Burden of disease Homework Help

Burden of disease

Good health is very critical to human welfare. Sustained economic and social development globally also depends on the good health of the general population. The member states of the world health organization (WHO) have set the target of formulating strategies aimed at improving accessibility and availability of health services to citizens (The World Health Report, 2012). An example of an initiative that the world health organization has taken in addressing the public health policy debate is the evidenced-based input through the global burden of disease. The global burden of disease (GBD) is a regional and global assessment that is done comprehensively on mortality and disability from an estimate of 107 diseases and injuries and also ten risk factors (Bui & Markle, 2007). The study carried out purposes to make information and projections about disease burden globally available. The burden of disease is the gap created between the health status at present and an ideal health state where every person lives into old age disease and disability free. Exposure to certain risk factors contributing to the illness, disability, and premature mortality are causes of the gap. This paper will look at the global burden of disease and possible strategies to solving this problem.
2.0 Discussion
2.1 Facts on Global Burden of Disease
Approximately 10 million children below five years of age die annually (Black, 2011a). Their deaths can be largely attributed to lack of access to simple and affordable interventions. With statistics such as this the world health organization would be best placed to formulate appropriate strategies to deliver integrated and effective health care as well as strengthen health systems. In this way the deaths of children would be greatly reduced. Of all deaths related to health problems, deaths resulting from cardiovascular diseases are considered to be the most. Cardiovascular diseases are those diseases of the heart and blood vessels and that cause stroke and heart attacks. Prevention measures such as regular physical activity, a healthy diet, and discouraged use of tobacco would reduce the deaths resulting from cardiovascular diseases by more than 70% (Black, 2011b). In Africa, where HIV/AIDS infections are still high, most of adult deaths are linked to HIV/AIDS. This high HIV/AIDS mortality continues to dominate despite the substantial progress that has been achieved in the treatment and prevention of the disease. Obstacles such as lack of access to health services, shortage of human resources and weak health care systems limit provision of better health care.
Age associated chronic diseases are on the increase and this can be attributed to the increasing population of older population globally (Black, 2011c). In preparation of the growing needs of the elderly, health care givers, health systems and the societies in the whole world should be made aware and trained on the needs of the elderly. Cancer is a major killer worldwide. However, lung cancer has been found to be the most common cause of cancer related deaths. In developing countries for instance smoking contributes to more than 80% of cancers of the lung. Approximately 15% of deaths women of reproductive age experience worldwide result from complications of pregnancy (Black, 2011d). The social and economic losses experienced from these deaths could have been reduced by a large margin since more than five hundred thousand women dying from complications during pregnancy or childbirth die from preventable complications. Improving maternal health through improved health care before and after childbirth is one particular strategy that would combat this problem. Mental disorders have been linked with several causes of disability in the world. Approximately 120 million people are affected by depression globally and this number is not projected to decrease any time soon (Black, 2011e). Less than 25% of those affected by depression are the only ones who have access to adequate health care and treatment.
In 2004, road traffic injuries were ranked ninth as the cause of death globally. It is projected that by 2030 they will rise to fifth (Black, 2011f). More than three thousand people die in road traffic crashes and millions injured while others are disabled. Promotion of road safety practices would greatly help in preventing these deaths. An estimated 30% of deaths in children below five years of age are caused by under-nutrition. Approximately 20 million children in the world are malnourished (Black, 2011g). Lack of access to nutritious foods, inadequate breastfeeding, and administering of inappropriate food are sample causes of the under-nutrition. Also common childhood diseases can be attributed to the reduced appetite in children and absorption of the necessary nutrients from food.
2.2 Suggested solutions to the excess burden of disease in developing countries
High-income countries are not as affected by the burden of disease compared to low- and middle-income countries. The burdens as discussed are primarily associated with reproductive health, child illnesses, and infectious diseases. The occurrence of communicable diseases, maternal and neonatal conditions is very low in high-income countries compared to the approximate number of 17.6 million people who die in low- and middle-income countries each year from these illnesses (Jarnison et al, 2006a). Although the greater wealth and better general living conditions in high-income countries can be pointed as positive factors for the low infection rate, the use of cost-effective health interventions must also not be overlooked. Applying known and cost effective measures in addressing diseases in the GBD could reduce the numerous needless deaths substantially. The use of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) would for instance reduce case fatalities that are associated with childhood diarrhea (Jarnison et al, 2011b). Skilled birth attendance, provision of prenatal care, tetanus immunization, hygienic care of the umbilical cord of a newborn, immunization against childhood illnesses and use of the DOTS strategy in control of TB are other cost-effective measures that can be utilized in addressing the burden of disease in developing countries. Efforts to reverse the HIV/AIDS epidemic are founded on preventive measures. These measures include educating people on the infection, how it is transmitted, and encouraging use of condoms, consistent screening of blood used for transfusion, and promoting use of clean needles in health institutions or health care situations (Martin, 2007). Halting mother to child transmission can be achieved through the use of antiretroviral drugs. Making these services accessible is very core to the realization of the goal of reversing this epidemic.
In the 57th World Health Assembly carried out in May of 2004, a global strategy on diet, physical activity, and health was adopted in a unanimous manner by the member states of the WHO (Lopez et al, 2006). Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have a lot to gain from this strategy which took 18 months during multi-stakeholder consultations especially since it opens doors for policy-makers to develop new and appropriate initiatives to tackle the rise of NCDs in the world.
3.0 Summary
The global burden of disease has been adopted to address the public health policy debate through the use of evidence based input. Ill-health is known to impact on nations worldwide negatively both socially and economically in development. There are various facts connected to the burden of disease such as the approximate numbers in the rates of infection with HIV/AIDS and the prevalent large number of deaths caused by lung cancer. Developing countries have had to experience the full impact of the burden of disease since the diseases in GBD are in large numbers in developing countries.
4.0 Recommendations
Regular physical activity, discouraging use of tobacco and consumption of a healthy diet are examples of measures that are recommendable for reducing deaths resulting from cardiovascular diseases. The HIV/AIDS epidemic can be addressed through ensuring that health services are accessible to all especially in developing countries where this epidemic affects people most. In addition, more health care professionals should be employed to cover the shortage and weak health systems should be strengthened. Cost-effective health interventions should be advocated for such as the use of ORT in child diarrhea, application of skilled birth attendance and increased immunization against child illnesses.

