HHD Unit 4 AOS 1

What is the Human Development Index (HDI) and why is it useful for measuring human development across countries?

HDI is a composite index of life expectancy, education, and per capita income; it is useful for comparing development levels between countries but has limitations like not capturing inequality or sustainability.

What are the key characteristics of low-income countries?

Low GDP per capita; higher poverty and disease burden; limited access to healthcare, education and infrastructure; often rapid population growth.

What are the key characteristics of middle-income countries?

Moderate to high GDP per capita; growing economies and urbanization; variable health and education outcomes; often rising inequality.

What are the key characteristics of high-income countries?

High GDP per capita; advanced health systems; high life expectancy and education levels; strong social protection and relatively low poverty.

What data/indicators should be evaluated to compare health status and human development between countries?

Life expectancy, infant/maternal mortality, HDI components, literacy/education levels, GDP/GNI per capita, health expenditure, access to clean water and sanitation, disease prevalence and nutrition indicators.

What factors contribute to health status and human development across countries?

Economic development, income distribution, education, gender equality, governance and institutions, health systems and access, nutrition, environment and technology.

How can health data and other information be used to analyze health inequalities within and between countries?

Compare indicators by income groups, urban vs rural areas, and regions; examine social determinants (income, education, housing); track changes over time to identify disparities.

What global trends have implications for health and human development, and what are their potential impacts?

Trends such as aging populations, urbanization, climate change, globalization, and technological change; impacts include shifting disease patterns, greater health system demand, resource pressures, and the need to address inequality and resilience.

Define Sustainability

Meeting the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (United Nations)

Sustainability Theory Summary

It is essential that all improvements made by a country to improve the current populations levels of health and wellbeing also have positive impacts on future generations.

According to the United Nations and the World Bank there are three dimensions of sustainability; Social, Economic and Environmental.

Dimensions of Sustainability?

-Economic

-Social

-Environmental

Define 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.

Considerations for Economic Sustainability

-Innovation and diversity of industries

-Job Creation

-Economic growth

-Trade

Innovation and Diversity of Industries

- required for a country to improve their economic situation and ensure economic sustainability.

-Many developing countries rely solely on the agriculture industry. This is unsustainable as with the impact of weather events such as drought, the economic growth of a country suffers.

-Multiple industries allow for a range of opportunities to enhance a countries economic growth. If one industry faces difficulty, for example due to extreme weather conditions, the country is able to stay economically stable and people can retain jobs, increasing incomes and enhancing many health and wellbeing dimensions.

Job Creation

-It is vital that a country has adequate employment opportunities and that individuals receive a fair wage in return.

- Employed individuals who earned a wage are also contributing to taxes of the country which is then put back into other sustainable resources such as education, roads and healthcare.

-High levels of employment and increasing incomes, ensures money is used to invest in infrastructure such as education and hospitals which enhances individual's physical, mental, social health and wellbeing. Greater opportunities in employment also allow people to be more connected to their community enhancing spiritual health and wellbeing.

Economic Growth

-A country's income (GNI) must increase in line with inflation, to ensure its sustainability.

This will see economic growth of a country and its people and allow for more money to be invested into services and infrastructure, education and hospitals.

-Sustainable incomes of a country and it's people ensure that essential resources remain affordable such as food, improving physical health and wellbeing and a country is able to achieve economic growth and therefore enable investment in long term sustainable projects.

Less people will be requiring government benefits and the health and wellbeing of the citizens of the future will be relatively stable

Trade

-A country's economy can grow if they are competitive in the global market, through the sale of goods and services. Fair trade is essential to grow a country as it involves improved working conditions and a fair price for products.

-essential that countries experience fair trading opportunities when trading their goods on a global market, especially low and middle income countries, as this is a major factor in reducing poverty levels + enhancing all dimensions of health and wellbeing.

-Increasing trade, increases income which can be spent on essentials to alleviate poverty on a worldwide scale.

Define Social Sustainability

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

Considerations for Social Sustainability

- 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

Elimination of poverty and the provision of social protection systems

-provide support for vulnerable people who are unable to earn an income, including as the result of illness or unemployment.

-assist in providing access to essential resources such as housing, food and basic healthcare.

Eg= Australia, income support= Fed Gov body Centrelink.

- In many low- and middle-income countries, the absence of social protection systems drive vulnerable groups further into poverty.

