Nile rivers merge, has been held up as a trailblazer in a growing movement to end FGM.

Today, more than 1000 communities in Sudan have abandoned the practice which has no health benefits and continues to violate the human rights of 200 million women and girls in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

World Health Organisation (WBS) 2018, Latest news, (online) Available at:
http://www.who.int/features/2018/female-genital-mutilation-sudan/en/

Depression among the world ageing population

2018-02-07 10:51:52 UTC

The world’s population is increasing at a fast rate. Between 2015 and 2050, the worlds older population is estimated to double from 12% to 22%. That is an increase from 900 million to 2 billion adults aged 60 years and over. Around 5% to 7% of the worlds older population suffer the most common mental and neurological disorders which is depression and dementia. (WHO 2018)

Reference:

World Health Organization 2018, Mental health of older adults, Media centre, viewed 7 February 2018, .

Contraceptive Use

2018-02-08 00:33:05 UTC

'214 million women of reproductive age in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy are not using a modern contraceptive method.' (WHO 2018)
There are many reasons for this including gender-based barriers and fear or experience of side effects (WHO 2018).

World Health Organisation 2018, Family planning/contraception, Media Centre, viewed 8 February 2018, <http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs351/en/>

Evidence for the benefits of exercise in managing depression:

2018-02-08 01:45:47 UTC

16 weeks of regular exercise has been found to be equally effective as antidepressant medication in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. A recent study found that an increase of physical activity from inactive to three times a week resulted in 20% decrease of the risk of depression over a five year period.

Reference:
Black Dog Institute

http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/default-source/factsheets/exercise_depression.pdf?sfvrsn=8

The Mental health Benefits of exercise:

2018-02-08 01:58:09 UTC

Reaping the mental health benefits of exercise is easier than you think. You can reap all the physical and mental health benefits of exercise with 30-minutes of moderate exercise five times a week. Two 15-minute or even three 10-minute exercise sessions can also work just as well.

If you don’t have time for 15 or 30 minutes of exercise, or if your body tells you to take a break after 5 or 10 minutes, for example, that’s okay, too. Start with 5- or 10-minute sessions and slowly increase your time.

Reference:

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.htm

Childhood Obesity

2018-02-08 05:26:24 UTC

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2015), there has been no real change in the level of overweight/obesity in 5-17 year olds since 2011-12 (25.7%). Although in 2014-15 only one in twenty children met the dietary guidelines for both fruit and vegetables (ABS 2015).

Reference:
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2015), National health survey, first results, 2014-15, cat. no. 4364.0.55.001, Children Risk actors, veiwed 8 February 2018,

Are Exercise Apps Using Sound Theory?

2018-02-09 07:23:31 UTC

It is not unexpected that apps contained only minimal theoretical content, given that app developers come from a variety of backgrounds and many are not trained in the application of health behaviour theory. The relationship between price and theory score corroborates research indicating that higher quality apps are more expensive. There is an opportunity for health and behaviour change experts to partner with app developers to incorporate behaviour change theories into the development of apps. These future collaborations between health behaviour change experts and app developers could foster apps superior in both theory and programming possibly resulting in better health outcomes.

Reference:
Cowan, LT, Van, SA, Brown, BA, Hedin, RJ, Seino-Stephan, Y, Hall, PC et al 2013, 'Apps of Steel: Are Exercise Apps Providing Consumers With Realistic Expectations?', Health Education & Behavior, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 133-139.

http://journals.sagepub.com.access.library.unisa.edu.au/doi/abs/10.1177/1090198112452126

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) conducted a National Health Survey (2015) which revealed the national overweight or obese averages rising significantly between 1995 and 2014-15. In 1995, approximately 64% of men and 49% of women were overweight or obese. This number has risen by an average of about 7.3% collectively (both men and women) between these dates, with a measure of 70.8% of men and 56.3% of women overweight or obese in 2014-15 (ABS 2015).

hannahrust — 2018-02-09 20:27:22 UTC

Reference:
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2015, National health survey: first results, overweight and obesity, cat. no.4364.0.55.00, viewed 10 February 2018, <http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4364.0.55.001~2014-15~Main%20Features~Overweight%20and%20obesity~22>

Development of Smartphone Applications for Nutrition and Physical Activity Behaviour Change.

