HHD Unit 4 AOS 1

Classifying countries

High Income Countries
Middle income countries
-upper middle income
-lower middle income
Low Income countries

Gross National Income (GNI)

The total value of goods and services a country’s citizens produce, including the value of income earned by citizens who may be working in an overseas country

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

A measure that reflects the economic state of a country. GDP is the value of all goods and services produced in a country in a 12-month period.

Characteristics of high, middle and low income countries

• economic

• social

• environmental

Economic characteristics (definition)

Refers to a range of factors relating to the financial or economic state of a country

Economic characteristics - high income countries

• Lower levels of poverty

• Wide range of industries

• Opportunities for global trade

• High average incomes

Primary production

The process of producing natural products for human use such as plants and animals

Substance farming

Self-sufficient farming carried out by individuals to provide food for themselves and their family

Social characteristics (definition)

Refers to range of factors relating to the social state of a country

Social characteristics - high income countries

• High levels of gender equality

• High levels of employment

• High levels of education

• Developed health systems

• Low birth rates and population growth

• Developed social security systems

• Access to technology

• Developed legal systems

Environmental characteristics (definition)

Refers to a range of factors relating to the environmental state of a country

Environmental characteristics - high income countries

• Access to safe water and sanitation

• Food security

• Adequate housing

• Adequate infrastructure

• High levels of carbon dioxide emissions

Similarities in health status (high, middle and low income)

• Considerable variations exist within each country, regardless of income group.

• Life expectancy is increasing in all income groups.

• Infant, under 5 and maternal mortality rates are decreasing in all income groups.

• Non-communicable diseases account for the greatest proportion of deaths in all countries.

• Rates of obesity and associated conditions are increasing in all income groups.

Differences in health status (high, middle and low income)

• Life expectancy is considerably higher in high-income countries

• Mortality rates increase as average income decreases.

• Mortality rates due to infectious diseases are considerably higher in low-income countries

• Many middle-income countries and some low-income countries experience a double burden of disease

• The rate of YLD increases as average income increases.

• The rate of DALY and YLL increase as average income decreases.

Double burden of disease

When conditions associated with both poverty and wealth exist side-by-side in one community, such as undernutrition and obesity

Factors that contribute to similarities and differences in health status and BOD

• Access to water

• Sanitation

• Poverty

• Inequality and discrimination

• Global distribution and marketing of tobacco, alcohol and processed foods

Safe water

refers to water that is not contaminated with disease-causing pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, or chemicals such as lead and mercury.

2 safe water impact (on health status and BOD)

• clean water is required to maintain personal hygiene and prevents infection through handwashing etc

• many children in rural areas, spend hours collecting water, missing out on school

Sanitation

refers to the provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human urine and faeces.

2 sanitation impact (on health status and BOD)

• some girls who are menstruating might not go to school if the toilets are not private

• inadequate or lack of infrastructure could mean that human faeces contaminate drinking supplies, leading to illnesses such as diarrhoea and polio

Poverty

A state where an individual does not have the financial resources to maintain a decent standard of living.

• Extreme - living on less than $1.90 usd per day

• Relative - living on less than 50% of the countries average income

2 poverty impact (on health status and BOD)

• can’t afford healthcare - more likely to die from preventable illnesses

• Undernutrition decreases immune function, which increases the risk of infection and premature death, especially among children.

Inequality and discrimination

When a person or group of people is treated differently than other people, often a result of factors such as race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity.

2 inequality and discrimination impact (on health status and BOD)

• can cause social exclusion which can lead to mental problems such as depression and suicidal thoughts

• can be refused jobs

Globalisation

The process whereby boundaries between countries are reduced or eliminated allowing individuals, groups and companies to act on a global scale.

2 tobacco impact (on health status and BOD)

• causes higher rates of premature death from cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory conditions associated with smoking.

• lack of interventions/increase in marketing

2 alcohol impact (on health status and BOD)

• lack the resources to educate the population about alcohol,

• lack of healthcare to treat the negative effects associated of excessive drinking, such as liver disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Processed Foods

any food items that have been deliberately changed before being made available to eat.

2 processes food impact (on health status and BOD)

• high incease in salt, sugar and fat, which can lead to obesity, cardiovascular disease and t2d

• due to large amounts of tourism, some countries have neglected their traditional diets, which are often low in fat, for westernised foods.

