Objectives: To analyse rates of avoidable mortality in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal residents of the Northern Territory (NT) from 1985 to 2004, in order to assess the contribution of health care to life expectancy improvements. Methods: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) death registration data for NT residents were used to identify ‘avoidable’ deaths, with further separation into three categories of conditions amenable to either medical care or health policy, and a category for ischaemic heart disease (IHD. A Poisson regression model was used to calculate the average annual change in avoidable mortality by sex and Aboriginality in the NT compared with Australia as a whole. Results: In the 20 years between 1985 and 2004, avoidable mortality rates fell 18.9% in NT Aboriginal people, 61.1% in NT non-Aboriginal people and 59.5% in Australians overall. NT Aboriginal people continued to experience higher avoidable mortality than other Australians and the disparity increased over time. Most of the decline in avoidable mortality for Aboriginal Territorians occurred for conditions amenable to medical care. Conclusion: Medical care has made a significant contribution to improvements in Aboriginal life expectancy in the NT; however, reductions in avoidable mortality from IHD and conditions amenable to health policy have been variable. Implications: The results highlight the need for ongoing investment in comprehensive programs incorporating appropriate health policy interventions and management of chronic diseases.

The main contributors to the gap in life expectancy between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations are non-communicable diseases and conditions, which are more prevalent in ageing populations. With the life expectancy of Indigenous people in the NT expected to improve, it is important that public health initiatives remain focused on preventing and managing chronic diseases.

The gaps in healthy life expectancy (HLE) between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians are significant. Detailed and accurate information is required to develop strategies that will close these health disparities. This paper aims to quantify and compare the causes and their relative contributions to the life expectancy (LE) gaps between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous population in the Northern Territory (NT), Australia.The age-cause decomposition was used to analyse the differences in HLE and unhealthy life expectancy (ULE), where LE = HLE + ULE. The data was sourced from the burden of disease and injury study in the NT between 2014 and 2018.In 2014-2018, the HLE at birth in the NT Indigenous population was estimated at 43.3 years in males and 41.4 years in females, 26.5 and 33.5 years shorter than the non-Indigenous population. This gap approximately doubled the LE gap (14.0 years in males, 16.6 years in females) at birth. In contrast to LE and HLE, ULE at birth was longer in the Indigenous than non-Indigenous population. The leading causes of the ULE gap at birth were endocrine conditions (explaining 2.9-4.4 years, 23-26%), followed by mental conditions in males and musculoskeletal conditions in females (1.92 and 1.94 years, 15% and 12% respectively), markedly different from the causes of the LE gap (cardiovascular disease, cancers and unintentional injury).The ULE estimates offer valuable insights into the patterns of morbidity particularly useful in terms of primary and secondary prevention.

This Information Sheet provides an update on key indicators of mortality for the Northern Territory, as well as adding important historical data for the period from 1967 to 1980.1,2,3 The mortality dataset for this Information Sheet is Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) death datasets, and includes deaths of all NT residents within Australia by year of death. Population estimates are based on ABS census data.

This report provides an overview of mortality in the Northern Territory (NT) over the forty-eight year period from 1967 to 2014. Information is provided separately for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Territorians with stratification by sex and age group.

This fact sheet updates selected mortality indicators for the Northern Territory by adding data from 2004 to previously published information. The analysis uses a compilation of annual Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) death datasets, and includes all deaths in Australia of NT residents, by year of death. Population estimates are based on ABS data from the 1996 and 2001 censuses.

This Fact Sheet provides an update on key indicators of mortality for the Northern Territory and adds new information from 2001, 2002 and 2003 to the previously published data.

This report provides an overview of mortality in the Northern Territory over the forty year period from 1967 to 2006. Information is provided separately for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Territorians with stratification by sex and age groups.

Mortality and related life expectancies are important indicators of the health of populations. This factsheet provides a routine update on mortality statistics in the Northern Territory (NT). We present long-term trends between 1967 and 2020 for all-cause mortality. We also report key causes of death over a 10-year period 2011–2020. - Excerpt from Background section.

To compare long term changes in mortality and life expectancy at birth (LE) of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory and of the overall Australian population; to determine the contributions of changes in mortality in specific age groups to changes in LE for each population. Retrospective trend analysis of death and LE data for the NT Aboriginal and Australian populations, 1967-2012. LE estimates based on abridged life tables; mortality estimates (deaths per 100 000 population); and age decomposition of LE changes by sex and time period. Between 1967 and 2012, LE increased for both NT Aboriginal and all Australians; the difference in LE between the two populations declined by 4.6 years for females, but increased by one year for males. Between 1967-1971 and 1980-1984, LE of NT Aboriginal people increased rapidly, particularly through reduced infant mortality; from 1980-1984 to 1994-1998, there was little change; from 1994-1998 to 2008-2012, there were modest gains in older age groups. Decomposition by age group identified the persistent and substantial contribution of the 35-74-year age groups to the difference in LE between NT Aboriginal people and all Australians. Early gains in LE for NT Aboriginal people are consistent with improvements in nutrition, maternal and infant care, and infectious disease control. A rapid epidemiological transition followed, when LE gains in younger age groups plateaued and non-communicable diseases became more prevalent. Recent LE gains, across all adult age groups, are consistent with improved health service access and chronic disease management. If LE is to continue improving, socio-economic disadvantage and its associated risks must be reduced.