02. Leading causes of mortality in low-income countries

Question 1

What are the leading 3 causes of mortality in low income countries?

Answer 1

• communicable diseases
• malnutrition
• prenatal and maternal causes

Question 2

Malnutrition

Answer 2

When a persons diet does not provide enough nutrients or the right balance of nutrients for optimal health.

Question 3

Communicable diseases

Answer 3

Caused by infectious agents and can be passed from one person or animal to another.

Question 4

Communicable diseases direct transmission

Answer 4

Through contact with bodily discharge

Question 5

Communicable diseases indirect transmission

Answer 5

Through surfaces or airborne e.g. sharing a drinking glass

Question 6

Communicable diseases by means of vectors

Answer 6

Carried by insect/animal e.g. mosquitoes

Question 7

Examples of communicable diseases

Answer 7

• coronavirus
• malaria
• influenza
• cholera
• measles

Question 8

Prenatal mortality

Answer 8

Deaths that occur to babies - often pre-term babies i.e. still in the womb, still birth.

Question 9

Impact of child marriage

Answer 9

• Increased risk of domestic violence
• Less likely to remain in school
• Teenage pregnancy
• Increased isolation from family and friends

Question 10

What are the 3 leading causes of mortality in high income countries?

Answer 10

• Cardiovascular disease - coronary heart disease and stroke
• Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia
• Cancer

Question 11

State a condition that occurs when a persons diet does not provide enough nutrients or the right balance of nutrients for optimal health

Answer 11

Malnutrition

Question 12

State the umbrella term for a type of disease caused by infectious agents and can be passed from one person or animal to another

Answer 12

Communicable diseases

Question 13

Contact with bodily discharge is a form of which type of transmission of a communicable disease?

Answer 13

direct transmission

Question 14

By sharing a drinking glass is an example of which type of transmission of a communicable disease?

Answer 14

indirect transmission

Question 15

Carried by a something such as mosquitoes is an example of which type of transmission of a communicable disease?

Answer 15

by means of vectors

Question 16

Coronavirus, malaria, influenza, cholera, diarrhoea are examples of what types of disease?

Answer 16

Communicable diseases

Question 17

Name the health status indicator that measures deaths to mothers during pregnancy or childbirth

Answer 17

Maternal mortality rate

Question 18

How can malnutrition increase communicable disease transmission?

Answer 18

lowers immune system functioning = increasing risk of contracting communicable diseases e.g. COVID, influenza, measles, cholera

Question 19

What are the symptoms of cholera?

Answer 19

• abdomen pain
• nausea
• watery diarrhoea
• vomiting.

Question 20

What is cholera?

Answer 20

An acute diarrhoeal illness caused by infection of the intestine with a specific bacteria.

Question 21

How do you get cholera?

Answer 21

Caused by swallowing food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria – “waterborne disease”

Question 22

What are the symptoms of malaria?

Answer 22

• fever
• chills
• headache
• fatigue
• confusion
• seizures
• difficulty breathing

Question 23

What is malaria?

Answer 23

A life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female mosquitoes.

Question 24

What are the symptoms of measles?

Answer 24

• fever
• cough
• red eyes
• red, blotchy rash

Question 25

What impact does measles have on the body?

Answer 25

Can lead to serious complications including ear infections, pneumonia (lung infection) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

Question 26

How can measles be prevented?

Answer 26

- Vaccinations - Washing Hands - Coughing/Sneezing into elbow

Question 27

Define Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)

Answer 27

The number of mothers who die as a result of pregnancy, childbirth or associated treatment (within 6 weeks of delivery) per 100, 000 women who give birth.