Chapter 4 Global Health
1. Which example best illustrates the World Health Organization's definition of health?
A) 72-year-old woman with well-managed diabetes who walks 2 miles every day and takes
classes at the local community college
B) 20-year-old man with no significant history of disease who smokes, works a stressful job, and
is sedentary
C) 50-year-old woman with no health complaints who is alcoholic, lives alone with little social
contact, and is obese
D) 98-year-old man with dementia who resides in an assisted living facility
Ans: A
Feedback:
The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social
well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Although the
72-year-old woman has diabetes, she is managing it well, is physically active, and is effectively
developing her mental and social well-being. The 20-year-old man and
50-year-old woman, although they have no known health concerns, do not have healthy lifestyles.
The 98-year-old man has a mental condition and there are no indicators of physical or social well-
being.
Origin: Chapter 4- Health and the Global Environment, 2
2. The nurse collects specific data related to risk factors, health indicators, and health outcomes that
determine the burden of disease. Which data would the measure known as HALE yield about health
indicators and outcomes?
A) Average number of years a newborn is expected to live if current mortality rates continue to
apply
B) Average number of years that a person can expect to live in “full health” by taking into
account years lived in less than full health due to disease and/or injury
C) Quantifying the burden of disease to a healthy life on the basis of the loss of years related to
the burden of disease. The gap in years reflects the current state of
health compared with an optimum state of health of a nation.
Page 1
,D) Quantifying the burden of acute illness to a healthy life on the basis of the loss of years
related to the burden of acute illness. The gap in years reflects the current state of health compared
with an optimum state of health of a nation.
Ans: B
Feedback:
Health-adjusted life expectancy at birth (HALE) is the average number of years that a person can
expect to live in “full health” by taking into account years lived in less than full health due to disease
and/or injury. Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn is expected to live if
current mortality rates continue to apply. Disability-adjusted life years (DALY) is a measure that
quantifies the burden of disease
to a healthy life on the basis of the loss of years related to the burden of disease. The gap in years
reflects the current state of health compared with an optimum state of health of
a nation. Acute illness is not a factor in determining health indicators.
Page 2
, Origin: Chapter 4- Health and the Global Environment, 3
3. The nurse prepares a presentation about the World Health Organization's World Health
Statistics Report for 2013. Which trend is mentioned in this report?
A) Children in low-income countries are 2 times more likely to die before reaching the age of 5
years than children in high-income countries.
B) Every day 800 women die due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
C) Zimbabwe now has a higher life expectancy than 7 out of 10 countries in Eastern
Europe.
D) Almost 5% of the world's adult population has diabetes. Ans: B
Feedback:
The report includes the following statistics. Every day, about 800 women die due to complications of
pregnancy and childbirth. Children in low-income countries are 16 times more likely (not 2 times
more likely) to die before reaching the age of 5 years than children in high-income countries. China,
not Zimbabwe, now has a higher life expectancy at birth than 7 out of 10 countries in Eastern Europe.
Almost 10%, not 5%,
of the world's adult population has diabetes, measured by elevated fasting blood glucose
(≥126 mg/dL).
Origin: Chapter 4- Health and the Global Environment, 4
4. Which risk factor for poor health is associated with low- and middle-income countries? (Select all
that apply.)
A) Burning of wood and dung for cooking and heat
B) Low status of women
C) Sedentary lifestyle
D) Not wrapping an infant immediately after birth
E) Overconsumption of fatty foods
Ans: A, B, D
Feedback:
Low- and middle-income countries have an increased burden of the risk factor of poverty. Extreme
poverty—the inability to meet the basic needs of adequate nutrition, safe drinking water, basic
Page 3
1. Which example best illustrates the World Health Organization's definition of health?
A) 72-year-old woman with well-managed diabetes who walks 2 miles every day and takes
classes at the local community college
B) 20-year-old man with no significant history of disease who smokes, works a stressful job, and
is sedentary
C) 50-year-old woman with no health complaints who is alcoholic, lives alone with little social
contact, and is obese
D) 98-year-old man with dementia who resides in an assisted living facility
Ans: A
Feedback:
The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social
well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Although the
72-year-old woman has diabetes, she is managing it well, is physically active, and is effectively
developing her mental and social well-being. The 20-year-old man and
50-year-old woman, although they have no known health concerns, do not have healthy lifestyles.
The 98-year-old man has a mental condition and there are no indicators of physical or social well-
being.
Origin: Chapter 4- Health and the Global Environment, 2
2. The nurse collects specific data related to risk factors, health indicators, and health outcomes that
determine the burden of disease. Which data would the measure known as HALE yield about health
indicators and outcomes?
A) Average number of years a newborn is expected to live if current mortality rates continue to
apply
B) Average number of years that a person can expect to live in “full health” by taking into
account years lived in less than full health due to disease and/or injury
C) Quantifying the burden of disease to a healthy life on the basis of the loss of years related to
the burden of disease. The gap in years reflects the current state of
health compared with an optimum state of health of a nation.
Page 1
,D) Quantifying the burden of acute illness to a healthy life on the basis of the loss of years
related to the burden of acute illness. The gap in years reflects the current state of health compared
with an optimum state of health of a nation.
Ans: B
Feedback:
Health-adjusted life expectancy at birth (HALE) is the average number of years that a person can
expect to live in “full health” by taking into account years lived in less than full health due to disease
and/or injury. Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn is expected to live if
current mortality rates continue to apply. Disability-adjusted life years (DALY) is a measure that
quantifies the burden of disease
to a healthy life on the basis of the loss of years related to the burden of disease. The gap in years
reflects the current state of health compared with an optimum state of health of
a nation. Acute illness is not a factor in determining health indicators.
Page 2
, Origin: Chapter 4- Health and the Global Environment, 3
3. The nurse prepares a presentation about the World Health Organization's World Health
Statistics Report for 2013. Which trend is mentioned in this report?
A) Children in low-income countries are 2 times more likely to die before reaching the age of 5
years than children in high-income countries.
B) Every day 800 women die due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
C) Zimbabwe now has a higher life expectancy than 7 out of 10 countries in Eastern
Europe.
D) Almost 5% of the world's adult population has diabetes. Ans: B
Feedback:
The report includes the following statistics. Every day, about 800 women die due to complications of
pregnancy and childbirth. Children in low-income countries are 16 times more likely (not 2 times
more likely) to die before reaching the age of 5 years than children in high-income countries. China,
not Zimbabwe, now has a higher life expectancy at birth than 7 out of 10 countries in Eastern Europe.
Almost 10%, not 5%,
of the world's adult population has diabetes, measured by elevated fasting blood glucose
(≥126 mg/dL).
Origin: Chapter 4- Health and the Global Environment, 4
4. Which risk factor for poor health is associated with low- and middle-income countries? (Select all
that apply.)
A) Burning of wood and dung for cooking and heat
B) Low status of women
C) Sedentary lifestyle
D) Not wrapping an infant immediately after birth
E) Overconsumption of fatty foods
Ans: A, B, D
Feedback:
Low- and middle-income countries have an increased burden of the risk factor of poverty. Extreme
poverty—the inability to meet the basic needs of adequate nutrition, safe drinking water, basic
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