Defintions Flashcards
Bilateral aid
Where aid is given by one country directly to another. An example of bilateral aid is when Australia provides aid to East Timor
Behavioural determinants
Actions or patterns of living of an individual or a group that impact on health, such as smoking, sexual activity, participation in physical activity, eating practices
Biological determinants
Factors relating to the body that impact on health, such as genetics, hormones, body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels
Biomedical model of health
Focuses on the physical or biological aspects of disease and illness. It is a medical model of care practised by doctors and health professionals and is associated with the diagnosis, cure and treatment of disease
Burden of disease
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 Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY)
Determinants of health
‘Factors that raise or lower a 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.’ (AIHW, 2006). Determinants can be classified in many ways such as biological, behavioural, physical environment and social
Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY)
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
Incidence
When referring to morbidity
The number or rate of new cases of a disease during a specified period of time (usually a twelve month period)
Global health
The health of populations in a worldwide context that go beyond the perspectives and concerns of individual countries. Global health is about an international collaborative approach to achieving equity in health for all people worldwide.
Health
A complete state of physical, social and mental wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
Health Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE)
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.
Mortality
Deaths in the population
Mortality rate
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)
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
Human development
Creating an environment in which people can develop to their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests. It is about expanding people’s choices and enhancing capabilities (the range of things people can be and do), having access to knowledge, health and a decent standard of living, and participating in the life of their community and decisions affecting their lives.
Physical dimension of health
Relates to the efficient functioning of the body and its systems, and includes the physical capacity to perform tasks ad physical fitness
Physical environment
The physical surroundings in which we live, work and play. The physical environment includes water and air, workplaces,mousing, roads, nature, schools, recreation settings and exposure to hazards
Prevalence
‘The number or proportion of cases of a particular disease or condition present in a population at a given time’ (AIHW, 2006)
Years lost due to disability (YLD)
A measure of how many healthy years of life are lost due to illness, injury or disability
Years of life lost (YLL)
A measure of how many years of expected life are lost due to premature death
Social determinants
Aspects of society and the social environment that impact on health, such ad poverty, early life experiences, social networks and support
Social dimensions of health
Being able to interact with others and participate in the community in both an independent and cooperative way
Under-five mortality rate (U5MR)
‘The number of deaths of children under five years of age per 1000 live births’ (WHO, 2008)
Human Development Index
A tool developed by the United Nations to measure and rank countries’ levels of social and economic development. It provides a single statistic based on three dimensions- health, education and living standards, and four indicators- life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling and gross national income per capita
Life expectancy
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
Mental dimensions of health
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
Morbidity
Refers to ill health in an individual and the levels of ill health in a population or group
Health promotion
“The process of enabling people to increase control over and to improve their health.” They aim to encourage behaviour change before disease become a problem (disease prevention)
Sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Sustainable human development
A process of people striving to achieve their full potential, lead more productive lives, expand their choices and meet their needs without compromising the opportunities for future generations to meet their own needs
Sustainable human development
A process of people striving to achieve their full potential, lead more productive lives, expand their choices and meet their needs without compromising the opportunities for future generations to meet their own needs
