Health Problems Health Problems in the Developing in the Developing

WorldWorldEdith HanEdith Han

March 15, 2007March 15, 2007

Factors Leading to Factors Leading to Poverty and Lack of Poverty and Lack of

HealthcareHealthcare Poor country infrastructurePoor country infrastructure

Poor water and sanitationPoor water and sanitation Lack of access to foodsLack of access to foods Lack of access to medicinesLack of access to medicines Politics and socio-cultural barriersPolitics and socio-cultural barriers

Geographical concernsGeographical concerns Delivery of medicinesDelivery of medicines Urban vs. ruralUrban vs. rural

Total PopulationTotal Population

GDP WealthGDP Wealth

Human PovertyHuman Poverty

Undernourishment in Undernourishment in 20002000

Lack of Access to Clean Lack of Access to Clean WaterWater

Clean Water & SanitationClean Water & Sanitation

More than 2.6 billion people (over More than 2.6 billion people (over 40% of the world’s population) do 40% of the world’s population) do not have access to basic sanitationnot have access to basic sanitation

More than 1 billion people still use More than 1 billion people still use unsafe sources of drinking waterunsafe sources of drinking water

Children are a largely affected by Children are a largely affected by burden of disease caused by dirty burden of disease caused by dirty water and poor hygienewater and poor hygiene

Clean Water & SanitationClean Water & Sanitation

Case Study: MumbaiCase Study: Mumbai ““Urban poor”Urban poor”

12% in 1961, 51% in 12% in 1961, 51% in 19911991

At point prevalence At point prevalence scale, at least 30% of all scale, at least 30% of all morbidity can be morbidity can be accounted for by water-accounted for by water-related infections.related infections.

Lack of Nutrition and Lack of Nutrition and High Incidences of High Incidences of

DiseasesDiseases Case Study: KenyaCase Study: Kenya

DemographicsDemographics Population: 27 million in Population: 27 million in

19931993 GDP per capita (2005 GDP per capita (2005

estimate): $1,445estimate): $1,445 Malaria prevalence often Malaria prevalence often

>50% in the coastal >50% in the coastal regionregion

Generally negative Generally negative attitudes towards attitudes towards traditional eating habits, traditional eating habits, medicine, etc.medicine, etc.

Lack of Nutrition and Lack of Nutrition and High Incidences of High Incidences of

DiseasesDiseases Case Study: KenyaCase Study: Kenya

““Prevalence of malnutrition in Prevalence of malnutrition in Kenya” (East African Med J, Kenya” (East African Med J, 1999)1999)

Stunting prevalence: 37%, Stunting prevalence: 37%, underweight prevalence: 27%underweight prevalence: 27%

Problem since the first survey in Problem since the first survey in 1977 shows an upward trend, 1977 shows an upward trend, suggesting deterioration over the suggesting deterioration over the years. years.

““These results show that These results show that malnutrition is still a serious malnutrition is still a serious public health problem in Kenya public health problem in Kenya and requires urgent attention.”and requires urgent attention.”

Lack of Trained Lack of Trained PhysiciansPhysicians

Lack of Trained Lack of Trained PhysiciansPhysicians

One physician for every 390 One physician for every 390 individuals in the US compared with individuals in the US compared with 1 for every 33,000 in Mozambique1 for every 33,000 in Mozambique

1 nurse for every 107 individuals in 1 nurse for every 107 individuals in the US but only 1 for every 2700 in the US but only 1 for every 2700 in Tanzania.Tanzania.

There are 24 pharmacists in Angola, There are 24 pharmacists in Angola, a country of 12 million people a country of 12 million people

GeographyGeography

Physical barriers preventing access Physical barriers preventing access to medicine and healthcareto medicine and healthcare Poor infrastructure, lack of roads, etc.Poor infrastructure, lack of roads, etc. Geographic isolationGeographic isolation

Remote, rural areasRemote, rural areas Mountain rangesMountain ranges

Development of new systemsDevelopment of new systems Telemedicine (internet-based)Telemedicine (internet-based) Smart phonesSmart phones