Do Now: If your town was being evacuated and you could only take 3 items with you, what would it be? How much money do you spend in one day? (Think about lunch, coffee, movies, clothes, etc.)

Chapter 2: Population & Health Why Do Some Regions Face Health Threats?

What is Epidemiology? This is the branch of medical science concerned with the frequency, distribution, and control of diseases that are prevalent among a population at a special time and are produced by some special causes not generally present in the affected locality.

Epidemiologic Transition This transition focuses on distinctive health threats in each stage of the demographic transition. There are 4 stages, with a possible 5th stage. This concept was created by Abdel Omran in 1971.

Stage 1: Pestilence & Famine (High CDR) In this stage infectious and parasitic diseases were principal causes of human deaths, along with accidents and attacks by animals and humans. Malthus called these causes of deaths “natural checks” on the growth of the population in stage 1 of the demographic transition. Ex. Black (Bubonic) Plague 1347-1350 ½ of the European human population died– about 25 million.

Stage 2: Stage of Receding Pandemics (Rapidly Declining CDR) Pandemic: disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects a very high proportion of the population. What has reduced the spread of infectious diseases? Improved sanitation, medicine and better nutrition – this can be seen during the Industrial Revolution.

Stage 3: Degenerative Diseases (Moderately Declining CDR) This stage is characterized by a decrease in deaths from infectious diseases and in increase in chronic disorders associated with aging. Ex. Cardiovascular Diseases (heart attacks) and various forms of cancer.

Map of Male Cancer Rate Question: Why is cancer more widespread in developed areas versus developing ones?

Stage 4: Delayed Degenerative Diseases (Low but Increasing CDR) This transition was extended by S. Jay Olshansky & Brian Ault. Though the degenerative causes of death still exist, life is extended through medical advances. Improved health changes such as better diet and decrease in tobacco and alcohol use, also lead to a longer lifespan. However, there as been recent consumption of non-nutritious foods and less exercise which has resulted in obesity in many areas.

Possible Stage 5: Reemergence of Infectious & Parasitic Diseases There are 3 reasons for the possible stage 5: evolution, poverty and increased connections. Evolution: Infectious disease microbes have continuously evolved in response to environmental pressures by developing resistance to drugs and insecticides.

Stage 5 Continued Poverty: In poorer nations they are unable to afford the drugs needed to fight disease and they have unsanitary conditions, therefore infectious diseases are more prevalent in these areas.

Stage 5 Continued Increased Connections: As people travel, they carry diseases with them and are exposed to the diseases of others. Ex. AIDS diffused from Sub-Saharan Africa through relocation diffusion, both by Africans and visitors to Africa returning to their home countries.

Health Care Two important indicators of health in a country are the infant mortality rate and life expectancy. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): the annual number of deaths of infants under one year of age, compared with total live births. This is usually expressed as the number of deaths among infants per 1,000 births.

Health Care Continued Generally, the IMR reflects a country’s health-care system. Lower IMRs are found in countries with well-trained doctors, modern hospitals and large supplies of medicine. Life Expectancy: at birth measures the average number of years a newborn infant can expect to live at current mortality levels.

Provision of Health Care Children still remain at risk in developing countries because many lack the resources to immunize their children. Expenditures on health care exceed 15% of total government expenditures in Europe and North America, compared to less than 5% in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Medical Services The high expenditure on health care in developed countries is reflected in medical facilities. Ex. Most countries in Europe have more than 50 hospital beds per 10,000 people, compared to fewer than 20 in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southwest Asia. Europe has more than 30 doctors per 10,000 people and sub-Saharan Africa has fewer than 5 doctors per 10,000 people.

Hans Rosling “The Good News of the Decade?”