Assignment: Understanding Population Change
As the mortality of both children and adults has improved worldwide, we assume that health has also improved in parallel. Some authors writing about the ‘compression of mortality', however, suggest that older adults may be suffering a longer period of illness and disability than in the past. In addition, gains in health and survival may be increasingly uneven, leading to a widening of the gap between rich and poor, educated and uneducated, than ever before.
In a short essay [2,000 words]:
a) Summarise the concept of the ‘compression of mortality'. Then critically present the evidence that morbidity in adults is not being compressed in the same way. Discuss howin high-income countries this is likely to lead to greater disability lasting for longer periods than in the past.
b) There is evidence that as adult mortality falls further and life expectancy is extended, differentials in health and survivorship in rich countries are widening. Using examples, explain why general improvements in health and survival are not equally distributed in the population.