Chapter 6 Health, Social Capital and Neighbourhood
6.4 Individual Health-related Behaviour and Health
Figure 6.11 Mental health status by household income by postcode
40 50 60
Less than $31,199 $31,200-51,999 $52,000+
Mean Score
Burnside (5066) Prospect (5082)
Playford (5113) Onkaparinga (5169)
6.3.5 Summary of Mental Health Status
There were significant locational differences in mental health status between Burnside and Prospect, between Burnside and Playford and between Playford and Onkaparinga. Burnside residents reported the best mental health and Playford the worst. Women in Playford reported particularly low mental health status. The differences between the locations were less pronounced in regard to mental health than was the case for physical health status.
Figure 6.12 Number of days per week of physical exercise
Smoking
There were significant differences in the number of cigarettes people smoked a day between all postcodes. The only exception existed between Prospect and Onkaparinga, which had almost the same distribution. While Burnside had the highest proportion, nearly 90 percent, of non-smokers, Playford had the highest proportion of heavy smokers; 9 percent of them smoked more than 21 cigarettes daily (Figure 6.13).
Figure 6.13 Number of cigarettes/cigars smoked per day
0 20 40 60 80 100
Non-smoker 1-20 cigarettes per day More than 20 cigarettes per day
Percent
Burnside (5066) Prospect (5082)
Playford (5113) Onkaparinga (5169)
0 10 20 30 40 50
None 1-3 days per week 4-6 days per week Daily or more
Percent
Burnside (5066) Prospect (5082)
Playford (5113) Onkaparinga (5169)
People and Places |chapter 6: Health, Social Capital and Neighbourhood
Alcohol consumption
Figure 6.14 shows the proportion of respondents by the number of standard drinks they had per week by postcode. A standard drink is equivalent to a schooner of full strength beer (285ml), a small glass of wine (100ml) or a nip of spirits (30ml).
Playford had a significantly higher proportion of respondents who were non- drinkers, 52 percent compared to that of 30 percent in Onkaparinga, 27 percent in Prospect, and 22 percent in Burnside. Playford also had a much lower proportion (40%) for those who had 1–14 standard drinks per week, compared to the other three postcodes (around 60%).
Figure 6.14 Number of standard drinks consumed per week
Serves of fruit
About 70 percent of respondents in Burnside and nearly 60 percent in Prospect and Onkaparinga ate at least one serve of fruit per day in an average week, while this figure was only 44 percent in Playford (Figure 6.15). There were significant locational differences between all the areas except that between Prospect and Onkaparinga. In each postcode, there was a certain proportion of respondents who ate “one or less” serves of fruit per week, or did not eat fruit at all, with the highest in Playford (29%), then Onkaparinga (17%), Prospect (13%) and Burnside (7%).
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Non-drinker 1-14 standard drinks per week
15-28 standard drinks per week
29 or more standard drinks per week
Percent
Burnside (5066) Prospect (5082)
Playford (5113) Onkaparinga (5169)
People and Places |chapter 6: Health, Social Capital and Neighbourhood
Figure 6.15 Number of serves of fruit consumed in an average week
0 10 20 30 40 50
2 or more serves per
day
1 serve every day
At least one serve 4-6
days per w eek
At least one serve 2-3 days per
w eek
1 or less serves per
w eek
Don't eat fruit
Percent
Burnside (5066) Prospect (5082)
Playford (5113) Onkaparinga (5169)
Serves of vegetables
Figure 6.16 shows the proportion of respondents by the number of serves of vegetables they ate per day by postcode. Overall there were significant locational differences except that between Onkaparinga and Prospect. The proportion of respondents who had 5 or more serves of vegetables per day was similar across postcodes. The proportion of respondents who had 3–4 serves per day was lowest in Playford and highest in Burnside. Accordingly, almost one-fifth of Playford respondents had less than one serve per day, compared to around 12 percent in Prospect and Onkaparinga and about 8% in Burnside.
Figure 6.16 Number of serves of vegetables consumed
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
5 or more serves per day
3-4 serves per day
1-2 serves per day
Less than one serve per day
Don't eat vegetables
Percent
Burnside (5066) Prospect (5082)
Playford (5113) Onkaparinga (5169)
`
People and Places|chapter 6: Health, Social Capital and Neighbourhood
6.4.2 Health-related Behaviour and Physical and Mental Health
Figures 6.17 to 6.19 show the relationship between some health-related behaviours and health status. These data cannot be taken to indicate causal relationships because of the cross sectional nature of the data.
Regular exercise and health
Respondents who had regular exercise had significantly better physical and mental health status than those who did not (Figure 6.17). The difference for physical health status was stronger, probably because physically healthy respondents were more likely to do regular exercise.
Figure 6.17 Physical and mental health status by exercise, across postcodes
40 50 60
Non-exercise Exercise
Mean score
Physical health Mental health
Smoking and health
There was no difference in physical health between smokers and non-smokers (Figure 6.18). Non-smokers, however, had significantly better mental health status than smokers.
Figure 6.18 Physical and mental health status by smoking, across postcodes
40 50 60
Non-smoker Smoker
Mean score
Physical health Mental health
People and Places |chapter 6: Health, Social Capital and Neighbourhood
Drinking and health
It appeared that those who drink alcohol had better physical and mental health status than those who did not (Figure 6.19). The reason for this is not clear, but there are two possible explanations. Firstly, the number of respondents who reported unsafe drinking was very small, and secondly, it is possible that those who were less healthy tended not to drink for health reasons. But it is important to note that the least advantaged Playford actually had significantly more non-drinkers than the other areas.
Figure 6.19 Physical and mental health status by alcohol consumption, across postcodes
40 50 60
Non-drinker Drinker
Mean score
Physical health Mental Health