Definitions

Question 1

Health (WHO, 1946)

Answer 1

‘Health is a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’

Question 2

Physical Health

Answer 2

Relates to the efficient functioning of the body and its systems. It includes the physical capacity to perform tasks and physical fitness

Question 3

Mental Health

Answer 3

‘A state of wellbeing in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stressors of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her own community’

Question 4

Social Health

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Health Status

Answer 5

An individual or populations overall health, taking into account aspects such as life expectancy, amount of disability and levels of disease risk factors.

Question 6

Life Expectancy

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Health Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE)

Answer 7

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 a person can expect to live based on current rates of ill health and mortality.

Question 8

Mortality

Answer 8

Refers to deaths in a population

Question 9

Under 5 Mortality

Answer 9

Relates to the number of children that die before their fifth birthday. Expressed per 1000 live births

Question 10

Infant Mortality

Answer 10

Relates to the rate of deaths of children between birth and their first birthday. Expressed per 1000 live births

Question 11

Maternal Mortality Ratio

Answer 11

Deaths of women who are either pregnant or in first 42 days after having birth or having a termination. Expressed per 100,000 live births

Question 12

Morbidity

Answer 12

Refers to ill health and the levels of ill health in a population of group

Question 13

Incidence

Answer 13

The number or rate of new cases of a disease during a specified time

Question 14

Prevalence

Answer 14

The number or proportion of cases of a particular disease or condition present in a population at a given time

Question 15

Burden of Disease

Answer 15

Measures the impact of disease or injuries. Specifically it measures the gap between current health status and an ideal situation where everyone lives to an old age free from disease and disability
Measured in Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY)