factors contributing to similarities and differences between countries Flashcards
factors contributing to differences in health status and burden of disease
- access to safe water
- access to sanitation
- poverty
- inequality and discrimination
- global distribution and marketing of tobacco
- global distribution and marketing of alcohol
- global distribution and marketing of processed foods
- access to safe water
- Safe water refers to water that is not contaminated with disease causing pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, or chemicals such as mercury
- safe water is essential for body functioning, hygiene and cooking
impact on HS and BOD
- drinking unsafe water can lead to a variety of water born diseases such as gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera, increasing mortality.
- repeated bouts of these diseases can cause undernutrition among many children
- unsafe water can decrease immune functioning leading to an increased rate of secondary diseases
- Women often need to travel long distances and carry heavy loads of water, leading to musculoskeletal conditions
access to sanitation
- Sanitation refers to the maintenance of hygienic conditions and the provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human waste.
impact on HS and BOD
- a lack of access to sanitation and sewerage systmes can cause contaminated water, increasing water born diseases
- Some low an middle income counties do not have many toilets or sewage systems meaning that exposure to human waste increases, leading an increase in bacterial diseases
- lack of toilets means girls will often not attend school, especially when they are mensurating. They can therefore not receive an education
- girls will often wait until its dark to relieve themselves, putting them at risk of attacks, assaults and harassment.
poverty
- Poverty refers to financial deprivation, making it extremely difficult to access the resources required to live a long and healthy life.
impact on HS and BOD
- prevent access o nutritious foods leading to a decrease in immune functioning and also increases under 5 mortality
- poverty decreases peoples ability to access education leading a decrease in health literacy
- poverty can impact a persons ability to access healthcare, especially when Medicare is not available.
- poverty increases stress and anxiety associated with not being able to afford resources.
- poverty means individuals are more likely to live in poor housing
inequality and discrimination
- Inequality refers to unequal distribution of resources
- Discrimination refers to unjust treatment of people due to their membership within a certain social category
inequality and discrimination (race)
access to healthcare - racial minorities may face barriers in relation to access healthcare due to geographical disparities or lower insurance coverage.
Racial discrimination often results in social exclusion, preventing people from participating in their society in relation to education, access to healthcare, housing, etc.
- Ethnic minorities and Indigenous peoples suffer greater ill-health and receive poorer quality healthcare than the rest of the population.
- Indigenous people are among the poorest in the world, influencing their quality of life and their right to optimal health and wellbeing.
- Discrimination and a lack of cultural understanding prevents access to healthcare for many Indigenous people, as many health systems don’t reflect social and cultural beliefs of Indigenous people.
- Racial minorities experience worse physical and mental health and wellbeing in terms of greater morbidity and mortality. Racism as a stressor increases morbidity and mortality associated with hypertension and heart disease, as well as depression, anxiety and other mental conditions.
inequality and discrimination (religion)
- This often results in an inability to realise their human rights and participate in the community in which they live in terms of accessing public education, health services and employment.
- discrimination ca increase anxiety, depression, alcohol/tobacco/drug use,
inequality and discrimination (sex)
- Women in many low- and middle-income countries miss out on opportunities for
education, and are thus less likely to adopt health-promoting behaviours for their
children, such as implementing methods to reduce the risk of infectious diseases,
contributing to greater U5MR. - Young girls in low- and middle-income countries are often forced into marriage and become pregnant before their bodies are ready, leading to conditions such as
obstetric fistula. Maternal mortality is a leading cause of death for females aged 15-
19 in low- and middle-income countries. - Many women in lower income countries work in poorly-paid and dangerous jobs
such as prostitution, which increases the incidence of STIs such as HIV/AIDS. - Female genital mutilation is a practice carried out in some low- and middle-income countries, which involves tissue being cut or removed from the genitals. This can
cause chronic severe pain, reducing HALE, and morbidity from infections, as well as
mortality from excessive bleeding.
inequality and discrimination (sexual orientation)
-Those who don’t identify as heterosexual are often subjected to discrimination
including being:
- Subjected to physical and sexual assault.
- Refused jobs, healthcare, and opportunities for education.
- Subjected to criminal proceedings or the death penalty.
inequality and discrimination (gender identity)
Individuals who are transgender or gender non-conforming are at higher risk of discrimination in most societies and experience:
- higher rates of mental disorders
- higher rates of physical and sexual assault
- increased rates of self-harm including suicide.
global distribution and marketing
- Global distribution refers to the
process of providing goods and
services to people living all across
the world - Global marketing refers to the
process of advertising goods and
services across the world with the
intention of increasing sales
global distribution and marketing of tobacco
why low income countries are targeted
- they do not have laws and policies in place to decrease smoking
- lost revenue in high income countries
- less aware of the consequences
impact on HS and BOD
- smoking reduces blood oxygen levels, increasing blood pressure, causing hypertension and increases rates of atherosclerosis. this in turn increases burden of disease from smoking related conditions such as CVD
- smoking damages airways causing an increase in respiratory conditions including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- smoking contains toxins which can damage cells within the body causing abnormal cell growth and cancer.
- When money is spent on tobacco, less money is available for basic resources such as food and healthcare. This means people may go without seeking healthcare, increasing the risk of premature death from infections and diseases
global distribution and marketing of alcohol
- Higher rates of drinking alcohol increases the burden of diseases of alcohol related conditions such as liver disease, CVD and cancer.
- alcohol is filtered in the liver and so increases consumption of it can cause liver disease
- can cause weight related conditions such as CVD
- Like tobacco, when more money is spent on alcohol, less money can be spent on resources such as food and healthcare.
global distribution and marketing of processed foods
- Processed foods are energy dense and thus can contribute to weight gain and lifestyle related conditions such as CVD and obesity
- causes a double burden of disease
double burden of disease
