Population and Health Priorities works to prevent or reduce the common risk factors that lead to chronic conditions. Population and Health Priorities has a particular focus upon population groups with special needs or who are at risk of poor health outcomes and supports programs and activities that promote improved health and wellbeing.
To find out more about Population and Health Priorities activities, click on the links below:
Target Population Groups
- Aboriginal Health
- GLBTI Communities Reference Group
- Men's Health
- Multicultural Health
- Women's Health
Priority Health Programs
Chronic Conditions
Strengthening the Prevention and Management of Chronic Conditions: Policy Framework
Chronic conditions are those illnesses, injuries and social problems that are prolonged and cause significant functional impairment, disability or disadvantage. They include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis and muscular skeletal conditions, cancers and injury, all of which are current areas of focus for PHP.
To a large extent, many of Tasmania's chronic health problems could be prevented, delayed or reduced in their impact by smoking cessation and improved nutrition and physical activitiy. Medical research trials have shown that lifestyle modification assists in the prevention/delay of the onset of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancers amongst individuals who are at risk of developing these diseases.
For this reason, much of the work undertaken by PHP aims to increase physical activity and nutrition. It is also important to recognise that a range of social determinants influence these factors.
Understanding the Social Determinants of Health
Health and wellbeing is created by a range of social, economic and environmental factors known as determinants (see diagram below). Some determinants such as age, gender and genetic makeup are fixed and there is little that can be done to change them. Other determinants include individual lifestyle and behaviours, psychosocial and community influences, living and working conditions and, beyond these, the broader macro-economic environment. While individual lifestyle factors are important we know that health and wellbeing are strongly affected by social and economic circumstances which are beyond the control of the individual.
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