World Health and Disease: Bk. 3 (Health & Disease S.)

by Alastair Gray (Author), Alastair Gray (Author), Phillip Payne (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2001

  $4.32

  This book presents a global view of human health. It traces some of the major changes in the health and disease patterns affecting humankind, and sets these in the context of demographic change and economic development. The book addresses a series of important questions. How and why have patterns of health and disease changed so dramatically in industrialized countries over the last century? And why, within a relatively wealthy country such as the United Kingdom, is there so much variation in health between women and men, married and single, people from different ethnic groups, manual and non-manual workers? What is the evidence supporting competing explanations for the 'health divide' between groups with the best and the worst health experience? Globally, how are the health problems confronting the populations of developing countries different from those of the developed world, where has progress been achieved, and where are past gains being undermined? Does rapid population growth testify to health improvements, but does it also threaten them? To examine these questions, the authors of this book have drawn together arguments and evidence from a wide range of disciplines, in particular demography, economics, nutrition, history, biology and epidemiology. The book also considers ways in which evidence, and in particular statistical data, can be used or abused. Over 120 tables and figures illustrate and augment the text. Two detailed case studies - on Bangladesh and on the relationship between food, health and disease - explore the themes of the book in depth.

• Used

  Paperback
  1993

  $3.39

  An examination of contemporary and historical patterns of health and disease in the UK and the rest of the world. Over the past century, the health of people living in industrialized countries has improved dramatically - but why? How does this compare with the experience of people living elsewhere? And why, within a country such as the UK, do inequalities exist between women and men, the married and the single, manual and non-manual workers, black people and white people? The book explores national and international patterns of health and disease. It begins by analyzing birth, disease and death rates around the world, and examines the impact of social, economic and medical change. The authors then focus on the UK, tracing in detail the present patterns of mortality and ill health, their historical background and their connection with factors such as income, housing, occupation and employment. The book concludes by looking at the development of the modern diet, a story that illustrates the many - and sometimes unexpected - influences on patterns of health and disease, but one that also underlines how imperfect our knowledge of these influences can be. World Health and Disease is a completely revised and updated version of The Health of Nations , published by Open University Press in 1985. It is aimed particularly at lay and professional health care workers with an interest in all aspects of health and health care, as well as students of the social sciences, medicine and nursing, social work and soial policy.