People in different parts of the world face drastically different health risks, because of the differences in health care, wealth, and welfare systems between developed and developing countries. This essay will explain the epidemiological transition, how development influence the health threats people face, and answer the essential question of why people in different parts of the world face different health risks.
The epidemiological transition is the science that studies the pattern, causes and effects of health and disease condition in defined conditions; it is classified into 5 stages. In stage one of the epidemiological transition, the main health risk that people face are pestilence (parasitic and infectious diseases) and famine. Because of the lack of medical technology, sanitation, and food, death rates are extremely high in stage one. In stage two of the epidemiological transition, pandemics start to recede because of the advancement of medical technology and food production. Death rates in stage two drops drastically in most areas, but it is still high in poor areas where the environment is unsanitary and people can’t afford medication. In stage three, the population experience a rise in chronic diseases because of the raise of life expectancy rate (because people don’t often die from parasitic and infectious diseases at a young age and elderly are more likely to get chronic diseases). Death rates are moderately declining, and the main cause of death is cardiovascular disease and cancer. Stage four is the stage of delayed degenerative disease, in which the life expectancy for old people becomes longer. There is a possible stage five of the epidemiological transition. In stage five, infectious and parasitic diseases become a major health threat again because of evolution of virus/bacteria and the increased connections which will allow diseases to spread rapidly and widely.
Developed countries are more likely to be in stage four of the epidemiological transition, in which the health risks that people mainly face are delayed degenerative diseases. Life span is significantly longer comparing the life span in developing countries. There are more medical resources in developed available, for instance, there are more hospital beds per person in developed countries than in developing countries. They are more likely to receive proper medical care because they are more likely of being able to afford and governments of developed countries tend to spend extensively more of the government expenditure on providing cheaper and better quality health care. Developing countries are more likely to be in stage 2 of the epidemiological transition. People often don’t have access to hospitals or can’t afford it. Sanitation in developing countries also contributes to the health risk people face. There are approximately 345 millions of people who don’t have access to clean, safe water. More than 3.4 million people die each year from water, sanitation, and hygiene-related causes. More than 99 percent of the deaths come from developing countries.
People in developed countries likely to face the risk of chronic diseases and cancer, but they tend to live longer because of the availability of health care. People in developing countries are more likely to face the health risk of parasitic and infectious diseases. Based on these reasons, people in different parts of the world face drastically different health risks, because of the differences in health care, wealth, and welfare systems between developed and developing countries.
The epidemiological transition is the science that studies the pattern, causes and effects of health and disease condition in defined conditions; it is classified into 5 stages. In stage one of the epidemiological transition, the main health risk that people face are pestilence (parasitic and infectious diseases) and famine. Because of the lack of medical technology, sanitation, and food, death rates are extremely high in stage one. In stage two of the epidemiological transition, pandemics start to recede because of the advancement of medical technology and food production. Death rates in stage two drops drastically in most areas, but it is still high in poor areas where the environment is unsanitary and people can’t afford medication. In stage three, the population experience a rise in chronic diseases because of the raise of life expectancy rate (because people don’t often die from parasitic and infectious diseases at a young age and elderly are more likely to get chronic diseases). Death rates are moderately declining, and the main cause of death is cardiovascular disease and cancer. Stage four is the stage of delayed degenerative disease, in which the life expectancy for old people becomes longer. There is a possible stage five of the epidemiological transition. In stage five, infectious and parasitic diseases become a major health threat again because of evolution of virus/bacteria and the increased connections which will allow diseases to spread rapidly and widely.
Developed countries are more likely to be in stage four of the epidemiological transition, in which the health risks that people mainly face are delayed degenerative diseases. Life span is significantly longer comparing the life span in developing countries. There are more medical resources in developed available, for instance, there are more hospital beds per person in developed countries than in developing countries. They are more likely to receive proper medical care because they are more likely of being able to afford and governments of developed countries tend to spend extensively more of the government expenditure on providing cheaper and better quality health care. Developing countries are more likely to be in stage 2 of the epidemiological transition. People often don’t have access to hospitals or can’t afford it. Sanitation in developing countries also contributes to the health risk people face. There are approximately 345 millions of people who don’t have access to clean, safe water. More than 3.4 million people die each year from water, sanitation, and hygiene-related causes. More than 99 percent of the deaths come from developing countries.
People in developed countries likely to face the risk of chronic diseases and cancer, but they tend to live longer because of the availability of health care. People in developing countries are more likely to face the health risk of parasitic and infectious diseases. Based on these reasons, people in different parts of the world face drastically different health risks, because of the differences in health care, wealth, and welfare systems between developed and developing countries.