If poverty is eliminated, all people can access the resources required for a decent standard of living, such as education, food, clean water, adequate housing and sanitation. This promotes health and wellbeing by:

-reducing the risk of infectious diseases and promoting physical health and wellbeing

-increasing mental health and wellbeing as people are less likely to experience stress and anxiety due to

limited access to resources such as food and healthcare.

-enabling people to be better equipped to deal with misfortune, which promotes emotional health and

wellbeing.

Gender Equality

-Includes elimination of violence against women, equal opportunities to education, employment and community life and leadership opportunities.

Reduction in violence and discrimination against women and girls, improves overall physical health and wellbeing.

-may lead to lower rates of child marriage globally and reduction in rates of maternal mortality.Social health and wellbeing is enhanced as women and girls can be involved in the community and are valued members of society.

-results in a decreased level of stress and anxiety as they are not living in fear from violence, improves levels of mental health and wellbeing.

-Women and girls who are educated are able to display stronger levels of resilience as they are equipped with knowledge and are less vulnerable than those who are uneducated, improving emotional health and wellbeing.

Access to safe and decent working conditions

-ensures that all people can access meaningful employment, including women, young people and those with disabilities.

-Extreme poverty and the promise of a better life are often underlying factors in human trafficking, forced labour and child labour.

-would see an end to child labour and forced and unsafe conditions, and assist in reducing poverty. This would have a range of benefits for health and wellbeing:

-Children would be able to stay in school and socialise with their peers. Promotes Soc H&W.

-Fewer people would be forced into prostitution, which reduces their risk of contracting HIV and other STIs. Promotes P S&W.

People working in safe and decent jobs are more likely to experience positive emotions, including pride and satisfaction. Promotes E H&W.

People experiencing safe and decent working conditions will feel safe at work and earn a reliable income, which can lower levels of stress.

Promote M H&W.

Safe and decent work promotes feelings of connectedness. Promotes Spiritual H&W.

Promotion of political and legal rights

-Laws within a country are developed to protect and uphold human rights.

-Important that women are represented in government alongside minority groups.

-P H&W: improved with strong legal and political systems as this will result in low levels of corruption, violence and conflict and lead to increased stability worldwide.

-M H&W: improved as all groups will be represented and due to low levels of corruption, crime and violence there will lower levels of stress and anxiety.

-Spiritual H&W - when there is effective political and legal systems there is an increased

sense of belonging in the community as people feel they have their voices heard.

Peace and Security

-essential for promoting optimal health and wellbeing.

During times of peace and security there are a range of associated effects on health and wellbeing for all members of society:

-Financial resources= not being directed to a war effort. Government is in a better position to provide essential resources for its citizens, including infrastructure, education, healthcare and social protection.

-The environmental impact of war does not occur, which increases access to food and services such as healthcare.

Water + sanitation facilities and electricity supplies can also be maintained and people are less likely to be displaced. This reduces the risk of malnutrition and premature death, which promotes physical health and wellbeing.

-Adults can continue to work and children can attend school = promotes social H&W as people have the opportunity to interact and socialise.

-People can go about their daily lives, performing activities such as attending work or going to school. This promotes all areas of health and wellbeing as people can work to reduce poverty which assists in providing resources such as food, water, shelter and healthcare. This can reduce stress (m h&W), promote social interaction (social H&W), reduce the risk of infection (p H&W), promote positive emotions (E H&W) and give people a sense of purpose in their lives. (spiritual H&W)

-The risk of personal injury and the destruction of infrastructure is reduced, which enhances P H&W and means that vulnerable groups can be reached to address issues such as poverty and food insecurity.

-Long-lasting effects of war, such as the presence of landmines and the lack of infrastructure, are reduced so future generations do not have to focus on rebuilding, and can instead direct their efforts towards promoting their H&W.

-People are more likely to receive protection under law during times of peace. This can promote feelings of security, which promotes M H&W.

Define Environmental Sustainability

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

Considerations for Environmental Sustainability

- biodiversity

- use of natural resources

- waste removal and pollution

- climate change

Biodiversity

-relates to the variety of all forms of life: the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain and the ecosystems of which they form a part.

