Health And Development

Health and Development

Health is another indicator of social development; it can be measured in a number of ways such as life expectancy, infant mortality rate, and maternal mortality rates.

There are a number of health related Millennium Development Goals such as;

• To reduce child mortality

• To improve maternal health

• To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Diseases of poverty and Diseases Of Affluence

Diseases of Poverty- diseases that are more prevalent amongst the world’s poorest people
Disease of Affluence – diseases that are associated with increasing wealth in society

Braveman has noticed that there is a universally strong link between poverty and health. Poverty causes and increased susceptibility to disease through malnutrition and lack of access to medicinal services.

The Epidemiologic Transition

Epidemiologic Transition is the change that has taken place in many developing countries of diseases are becoming less widespread, and diseases of affluence are becoming more common.

The World Health Organisation argues that;

• Lifestyle and behaviour are linked to 20-25% of the global burden of disease, and this proportion is rapidly increasing in developing countries – a sigh of poverty decreasing.

• By the Year 2020 non-communicable diseases are expected to accou9nt for seven of every 10 deaths in the developing regions, compared to less than half today.
  

Modernisation Theory and Health

M. theorists offer a cultural explanation for poor health in the developing world. People experience poor health because of a continued belief in traditional practices and superstitions.
Therefore health in the developing world…