Dataset Information

New population and life expectancy estimates for the Indigenous population of Australia's Northern Territory, 1966-2011.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Indigenous population of Australia suffers considerable disadvantage across a wide range of socio-economic indicators, and is therefore the focus of many policy initiatives attempting to 'close the gap' between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Unfortunately, past population estimates have proved unreliable as denominators for these indicators. The aim of the paper is to contribute more robust estimates for the Northern Territory Indigenous population for the period 1966-2011, and hence estimate one of the most important of socio-economic indicators, life expectancy at birth.

Method

A consistent time series of population estimates from 1966 to 2011, based off the more reliable 2011 official population estimates, was created by a mix of reverse and forward cohort survival. Adjustments were made to ensure sensible sex ratios and consistency with recent birth registrations. Standard life table methods were employed to estimate life expectancy. Drawing on an approach from probabilistic forecasting, confidence intervals surrounding population numbers and life expectancies were estimated.

Results

The Northern Territory Indigenous population in 1966 numbered between 23,800 and 26,100, compared to between 66,100 and 73,200 in 2011. In 1966-71 Indigenous life expectancy at birth lay between 49.1 and 56.9 years for males and between 49.7 and 57.9 years for females, whilst by 2006-11 it had increased to between 60.5 and 66.2 years for males and between 65.4 and 70.8 for females. Over the last 40 years the gap with all-Australian life expectancy has not narrowed, fluctuating at about 17 years for both males and females. Whilst considerable progress has been made in closing the gap in under-five mortality, at most other ages the mortality rate differential has increased.

Conclusions

A huge public health challenge remains. Efforts need to be redoubled to reduce the large gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

SUBMITTER: Wilson T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4035253 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

New population and life expectancy estimates for the Indigenous population of Australia's Northern Territory, 1966-2011.

Wilson Tom T

PloS one 20140527 5

<h4>Background</h4>The Indigenous population of Australia suffers considerable disadvantage across a wide range of socio-economic indicators, and is therefore the focus of many policy initiatives attempting to 'close the gap' between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Unfortunately, past population estimates have proved unreliable as denominators for these indicators. The aim of the paper is to contribute more robust estimates for the Northern Territory Indigenous population for the peri ...[more]

PMID: 24866421

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundHealthy life expectancy (HLE) is becoming an important indicator of population health. While actuarial estimates of HLE are frequently studied, there is scarcity of research on the subjective expectations of people about their HLE. The objective of this study is to compare actuarial and subjective HLE (sHLE) estimates in the ≥50-year-old Hungarian general population. Furthermore, we assessed subjective life expectancy (sLE) and explored determinants of the individual variance of sHLE and sLE.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional online survey in 2019. Subjective health expectations were measured at 60, 70, 80 and 90 years of age via the Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI). Point-estimates of sLE and background variables were also recorded. sHLE was estimated from GALI and sLE responses. Actuarial estimates of life expectancy (LE) and HLE for 2019 were provided by the Central Statistical Office of Hungary.ResultsFive hundred and four respondents (female 51.6%) were included. Mean (±SD) age was 63 (±7.5) years. Median LE (81.5 years, 95%CI 81.1-81.7) and sLE (82 years, 95%CI 80-85) were similar (p = 0.142), while median sHLE (66.8 years, 95%CI 65.5-68.3) was lower than HLE (72.7 years, 95%CI 82.4-82.9) by 5.9 years (p<0.001). Despite the greater median actuarial LE of women compared to men (p<0.001), we found no gender differences between the median sLE (p = 0.930), HLE (p = 0.417) and sHLE (p = 0.403) values. With less apparent gender differences among the predictors when compared to sLE, sHLE was mainly determined by self-perceived health, age and place of residence, while self-perceived health, close relatives' longevity, social conditions, happiness and perceived lifestyle influenced sLE.ConclusionsAlong subjective life expectancy, subjective healthy life expectancy may be a feasible indicator and provide insights to individuals' subjective expectations underlying the demographic estimates of the healthy life expectancy of the population.

Project description:Introduction:Originally piloted as a multi-departmental project within the Government of South Australia, SA NT DataLink is now the key provider of data linkage services in South Australia, the Northern Territory of Australia and the Commonwealth of Australia, enabling academics and policy makers to undertake research, policy, planning and evaluation. Approach:Uniquely governed by a broad range of consortium partners, SA NT DataLink's business model operates with flexibility to adapt to researcher priorities and government requirements. Its Data Linkage Unit routinely links data from over 50 sources with more than 57 million records on approximately 2.9 million individuals. It arguably provides the broadest range of linked data sources in Australia, focusing on administrative datasets and clinical registries from various health and human services domains. Operating in strict adherence with the separation principal, SA NT DataLink's Data Integration Unit separately manages anonymised clinical and service use data in collaboration with the respective data custodians through the Custodian Controlled Data Repository, allowing approved analysts to efficiently access high quality linked anonymised data. To protect individual privacy throughout the process of data linkage and data provision, SA NT DataLink's processes align with state, territory and federal privacy legislations. Operating consistently with National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines, linkage projects are subject to approvals by the relevant data custodians and approved Human Research Ethics Committees. Noteworthy Outputs:SA NT DataLink has provided linkage services to over 160 data linkage projects, informing nationally significant research and policy initiatives, including initiatives to improve indigenous children's hearing and child development. Conclusion:To respond to a changing data linkage landscape, SA NT DataLink is continuously reviewing and improving its systems, linkage processes and governance, addressing administrative, funding, data access, social licence and data linkage challenges and opportunities to meet increasing demand and new business developments.

