Name: Date:
PH 520 Epidemiology I: Basic Principles
HOMEWORK - CHAPTER 5
1. Refer to the cause-specific death rates in Table 5-1 and discuss possible reasons for the
differences between males and females.
The table illustrates that overall, males account for more deaths than females. This could be attributed to a
variety of possible reasons. Firstly, males are more into risky behaviors and undertakings. They also take
on riskier jobs, where they expose themselves to dust, noise, chemicals and cold, among other risks
compared to women, who assume more preservative behavior. Men are thus more prone to injuries,
diseases (e.g. cancer) and ultimate deaths (Regan & Partridge, 2013).
Women are also more proactive on their health. Studies show that women are more likely to seek medical
services for a condition than men. Comparatively, men are likely to visit hospitals when the condition is
far adverse or aggravated. Also, women register more frequencies in medical checkup reports compared
to men. Suicide rates are also higher among men due to depression emanating from stigma, reluctance to
seek medical help and hesitancy to talk about an ailing issue. Men are also more into drugs, where
unhygienic behaviors like needle sharing are more. This places them into higher risks of communicable
diseases like HIV (Regan & Partridge, 2013).
2. Refer to Table 5-3 and discuss possible reasons for the observed differences in death rates
between those of Hispanic origin and those not of Hispanic origin.
From the table, it can be deduced that people of non-Hispanic origin report higher death rates than their
indigenous Hispanic or Latinos, who immigrated to the United States. Among factors than can be
attributed to this deviation include difference in body vigor and resilience to conditions or illnesses.
Indigenous Hispanics grew up in poor backgrounds, and performed physical labor in farms, quarries and
other manual jobs for income. These engagements made their bodies fit and strong or solid. in their state
of affairs, most of them commuted via walking, while some who were lucky commuted via biking. They
were also farmers, who grew crops and reared livestock for subsistence and internal trade. Much of these
foods were grown through organic methods, and therefore good for health. These factors made this
community and its members healthy and somewhat insusceptible to minor illnesses (Lariscy et al., 2016).
These behaviors were cultured among these people, which implies that they sustained them as part of the
culture while coming to the US. This explains their longevity.
On the other hand, the white Americans sustained a culture of white color jobs, where the majority were
managers in the farms. A typical meal for the classy group composed of inorganic, refined and with-
additives (e.g. preservatives and flavored) food components. These foods have poor in nutritional
adequacy and exposes people to health risks, such as heart diseases, diabetes and cancers. A majority also
, worked in industries, where they risked exposure to hazards like fumes and chemicals. The whites also
owned cars, and hence their deaths to accidents. This explains the potential difference in longevity and
death rates between the two groups (Lariscy et al., 2016).
3. Go to the U.S. Census Bureau’s site on international demographic data: www.census.gov/data-
tools/demo/idb/informationGateway.php. Once at this site, click the tab “Select Report” and
then choose “Population by Five Year Age Groups.” Select the year “2020” and “United States.”
Then select the “Submit” tab. With the resulting data calculate the dependency ratio. Repeat these
steps for Afghanistan. Discuss potential reasons for differences in the results.
Dependency ratio= Total dependents/total working population
DR (US) 2020 (0-14 and 65+ per 15-64) = (117,460,492/215,178,610) *100=54.08%
DR (Afghanistan) 2020 (0-14 and 65+ per 15-64) = (15,776,923/20,817,853) *100=75.79%
Afghanistan has a higher dependency ratio than the US, despite the latter having a significantly higher
population as evident in the 2020 censuses. This could be attributed to a range of factors. Among them
include the fact that the US has a higher proportion of its population working. A large population of
youths work while still schooling. Another factor is job creation. The US has a high job volume compared
to Afghanistan, due to industrialization and development status. The US is one of the countries that
witness the highest inward migration due to availability of jobs in its progressively expanding job market.
Also, Afghanistan has witnessed a rising crude birth rate (31.2 per 1,000 people), amidst retirement and
emigration of labor, which stresses its working base. Comparatively, the US has a lower crude birth rate
(11.990 births per 1000 people), which places a bigger burden on the working population in Afghanistan
relative to the US’s.
4. Now go through the same steps as in Question 3, only rather than choosing “Population by Five
Year Age Groups,” select “Population Pyramid Graph.” How does the age distribution compare
between these two populations? Another site for comparing population pyramids for various
places in the world is www.populationpyramid.net/
The population pyramid graphs of the two countries assume different shapes, with that of the US taking
the shape of a cone-toped cylinder while that of Afghanistan taking the shape of an inverted bell. The US
population is somewhat evenly distributed, with most of the population being in the age range of 20 and
64 as shown by the consistent bulge of the bars. The old population (65 and above) makes up the lowest
population proportion. The population aged 0-14 is also relatively low. Comparatively, the age group 0-14
is significantly high in Afghanistan. The largest age group is made of children aged 0-4. The working
population consistently declines as illustrated by the progressive shrinkage of the bars. The elderly
population is relatively lower than that of the US. However, the pyramid depicts a high dependency ratio
in Afghanistan compared to the US.
5. Refer to FIGURE 5-11. What are some possible explanations for the observed birth cohort effect?
From Figure 5-11, the death rates from homicide among the birth cohorts (especially 20-24 years)
increased drastically up to approximately 180/100,000 between the years 1970 and 1974. legal
PH 520 Epidemiology I: Basic Principles
HOMEWORK - CHAPTER 5
1. Refer to the cause-specific death rates in Table 5-1 and discuss possible reasons for the
differences between males and females.
