Chapter 1: Understanding and measuring health and wellbeing

Question 1

What is disease?

Answer 1

Disease is a diagnosable negative state of health and wellbeing which is accompanied by symptoms.

Question 2

What is illness?

Answer 2

Illness is a self-perceived negative state of health and wellbeing, in which an individual believes that they are experiencing something which makes them unwell.

Question 3

Define physical health and wellbeing

Answer 3

Physical health and wellbeing is the functioning of the body and its systems and the ability to perform daily tasks and activities.

Question 4

What are examples of physical health and wellbeing?

Answer 4

• regular exercise
• a strong immune system
• a balanced diet in which nutrition needs are met
• an appropriate amount and quality of sleep
• adequate amounts of rest
• the maintenance of a healthy body weight
• minimal experiences of illness, disease and injury.

Question 5

Define mental health and wellbeing

Answer 5

Mental health and wellbeing is the current state of wellbeing of the mind, involving the ability to think and process information.

Question 6

What are examples of mental health and wellbeing?

Answer 6

• the ability to use logic
• the ability to make decisions
• the ability to independently form opinions
• low levels of stress and anxiety
• high self-esteem
• a sense of self-confidence and optimism.

Question 7

Define emotional health and wellbeing

Answer 7

Emotional health and wellbeing is the ability to express, control and manage feelings in a positive way and display resilience.

Question 8

What are examples of emotional health and wellbeing?

Answer 8

• appropriate emotional expression/reaction
• management of emotions
• feeling emotionally secure
• experiencing a wide range of emotions
• ability to display resilience

Question 9

Define social health and wellbeing

Answer 9

Social health and wellbeing is the ability to form meaningful and satisfying relationships with others.

Question 10

What are examples of social health and wellbeing?

Answer 10

• having a strong support network provided by friends, family, and the wider community
• the ability to maintain positive relationships with others, including the ability to express emotions and overcome conflict
• the ability to form new relationships with others
• having strong communication skills
• having empathy for others

Question 11

Define spiritual health and wellbeing

Answer 11

Spiritual health and wellbeing includes the ideas, beliefs, values and ethics that an individual possesses, contributing to a sense of meaning, purpose, and belonging.

Question 12

What are examples of spiritual health and wellbeing?

Answer 12

• a sense of hope about the future
• a sense of meaning or value which guides an individual through their life
• the ability for an individual to reflect on their place in the world
• believing in a higher power, such as an organised religious group
• having a strong moral compass
• living with a set of values and ethics
• having a sense of purpose in life
• a sense of connection to others and a sense of belonging.

Question 13

What is the dynamic nature of health and wellbeing?

Answer 13

Dynamic refers to the concept that the state of health and wellbeing is constantly changing.

Question 14

Give an example of dynamic nature of health and wellbeing

Answer 14

An individual who was diagnosed with asthma their whole life may not perceive the condition to negatively impact their life much, therefore experiencing mild illness. However, during hay fever season, the individual’s asthma nay flare up and as a result experience severe illness.

Question 15

What is the subjective nature of health and wellbeing?

Answer 15

Subjective refers to something which is influenced by unique and individual opinions and judgements.

Question 16

Give an example of subjective nature of health and wellbeing

Answer 16

A teenager may view optimal physical health and wellbeing as going to the gym and exercising everyday while an older lady may percieve optimal physical health and wellbeing as being able to complete daily activities and tasks, such as knitting and making food.

Question 17

What is optimal health and wellbeing?

Answer 17

Optimal health and wellbeing involves an individual experiencing the highest possible level of health and wellbeing.

Question 18

What are the benefits of optimal health and wellbeing as an individual resource?

Answer 18

• ability to participate in sporting, recreational, and leisure activities
• effective participation at work and school
• ability to independently carry out daily tasks
• ability to participate in meaningful relationships with others
• lower healthcare costs

Question 19

What are the benefits of optimal health and wellbeing as a national resource?

Answer 19

• greater national income (as collected by tax) due to greater productivity, more meaningful employment opportunities, and less absenteeism
• greater levels of volunteering
• greater community participation
• less burden on the healthcare system
• less reliance on social support systems

Question 20

What are the benefits of optimal health and wellbeing as a global resource?

Answer 20

• reduced spread of communicable diseases
• lower levels of conflicts
• greater health outcomes, such as life expectancy
• increased trade opportunities

Question 21

What is health status?