Project description:Background and aimsA concerning rise in incidence of young-onset cancers globally led to the examination of trends in incidence and survival of gastrointestinal (GI) adenocarcinomas in the Northern Territory (NT), Australia, over a 28-year period, with a special emphasis on Indigenous peoples.MethodsThis cross-sectional analysis of a prospective longitudinal database, NT Cancer Registry (1990-2017), includes all reported cases of GI (oesophagus, gastric, small intestinal, pancreas, colon, and rectum) adenocarcinomas. Poisson regression was used to estimate incidence ratio ratios, and survival was modelled using Cox proportional hazard models separately for people aged 18-50 years and >50 years.ResultsA total of 1608 cases of GI adenocarcinoma were recorded during the time of the study. While the overall incidence in people 18-50 years remained unchanged over this time (p = 0.51), the rate in individuals aged >50 years decreased (IRR = 0.65 (95% CI 0.56-0.75; p < 0.0001)). Incidence rates were significantly less in females >50 years (IRR = 0.67 95% CI 0.59-0.75; p < 0.0001), and their survival was significantly better (HR = 0.84 (95%CI 0.72-0.98; p < 0.03)) compared to males. Overall survival across all GI subsites improved in both age cohorts, especially between 2010 and 2017 (HR = 0.45 (95%CI 0.29-0.72; p < 0.0007) and HR = 0.64 (95%CI 0.52-0.78; p < 0.0001), respectively) compared to 1990-1999, driven by an improvement in survival in colonic adenocarcinoma alone, as the survival remained unchanged in other GI subsites. The incidence was significantly lower in Indigenous patients compared to non-Indigenous patients, in both age cohorts (18-50 years IRR = 0.68 95% CI 0.51-0.91; p < 0.009 and >50 years IRR = 0.48 95% CI 0.40-0.57; p < 0.0001). However, Indigenous patients had worse survival rates (18-50 years HR = 2.06 95% CI 1.36-3.11; p < 0.0007 and >50 years HR = 1.66 95% CI 1.32-2.08; p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThere is a trend towards an increased incidence of young-onset GI adenocarcinomas in the NT. Young Indigenous patients have lower incidence but worse survival across all GI subsites, highlighting significant health inequities in life expectancy. Targeted, culturally safe Indigenous community-focussed programs are needed for early detection and patient-centred management of GI adenocarcinomas.

Project description:BackgroundHealth economics is increasingly used to inform resource allocation decision-making, however, there is comparatively little evidence relevant to minority groups. In part, this is due to lack of cost and effectiveness data specific to these groups upon which economic evaluations can be based. Consequently, resource allocation decisions often rely on mainstream evidence which may not be representative, resulting in inequitable funding decisions. This paper describes a method to overcome this deficiency for Australia's Indigenous population. A template has been developed which can adapt mainstream health intervention data to the Indigenous setting.MethodsThe 'Indigenous Health Service Delivery Template' has been constructed using mixed methods, which include literature review, stakeholder discussions and key informant interviews. The template quantifies the differences in intervention delivery between best practice primary health care for the Indigenous population via Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs), and mainstream general practitioner (GP) practices. Differences in costs and outcomes have been identified, measured and valued. This template can then be used to adapt mainstream health intervention data to allow its economic evaluation as if delivered from an ACCHS.ResultsThe template indicates that more resources are required in the delivery of health interventions via ACCHSs, due to their comprehensive nature. As a result, the costs of such interventions are greater, however this is accompanied by greater benefits due to improved health service access. In the example case of the polypill intervention, 58% more costs were involved in delivery via ACCHSs, with 50% more benefits. Cost-effectiveness ratios were also altered accordingly.ConclusionsThe Indigenous Health Service Delivery Template reveals significant differences in the way health interventions are delivered from ACCHSs compared to mainstream GP practices. It is important that these differences are included in the conduct of economic evaluations to ensure results are relevant to Indigenous Australians. Similar techniques would be generalisable to other disadvantaged minority populations. This will allow resource allocation decision-makers access to economic evidence that more accurately represents the needs and context of disadvantaged groups, which is particularly important if addressing health inequities is a stated goal.

Dataset Information

New population and life expectancy estimates for the Indigenous population of Australia's Northern Territory, 1966-2011.

Background

Method

Results

Conclusions

Publications

New population and life expectancy estimates for the Indigenous population of Australia's Northern Territory, 1966-2011.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets