SOCI 172 EXAM 1

Population Health

The health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group.

Population Representative Data

Data that accurately reflects the characteristics of a specific population.

Demography

The study of populations, including size, structure, and changes over time.

Social Stratification

The division of society into hierarchical layers based on factors like income, education, and race.

Social-Demographic Perspective

An approach that examines how social and demographic factors influence health outcomes.

Life Expectancy at Birth (e0)

The average number of years a newborn is expected to live. US: 78.4 in 2023.

Cohort Life Expectancy at Birth

The average lifespan of a specific group (cohort) born in the same year.

Meaning of Life Expectancy at other ages (e20)

The average number of years remaining for someone who has already reached a certain age (e.g., 20).

Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000)

The number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births. US: 5.61 in 2022.

Age-Specific Mortality Rate (per 100,000)

The number of deaths per 100,000 individuals in a specific age group.

National Institute on Aging (funder)

A U.S. organization that funds research on aging and health.

Add Health

A longitudinal study on adolescent health and its impact on adulthood.

Health and Retirement Study

A long-term study tracking health, retirement, and aging in the U.S.

NHANES

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; assesses health and nutritional status.

NHIS

National Health Interview Survey; collects data on health behaviors and conditions.

NSFG

National Survey of Family Growth; focuses on family life and reproductive health.

Census Data

Demographic and social data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Vital Statistics Data

Records of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces.

National Center for Health Statistics

A U.S. agency that provides health data and statistics.

Lexis Diagram

A graph showing the relationship between age, period, and cohort effects.

Age, Period, Cohort

Three factors influencing health outcomes: age (life stage), period (current time), and cohort (birth year).

Biomarker Data

Biological measurements (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol) used to assess health.

Contextual Data

Information about the environment or conditions surrounding individuals.

Prevalence

The proportion of a population with a specific condition at a given time.

Incidence

The rate of new cases of a condition in a population over a specific period.

Case & Deaton study

Research on rising mortality rates among middle-aged white Americans due to 'deaths of despair.'

Modern medicine & epidemiologic transition

The shift from infectious diseases to chronic diseases as leading causes of death.

Chronic diseases

Long-term health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

W.E.B. DuBois

A sociologist who studied racial disparities in health and society.

Abdel Omran

Proposed the theory of epidemiologic transition.

Epidemiologic Transition Stages

1. Pestilence & Famine, 2. Declining Pandemics, 3. Receding Pandemics, 4. Degenerative Diseases, 5. Delayed Degenerative Diseases.

Clean water interventions

Public health measures that reduced waterborne diseases.

Influenza epidemic of 1917-18

A global pandemic that killed millions worldwide.

US leading causes of death

Heart disease, cancer, accidents, Covid-19, and stroke.

US Covid-19: 3rd leading cause in 2020

Covid-19 was the third leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020.

Epidemic vs. Pandemic

Epidemic = localized outbreak; Pandemic = global outbreak.

Smoking Pandemic

The widespread health impact of tobacco use.

Master Settlement Agreement

A legal agreement between tobacco companies and U.S. states to compensate for smoking-related health costs.

Opioid Epidemic

A surge in opioid addiction and overdose deaths in the U.S.

SUPPORT for Patients & Communities Act

Legislation to address the opioid crisis.

HIV/AIDS Pandemic

A global health crisis caused by the HIV virus.

Whack-a-Mole lesson

The idea that solving one public health problem often leads to the emergence of another.

MLK on Population Health

Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized that health disparities are rooted in social injustice.

National Strategy to Increase Life Expectancy

A plan to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities.

Impact of Affordable Care Act (ACA) on Health Insurance Coverage

The ACA expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans.

Five Key Recent Trends in US Population Health

Trends include rising chronic diseases, health disparities, and the impact of Covid-19.

Key Findings: Gazing into the Crystal Ball (Graham et al. 2024)

Predictions about future population health trends.

What Covid-19 Did to US Pop Health in 2019-21

Covid-19 caused a decline in life expectancy, with disproportionate impacts by race.