Chapter 5

Question 1

Antenatal

Answer 1

Relates to the medical care given to pregnant women before their babies are born.

Question 2

Biomedical model of health

Answer 2

Focuses on the physical or biological aspects of disease and illness. It is a medical model practised by doctors and health professionals and is associated with the diagnosis, treatment and cure of disease.

Question 3

Bubonic plague

Answer 3

An infectious disease that is caused by bacteria transmitted to humans by fleas from infected rats.

Question 4

Cardiovascular diseases

Answer 4

Diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels in the body and interfere with the circulation of blood throughout the body.

Question 5

CT scans

Answer 5

Computed tomography scan, which is a specialised x-ray taken from many different angles to build a three-dimensional picture of the body.

Question 6

Fertility rates

Answer 6

The number of live births per 1000 women aged 15–49 in one year.

Question 7

Health promotion

Answer 7

The process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health.

Question 8

Infectious diseases

Answer 8

Diseases caused by micro-organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi that can be spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another.

Question 9

Intersectoral collaboration

Answer 9

Having groups from many sectors such as government, health and the private sector working together to achieve a common goal.

Question 10

Life expectancy

Answer 10

An indication of how long a person can expect to live if current death rates do not change.

Question 11

New public health

Answer 11

An approach to health that expands the traditional focus on individual behaviour change to one that considers the ways in which physical, sociocultural and political environments impact on health. Also referred to as the social model of health.

Question 12

Old public health

Answer 12

Government actions that focused on changing the physical environment to prevent the spread of disease, such as providing safe water, sanitation and sewage disposal, improved nutrition, improved housing conditions and better work conditions.

Question 13

Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion

Answer 13

An approach to health developed by the World Health Organization that aims to reduce inequalities in health. It reflects the social model of health and provides five action areas that can be used as a basis for improving health status, all of which are centred around three strategies for health promotion which are enabling, mediating and advocacy.

Question 14

Palliative care

Answer 14

An approach designed to improve the quality of life of patients with a life-threatening illness with little or no prospect of a cure. This is achieved through the prevention and relief of suffering and the treatment of pain.

Question 15

Pandemic

Answer 15

The spread of infectious disease through human populations across a large region such as multiple continents or worldwide.

Question 16

PET scan

Answer 16

Involves having an injection of a small amount of radioactive material, which enables a scanner to build up a picture of the body.

Question 17

Public health

Answer 17

The ways in which governments monitor, regulate and promote health and wellbeing and
prevent illness.

Question 18

Quarantine

Answer 18

Laws that require a person, animal, plant or any type of material that might be carrying an infectious agent to be kept isolated to prevent the spread of disease.

Question 19

Sanitation

Answer 19

The process of eliminating contact between humans and hazardous wastes, including human and animal faeces, solid wastes, domestic wastewater (sewage and grey water), industrial wastes and agricultural wastes.

Question 20

Social model of health

Answer 20

An approach that recognises improvements in health and wellbeing can only be achieved by directing effort towards addressing the physical, sociocultural and political environments of health that have an impact on individuals and population groups.

Question 21

Syphilis

Answer 21

A bacterial infection usually spread by sexual contact. Without treatment, it can damage the heart, brain or other organs, and can be life threatening. It can be passed from mother to an unborn child.

Question 22

Venereal disease

Answer 22

A disease contracted by sexual intercourse with a person already infected; a sexually transmitted infection.