(i) How does investing in improved healthcare infrastructure contribute to the reduction of preventable diseases and chronic conditions?

Question

Read the passage given below and answer the questions followed:

Population trends and dynamics can have an enormous effect on prospects for poverty reduction and sustainable development. Poverty is influenced by – and influences – population dynamics, including population growth, age structure, and rural-urban distribution. All of this has a critical impact on a country’s development prospects and prospects for raising living standards for the poor. Investments in better health, including reproductive health, are essential for individual security and for reducing mortality and morbidity (the condition of suffering from a disease or medical condition), which in turn improve a country’s productivity and development prospects.

Source: UNFPA

(i) How does investing in improved healthcare infrastructure contribute to the reduction of preventable diseases and chronic conditions?

(ii) Explain the relationship between population trends and poverty reduction.

(iii) 'Poverty is influenced by – and influences – population dynamics, including population growth, age structure, and rural-urban distribution.' Analyse the statement and highlight the mutual relationship between poverty and population.

Answer 1

(i) Investments in better healthcare provide people with access to essential healthcare services, such as vaccinations, prenatal care, and treatment for common diseases. This can help to reduce the number of people who die from preventable diseases (mortality) and who suffer from chronic conditions (morbidity).

(ii) An expanding population can exert pressure on a country's resources, including food, water, and land, which can consequently result in heightened poverty levels as individuals may face insufficient access to nourishment and adequate housing.

(iii) Population growth can strain resources and infrastructure, potentially increasing poverty.

The age structure of a population affects labour markets and social support systems, which can impact poverty levels.

Rural-urban distribution determines access to essential services and economic opportunities, further influencing poverty rates.

Poverty can contribute to specific population dynamics, such as high fertility rates and limited access to healthcare, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.