Demography - Death Rates 12F

Question 1

Define death rates

Answer 1

Number of deaths per 1000 of the population per year

Question 2

What was the death rate in 1900

Answer 2

19

Question 3

Reasons for the decline in death rates

Answer 3

1. Decline in infectious diseases
2. Improved nutrition
3. Medical improvements
4. Public health measures and environmental improvements
5. Other social changes

Question 4

Explain decline in infectious diseases

Answer 4

• Tranter: over 3/4 of the decline in the 1850-1970 was due to a fall in the number of deaths from infectious diseases Eg: influenza
• by 1950’s diseases of affluence had taken over infectious diseases as a cause of death Eg: cancer

Question 5

Explain improved nutrition

Answer 5

• McKeown: argues that this accounts for up to half the reduction in death rates and particularly reduced TB. Better nutrition meant people were more resistant to infection and more able to fight it off
• however some infectious diseases like measles increased during periods of improving nutrition