Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Changes in Health Risk Behaviours in Australia: 1989-90 to 2001, Article Critique Example

Najman, Toloo, and Siskind’s (2006) article describes the pattern in the occurrence of both smoking and inactive lifestyle among regions of different socioeconomic levels. Specifically, it has been suggested in the journal that populations throughout socioeconomically challenged areas generally showed the slowest pace of adopting a healthier lifestyle, especially in terms of refraining from the aforementioned practices which are considered as health risks (Najman, Toloo Siskind, 2006.

Due to the fact that such findings are expected, it is generally accepted that poverty is among the essential reasons for the existence of ensuing health associated concerns throughout society. In addition, the lack of sufficient comprehension about health and the limited access to health care facilities are among the main challenges of maintaining health across poor communities worldwide (Weaver DiElsi, 2009. While the point expressed above may be negative viewed, it is essential to point out that the findings also show improvement. While slow, refraining from smoking and upholding an active lifestyle has occurred through the decade (Najman, Toloo Siskind, 2009. In effect, means of developing effective approaches to further hasten the pace must be made a priority, possibly making it comparable to the trend of behavior improvement seen in more affluent areas.

When finding the results, regression analysis method was applied. They controlled for the effects of social life, health, poverty, and economic status. Their model accounts for 51% of the variance in urban regions. The authors interpret their findings and results as evidence that economy may nurture a good health, though they acknowledge that their model does not indicate health problems. In an attempt to replicate their economic status for residents, they used the same data and methods. Their results indicate that economy, both in urban and rural has a negative, though insignificant effect on white urban economic rates.