Society and health

1
Society and health

• DEMOGRAPHY

2
Demography

• POPULATION- number of people inhabiting a
  space/area, measured by a CENSUS by government.
• DEMOGRAPHY- study of characteristics of human
  populations, size, growth, vital statistics.
• Population patterns and trends in the UK-
  declining fertility rate, declining death rates,
  migration into UK is increasing, working-age
  population is decreasing, more women working and
  choosing to have less children, advances in
  hygiene and medicine, cultural expectations-
  birth rate.
• Activity 1- page 3

3
Population patterns and trends

• There are several important factors that
  influence population patterns and trends. These
  are
• Declining birth rates- less women having babies,
  or if they are they are having no more than 1.
• Declining mortality rates- people generally are
  living longer.
• Migration into the UK- we live in a multicultural
  society.
• Working age population is increasing- you have to
  work longer now to get a pension.
• Role of women in society- more working outside
  home and choosing to have children later in life.
• Advances in hygiene and medicine- reduced
  mortality rate.
• Religious beliefs- catholic women use
  contraception although against religion.
• Cultural expectations- acceptable to have small
  family.

4
Implications for society of the changing
population.

• 3 areas
• Implications for individuals- increased life
  expectancy, greater need for health care- burden
  of dependency, more people living alone due to
  choice and circumstance, increased retirement age
  so people make more contributions to a pension,
  increased ownership of goods and demand for
  services- expenditure on leisure services
  continues to rise.
• Implications for the family- smaller families and
  therefore a rise in standard of living, fewer
  primary schools- threatened by the falling birth
  rate, changes in caring roles- both parents
  looking after elderly relatives, grandparents
  taking on child care.

5
Implications for society.

• Implications for society- increased demand and
  cost for health and social care- care homes and
  voluntary services, more dependency on the
  working population- dependency ratio is
  increasing, increased need for housing especially
  specialist accommodation like retirement flats
  and residential accommodation, influence on
  culture- leisure and social activities need to be
  available, a shortage of young people-
  replacement level not being met- immigration is
  the solution to this problem, greater mobility-
  people moving- pressure for more housing, age of
  the workforce is rising, increased poverty- state
  pension is inadequate.
• Activity 4/ exam questions- page 6 and 7