12 HHD Unit 3 AOS 1 SAC 2

12 HHD UNIT 3 SAC 2 - ANSWERS

6a. Students receive one mark for briefly explaining socioeconomic status. For example:

Socioeconomic status relates to a person’s position in society compared to others, based on education, income and occupation.

6b. Students must correctly explain what one DALY is equal to for one mark:

One DALY is equal to one year of healthy life lost through premature death, illness, disease or disability.

6c. Students receive one mark for the relationship and another mark for the correct use of data. No mark is awarded if students only compare high and low SES groups. An answer worth two marks could be:

As SES increases, the rate of DALY per 100 000 people decreases. For example, those in the 65 to 84 age groups experience around 1200 DALY per 100 000 in the lowest SES group and this decreases gradually until it reaches around 900 per 100 000 for those in the highest SES group.

6d. Students receive one mark each for correctly identifying a relevant biological and sociocultural factor and another mark for linking each to the difference in the rate of DALY for a total of four marks. Answers worth two marks include:

Biological

Body weight – Low SES groups have higher rates of obesity than high SES groups. This places more strain on the heart and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, which contributes to the higher rate of DALY.
Blood pressure – Those in low SES groups experience higher rates of hypertension than high SES groups. This indicates that the heart is working harder which can increase the risk of heart attack and contributes to a higher rate of DALY.
Glucose regulation – Those in low SES groups are more likely to experience impaired glucose regulation than high SES groups. This increases the risk of type 2 diabetes which contributes to a higher rate of DALY.
Birth weight – Low SES groups have higher rates of low birthweight than high SES groups. This contributes to higher rates of cardiovascular disease in adulthood which contributes to a higher rate of DALY.

Sociocultural

Education – Those from lower socioeconomic groups generally have less health-related knowledge than those from higher socioeconomic groups. This can contribute to reduced access to preventative medicine which increases the risk of diseases and premature death which contributes to a higher rate of DALY.
Income - Those from lower socioeconomic groups generally have lower incomes than those from higher socioeconomic groups. This can mean that they are less able to afford health promoting resources such as health care and adequate food. This can increase the risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease which can lead to premature death and a higher rate of DALY.
Food insecurity – As a result of the cost, those from the lowest SES group may rely on processed foods which can be higher in energy. This can contribute to higher rates of obesity and related conditions such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes compared to the highest SES group. These conditions could contribute to the higher rate of DALY.
Access to health care – Those from the lowest SES group may lack the income and knowledge related to accessing preventative medicine. This can mean that interventions are not put in place to prevent disease which can contribute to higher rates of disease and a higher rate of DALY.
Social exclusion - those from lower socioeconomic groups are more likely to be socially excluded than those from higher socioeconomic groups. This can result in higher rates of mental illness and rates of self-harm which can contribute to a higher rate of DALY.
Early life experiences – Those from low SES groups are more likely to be exposed to tobacco smoke in the uterus than those in high SES groups. This can contribute to low birth weight which increases the risk of infections, contributing to a higher rate of DALY.

6e. Students must explain burden of disease for two marks. For example:

Burden of disease is a measure of the impact of diseases and injuries, specifically it measures the gap between current health status and an ideal situation where everyone lives to an old age free of disease and disability.

7a. Students receive one mark for briefly explaining body mass index (BMI) and two marks for explaining how high BMI contributes to health status in Australia. Students can discuss one way that high BMI contributes to health status in more detail, or two ways in less detail for two marks. Answers worth three marks include:

Body mass index is a height to weight ratio that can be used to classify people as overweight or obese. High body mass puts extra strain on the joints. This can cause cartilage to wear down resulting in increased morbidity rates from arthritis.
Body mass index is a measure calculated by the formula weight (kg) / height (m) 2. High body mass index indicates that the heart is working harder which can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. These conditions can be fatal and decrease life expectancy.
Body mass index is a measure that can be used to indicate if a person is underweight, healthy weight, overweight or obese. A score of 30 and over indicates obesity. High body mass index is largely responsible for the high rates of type 2 diabetes in Australia. It also contributes to the rates of hypertension in this country.

7b. Students receive one mark for each answer they provide that links alcohol use to burden of disease in Australia for a total of two marks. Answers worth one mark include:

Alcohol contains energy and can lead to weight gain and obesity. Obesity can contribute to cardiovascular disease which is a leading cause of YLL in Australia.
Alcohol use can contribute to liver disease which contributes significantly to DALY in Australia.
Alcohol increases the risk of injuries. Injuries are a leading cause of death in Australia and contribute significantly to YLL.

8a. Students receive one mark for outlining what ‘dairy foods’ relate to:

Dairy relates to foods made from animal milk.
Dairy foods include milk, yogurt and cheese often made from cow’s milk, although sometimes they are made from sheep or goat’s milk.

8b. Students receive two marks for making two points about why dairy consumption is important in Australia. Answers worth two marks include:

Dairy is rich in calcium which is required to strengthen bones. This can reduce the risk of osteoporosis which is common in Australia, particularly among women.
Optimal dairy consumption has been shown to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. Regular consumption of dairy can also reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. These are leading causes of death in Australia.

9a. Students receive one mark for explaining what is meant by environmental factors. No mark should be awarded if students only list examples of environmental factors.

Environmental factors relate to the physical surroundings in which people live, work and play. Examples include housing and water quality.
Environmental factors relate to the physical features that surround us.

9b. One mark is awarded for each environmental factor that is identified and a further two marks for explaining how it contributes to variations in health status between those living inside and outside of Australia’s major cities. Examples worth three marks include:

Access to recreation facilities: those living outside of Australia’s major cities may not have as much access to recreation facilities as those in major cities. This can increase body weight by not encouraging physical activity. Increased body weight can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death, contributing to the lower life expectancy experienced in these areas.
Access to health care: those in rural and remote areas may not be readily able to access health care compared to those in major cities. This can mean that conditions such as cancer go undiagnosed and untreated. This can mean that when a diagnoses is made, treatment options are limited which increases mortality rates.
Access to supermarkets: people living outside of Australia’s cities often have more difficulty in accessing resources such as supermarkets due to geographical factors when compared to those in major cities. This can contribute to food insecurity which may force people to rely on processed foods that are energy dense. These foods can then lead to weight gain and higher rates of type 2 diabetes.
Road quality: roads are often unsealed and / or of lower quality than those found in major cities. This can increase the risk of car crashes in these areas and increase mortality rates due to injuries.