Answer 21

Health status refers to an individual or population’s overall health, taking into account a range of measures, such as life expectancy and experiences of illness, disability and disease.

Question 22

What is prevalence?

Answer 22

Prevalence refers to the numbe of cases of a particular disease or condition that are present in a population at a given point in time.

Question 23

What is incidence?

Answer 23

Incidence which refers to the number of new cases of a particular disease or condition that arise in a population in a certain period of time.

Question 24

What is morbidity?

Answer 24

Morbidity refers to ill health in an individual and the levels of ill health in a given population group.

Question 25

What is mortality?

Answer 25

Mortality refers to the number of
deaths in a population.

Question 26

What are mortality rates?

Answer 26

Mortality rates refer to the number of deaths in a population in a certain period, usually expressed per 1000 or 100,000 live births in a twelve month period.

Question 27

What are maternal mortality rates?

Answer 27

Maternal mortality rate refers to the number of deaths of pregnant women before birth, during birth, or within the first six weeks after birth, per 100,000 live births.

Question 28

What are infant mortality rates?

Answer 28

Infant mortality rate refers to the number of deaths of infants between birth and their first birthday per 1000 live births.

Question 29

What are under 5 mortality rates?

Answer 29

Under 5 mortality rate refers to the number of deaths of children under five years of age per 1000 live births.

Question 30

What is burden of disease?

Answer 30

Burden of disease is a measurement of the impact of disease and injuries, specifically measuring the gap between the current health status and an ideal situation where everyone lives to an old age, free of disease and disability.

Question 31

What is disability-adjusted life year
(DALY)?

Answer 31

Disability-adjusted life year (DALY) is a measure of burden of disease in which one disability adjusted life year (DALY) equals one healthy year of life lost due to
the experience of a disability or disease (YLD) or premature death (YLL).

Question 32

What is years of life lost to disability (YLD)?

Answer 32

Years of life lost due to disability (YLD) refers to the non-fatal contribution to the burden of disease measurement of disability-adjusted life year (DALY).

Question 33

What is years of life lost due to premature death (YLL)?

Answer 33

Years of life lost due to premature death (YLL) refers to the fatal contribution to the burden of disease measurement of disability-adjusted life year (DALY).

Question 34

What is life expectancy?

Answer 34

Life expectancy measures the number of years a person is expected to live, on the basis that current health conditions do not change.

Question 35

What is health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE)?

Answer 35

Health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) is a measure of burden of disease based on life expectancy at birth, and 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 36

What is self-assessed health status?

Answer 36

Self-assessed health status measures an individual’s overall perception of their own health status at a given point in time.

Question 37

What are the nine prerequisites for health as determined by the WHO?

Answer 37

Peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable ecosystem, sustainable resources, social justice and equity.

Question 38

What is peace?

Answer 38

Peace is a state of harmony that involves freedom from civil disturbance and conflict.

Question 39

How does peace impact health outcomes?

Answer 39

impact of peace
1. When there is an absence of peace, conflict and war can directly injure and cause deaths amongst a population, such as through an airstrike.
2. Armed conflict and violence can be due to discrimination of certain religious beliefs. A peaceful
environment empowers people to safely exercise their religious beliefs and practices.
link to health outcome
1. Conflict and violence can cause death, increasing a country’s mortality rate. Injury caused by violence negatively impacts physical health and wellbeing
2. Peaceful communities enable their members to safely visit their place of worship, and demonstrate their religious beliefs, promoting spiritual health and wellbeing.

Question 40

What is shelter?

Answer 40

Shelter is a permanent structure that provides protection from the outside environment.

Question 41

How does shelter impact health outcomes?

Answer 41

impact of shelter
1. Shelter provides protection from weather conditions, such as rain, heavy wind, and extreme heat.
2. Suitable shelter is private and secure from the outside world and any dangers. This privacy can also
involve people being afforded their own space.
link to health outcome
1. Shelter protects people from exposure to severe weather, such as floods, reducing the risk of injury which therefore decreases morbidity.
2. People who have access to private and secure shelter do not have to stress as much about safety, such as assault and theft, promoting mental health and wellbeing.

Question 42

What is education?

Answer 42

Education is the process of gaining knowledge and building skills, typically in environments such as school and university.

Question 43

How does education impact health outcomes?

