Health and Human Development
Unit 3: Australia’s health in a globalised world
Area of Study 1- Understanding Health and Wellbeing
• concepts of health and wellbeing (including physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual
dimensions) and illness, and the dynamic and subjective nature of these concepts
Health: A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity.’ (WHO, 1946)
Wellbeing: How a person feels about themselves and their life.
Health and Wellbeing
Relates to the state of a person’s physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual existence and is
characterised by an equilibrium in which an individual feels happy, healthy, capable and engaged.
o Dynamic: Health is dynamic and therefore constantly changing.
o Subjective: Health is subjective and is therefore influenced by or based on personal
beliefs, feelings or opinions.
Disease: A physical or mental disturbance involving symptoms, dysfunction or tissue damage.
Illness: A subjective concept related to personal experience of disease.
Physical health and wellbeing
Relates to the functioning of the body and its systems, it includes the physical capacity to perform
daily activities or tasks. It can be characterised by;
- Healthy body weight
- Freedom from illness, disease and injury
- Adequate energy levels
- Ability to complete physical tasks adequately
- Appropriate levels of fitness
- Strong immune system
- Well-functioning body, systems and organs
Mental health and wellbeing
Refers to a person’s cognitive and thinking processes such as their capacity to think coherently,
express thoughts and feelings and respond constructively to situations.
- Low levels of stress and anxiety
- Positive self esteem
- High levels of confidence
- Positive thought patterns (optimism)
Social health and wellbeing
Relates to the ability to form meaningful and satisfying relationships with others and the ability to
manage or adapt appropriately to different social situations.
- Supportive network of friends
- Supportive and well-functioning family
- Ability to manage or adapt appropriately to different social situations
- Effective communication with others
- Productive relationships with other people
Emotional health and wellbeing
Relates to the ability to recognise, understand and effectively manage emotions and use this
knowledge when thinking, feeling and acting.
- Recognise and understand a range of emotions
- Have a high level of resilience
- Effectively respond to and manage emotions
,Spiritual health and wellbeing
Refers to a positive sense of belonging, meaning and purpose in life. It includes values and beliefs
that influence the way people live, and can be influenced by an individual’s connection to
themselves, others, nature and beyond.
- A sense of belonging
- Positive meaning and purpose in life
- Peace and harmony
- Acting according to values and beliefs
Interrelationships between the 5 dimensions
All 5 dimensions work together to achieve optimal health and wellbeing. High levels of health in one
dimension the other four dimensions. Similarly, if one dimension suffers, the others will likely be
diminished also.
• benefits of optimal health and wellbeing and its importance as a resource individually,
nationally and globally
Health is seen as a resource for everyday life not the objective of living
Optimal health and wellbeing
An individual or group being able to identify and realise aspirations to satisfy needs and to change or
cope with the environment.
Individual benefits
Being healthy can assist in creating a cycle of wellbeing. It allows individuals to work more effectively
and improve their lives, which in turn promotes health and wellbeing. Optimal health and wellbeing
increases the capacity of individuals to;
- Work productively
- Gain an education
- Earn an income
- Exercise
- Do the things they enjoy
National benefits
The importance of optimal health as a resource nationally;
- Longer healthier lives
- Health system savings
- Fewer people relying on social security
- Increased productivity
- Higher average incomes
- Reduced stress and anxiety in the community
- Increased social participation
Global benefits
The importance of optimal health as a resource globally;
- Reduces risk of disease transmission between countries
- Assists in promoting peace and stability
- Promotes economic development
- Promotes social development
- Promotes sustainability
Communicable diseases
Diseases that are passed from one person to another from either direct or indirect contact. These
diseases can spread quickly from person to person and can result in a result in a pandemic.
, • prerequisites for health as determined by the WHO including peace, shelter, education,
food, income, a stable eco-system, sustainable resources, social justice and equity
Essential factors need to first be in place in order to achieve optimal benefits of health as a resource
at all levels;
Peace
The absence of conflict. Reduces the risk of premature death and injury of and increases the ability
of people to work, attend school and spend time with their loved ones.
