U3 AOS2 Improvements in Australias Health Status Flashcards
(27 cards)
How has Australia’s health status changed since 1900?
Health status has significantly improved, with increases in life expectancy and reductions in mortality rates.
What was male life expectancy in 1900 compared to 2022?
It increased from 53.8 years in 1900 to 81.2 years in 2022.
What was female life expectancy in 1900 compared to 2022?
It increased from 57.5 years in 1900 to 85.3 years in 2022.
What trend has been seen in mortality rates in Australia since 1900?
Mortality rates have decreased significantly over time.
What has been a major reason for the increase in life expectancy?
A significant decline in infant and under-five mortality rates.
Besides changes in life expectancy and mortality rates, what else has changed since 1900?
The patterns of disease and conditions causing death have changed.
What are the five broad disease and injury groups contributing to mortality patterns in Australia?
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Cancers (neoplasms)
Injury and poisoning
Respiratory diseases
Cardiovascular diseases
What were the leading causes of death in Australia in the early 20th century?
Infectious and parasitic diseases were the most common, causing 13% of all deaths.
What living conditions contributed to the spread of infectious diseases in early 1900s Australia?
Poor sanitation, unsafe water, overcrowding, and inadequate waste removal.
What were some of the major infectious and parasitic diseases affecting Australians in the early 1900s?
Cholera, smallpox, polio, tuberculosis, measles, whooping cough, and diphtheria.
Which age group was most affected by infectious and parasitic diseases in early 20th century Australia?
Children were the most affected.
What interventions led to a decrease in deaths from infectious and parasitic diseases?
Provision of safe water, sanitation, improved nutrition and education, and mass vaccination programs.
How did cancer death rates trend during the twentieth century in Australia?
They increased throughout the century, peaking in the mid-1980s before gradually declining.
What was the main cause of the rise in cancer deaths during the 20th century?
An increase in lung cancer due to high rates of cigarette smoking in the 1920s.
What has contributed to the recent decline in cancer mortality rates?
Advances in medical technology and early detection of cancer.
Which types of cancer have shown reductions in incidence and mortality?
Breast, bowel, and cervical cancers.
Since when have cardiovascular diseases been major causes of death in Australia?
Since 1900, particularly coronary heart disease and stroke.
When did cardiovascular disease death rates peak?
In the mid-1960s.
Have death rates from cardiovascular diseases declined since their peak?
Yes, although CVD remains a major cause of death.
What are examples of respiratory diseases?
COVID-19, pneumonia, influenza, asthma, and COPD.
Which respiratory diseases were major causes of death in 1900?
Pneumonia and influenza.
What interventions have helped reduce deaths from respiratory infections since 1900?
Improved hygiene and widespread vaccination programs.
How did COVID-19 affect respiratory disease death rates between 2020–2023?
It significantly increased death rates from respiratory diseases.
What was notable about COVID-19 in 2022 regarding causes of death in Australia?
It became one of the top five leading causes of death — the first infectious disease to do so in over 50 years.
