Indigenous Health Statistics

Some Worrying Statistics

• Infant mortality rate
  Indigenous rates are 2 times the total population rate
• Low birthweight
  Indigenous babies are twice as likely to have low birthweight.
• Expectation of life
  The gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people is 20 years
• Median age of death
  For Indigenous people this is 25 years less than for non-Indigenous people
• Standardised mortality ratios
  Indigenous rates are three times those of the total population

Source: The Medical Journal of Australia

When looking at the health statics of Aboriginal peoples of Australia the following quote should be remembered.

"The Human element in this is not recognised, the meaning of these figures is not heard or felt, the statistics of infant and peri-natal mortality are our babies who die in our arms. The statistics of hearing loss are our children who are prevented from participating in school life and later employment. The statistics of shortened life expectancy are our mothers and fathers, aunts, uncles and Elders who live diminished lives and die before their gifts of knowledge and experiences are passed on. We die silently under these statistics."

Mick Dodson 1995