2. Death Rate

Question 1

1. Decline in Death Rate

Answer 1

• 1900: 19

* 2012: 8.9

Question 2

2. Reasons for Decline: Tranter

Answer 2

• Tranter: over ¾ of the decline in the death rate from about 1850 to 1970 was due to the fall in the number of deaths from infectious diseases (measles, smallpox)

Question 3

3. Improved Nutrition

Answer 3

• McKeown: improved nutrition accounts for up to ½ the reduction in death rates.
• He fails to explain why deaths from some infectious diseases rose during the time of improving nutrition

Question 4

4. Medical Improvements

Answer 4

• After 1950s, improved medical knowledge reduced death rates (1948: NHS)

Question 5

5. Smoking and Diet

Answer 5

• Harper: greatest fall in death rates is from a reduction in smoking.
• However, obesity has replaced smoking as the new lifestyle epidemic.
• 2012: ¼ of all UK adults were obese

Question 6

6. Public Health Measures

Answer 6

• Laws have led to a range of improvements in public health

* E.g. Clean Air Acts reduced air pollution.

Question 7

7. Other Changes

Answer 7

• Decline of dangerous occupations such as mining

- Higher incomes: healthier lifestyle

Question 8

8. Life Expectancy

Answer 8

Life expectancy:
• As death rates have fallen, life expectancy has increased

• Males born in England in 1900: live until 50 on average (57: female)
• Males born in England in 2013: live until 90.7 (94: females)
• Harper: we will soon achieve ‘radical longevity’ with more centenarians.
• (Currently: 10,000) (2100: projected to be 1 million)

Question 9

9. Regional Differences

Answer 9

• Those in the North / Scotland: shorter life expectancy

- Walker: those living in the poorest areas of England die 7 years earlier that the richest areas on average.

Question 10

Summary

Answer 10

1. Decline in Death Rate

Reasons:

2. Tranter:
3. Improved Nutrition
4. Medical Improvements
5. Smoking and Diet
6. Public Health Measures
7. Other Changes
8. Life Expectancy
9. Regional Differences