AOS 1

Question 1

Burden of Disease

Answer 1

A measure of the impact of diseases and injuries, specifically it measures the gap between current health status and an ideal situation where everyone lives to an old age free of disease and disability. Burden of disease is measured in a unit called the DALY.

Question 2

Chronic Condition

Answer 2

Any disease or condition that lasts a long time (usually longer than six months). It usually can’t be cured and therefore requires ongoing treatment and management. Examples include arthritis and asthma.

Question 3

Disability adjusted life year (DALY)

Answer 3

A measure of burden of disease. One DALY equals one year of healthy life lost due to premature death and time lived with illness, disease or injury.

Question 4

Health adjusted life expectancy (HALE)

Answer 4

A measure of burden of disease based on life expectancy at birth, but including an adjustment for time spent in poor health. It is the number of years in full health that a person can expect to live, based on current rates of ill health and mortality.

Question 5

Health (WHO definition)

Answer 5

A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Question 6

Health indicators

Answer 6

Standard statistics that are used to measure and compare health status
health status ‘An individual’s or a population’s overall health, taking into account various aspects such as life expectancy, amount of disability and levels of disease risk factors.’ (AIHW, 2008)

Question 7

Hospital Separation

Answer 7

Episodes of hospital care that start with admission and end at transfer, discharge or death

Question 8

Incidence

Answer 8

The number or rate of new cases of a disease during a specified period of time (usually a twelve month period)

Question 9

Infirmity

Answer 9

State of being weak, lacking in strength (especially from old age) ischaemic heart disease a disease characterised by a blockage of blood vessels (and therefore blood and oxygen) to the heart, also known as coronary heart disease

Question 10

Life expectancy

Answer 10

‘An indication of how long a person can expect to live,

it is the number of years of life remaining to a person at a particular age if death rates do not change.’ (AIHW, 2008)

Question 11

Mental health

Answer 11

‘State of well-being in which the individual realises his
or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community’ (WHO, 2009)

Question 12

Morbidity

Answer 12

‘Refers to ill health in an individual and the levels of ill health in a population or group.’ (AIHW, 2008)

Question 13

Mortality

Answer 13

Deaths in the population

Question 14

Mortality rate

Answer 14

(sometimes referred to as ‘death rate’) the measure of

the proportion of a population who die in a one-year period (usually per 100 000)

Question 15

Physical Health

Answer 15

Physical health relates to the efficient functioning of the body and its systems, and includes the physical capacity to perform tasks and physical fitness

Question 16

Prevalence

Answer 16

‘The number or proportion of cases of a particular disease or condition present in a population at a given time.’ (AIHW, 2008)

Question 17

Social Health

Answer 17

Social health being able to interact with others and participate in the community in both an independent and cooperative way

Question 18

Trend

Answer 18

A general change or movement in a particular direction. For example, trends indicate a significant increase in obesity rates over the past 20 years.

Question 19

Under-five mortality rate (U5MR)

Answer 19

‘The number of deaths of children under five years of age per 1000 live births.’ (WHO, 2008)

Question 20

Years lost due to disability (YLD)

Answer 20

A measure of how many healthy years of life are lost due to illness, injury or disability.

Question 21

Years of life lost (YLL)

Answer 21

A measure of how many years of expected life are lost due to premature death.

Question 22

Atherosclerosis

Answer 22

the build-up of plaque on blood vessel walls, making it harder for blood to get through

Question 23

Behavioural determinants

Answer 23

Actions or patterns of living of an individual or a group that impact on health, such as smoking, sexual activity, participation in physical activity and eating practices

Question 24

Biological determinants

Answer 24

factors relating to the body that impact on health, such as genetics, hormones, body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, birth weight

Question 25

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Answer 25

Body mass index (BMI) is a statistical measure of body mass calculated by dividing weight (in kilograms) by height (in m2). A score of 18.6–24.9 is considered a healthy weight. 29.9 is considered overweight and 30 and over is considered obese.

Question 26

Cholesterol

Answer 26

a type of fat required for maintaining cell membranes and producing hormones. One type of cholesterol (LDL) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease

Question 27

Determinants of health

Answer 27

‘Factors that affect the level of health in a population or individual. Determinants of health help to explain or predict trends in health and why some groups have better or worse health than others.’ Determinants can be classified in many ways such as biological, behavioural and social (AIHW, 2006)

Question 28

Fertilisation

Answer 28

the fusing of a sperm and egg cell. Marks the beginning of pregnancy. Also known as conception.

Question 29

Food insecurity

Answer 29

when healthy, affordable food is not obtainable

Question 30

Food security

Answer 30

‘the state in which all persons obtain nutritionally adequate, culturally appropriate, safe food regularly through local non-emergency sources’ (VicHealth, 2008)

Question 31

Hypertension

Answer 31

high blood pressure

Question 32

Menopause

Answer 32

when the menstrual cycle stops permanently, ending the ability of a female to reproduce

Question 33

Mutation

Answer 33

Mutation is when the DNA in a cell is damaged or changed, permanently altering the genetic information within the cell. This can affect the function of the cell in either a positive or negative way. Mutations often occur during cell reproduction

Question 34

Physical Environment

Answer 34

Physical environment the physical surroundings in which we live, work and play. The physical environment includes water and air, workplaces, housing, roads, nature, schools, recreation settings and exposure to hazards

Question 35

Protective Factors

Answer 35

Protective factors aspects of a person’s personality and environment that act to protect their health. Examples include resilience, a supportive family and a satisfying job

Question 36

Relative Poverty

Answer 36

Relative poverty refers to people who have a low income or lack resources compared to the average in the society in which they live

Question 37

Social Determinants

Answer 37

Social determinants of health aspects of society and the social environment that impact on health, such as poverty, early life experiences, social networks and support

Question 38

Social Exclusion

Answer 38

Social exclusion is the segregation that people experience if they are not adequately participating in the society in which they live

Question 39

Social isolation

Answer 39

refers to individuals who are not in regular contact with others

Question 40

Socioeconomic status (SES)

Answer 40

The social standing of an individual in comparison to others in that society. It is based on education, income and occupation.

Question 41

Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

Answer 41

the gradual, permanent loss of kidney function. Kidneys filter the blood and, if CKD progresses, the function of the kidneys may have to be carried out artificially (called dialysis).

Question 42

Colonisation

Answer 42

the settlement of Australia by Europeans in 1788

Question 43

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Answer 43

a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. Problems that may occur in babies exposed to alcohol before birth include low birth weight, distinctive facial features, heart defects, behavioural problems and intellectual disability.

Question 44

Indigenous Australians

Answer 44

Australians of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin

Question 45

Perinatal mortality rate

Answer 45

death occurring in the foetus or infant between the twenty-second week of pregnancy and seven days after birth

Question 46

Syndrome X

Answer 46

(also called metabolic syndrome) when a person exhibits a range of factors that increase their risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Examples of the factors include abdominal obesity, high cholesterol and insulin resistance.

Question 47

Developed country

Answer 47

a country that has advanced adequately with regards to economy, technology and health status

Question 48

Health Status

Answer 48

“An individual’s or a population’s overall health, taking into account various aspects such as life expectancy, amount of disability and levels of disease risk factors” (AIHW, 2008)