Answer 43

impact of education
1. Places of education, including school, university, and TAFE, are often a place where people form friendships.
2. Education improves an individual’s level of health literacy, which increases the likelihood they will exhibit healthy behaviours, such as eating well, prioritising sleep, and exercising.
link to health outcome
1. Students can develop a network of friendships and improve their social skills in these environments, promoting social health and wellbeing.
2. Exhibiting healthy behaviours, such as consuming a nutritious diet, can improve the body’s functioning, promoting physical health and wellbeing.

Question 44

What is food?

Answer 44

Food provides us with the nutrients and energy we need to function everyday. Food security is when a person has reliable access to adequate quantities of nutritious, safe, and culturally appropriate food at
all times, from non-emergency sources.

Question 45

How does food impact health outcomes?

Answer 45

impact of food
1. Nutritious food strengthens our immune system, meaning it can better recover from infections and
diseases, as well as fight off germs that cause disease.
2. Food is fuel for the body and provides it with nutrients required for the body and its systems to function effectively.
link to health outcome
1. People who do not have access to nutritious food will have a weakened immune system, which cannot fight off germs thatcause the flu or a common cold as easily, increasing morbidity for these illnesses.
2. As food is essential for the body to function, nutritious food promotes physical health and wellbeing.

Question 46

What is income?

Answer 46

Income is money that is earned by an individual through providing labour, producing a good or service, or money received from investments, which enables them to access various resources.

Question 47

How does income impact health outcomes?

Answer 47

impact of income
1. Income is money that is earned by an individual through providing labour, producing a good or service, or money received from investments, which enables them to access various resources.
2. Earning an income through meaningful employment can improve how someone feels about
their achievements.
link to health outcome
1. Being able to afford safe sanitation and clean water prevents the transmission and deaths from communicable diseases, such as cholera, decreasing mortality rates from communicable diseases.
2. Earning an income can increase an individual’s self- esteem, promoting mental health and wellbeing.

Question 48

What is a stable ecosystem?

Answer 48

An ecosystem is a community of living and non-living things that exist and interact within their specific environment. A stable ecosystem is achieved when there is a balance between living and non-living components of an ecosystem.

Question 49

How does a stable ecosystem impact health outcomes?

Answer 49

impact of stable ecosystem
1. A stable ecosystem provides us with access to food sources and clean water.
2. A stable ecosystem enables humans to safely enjoy the natural environment, such as by having clean air.
link to health outcome
1. Access to food and water is essential for survival and the functioning of our body and its systems, promoting physical health and wellbeing.
2. Being able to relax in the natural environment, such as by going to the beach, can decrease stress and anxiety levels, as well as increase feelings of optimism, promoting mental health and wellbeing.

Question 50

What is sustainable resources?

Answer 50

Resources must be used in a sustainable manner so they are available for future generations. Sustainability involves meeting the needs of the present generation
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Question 51

How does sustainable resources impact health outcomes?

Answer 51

impact of sustainable resources
1. Sustainable use of land andwater sources will enable future generations to access clean water.
2. Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels to a more sustainable source, such as shifting to renewable
energy, is essential to combating climate change and improving air quality.
link to health outcome
1. Access to clean and safe water prevents the spread and death from water-borne diseases, such as cholera, reducing mortality rates for water-borne diseases.
2. Air pollution can cause death from lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, increasing mortality rates.

Question 52

What is social justice?

Answer 52

Social justice involves everyone having equal opportunities and rights, being free from discrimination, and being afforded fundamental human rights.

Question 53

How does social justice impact health status?

Answer 53

impact of social justice
1. People who live in a socially just environment do not have to worry about being treated unfairly.
2. When there is social injustice, discrimination is often the basis for conflict and violence. Therefore a socially just environment will likely have less conflict and violence.
link to health outcome
1. Being treated justly reduces stress and anxiety about discrimination, promoting mental health and wellbeing.
2. A socially just community reduces the morbidity from physical injury from violent discrimination.

Question 54

What is equity?

Answer 54

Equity refers to being fair and just, which includes catering for different people’s needs.

Question 55

How does equity impact health outcomes?

Answer 55

impact of equity
1. A community that is based on values of equity demonstrates a concern for the health and
wellbeing of all of its members.
2. A society that promotes equity ensures everyone can access essential healthcare services, and provides extra assistance to disadvantaged groups, such as
low-income earners.
link to health status
1. A community that values equity means its members are more likely to feel cared about and valued, which can create a sense of belonging, promoting spiritual health and wellbeing.
2. Ensuring that people access healthcare checkups reduces the number of deaths from preventable causes through early diagnosis and treatment, such as colorectal cancer, reducing cancer mortality rates.