Socio-demographic inequalities in the diets of mid-aged Australian women

Abstract

Objectives: This study reports on the distributions of food and nutrient intakes by socio-demographic factors for a large population sample of mid-aged Australian women participating in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Design: This cross-sectional population-based study used the Cancer Council of Victoria food frequency questionnaires to derive estimates of food and nutrient intakes. Setting: Nationwide community-based survey. Subjects: A total of 10561 women aged 50À55 y, at the time of the survey in 2001. Results: Analysis showed favourable patterns of food intake, with frequent consumption of many foods that are promoted as components of a healthy diet (eg, fresh fruit, leafy green and other vegetables, bread, cereals, milk and meat). Intakes of both foods and nutrients varied significantly across socio-demographic groups, with unmarried women, and women in 'labouring' occupations (eg, cleaner, factory worker, kitchenhand) having poorer nutrient intake. Conclusions: Although many mid-aged women in this sample had generally healthful diets, women in certain sociodemographic groups (particularly unmarried women and those in labouring occupations) had nutrient intakes of concern. As well as helping to address the dearth of current data on dietary intakes in the Australian population, the results highlight the need for continued targeted public health strategies aimed at improving diet of women from the various socio-economic backgrounds.

Longitudinal Change in Diet Quality in Australian Adults Varies by Demographic, Socio-Economic, and Lifestyle Characteristics

“…Sim-ilarly, cross-sectional studies from Australia show that compliance with dietary guidelines is generally poor in that country (11,12). International cross-sectional studies have provided evidence that changes in diet quality are associated with sex, socio-economic status, and educational level (11,(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). However, to date, there are no published reports, to our knowledge, of change in diet quality using a diet quality index in Australian adult populations.…”

Mortality After Burn Injury in Children: A 33-year Population-Based Study

“…21 The use of linked health data allowed identification for preexisting comorbidity and included an index of socioeconomic status that is correlated with lifestyle factors such as alcohol use and smoking, which are associated with poor health outcomes. 52,53 Such data have been omitted from other population-based injury studies. 54 Although infants and young children (0-4 years) explore their physical environment before they understand and have the skills to respond to hazards, older children (5-14 years) have increasing capacity to make decisions about safety issues.…”

Long term mortality in a population-based cohort of adolescents, and young and middle-aged adults with burn injury in Western Australia: A 33-year study

“…This study also included indices of socio-economic disadvantage based on geocoded place of residence. Socio-economic status has demonstrated correlation with lifestyle factors, including alcohol use and smoking that are also associated with worse health outcomes (Bentley et al, 2008;Mishra et al, 2005). Socio-economic data have been omitted from other population-based injury studies (Cameron et al, 2005(Cameron et al, , 2006.…”