Summary health determinants MPHN has a higher fertility rate compared with both NSW and Australia. For teenage mothers the birth rate is double that of the nation. MPHN has a lower proportion of babies born with a low birthweight compared with Australia for non-Aboriginal babies and similar for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies. Although the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies is double that of the non-Aboriginal babies. For babies that are fully breastfed by six months of age the MPHN has lower proportions compared with NSW and Australia. This is the case at three months as well although not ranked quite as low as six months. Across all ages and all vaccine types, MPHN children are higher in proportion compared with Australia, for both non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. For vaccine types such as Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Polio, Haemophilus influenza B, Pneumococcal, Meningococcal, Measles Mumps and Rubella, Varicella, across all relevant ages MPHN rates are higher compared with Australia. MPHN has similar proportions for children who are on track, who are vulnerable and at risk in five developmental domains of language and cognitive skills; social competence; emotional maturity; physical health and wellbeing; communication and general knowledge. Both males and females have a slightly lower life expectancy than their counterparts in Australia. People with profound and severe disability are similar in proportion in the MPHN compared with NSW and Australia. This is also the case for disability in those over the age of 65 years. For MPHN higher rates of domestic violence related assault but lower rates of non-domestic violence related assault are noted. The opposite is reported for alcohol related domestic violence related assault with lower proportions in MPHN compared with NSW but higher proportions of alcohol related non-domestic violence related assault. MPHN has higher rates of both sexual and indecent assault compared with NSW. MPHN adults who report having a long term health condition are higher in proportion compared with Australia and less people report having excellent, very good or good health compared with Australia in MPHN. In summary for the health determinants of MPHN, there are five key areas which require consideration when planning and delivering primary care healthcare services. Table 3 describes the priority areas and the population groups affected by identification of issues in MPHN’s population. Table 4 provides a description of evidence where MPHN ranks 25th or more indicating that MPHN is in the lowest third of the nation. Table 3: Priority areas for action for population groups from health determinants
Need to increase life expectancy due to lower life expectancy experienced Increased need for ante-natal support due to higher teenage mother birth rate Increased need for ante-natal support due to less fully breastfeed babies at six months Need for support related to domestic violence related assault Need for support for victims of sexual or indecent assault
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Maternal, Child and Youth
Older persons
Population
HNA 2022-25