Shelter
Adequate shelter provides protection and a safe place for people to spend their time and pursue
activities such as study that promote health and wellbeing.
Education
Increase the ability of people to earn an income and improve their socioeconomic status, thereby
promoting health and wellbeing.
Food
Access to a reliable food supply strengthens the functioning of the body systems and allows people
to have enough energy to lead productive lives free from illness.
Income
Allows people to purchase resources such as food, healthcare and shelter that promote health and
wellbeing.
Stable ecosystem
Ensures that the basic resources needed for survival (e.g. food and water) can be regenerated at the
same rate that they are used.
Sustainable resources
Refers to whether current resources required for good health and wellbeing are available for future
generations also.
Social justice.
Refers to equal rights and opportunities for all regardless of sex, class, income, ethnicity, religion,
age, sexual orientation etc.
Equity
Relates to fairness and impartiality within the population
• indicators used to measure and understand health status: incidence, prevalence, morbidity,
burden of disease, disability-adjusted life year (DALY), life expectancy, health-adjusted life
expectancy (HALE), mortality (including maternal, infant and under 5) and self-assessed
health status
Health status
Refers to an individual’s or population’s overall health, taking into account various aspects such as
life expectancy, amount of disability and levels of disease risk factors.
o Indicators of health: Used to measure and understand health status
Self-assessed health status
A measure based on a person’s own opinion about how they feel about their health and wellbeing,
their state of mind and their life in general. It is commonly sourced from population surveys.
Life expectancy
An indication of how long a person can expect to live; it is the number of years of life remaining to a
person at a particular age if death rates do not change.
Health adjusted life expectancy (HALE)
A measure of burden of disease based on life expectancy at birth, but including an adjustment for
time spent in poor health. It is the number of years in full health that a person can expect to live,
based on current rates of ill health and mortality.
, Mortality
The number of deaths caused by a particular disease, illness or other environmental factor. (usually
per 10,000 or 100,000 people in a 12-month period).
Infant mortality rate
The number of deaths of children under 1 year of age per 1000 live births.
Under 5 mortality rate
The number of deaths of children under 5 years of age per 1000 live births.
Maternal mortality rate
Deaths of mothers occurring during pregnancy, childbirth or up to 6 weeks after childbirth, per
100,000 live births.
Morbidity
Refers to ill health in an individual and the levels of ill health in a population or group (usually
measured in a 12-month period).
Incidence
The number of new cases of a disease or condition that have been reported during a specified time
period. E.g. Lung cancer in 2014: 4,000 new cases (12-month period).
Prevalence
The total number of cases of a particular disease or condition present in a population at a given
time. E.g. Lung cancer in 2014: 12,500 Australians in total suffering from lung cancer.
Burden of disease
A measure of the impact of diseases and injuries, specifically it measures the gap between current
health status and an ideal situation where everyone lives to an old age free from disease and
disability. It is measured in a unit called disability adjusted life years (DALY).
Disability adjusted life years (DALY)
A measure of burden of disease. One DALY equals one year of healthy life lost due to premature
death and time lived with illness, disease and injury.
- YLL + YLD = DALY
Years of life lost (YLL)
The number of healthy years of life lost to premature death.
Years of life lost due to disability (YLD)
The number of healthy years of life lost to illness, disease, injury or disability.
• health status of Australians and the biological, sociocultural and environmental factors that
contribute to variations between population groups; males and females, Indigenous and
non-Indigenous, low and high socioeconomic status and those living within and outside
Australia’s major cities.
Biological factors
Relate to the body and the functioning of the body systems including:
o Body weight: The higher the body weight the greater risk of health conditions such
as; high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, impaired glucose regulation,
cardiovascular disease and type two diabetes.
o Blood pressure: Blood pressure is measured using systolic blood pressure (highest
point in pressure cycle when the heart contracts and pumps blood out) over
diastolic blood pressure (when the heart relaxes). Normal blood pressure is
measured as 120 over 80, high blood pressure can lead to hypertension.
- Hypertension: Restricted blood flow, causes increased pressure on heart
and kidneys. Can lead to kidney failure and cardiovascular disease (heart
attack and stroke).
