life expectancy/death rate Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is meant by the death rate?
The number of deaths per thousand of the population per year
What is the main statistic about death rates in the UK?
In 1990, the death rate stood at 19, whereas by 2007 it almost halved to 10
What are the 6 main reasons for the decline in death rates?
-decline of infectious diseases
-improved nutrition
- medical improvements
- public health improvements
- decline of hazardous occupations
-more affluent lifestyles
What theory can we use for improved nutrition linking to decline in death rates?
Thomas McKeon (1972)
argues people’s natural resistance was increased by improved nutrition
What were the public health measures helping to decline death rates?
-Pasteurization of milk
- clean air act , reducing smog in 1952
What did Tranter(1996) say about the decline in death rates?
claimed that over 3/4 of the decline in death rates from 1850 to 1970 was due to the decline of infectious diseases e.g. small pox
why did the decline in hazardous occupations help decline the death rate?
More laws surrounding employee safety e.g. helmets
child labour laws
What is meant by life expectancy?
Refers to how long we can expect to live for
what is the main statistic proving life expectancy is increasing?
In 1990, males were expected to live until 50 and females 57, now in 2020 its 85 for males and 88 for females
how can class and regional differences impact life expectancy?
working class men in unskilled jobs are nearly three times more likely to die before they are 65 compared to men in managerial jobs. People in the north of England and in Scotland are also likely to live shorter lives
What are the 5 key factors which are improving life expectancy?
-improved nutrition
- improved public health
- fall in IMR
- medical improvements
- fewer wars/hazardous occupations
What does Walker(2011) say about class differences affecting life expectancy?
those living in the poorest areas of England die on average seven years earlier than those in the richest areas
What are the positives of an increased life expectancy?
-grandparents helping with childcare
-beanpole families(saves money)
-greypound( elderlies boosting economy due to disposable income)
What are the negative concequences for increasing life expectancy?
-lonliness
- fuel poverty
- rise in divorce rates
- dependency ratio increases