The table illustrates that overall, males account for more deaths than females. This could be attributed to a
variety of possible reasons. Firstly, males are more into risky behaviors and undertakings. They also take
on riskier jobs, where they expose themselves to dust, noise, chemicals and cold, among other risks
compared to women, who assume more preservative behavior. Men are thus more prone to injuries,
diseases (e.g. cancer) and ultimate deaths (Regan & Partridge, 2013).
Women are also more proactive on their health. Studies show that women are more likely to seek medical
services for a condition than men. Comparatively, men are likely to visit hospitals when the condition is
far adverse or aggravated. Also, women register more frequencies in medical checkup reports compared
to men. Suicide rates are also higher among men due to depression emanating from stigma, reluctance to
seek medical help and hesitancy to talk about an ailing issue. Men are also more into drugs, where
unhygienic behaviors like needle sharing are more. This places them into higher risks of communicable
diseases like HIV (Regan & Partridge, 2013).
2. Refer to Table 5-3 and discuss possible reasons for the observed differences in death rates
between those of Hispanic origin and those not of Hispanic origin.
From the table, it can be deduced that people of non-Hispanic origin report higher death rates than their
indigenous Hispanic or Latinos, who immigrated to the United States. Among factors than can be
attributed to this deviation include difference in body vigor and resilience to conditions or illnesses.
Indigenous Hispanics grew up in poor backgrounds, and performed physical labor in farms, quarries and
other manual jobs for income. These engagements made their bodies fit and strong or solid. in their state
of affairs, most of them commuted via walking, while some who were lucky commuted via biking. They
were also farmers, who grew crops and reared livestock for subsistence and internal trade. Much of these
foods were grown through organic methods, and therefore good for health. These factors made this
community and its members healthy and somewhat insusceptible to minor illnesses (Lariscy et al., 2016).
These behaviors were cultured among these people, which implies that they sustained them as part of the
culture while coming to the US. This explains their longevity.
On the other hand, the white Americans sustained a culture of white color jobs, where the majority were
managers in the farms. A typical meal for the classy group composed of inorganic, refined and with-
additives (e.g. preservatives and flavored) food components. These foods have poor in nutritional
adequacy and exposes people to health risks, such as heart diseases, diabetes and cancers. A majority also
, worked in industries, where they risked exposure to hazards like fumes and chemicals. The whites also
owned cars, and hence their deaths to accidents. This explains the potential difference in longevity and
death rates between the two groups (Lariscy et al., 2016).
3. Go to the U.S. Census Bureau’s site on international demographic data: www.census.gov/data-
tools/demo/idb/informationGateway.php. Once at this site, click the tab “Select Report” and
then choose “Population by Five Year Age Groups.” Select the year “2020” and “United States.”
Then select the “Submit” tab. With the resulting data calculate the dependency ratio. Repeat these
steps for Afghanistan. Discuss potential reasons for differences in the results.
Dependency ratio= Total dependents/total working population
DR (US) 2020 (0-14 and 65+ per 15-64) = (117,460,492/215,178,610) *100=54.08%
DR (Afghanistan) 2020 (0-14 and 65+ per 15-64) = (15,776,923/20,817,853) *100=75.79%
Afghanistan has a higher dependency ratio than the US, despite the latter having a significantly higher
population as evident in the 2020 censuses. This could be attributed to a range of factors. Among them
include the fact that the US has a higher proportion of its population working. A large population of
youths work while still schooling. Another factor is job creation. The US has a high job volume compared
to Afghanistan, due to industrialization and development status. The US is one of the countries that
witness the highest inward migration due to availability of jobs in its progressively expanding job market.
Also, Afghanistan has witnessed a rising crude birth rate (31.2 per 1,000 people), amidst retirement and
emigration of labor, which stresses its working base. Comparatively, the US has a lower crude birth rate
(11.990 births per 1000 people), which places a bigger burden on the working population in Afghanistan
relative to the US’s.
4. Now go through the same steps as in Question 3, only rather than choosing “Population by Five
Year Age Groups,” select “Population Pyramid Graph.” How does the age distribution compare
between these two populations? Another site for comparing population pyramids for various
places in the world is www.populationpyramid.net/
The population pyramid graphs of the two countries assume different shapes, with that of the US taking
the shape of a cone-toped cylinder while that of Afghanistan taking the shape of an inverted bell. The US
population is somewhat evenly distributed, with most of the population being in the age range of 20 and
64 as shown by the consistent bulge of the bars. The old population (65 and above) makes up the lowest
population proportion. The population aged 0-14 is also relatively low. Comparatively, the age group 0-14
is significantly high in Afghanistan. The largest age group is made of children aged 0-4. The working
population consistently declines as illustrated by the progressive shrinkage of the bars. The elderly
population is relatively lower than that of the US. However, the pyramid depicts a high dependency ratio
in Afghanistan compared to the US.
5. Refer to FIGURE 5-11. What are some possible explanations for the observed birth cohort effect?
From Figure 5-11, the death rates from homicide among the birth cohorts (especially 20-24 years)
increased drastically up to approximately 180/100,000 between the years 1970 and 1974. legal