Unit 3: Australia’s health in a globalised world
Area of Study 1- Understanding Health and Wellbeing
• concepts of health and wellbeing (including physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual
dimensions) and illness, and the dynamic and subjective nature of these concepts
Health: A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity.’ (WHO, 1946)
Wellbeing: How a person feels about themselves and their life.
Health and Wellbeing
Relates to the state of a person’s physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual existence and is
characterised by an equilibrium in which an individual feels happy, healthy, capable and engaged.
o Dynamic: Health is dynamic and therefore constantly changing.
o Subjective: Health is subjective and is therefore influenced by or based on personal
beliefs, feelings or opinions.
Disease: A physical or mental disturbance involving symptoms, dysfunction or tissue damage.
Illness: A subjective concept related to personal experience of disease.
Physical health and wellbeing
Relates to the functioning of the body and its systems, it includes the physical capacity to perform
daily activities or tasks. It can be characterised by;
- Healthy body weight
- Freedom from illness, disease and injury
- Adequate energy levels
- Ability to complete physical tasks adequately
- Appropriate levels of fitness
- Strong immune system
- Well-functioning body, systems and organs
Mental health and wellbeing
Refers to a person’s cognitive and thinking processes such as their capacity to think coherently,
express thoughts and feelings and respond constructively to situations.
- Low levels of stress and anxiety
- Positive self esteem
- High levels of confidence
- Positive thought patterns (optimism)
Social health and wellbeing
Relates to the ability to form meaningful and satisfying relationships with others and the ability to
manage or adapt appropriately to different social situations.
- Supportive network of friends
- Supportive and well-functioning family
- Ability to manage or adapt appropriately to different social situations
- Effective communication with others
- Productive relationships with other people
Emotional health and wellbeing
Relates to the ability to recognise, understand and effectively manage emotions and use this
knowledge when thinking, feeling and acting.
- Recognise and understand a range of emotions
- Have a high level of resilience
- Effectively respond to and manage emotions
,Spiritual health and wellbeing
Refers to a positive sense of belonging, meaning and purpose in life. It includes values and beliefs
that influence the way people live, and can be influenced by an individual’s connection to
themselves, others, nature and beyond.
- A sense of belonging
- Positive meaning and purpose in life
- Peace and harmony
- Acting according to values and beliefs
Interrelationships between the 5 dimensions
All 5 dimensions work together to achieve optimal health and wellbeing. High levels of health in one
dimension the other four dimensions. Similarly, if one dimension suffers, the others will likely be
diminished also.
• benefits of optimal health and wellbeing and its importance as a resource individually,
nationally and globally
Health is seen as a resource for everyday life not the objective of living
Optimal health and wellbeing
An individual or group being able to identify and realise aspirations to satisfy needs and to change or
cope with the environment.
Individual benefits
Being healthy can assist in creating a cycle of wellbeing. It allows individuals to work more effectively
and improve their lives, which in turn promotes health and wellbeing. Optimal health and wellbeing
increases the capacity of individuals to;
- Work productively
- Gain an education
- Earn an income
- Exercise
- Do the things they enjoy
National benefits
The importance of optimal health as a resource nationally;
- Longer healthier lives
- Health system savings
- Fewer people relying on social security
- Increased productivity
- Higher average incomes
- Reduced stress and anxiety in the community
- Increased social participation
Global benefits
The importance of optimal health as a resource globally;
- Reduces risk of disease transmission between countries
- Assists in promoting peace and stability
- Promotes economic development
- Promotes social development
- Promotes sustainability
Communicable diseases
Diseases that are passed from one person to another from either direct or indirect contact. These
diseases can spread quickly from person to person and can result in a result in a pandemic.
, • prerequisites for health as determined by the WHO including peace, shelter, education,
food, income, a stable eco-system, sustainable resources, social justice and equity
Essential factors need to first be in place in order to achieve optimal benefits of health as a resource
at all levels;
Peace
The absence of conflict. Reduces the risk of premature death and injury of and increases the ability
of people to work, attend school and spend time with their loved ones.
