Factors contributing to differences in global health Chapter

Factors contributing to differences in global health Chapter 10

What are the factors that contribute to differences in health? • • Income Gender Education Healthcare Political stability Peace Global marketing Environments

• Consider each of the following questions and write down your response in the space provided. Provide as much detail as you can in the time provided.

Explain how the income of an individual and the income of the country contribute to differences in health between Australia and developing countries.

a) Identify some key issues relating to the inequality faced by girls in developing countries. b) Discuss how these issues contribute to differences in the health of girls in Australia compared to developing countries.

Discuss how education contributes to differences in health status between Australia and developing countries.

a) Identify the key issues relating to the inequality in relation to healthcare between Australia and developing countries. b) How do these inequalities contribute to differences in health status between people living in Australia and developing countries?

a) Explain the differences in peace and political stability that exist between Australia and developing countries. b) Discuss how peace and political stability contribute to differences in health between Australian and developing countries.

a) Highlight the key issues associated with global marketing. b) Explain how global marketing contributes to differences in health between Australia and developing countries.

Identify three examples of environmental factors (physical environment) and explain how they contribute to differences in health between Australia and developing countries.

Now let’s check your answers!

Explain how the income of an individual and the income of the country contribute to differences in health between Australia and developing countries. Australia Developing countries • Low rates of unemployment increases the income of many individuals, which increases the options available in relation to healthcare, access to food and shelter. • Higher GDP for the country increases the money available to spend on healthcare and education. • Higher GDP also increases the money available for social security to support individuals with lower incomes. • No social security reduces the income of individuals and families, which contributes to poverty. • Poverty leads to lower literacy rates, which contribute to poverty – people are less likely to be able to break the poverty cycle. • Low GDP means less money is spent by governments of health and education. • Low incomes reduces choices. • Low incomes increase malnutrition. • Low income countries are associated with reduced access to safe water and sanitation, education, healthcare and social security. As a result they have low immunisation rates, low literacy rates, high infant and maternal mortality rates.

a) Identify some key issues relating to the inequality faced by girls in developing countries. b) Discuss how these issues contribute to differences in the health of girls in Australia compared to developing countries. Key issues relating to the inequality of girls Early marriage Exploitation Less likely to be educated How these issues contribute to differences in the health of girls in Australia compared to developing countries As a result of poverty many girls are forced into marriage at a very young age. As a result they have babies at a young age, which increases the rate of infant and maternal mortality in developing countries. Due to poverty and conflict girls are at risk of being trafficked, forced into prostitution or child labour, leading to malnutrition, abuse and violence. Due to culture and poverty females are less likely to be educated than males, which will contribute to malnutrition in females, especially during pregnancy.

Discuss how education contributes to differences in health status between Australia and developing countries. Australia Developing countries • Higher percentage of GDP being spent on education compared to many developing countries increases access to education. • Increased access to education contributes to higher literacy rates. • Literacy increases choices in relation to employment, which can improve health status. • Lower percentage of GDP being spent on education in many developing countries reduces access to education. • Poverty also contributes to reduced access, especially for girls. • Poor access to education contributes to low literacy rates. • Illiteracy reduces choices and reduces the possibility of people being able to break the poverty cycle. • Lack of education contributes to the inequality between males and females.

a) Identify the key issues relating to the inequality in relation to healthcare between Australia and developing countries. b) How do these inequalities contribute to differences in health status between people living in Australia and developing countries? Key issues in healthcare How they contribute to differences in health status between Australia and developing countries Access to primary healthcare • Primary healthcare is about essential healthcare and is seen as a basic human right. Not having access to primary healthcare contribute to differences in the incidence of communicable diseases in developing countries. Number of doctors • Fewer doctors per capita in developing countries contributes to poor access to healthcare and therefore poor health. • As in developed countries it is those in rural areas who have less access to medical services. Immunisation • Access to free immunisation and financial incentives in Australia has increased immunisation rates. A lack of access to healthcare in developing countries contributes to lower immunisation coverage and high rates of communicable diseases. Maternal and child health • Poor access to trained birth attendants, pre- and postnatal care and infant growth monitoring in developing countries contributes to under 5, infant and maternal mortality.

a) Explain the differences in peace and political stability that exist between Australia and developing countries. b) Discuss how peace and political stability contribute to differences in health between Australian and developing countries. c Australia Differences in peace and political stability How political stability contributes to differences in health • A stable political environment • Democratic government • History of peace • People have more choices • Larger per cent of GDP spent of health and education • Human rights are respected • Less discrimination • Less poverty • Increased life expectancy Developing • Some governments are not countries very stable due to corruption, conflict or a lack of democracy • People have fewer rights • Less access to healthcare and education due to money being spent on military • Discrimination based on gender or religion • Reduced life expectancy

a) Highlight the key issues associated with global marketing. b) Explain how global marketing contributes to differences in health between Australia and developing countries. Key issues • Increased consumption of tobacco globally • Increased consumption of processed foods • Increase in the use of infant formula in developing countries How they contribute to differences in health between Australia and developing countries • Increased consumption of tobacco globally has increased the number of deaths due to tobacco in developing countries. It is also contributing to malnutrition when families purchase tobacco instead of food. • Increased consumption of processed foods is contributing to the double burden of disease as those in developing countries are now at risk of malnutrition and obesity. • Marketing of infant formula is contributing to infant mortality due to dehydration if formula is prepared with dirty water. It also contributes to malnutrition as mothers use less formula (in order to make it last longer when preparing the feeds for their baby.

Identify three examples of environmental factors (physical environment) and explain how they contribute to differences in health between Australia and developing countries. Examples of Impact of differences in health status environmental factors Expanding deserts and rising temperatures means many developing Climate change countries will experience further reduction in the growth of crops and therefore food supply. Changes in weather patterns will also increase the risk of flooding, cyclones and other disasters, which will again reduce food supply, increase the spread of disease and cause the loss of resources. Water Housing Access to adequate and clean water is vital for health. It is needed to grow crops and for drinking. Reduced access to safe water supplies in developing countries increases the spread to water-borne illness, which can cause dehydration and malnutrition due to diarrhoea and increase under-5 and infant mortality in developing countries. Many people in developing countries do not have access to adequate shelter. Poor shelter is associated with poor health in developing countries as people have reduced protection from the environment and reduced access to safe water and sanitation.