death rates Flashcards
what is the death rates?
number of deaths per thousand of the population per year.
how have death rates decreased?
1900 – 19
2012 – 8.9
has death rates increased or declined?
declined
how has infectious disease led to a decline in death rates?
Tanter (1996) – over three quarters of the decline in the death rate from 1850-1970 was due to the fall in infectious diseases that were often responsible for the death of the young.
By the 1950’s ‘diseases of affluence’ such as heart disease and cancer replaced infectious diseases as the cause of death. These diseases affect adults and the elderly more so than the young.
how has improved nutrition decreased death rates?
McKeown (1972) – improved nutrition accounts for up to half the reduction of deaths, particularly for tuberculous (TB).
Improved nutrition helped build resistance to infections and strengthens immune systems.
however, deaths of some infectious diseases actually rose during improved nutrition such as measles!
how have medical improvements led to decreased death rates?
After the 1950s, improved medical knowledge, techniques and organisation did help to reduce death rates.
More recently, improved medication (antibiotics), blood transfusions and medical procedures such as bypass surgery and other developments have reduced deaths from heart disease by one-third.
how are people becoming health conscious?
Decline in the number of people smoking has resulted in a decline in the death rate as people are more health conscious.
• Harper argues that people still engage in unhealthy behaviour, for example, the smoking epidemic has been replaced with the obesity epidemic.
• He argued that a long life span is achieved through the use of costly medication.
how are public health measures leading to a decline in death rates?
with the necessary power to pass and enforce laws led to a range of improvements in public health and the quality of the environment.
• These included improvements in housing (producing drier, better ventilated, less overcrowded accommodation), cleaner air acts, purer drinking water and laws to combat the adulteration of food and drink
what are other social factors that affect death rates?
The decline of more dangerous manual occupations such as mining.
• Smaller families reduced the rate of transmission of infection. • Greater public knowledge of the causes of illness.
• Higher incomes, allowing for a healthier lifestyle.
what is the impact of decreased death rates?
a higher dependency ratio