Shelter
Adequate shelter provides protection and a safe place for people to spend their time and pursue
activities such as study that promote health and wellbeing.
Education
Increase the ability of people to earn an income and improve their socioeconomic status, thereby
promoting health and wellbeing.
Food
Access to a reliable food supply strengthens the functioning of the body systems and allows people
to have enough energy to lead productive lives free from illness.
Income
Allows people to purchase resources such as food, healthcare and shelter that promote health and
wellbeing.
Stable ecosystem
Ensures that the basic resources needed for survival (e.g. food and water) can be regenerated at the
same rate that they are used.
Sustainable resources
Refers to whether current resources required for good health and wellbeing are available for future
generations also.
Social justice.
Refers to equal rights and opportunities for all regardless of sex, class, income, ethnicity, religion,
age, sexual orientation etc.
Equity
Relates to fairness and impartiality within the population
• indicators used to measure and understand health status: incidence, prevalence, morbidity,
burden of disease, disability-adjusted life year (DALY), life expectancy, health-adjusted life
expectancy (HALE), mortality (including maternal, infant and under 5) and self-assessed
health status
Health status
Refers to an individual’s or population’s overall health, taking into account various aspects such as
life expectancy, amount of disability and levels of disease risk factors.
o Indicators of health: Used to measure and understand health status
Self-assessed health status
A measure based on a person’s own opinion about how they feel about their health and wellbeing,
their state of mind and their life in general. It is commonly sourced from population surveys.
Life expectancy
An indication of how long a person can expect to live; it is the number of years of life remaining to a
person at a particular age if death rates do not change.
Health adjusted life expectancy (HALE)
A measure of burden of disease based on life expectancy at birth, but including an adjustment for
time spent in poor health. It is the number of years in full health that a person can expect to live,
based on current rates of ill health and mortality.
, Mortality
The number of deaths caused by a particular disease, illness or other environmental factor. (usually
per 10,000 or 100,000 people in a 12-month period).
Infant mortality rate
The number of deaths of children under 1 year of age per 1000 live births.
Under 5 mortality rate
The number of deaths of children under 5 years of age per 1000 live births.
Maternal mortality rate
Deaths of mothers occurring during pregnancy, childbirth or up to 6 weeks after childbirth, per
100,000 live births.
Morbidity
Refers to ill health in an individual and the levels of ill health in a population or group (usually
measured in a 12-month period).
Incidence
The number of new cases of a disease or condition that have been reported during a specified time
period. E.g. Lung cancer in 2014: 4,000 new cases (12-month period).
Prevalence
The total number of cases of a particular disease or condition present in a population at a given
time. E.g. Lung cancer in 2014: 12,500 Australians in total suffering from lung cancer.
Burden of disease
A measure of the impact of diseases and injuries, specifically it measures the gap between current
health status and an ideal situation where everyone lives to an old age free from disease and
disability. It is measured in a unit called disability adjusted life years (DALY).
Disability adjusted life years (DALY)
A measure of burden of disease. One DALY equals one year of healthy life lost due to premature
death and time lived with illness, disease and injury.
- YLL + YLD = DALY
Years of life lost (YLL)
The number of healthy years of life lost to premature death.
Years of life lost due to disability (YLD)
The number of healthy years of life lost to illness, disease, injury or disability.
• health status of Australians and the biological, sociocultural and environmental factors that
contribute to variations between population groups; males and females, Indigenous and
non-Indigenous, low and high socioeconomic status and those living within and outside
Australia’s major cities.
Biological factors
Relate to the body and the functioning of the body systems including:
o Body weight: The higher the body weight the greater risk of health conditions such
as; high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, impaired glucose regulation,
cardiovascular disease and type two diabetes.
o Blood pressure: Blood pressure is measured using systolic blood pressure (highest
point in pressure cycle when the heart contracts and pumps blood out) over
diastolic blood pressure (when the heart relaxes). Normal blood pressure is
measured as 120 over 80, high blood pressure can lead to hypertension.
- Hypertension: Restricted blood flow, causes increased pressure on heart
and kidneys. Can lead to kidney failure and cardiovascular disease (heart
attack and stroke).