5.0 References

Black, C. (2011). 10 Facts on the Global Burden of Disease. World Health Organization. Retrieved January 9, 2011 from: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/global_burden/facts/en/index.html
Bui, T. D. & Markle, W. H. (2007). Global health: past, present and future. In Markle, W. H., Fisher, M., & Smego, R. A. (Eds), Understanding global health (pp. 19-36). The McGraw-Hill, Columbus, OH. Retrieved from:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47566859/Understanding%20Global%20Health%20Chapter%202.pdf on 01-12-2012
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47566859/Understanding%20Global%20Health%20Chapter%203.pdf on 01-12-2012
Jarnison, D. T. et al (2006). Chapter 4: Cost-Effective Strategies for the Excess Burden of Disease in Developing Countries. Priorities in Health. Retrieved January 9, 2011 from: http://www.dcp2.org/pubs/PIH
Lopez, A. D. et al (2006) Global Burden of Disease and Risk Factors. Disease Control Priorities Project. Retrieved January 9, 2011 from: http://www.dcp2.org/pubs/GBD
Martin, C. (2007). Global health: past, present and future. In Markle, W. H., Fisher, M., & Smego, R. A. (Eds), Understanding global health (pp. 37-60). The McGraw-Hill, Columbus, OH. Retrieved from:
World Health Organization (2012). The World Health Report. Retrieved January 9, 2011 from: http://www.who.int/whr/en/