SOC 300, Prof. Robert Martin Southeastern Louisiana University Unit 2, Mini-Lecture #2

 “More Developed” vs. “Less Developed” ◦ Based mainly on state of country’s economy (size and type) ◦ “Least” developed nations – least developed economies, lowest life expectancies  Nature of health problems in “more” and “less” developed nations differ.

 Acute diseases (infectious & parasitic) more deadly in less developed than in more developed nations. ◦ Chronic diseases becoming more of a threat in less developed nations.  Poverty is primary cause of lower life expectancy in less developed countries. ◦ Poverty leads to malnutrition, which promotes disease.

 Major causes of death due to disease: ◦ HIV/AIDS ◦ Tuberculosis (TB) ◦ Diarrheal diseases ◦ Malaria

 Both forms of mortality are dramatically more common in less developed nations.  Both are influenced by low status of women in many less developed nations.  Linked to other causes of mortality in less developed countries (malnutrition, infectious disease)