Exam

Question 1

Mental dimension of health:

Answer 1

Refers to a state of wellbeing in which the individual realises his/her abilities, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and can make a contribution to his/her own community.
Examples include:
- Level of self-esteem.
- Acknowledging one’s abilities.
- Having effective coping mechanisms for stress.

Question 2

Social dimension of health:

Answer 2

Refers to being able to interact with others and participate in the community in an independent and cooperative way.
Examples include:
- Accepting responsibility for one’s actions.
- Maintaining a network of friends and level of social support.
- Communicating effectively with others and contributing to society.

Question 3

Health status:

Answer 3

Health status is an individual’s or a population’s overall health, taking into account factors such as life expectancy, amount of disability and levels of disease risk factors.

Question 4

Burden of Disease:

Answer 4

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 (BOD) is measured in a unit called the DALY.

Question 5

Disability adjusted life year (DALY):

Answer 5

A measure of the burden of disease, where one DALY equals one year of healthy life lost due to premature death or time lived with illness, disease or injury. YLL and YLD are two components that make up the DALY.

Question 6

Years of Life lost (YLL):

Answer 6

The fatal component of burden of disease, indicating premature death.

Question 7

Years of life lost due to disability (YLD):

Answer 7

The non-fatal component of the burden of disease, referring to healthy life lost due to disability or illness.

Question 8

Life expectancy:

Answer 8

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 9

Healthy adjusted life expectancy (HALE):

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Mortality:

Answer 10

The number of deaths caused by a particular disease, illness or environmental factor.

Question 11

Under 5 mortality rate:

Answer 11

The number of deaths of children under five years of age, per 1000 live births.

Question 12

Morbidity:

Answer 12

Refers to ill health in an individual and levels of ill health in a population or group.

Question 13

Incidence:

Answer 13

The number or rate of new cases of a particular condition during a specified time.

Question 14

Prevalence:

Answer 14

The number or proportion of (new and old) cases of a particular disease or condition present in a population at a given time.

Question 15

Determinants of health:

Answer 15

Refers to factors that raise or lower the level of health in an individual or population. They help us to explain or predict trends in health for why some groups have better or worse health than others. These include Biological, Behaivoural, Social and Physical Environment determinants.

Question 16

Biological determinants:

Answer 16

Factors relating to the body that have an impact on health. Examples include genetic predisposition, body weight, blood pressure/glucose/cholesterol levels, birth weight and hormones (testosterone: males; oestrogen; females).

Question 17

Behavioural determinants:

Answer 17

Actions or patterns of living of an individual or group that impact on health. Examples include drug/alcohol/tobacco use, food intake (diet), level of physical activity, using sunscreen for UV protection, following road safety rules to prevent motor accidents, sexual activity and immunisation practices.

Question 18

Social determinants:

Answer 18

Aspects of society and the social environment that impact on health. Examples include poverty, socioeconomic status, food security, early life experiences, social support, unemployment, low education level, cultural traditions, attitudes and beliefs.

Question 19

Physical environment determinants:

Answer 19

Factors relating to physical surroundings in which we live, work and play and how these impact out health. Examples include living in rural/urban areas, housing conditions, water quality, air quality, sanitation services, climatic conditions, ozone depletion, the condition of roads and buildings, exposure to hazards and access to open spaces.

Question 20

Health:

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Advantages social model of health:

Answer 21

Focuses on the person, treating the whole person not just the physical ailment.
Saves health care dollars by preventing the onset of disease in the first instance.

Question 22

Disadvantages social model of health:

Answer 22

Does not focus on an individual and their specified health condition.
Health promotion programs are ignored or don’t reach the intended targets.