Socio-Economic Development and Health

Question One

There are a number of ways in which the increasing socio-economic development of a nation can help improve the health of the population.

1. There is a correlation between mortality rates in the developing countries, especially amongst children, and the level of education of the parents of the children. For example, in Morocco, a mother who has completed 4-6 years of schooling, their child is 45% less likely to have died by the age of 2, compared with child's mother who has had no school (Book 3, Page 54). Education improves the overall knowledge of looking after oneself and others, but also enables people to gain higher income levels, and thus, acquire purchasing power to buy the goods (if available), which will help them improve their quality of life.

2. Food provisions are a necessity to maintaining a healthy population. There are many facets to food, mainly the distribution and supply of food, and the quality and nutritional ingredients of food. Food needs to be of good, sustainable quality so that it provides people with the basic supply of vitamins and minerals to live, and has to be easily accessible so that everyone in the nation can benefit. Developed countries have pioneered the way of preserving food for longer (i.e. use of plastics), and developing countries have benefited from this, but the developed world has also introduced new fear factors regarding food such as contamination (BSE, Salmonella etc) and additives, and, the long term effects of such advancements is beginning to materialise (Book 3, Page 306-307). Developing nations need to maintain a balance of growth, by producing enough food for the nations own consumption, but also growing food for exportation, which will improve their GNP and their overall growth as a nation.

3. Reducing the gap between the social classes will provide a better overall health and wealth of a nation. Those living in the lower social classes have a lower life expectancy than those in higher social classes (Book 3, Page 216). There are many tools and precautions that may be used to bridge the gap. Occupations within the social classes tend to be more manual and risk-based occupations such as mining or engineering. In recent times, Acts of Law have been passed by Governments to protect employees, and as such limit the risk involved in the work practices. By reducing the risk, the Government can enable the employees to work in a safe environment thus providing a longer and healthier work and social life.

Question 2

Communicable diseases are infectious and parasitic diseases that can be spread by air, food, and water or by insects. Diseases such as Tuberculosis (Tb), malaria, diarrhoeal diseases and AIDs. The current crisis concerning communicable diseases has a massive impact on a countries economy, health and life expectancy of its population. This can be clearly seen when comparing the differences between developed countries and developing countries.

In the developing world, communicable disease accounts for half of the top twelve causes of death, yet in the developed world they are all but eradicated. Almost 26% of the top twelve causes of deaths (Book 3, Page 37, Table 3.1) in the developing world are as a result of communicable disease, in comparison with only almost 4% in the developed world. Communicable disease in the developed world is not as important than in the developing world, as other degenerative diseases such as heart disease and cancer are of a greater threat. In the developed world, past strategies such as the mosquito eradication programme in the 1950's and 60's by the world health organisation, helped remove malaria as a risk to Europe, and North America. Enforcing strategies has enabled the control and containment of such diseases, whilst other diseases remain their main priority and focus (Book 3, Page 45). Communicable disease in the developing world plays a major part in the development, growth, prosperity and health of the nations.

The most common methods used to indicate the health of a nation is by measuring Infant Mortality Rates (IMR) and Life expectancy. High IMR is partly due to communicable diseases and is also closely linked to high adult mortality rates. In South Africa the IMR is 8 times greater compared to the UK and the life expectancy of a male in South Africa is 13 years less than in the UK (Book 3, Page 22, Table 2.2). The impact of these diseases can also result in reoccurring illness both in children and adults. Morbidity in young adults in the developing countries, as a result of communicable diseases such as malaria, result in a greater number of days lost at work, in comparison with developed countries. It has been established that the poorer the country, the higher the number of work days lost, and, when work days are lost, so there is a loss of earnings and subsequently leads to a lower quality of life and poorer health (Book 3, Page 41). This in turn leads to economic damage for the country. It is of major importance to prevent and control these diseases not only to save lives and improve health but also to help further socio-economic development and to alleviate poverty in the developing countries. The eradication of these diseases is also a concern for the developed countries. Re-emergence of diseases such as Tb and the current mass population movement leaves a risk of a global epidemic that prompted the WHO to describe TB as a Ð''global emergency' (Book 1, Page 80).

In the fight to control communicable diseases it is important to recognise that there are many factors that contribute to the spread of disease and that these factors are complex and often perpetuate each other. A multi-disciplinary approach needs to be taken.

In the case of Tb, vaccinations and drug therapy was used to aid in the decline of this disease. A drug therapy strategy set up by WHO for the purpose of addressing the Tb epidemic is the Directly-Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) programme. This involves patients being monitored while taking their drug therapy. Health workers keep a record, which is then sent to a national register. The WHO claim that this programme can cure up to 95% of TB patients (Book1, Page 82). Despite the excellent result these methods have some limitations. The supervision of patients can be difficult especially in developing countries. Some patients do not have transport to get to the clinics and may also need to choose a days work over going for treatment (VC 1265). Another limitation is that not all countries adopt this drug therapy treatment. The vaccination also has limitations in that it is only effective in children.

Medical