AFFECTING ACCESS TO HEALTH

SERVICES
WHAT IS SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS (SES)
Refers to a person's or groups social standing or class in society compared to others.

Includes 3 factors:
- income
- occupation
- education
Socioeconomic factors are important determinants of health and
wellbeing in Australia (AIHW, 2016).

The higher an individuals education, income or occupation level, the

healthier they usually are (AIHW, 2016).

BARRIERS
Cost
Transportation
Many individuals and families who are on low
Some people who have a low SES may have
incomes are unable to afford to access particular
reduced transportation options in terms of
health services
affording a car or public transport
Even with medicare there can still be out-of-pocket
This can cause issues associated with getting
expenses for medication, specialists, surgery, dental
to medical services
care
This is particularly prevalent for older
Many low SES people may not be able to afford
Australians and those living in rural & remote
private health insuranceOccupation
areas
Some peoples jobs can cause them to have less access to
health services.
For example:
Working long hours, shift work or travel can reduce a
persons ability to access health services during opening
Education
hours
Those that have not completed or have
People with high level of responsibilities within their job
completed limited schooling may not have
may feel they are unable to take time off work to access
the ability to obtain, process and understand
health services
health information and services in order to
Casual and self employed employees may not have sick
make informed decisions in regards to their
leave meaning they would not be paid if accessing medical
health
services

SES & ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES

Individuals with a lower SES receive less diagnostic tests and medications for
many chronic diseases and have limited access to health services due to cost,
coverage and knowledge (Arpey, Gaglioti & Rosenbaum, 2017).

Generally speaking, individuals from lower SES groups are at greater risk of
experiencing poorer health, having higher rates of disability, illness and living
shorter lives compared to individuals from higher SES groups (Mackenbach 2015)

People in low SES areas are less likely to receive longer GP consultations compared to people in more
advantaged areas. Longer consultations have been found to be associated with better quality of care.

Health during adulthood is shaped by SES factors experienced during childhood, and additionally from
disadvantage over an individual’s lifetime (Turrell, et al 2007).

DATA & STATISTICS

During 2015-2016, 27% of people living in socioeconomic disadvantage areas who needed to go to the
dentist delayed or avoided doing so due to cost. Compared to 11% of people living in areas of least
disadvantage (ABS, 2016).
34% of people living in areas of greatest disadvantage had private health insurance,
compared with 77% of people living in areas of least disadvantage (ABS, 2016).

The rates of avoidable and premature deaths if provided with timely and effective health care were 1.8
times higher in the lowest socioeconomic group, compared with the highest (AIHW, 2016).

In 2009-2011 deaths from all causes in the lowest socioeconomic group was 29% higher than in the highest
socioeconomic group (AIHW, 2016).