2018-02-10 00:12:33 UTC

In this report the authors suggest that smartphones might have an innovative delivering medium in bringing healthy attitude changes, although they maybe short lived or usage irregular. Although the developers must taken into consideration its target audience due to exisiting apps and technology at present.

Reference:
Lana Hebden, Amelia Cook, Hidde P Van Ploeg and Margaret Allman-Farinelli 2012. Development of Smartphone Applications for Nutrition and Physical Activity Behaviour Change. viewed 10 February 2018,

Dani Kline (student)

2018-02-10 02:26:49 UTC

Regular and adequate levels of physical activity can reduce the risk of depression.

Reference:

World Health Organisation 2018, Physical activity, World Health Organisation, viewed 10 February 2018,

Dani Kline (student)

2018-02-10 02:31:54 UTC

Mental and behavioural conditions were more common amongst women than men (19.2% compared with 15.8% respectively).

Reference:

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2015, National health survey, first results, 2014-15, cat. no. 4364.0.55.001, Mental and behavioural conditions, viewed 10 February 2018,
< http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4364.0.55.001~2014-15~Main%20Features~Mental%20and%20behavioural%20conditions~32>

Nerylee Gollan (student)

2018-02-10 03:18:11 UTC

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are less likely to meet the physical activity guidelines as they age into their teenage years. Evidence showing children aged 5-8 years spent 2.2 hours of the day performing moderate and vigorous physical activity, and teenagers aged 15-17 years dropping moderate and vigorous PA to 0.7 hours of the day. (ABS 2014)

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2014, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Physical activity, 2012-13, cat. no. 4727.0.55.004, viewed 10 February 2018, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4727.0.55.004~2012–13~Main%20Features~5-17%20year%20olds~6

Luke Prentice (student)

2018-02-11 02:22:14 UTC

27.1% of Australian adults over the age of 75 years are obese.

Reference:
Australian Bureau of Statistics(ABS) 2015, National Health Survey: First Results 2014-2015, cat.no.4364.0.55.001,(Table 8.3), Body Mass Index, Waste Circumference, Height and Weight, proportion of person, 11 February 2018, <http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4364.0.55.0012014-15?OpenDocument>

Paula Jewell (student)

PaulaJewell — 2018-02-11 08:38:27 UTC

Non communicable diseases are estimated to account for 91% of total deaths in Australians ages 30 to 70 years (WHO 2014).

World Health Organisation (WHO) 2018, Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) Country Profiles , 2014, viewed 11 February 2018, <http://www.who.int/nmh/countries/aus_en.pdf?ua=1>

Rachael Godfrey (student)

2018-02-11 08:57:22 UTC

61% of females aged 45 – 54 years and 56% of females aged 55 – 64 years reported to have participated in sport and physical recreation in 2013-14.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2015, Participation in Sport and Physical Recreation, Australia, 2013-14, cat. no. 4177.0, viewed 11 February 2018,

Paulina_S — 2018-02-11 12:24:02 UTC

In 2012–13, two-thirds (66%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over were overweight or obese (29% and 37% respectively), according to their BMI (WHO 2013).

World Health Organisation (WHO)
2013, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: First Results, Australia, 2012-13, 2013, viewed 11 February 2018,

Jody Hobbs (student) - Does soy protein contain enough essential amino acids for older people?

2018-02-21 22:45:39 UTC

Protein intake of 1.0-1.2 g/kg of body weight per day is probably optimum for older adults (NBCI, 2013). This theory, coupled with the fact that older adults tend to take in fewer calories in general, may lead to pronounced protein deficiency as well as deficiency of other important nutrients. Therefore, maintaining adequate protein intake as well as adequate caloric intake is an important facet of the treatment of this disease.

Reference:
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NBCI)
2013, Impact of nutrition on muscle mass, strength, and performance in older adults, viewed 22 February 2018
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23247327