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The World of Child 6 Billion
HEALTHPresentation GuideKey Issue(s):
Access to health care; immunization rates; causes of disease Discussion Openers
1. What information is the graph presenting?
2. What conclusions can you make from the data provided?
3. Which of those conclusions are based on fact and which are inferred?
4. What further information would you need to test your conclusions?
view full-size graph
| | Causes of Death Differ by Where People Live
[Graph 9] People in less developed countries die from very different causes than do those in the countries that are more developed. These pie charts depict the percentages of deaths due to different causes in the more developed countries overall and the less developed countries overall. - In less developed countries the largest cause of death is infectious and parasitic diseases. Overall, in the more developed countries these diseases account for just 1 percent of deaths.
- Most infectious and parasitic diseases are preventable.
- The percent of deaths that are due to perinatal* and maternal causes are 10 times higher in less developed countries than in the more developed countries.
- In the more developed countries diseases of the circulatory system account for more than twice as many deaths as any other cause. These diseases include coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases.
- The percentage of people who die of cancer is twice as high in the more developed countries than in less developed countries.
Notes: Infectious and parasitic diseases include tuberculosis, diarrheal diseases, malaria, pneumonia, influenza and other respiratory diseases, measles, and HIV/AIDS, among others.
* Perinatal deaths are those that occur within 28 days of birth. They include prematurity, birth trauma, and other causes.
Maternal deaths are those that result from pregnancy and childbirth. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that approximately 600,000 women die each year from maternal causes. Most of these deaths could be prevented with better access to health care. |
Discussion - Why might causes of death be so drastically different for the more developed vs. the less developed countries (especially for infectious and parasitic diseases, diseases of the circulatory system, and infant and maternal causes)?
- How might a visit by Child 6 Billion to a health-care provider differ from such a visit by you?
- Can people without medical training do something to improve health in their community? In other parts of the world? What?
Other Topics for Extension: - What is the immunization rate for a given disease in your community? In what areas of the world is it worse/better?
- How available are health-care resources in your community? How many people are there per doctor and how easy is it to get prescription and over-the-counter medications? Compare with other communities both in this country and abroad.
- Research current techniques for combating certain infectious and parasitic diseases and their success rates. What potential hurdles exist for widespread implementation? (Examples include prohibitive cost, or serum that is not easily transported or requires refrigeration.)
- Explore health problems that are caused by inadequate nutrition (such as vitamin deficiencies). In what parts of the world are these problems faced? What efforts are underway to improve the situation?
Sources: S. Jay Olshansky, Bruce Carnes, Richard G. Rogers, and Len Smith, "Infectious Diseases: New and Ancient Threats to World Health," Population Bulletin 52:2, PRB, Washington, D.C., 1996; WHO and UNICEF, Revised 1990 Estimates of Maternal Mortality, 1996.
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