Factors affecting death rates in LIC

Question 1

Malnutrition and Undernutrition

Answer 1

• Poor farming techniques and harsh climatic conditions can lead to
  crop failure and the death of livestock. This reduces food security leading to famine
• Dietary deficiency affects the immune system and the ability to fight disease; a lack of food leads to undernourishment and death.
• This all leads to a low life expectancy

Question 2

Disease

Answer 2

• Poor sanitation, drinking water quality, housing quality and overcrowding can lead to the spread of disease.
• In areas of developing countries where those conditions are common - informal settlements and poorer rural areas leads to a much lower life expectancy than in other, wealthier areas.

Question 3

Natural disasters

Answer 3

• Developing countries that suffer from natural hazards such as earthquakes and hurricanes do not have the technology or money to predict those and prepare for them. This means that there are often more fatalities when those strike than there would be in developed countries.

Question 4

Lack of mechanisation and lax labour laws

Answer 4

• In areas of the world where there is little mechanisation in farming and industry people have to do heavy labour themselves. This puts a strain on their bodies which can lead to issues such as a weakened heart.
• Lax labour laws put peoples’ safety at risk, causing industrial/agricultural accidents. This reduces life expectancy.

Question 5

Lack of education

Answer 5

• Knowing how to take care of your health can help to increase life expectancy.
• People who are unaware of personal hygiene cannot protect themselves from disease.
• A lack of education also leads to a lower number of health professionals being trained in countries. This means that people cannot get adequate healthcare.

Question 6

Lack of healthcare

Answer 6

• Poorer governments cannot afford to provide free healthcare for their citizens
• This means that many people on low incomes in developing countries cannot access good quality healthcare.
• Poor maternal healthcare leads to maternal death and high infant mortality,
• A lack of childhood immunisations that would protect against common, but often fatal illnesses such as measles