Unit 3 Outcome 1 Definitions

Question 0

Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY)

Answer 0

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.

Question 1

Burden of Disease

Answer 1

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).

Question 2

Health Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE)

Answer 2

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 3

Health Status

Answer 3

An individual’s or a populations overall health, taking into account various aspects such as life expectancy, amount of disability and levels of disease risk factors. (AIHW 2008)

Question 4

Incidence

Answer 4

The number or rate of new cases of a disease during a specified period of time.

Question 5

Life Expectancy

Answer 5

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. (AIHW 2008)

Question 6

Morbidity

Answer 6

Refers to ill health in an individual and the levels of ill health in a population or group. (AIHW 2008)

Question 7

Mortality (rate)

Answer 7

The number of deaths over a period of time.

Question 8

Prevalence

Answer 8

The number or proportion of cases of a particular disease or condition present in a population at a given time. (AIHW 2008)

Question 9

U5MR (Under 5 Mortality Rate)

Answer 9

The number of deaths of children under five years of age per 1000 live births. (WHO 2008)

Question 10

Years of Life Lost due to Disability (YLD)

Answer 10

A measure of how many healthy years of life are lost due to illness, injury or disability.

Question 11

Years of Life Lost (YLL)

Answer 11

A measure of how many years of expected life are lost due to premature death.

Question 12

Food Security

Answer 12

The state in which all persons obtain nutritionally adequate, culturally appropriate, safe food regularly through local non-emergency sources. (VicHealth 2008)

Question 13

Determinants of Health

Answer 13

‘Factors that affect the 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.’ Determinants can be classified in many ways such as biological, behavioural, physical environment and social. (AIHW, 2006)

Question 14

Biological Determinants

Answer 14

Factors relating to the body that impact on health, such as genetics, hormones, body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, birth weight.

Question 15

Behavioural Determinants

Answer 15

Actions or patterns of living of an individual or a group that impact on health, such as smoking, sexual activity, participation in physical activity and eating practices.

Question 16

Physical Environment Determinants

Answer 16

The physical surroundings in which we live, work and play. The physical environment includes water and air, workplaces, housing, roads, nature, schools, recreation settings and exposure to hazards.

Question 17

Social Determinants

Answer 17

Aspects of society and the social environment that impact on health, such as poverty, early life experiences, social networks and support,

Question 18

Social Determinants of Health

- Socioeconomic Status (SES)

Answer 18

The social standing of an individual in comparison to others in that society. It is based on education, income and occupation. E.g work and unemployment, social exclusion and stress.

Question 19

Trend

Answer 19

A general change or movement in a particular direction.