Sustainability

meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

3 dimensions (pillars) of sustainability

• Economic

• Social

• Environmental

Economic sustainability

Ensuring that average incomes in all countries are adequate to sustain a decent standard of living and continue to rise in line with inflation and living costs in the future

Economic sustainability characteristics

• Innovation and diversity of industries

• Job creation

• Economic growth

• Trade

Social sustainability

Creating an equitable society that meets the needs of all citizens and can be maintained indefinitely

Social sustainability characteristics

• Elimination of poverty and the provision of social protection systems

• Gender equality

• Access to safe and decent working conditions

• Promotion of political and legal rights

• Peace and security

Environmental sustainability

Ensuring the natural environment is used in a way that will preserve resources into the future

Environmental sustainability characteristics

• Biodiversity

• Use of natural resources

• Waste removal and pollution

• Climate change

Human development

Creating an environment in which people can develop to their full potential and lead productive, creative lives according to their needs and interests. It is about expanding people’s choices and enhancing capabilities (the range of things people can be and do), having access to knowledge, health and a decent standard of living, and participating in the life of their community and decisions affecting their lives

Aspects of human development (D-LEAPP)

• Develop to their full Potential

• Lead Productive and creative lives

• Expanding people’s choices and enhancing their capabilities

• Access to knowledge, health and a decent standard of living

• Participate in the lives of the community

• Participate in decision-making

Human Development Index (HDI)

A tool developed by the United Nations to measure and rank countries’ levels of social and economic development.

Human development index dimensions

• A long and healthy life

• Knowledge

• Decent standard of living

Human development index indicators

• Life expectancy at birth - An indication of how long a person can expect to live at birth if death rates do not change

• Expected years of schooling - The number of years of education expected for a child of school entrance age.

• Mean years of schooling - The average number of years of education achieved by those aged 25 years and over.

• GNI per capita - The total value of goods and services a country’s citizens produce, including the value of income earned by citizens who may be working in an overseas country

Advantages of HDI

• Widespread use makes it easier to compare development levels

• considers many different factors apart from just economic dev

Limitations of HDI

• focuses on 3 basic dimensions of HD, and doesn't take into account other important dimensions such as quality of employment, gender equality etc

• doesn't measure unequal distribution within a country

Climate change

refers to the increase in the earth's average surface temperature. ​

Effects of climate change

• Increased global temperatures​

• Melting polar ice caps​

• Rising sea levels​

• Greater storm damage​

• Increased ocean temperatures​

• More frequent and stronger storms​

• Increased rainfall during extreme weather events​

• Increased flooding and weather damage​

• Increased severity and regularity of heat waves and bushfires​

• Loss of homes, habitat and human lives

Impact of rising sea levels

• Forced relocation of people living in coastal areas

• Reduction in the availability of fresh water

• Reduced availability of food

• Changes in biodiversity

Changing weather patterns and extreme weather events

• More infectious diseases

• Increased BOD from CVD and athsma

• Increased homelessness

• Less food and increased hunger and undernutrition

• Less access to fresh water

Conflict

a violent situation or period of fighting

Displaced people

Those who are forced to leave their home because of war or persecution

2 conflict impact (on health status and BOD)

• living in fear and being concerned for themselves and their families

• physical environment can be destroyed, which can limit access to supplies such as food and water and services such as healthcare.

Mass migration

when a large number of people move from on geographical location/area to another. ​

Migration

refers to when a person or group of people move across an international border,  or within a state, in order to re-settle there

Refugees

People who have fled their country and crossed an international border to find safety in another country

Asylum seekers

People who have fled their country but for whom their request for protection in another country has yet to be processed.

Internally displaced persons

People who have been forced to leave their home but have not crossed a border to find safety

Stateless persons

People who do not have the nationality of any country and are therefore not protected by the laws of any country.

2 mass migration impact (on health status and BOD)

• forced out of school and work

• Displaced women and children are particularly at risk of sexual and gender-based violence, increased levels of domestic violence, child abuse and alcohol-related violence

World trade

worldwide business that involves transactions in goods and services, and transporting them to interested markets. 

2 world trade impact (on health status and BOD)

• enhances employment options, providing opportunities for small scale business owners

• increases a countries, and an individuals income and therefore more money can be directed towards health care, food and adequate shelter

Tourism

the movement of people to places outside their usual environment for leisure, business, religion, health and visiting of friends/relatives. 

2 tourism impact (on health status and BOD)

• increased job opportunities

• encourages the promotion of traditional customs and festivals, creating a sense of pride among the people of a host nation.

Digital technologies

to electronic tools, systems, devices and resources that generate,  store or process data. 

2 digital technology impact (on health status and BOD)

• Makes education more widely accessible.

• Allows vital health information to be provided in multiple languages.