The world's ecosystems provide many of the processes and resources required for human health and wellbeing, including:

• provision of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide

• protection of water resources

• soil formation, including nutrient storage and recycling • nourishment of plants and animals that are used for food

• wood products used for building, heat and cooking• fibres used for clothing

• resources used for medicine

• opportunities for recreation and tourism.

Use of natural resources

-Natural resources can be renewable (water, plants, animals, forests, fish), if they are used conservatively there should be enough for current and future generations. Other resources such as coal, gas and fossil fuel are non- renewable and once used is no longer available and will eventually run out in the future.

-Natural resources are available as a food product such as fish and water, enhancing P H&W.

-Future generations have ability to use the land to make an income, e.g. agriculture industry - ensuring access to basic necessities, food, shelter, education, all enhancing many dimensions of health and wellbeing - mental, physical, social, and spiritual.

Waste removal and pollution

-The effective removal of waste is essential for environmental sustainability:

-ensures clean waterways as they are not contaminated by waste products including those from animals and humans.

-Pollution control ensures clean air for both current and future generations. (Involves reducing emissions, by using clean energy and preventing severe impacts of climate change associated with global warming.)

-Effective waste management ensures that waterways are not polluted and therefore reducing the risk of waterborne disease such as cholera improving P H&W.

-Children can attend school and adults work when disease is controlled, enhancing other dimensions such as social, mental and spiritual health and wellbeing.

-Respiratory conditions are also reduced when air pollution due to emissions are reduced, enhancing physical health and wellbeing.

Climate Change

-the global average surface temperature has increased by approximately 0.65 degrees Celsius over the past 50 years and will increase even more rapidly over the next century.

Ensuring climate change is minimised is vital for promoting health and wellbeing for a number of reasons:

-Weather and rainfall patterns will stabilise, which may reduce the rate and severity of natural disasters. =reduced number of injuries and deaths that occur as a result of these events (P H&W). + assist in maintaining infrastructure that is required for social, emotional, mental and spiritual health and wellbeing.

-Predictable rainfall allows crops to be grown and promotes food security (P H&W).

-Sea levels will not continue to rise. This will ensure people in low-lying areas will not be displaced, which can reduce levels of anxiety and promote M H&W. Fresh water sources will also be preserved, which promotes P H&W.

-Communicable disease rates will decrease (P H&W). Preventing further climate change will prevent disease carrying organisms from spreading to other areas as environmental conditions will not support their migration.

-Ecosystems can be maintained if temperatures do not continue to rise. This assists in providing resources such as clean water, air and nutrient-rich soil, which are all required for overall health and wellbeing.

Define Unfair Trade

Wealthy countries paying less than fair price for low income products.

Define Processing Capabilities

Low income countries lack the processing power to turn raw materials into complete products therefore they lack the profit margin opportunity to fully capitalise on their product.

Define Fair Trade

Helps to reverse this pattern, allow for decent working conditions and fair prices, thus reducing poverty and a more equal spread of wealth.

Define 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 (adapted from the UN Development Programme, 1990).

Define Human Development Index

a tool developed by the United Nations to measure and rank countries' levels of social and economic development. It provides a single statistic based on three dimensions — a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living — and four indicators — life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling and Gross National Income per capita.

HDI Rankings

-Countries with .80 or higher have a very high human development

-Countries with .70 - .79 have a high human development

-Countries with 0.55 - 0.69 have a medium level of human development

-Countries below 0.55 have a low level of human development

Advantages of HDI

-captures and compares the majority of countries and compares development levels which reveal clear global patterns.

-It's a simple statistic combining 3 dimensions and 4 indicators into one figure which makes comparisons to other countries easier as it is multidimensional yet does not require separate comparisons of 3 pieces of data.

-does not just focus solely on economic development through measures of a countries GNI. Takes into considerations that there are other, more social ways to measure human development including life expectancy and education.

-Improvements in infrastructure can be seen when there are improvements in a countries education and health indicators.

Limitations of HDI

-Access to safe water and sanitation, available of employment and range of industries, access to social security and gender equality are not considered.

-Data collected from developing countries may be quite unreliable and difficult to confirm there are some countries with no data at all.

-Education simply by mean and expected years may not measure quality of education. Life expectancy may not also measure good health as a person can live for many years in poor health.

-There is also unequal access to resources such as education within a country particularly in rural and remote locations.

-Many countries experience unequal distribution of wealth within the country and therefore GNI per capita does not capture this.