Aboriginals’ health lagging 100 years behind rest of Oz population

May 1 : Health wise, native Australian Aboriginals are lagging 100 years behind the rest of the population Down Under, according to a new report by researchers from the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

Indigenous people, who account for about 2.4 percent of Australians, are plagued by health problems that have not affected the rest of the country’s population for many years, said Lisa Jackson Pulver at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

“Leprosy, rheumatic heart disease and tuberculosis haven’t been experienced in white populations for decades, but they are still problems for some indigenous communities,” said Pulver, who conducted the study along with colleagues.

According to the study, an Aboriginal male’s life expectancy is 59.4 years, compared with the average 76.6 years for the total male population in Australia.

For indigenous women, life expectancy is slightly more at 64.8 years. But, it is still far below the national average of 82 years for women.

In some parts of New South Wales, the average age of death of Aboriginal males is just 33 years, reports New Scientist.

Incidentally, a World Health Organization (WHO) report has also said that Aboriginal people are more likely to smoke, abuse substances, exercise infrequently and be obese. (ANI)