Variations+in+Health

Variations in health since 1950.
 * 1. HEALTH **




 * Life Expectancy at Birth **

Variations in health can be measured by explaining variations in life expectancy of a given population. Life expectancy refers to the average number of years that a person is expected to live at the time of **their birth**. Life expectancy has increased over the years in many parts of the world since 1950. Differences however occur in the pattern and distribution of Life Expectancy. Africans can live an average of 52yrs, Asians 66 and South Americans 69.

Life Expectancy for advanced countries like US is 77, EU 73, Canada 80. Japan has the highest of about 82yrs. This shows that LE is increasing globally, except in most African countries.  The causes of such increase in life expectancy include;
 * improved food production and nutrition
 * better hygiene
 * greater availability of clean water
 * better health care delivery: in that there has been an improvement in the technology levels and infrastructure hence Health care is more efficient and reliable i.e drones will be able to transport blood supplies hence reducing death due to lack of blood.
 * improvement in housing- leads to a reduction in diseases associated with leaving in under poor conditions.

Diseases that affect people in LEDCs or poor neighborhoods such as malnutrition, malaria, river blindness and cholera are called **disease of poverty**. In Africa, especially in Botswana, the major disease which is responsible for a fall in LE is HIV/AIDs.

On the other hand, diseases that affect people in MEDCs are called **disease of affluence**. These include heart Diabetes, Coronary heart diseases, obesity, strokes and cancers etc.

Variations in Life Expectancy may also occur in some cultures. E.g in Infant Mortality Rate in SA is higher among Blacks than Infant Mortality Rate among White population. Also, in Brazil, Life Expectancy among affluent Brazilians is higher than the poor living in the shanty towns.

Affluent people are less likely to get the Disease of poverty because they have the necessary resources that will enable them to access health care systems, have good nutrition, good housing, good sanitation.On the other hand, they are more likely to suffer from the diseases of affluent because of their sedentary lifestyle.
 * Influence of Incomes and lifestyles on Disease Pattern**