HS 301 EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
\.How does US life expectancy compare with that of other industrialized nations
today? - ANSWERS -Life expectancy in the United States is ranked 32nd in the
world below most other industrialized nations. Americans experience higher rates
of disease, injury, and health-damaging behaviors that do men and women in
other high-income countries.
\.How did US life expectancy compare with that of other industrialized nations
fifty years ago? - ANSWERS -The past 50 years have witnessed remarkable gains
in life expectancy and 16 other country members of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD). However, improvements have occurred at
various paces across nations. Life expectancy gains in the US have not kept pace
with gains in other countries.
\.What are some of the causes of mortality that are particularly high in the US
compared with the other OECD countries? - ANSWERS -Mortality rates from
infectious diseases; complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium;
and conditions originating in the perinatal period are higher in the United States
than in nearly all other OECD countries.
\.Name at least three factors that may contribute to the US/OECD gap in health
outcomes. - ANSWERS -The four mechanisms for the explanations for the
US/OECD gap are: Medical care and public health, individual behaviors,
social/demographic factors and physical environment.
, Medical and public health specific factors are access to health care insurance,
quality of medical care, and quality of public health system.
Individual behavior specific factors are: tobacco use, obesity, diet, physical
inactivity, alcohol and other substance use, sexual practices, violence (especially
firearm suicide and homicide), and automobile reliance.
Social/demographic factors specific factors are socioeconomic inequality and
poverty, racial disparities and residential segregation, and social integration and
social interactions.
Physical environmental factors specific factors are built environment (urban
design, transport infrastructure, land-use mix, urban planning and design), and
food environment.
\.How do non-fatal health outcomes in the US population compare to those in the
other OECD countries? - ANSWERS -a. Compared with most other countries,
Americans have higher prevalence of low birth weight, traffic injuries and HIV
incidence. Americans are more likely to rate their own health as good than are
men and women in other high-income countries. Americans also have higher
prevalence of preterm births and poor maternal health; adolescent pregnancy and
sexually transmitted infections; and overweight, obesity, and diabetes during
childhood and middle age. Older Americans report a higher prevalence of heart
disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, lung disease, and limitation with
basic instrumental activities of daily living than do their European counterparts at
ages 50 and above.
\.Explain the idea of the "eight Americas." How do mortality rates in the eight
Americas compare to the other OECD nations? - ANSWERS -The eight Americas
are subdivisions of the United States into eight race-county combinations. Large
differences were found in life expectancy among these groups. For young and
middle-aged males and females, mortality in the disadvantaged Americas is up to
CORRECT ANSWERS
\.How does US life expectancy compare with that of other industrialized nations
today? - ANSWERS -Life expectancy in the United States is ranked 32nd in the
world below most other industrialized nations. Americans experience higher rates
of disease, injury, and health-damaging behaviors that do men and women in
other high-income countries.
\.How did US life expectancy compare with that of other industrialized nations
fifty years ago? - ANSWERS -The past 50 years have witnessed remarkable gains
in life expectancy and 16 other country members of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD). However, improvements have occurred at
various paces across nations. Life expectancy gains in the US have not kept pace
with gains in other countries.
\.What are some of the causes of mortality that are particularly high in the US
compared with the other OECD countries? - ANSWERS -Mortality rates from
infectious diseases; complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium;
and conditions originating in the perinatal period are higher in the United States
than in nearly all other OECD countries.
\.Name at least three factors that may contribute to the US/OECD gap in health
outcomes. - ANSWERS -The four mechanisms for the explanations for the
US/OECD gap are: Medical care and public health, individual behaviors,
social/demographic factors and physical environment.
, Medical and public health specific factors are access to health care insurance,
quality of medical care, and quality of public health system.
Individual behavior specific factors are: tobacco use, obesity, diet, physical
inactivity, alcohol and other substance use, sexual practices, violence (especially
firearm suicide and homicide), and automobile reliance.
Social/demographic factors specific factors are socioeconomic inequality and
poverty, racial disparities and residential segregation, and social integration and
social interactions.
Physical environmental factors specific factors are built environment (urban
design, transport infrastructure, land-use mix, urban planning and design), and
food environment.
\.How do non-fatal health outcomes in the US population compare to those in the
other OECD countries? - ANSWERS -a. Compared with most other countries,
Americans have higher prevalence of low birth weight, traffic injuries and HIV
incidence. Americans are more likely to rate their own health as good than are
men and women in other high-income countries. Americans also have higher
prevalence of preterm births and poor maternal health; adolescent pregnancy and
sexually transmitted infections; and overweight, obesity, and diabetes during
childhood and middle age. Older Americans report a higher prevalence of heart
disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, lung disease, and limitation with
basic instrumental activities of daily living than do their European counterparts at
ages 50 and above.
\.Explain the idea of the "eight Americas." How do mortality rates in the eight
Americas compare to the other OECD nations? - ANSWERS -The eight Americas
are subdivisions of the United States into eight race-county combinations. Large
differences were found in life expectancy among these groups. For young and
middle-aged males and females, mortality in the disadvantaged Americas is up to
