death rate

• Death rate is defined as number of deaths per thousand of the population per year
• The death rate started to fall from 1870 and continued to fall until 1930.

  However it rose due to the economic depression and WW2
• Reasons for a decline in death rate:

  • Infectious disease
  • Improved nutrition
  • Medical improvements
  • Health conscious
  • Public health measures
• Infectious disease =

  • Reduction in disease in children
  • Increased life expectancy
  • Vaccinations
  • Knowledge how to avoid it
• Improved nutrition =

  • Helps build resistance from infections
  • Stronger immune system
  • Less likely to get diseases such as measles
• Medical Improvements =

  • Medical technology and techniques
  • Seek medical care from NHS
  • Improved medication
  • eg. blood transfusions and bypasses
• People being more health conscious =

  • Decline in smoking and more awareness to stop
  • ^ However people still engage in unhealthy behavior
  • eg. obesity epidemic
• Public Health Measures =

  • Range of improvements in quality of environment
  • Less overcrowding and cleaner air systems
• Other social changes are:

  • Decline of manual occupations, eg. mining
  • Smaller family sizes to reduce infection
  • Greater public knowledge
  • Higher incomes