Why health status varies: twelve health factors sorted one at a time into labelled lanes, as five determinants, as three factor types, or lit to show the factors behind the gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians

Health gaps start upstream, far from the clinic

Groups of Australians differ in health because they live with different mixes of factors, from income and housing down to blood pressure. Each factor belongs to a type, and each one leads to a health outcome. Raise the number of factors sorted and watch where each one lands, then switch the lens.

Sort the factors Five determinants

Add factors one at a time. Read the lane each one lands in.

Income → socioeconomic

Lanes run from upstream (top) to downstream (bottom). The newest factor is filled; earlier ones are outlined.

Factors sorted4 of 12
Sorted
4 / 12
Upstream
3

Which lens?

Know This

Groups differ in health because they live with different mixes of sociocultural, environmental and biological factors, and the upstream ones such as income, education and housing shape the downstream ones.