THE STRUCTURE OF THE AUSTRALIAN HEALTH SURVEY
This publication is the third in a series of ABS releases of results from the 2011-13 Australian Health Survey (AHS). First results from the survey were released in October 2012 in Australian Health Survey: First Results, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4364.0.55.001). Further results were released in March 2013 in Australian Health Survey: Health Service Usage and Health Related Actions, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4364.0.55.002).
The AHS is the largest, most comprehensive health survey ever conducted in Australia. It combines the existing ABS National Health Survey (NHS) and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey together with two new elements - a National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) and a National Health Measures Survey (NHMS).
Results in this publication are from a combined data file of both the NHS and NNPAS (referred to as the Core) and therefore differ from previously published data from the 2011-13 AHS. With a larger sample size (approximately 32,000 people), the Core provides more accurate estimates and allows for analysis at a finer level of disaggregation. However, the Core only contains those data items common to both NHS and NNPAS, and therefore does not provide the full spectrum of data items from the AHS.
The following diagram shows how the various elements combine to provide comprehensive health information for the overall Australian population. The content for each component survey is listed along with the ages of respondents for which topics were collected.
STRUCTURE OF THE 2011-13 AUSTRALIAN HEALTH SURVEY
As shown in the above diagram, the AHS is made up of 3 components:
- the National Health Survey (NHS);
- the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS); and
- the National Health Measures Survey (NHMS)
All people selected in the AHS were selected in either the NHS or the NNPAS, however data items in the core were common to both surveys and therefore information for these data items is available for all persons in the AHS. All people were then invited to participate in the voluntary NHMS.
INFORMATION FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE
The AHS also includes an additional representative sample of around 13,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people which commenced in May 2012. This is a separate collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote and non-remote areas, including discrete communities. The structure is the same as outlined above, comprised of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey component, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity component and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Measures Survey component.
For more information on future releases see
Release schedule.
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