Discuss the difference in life expectancy in developed countries compared to less developed countries and some of the causes.

Week 2 Discussion 1: Life Expectancy-Solution

Comparing Life Expectancy in Developed and Developing Countries

Life expectancy entails the average measure of a person’s expected duration of life depending on their birth years, current age, and demographic factors like gender (Freeman et al., 2020). These measures differ across developed and developing countries. For instance, Freeman et al. (2020) observe that developed countries like Japan have a life expectancy of 84 years, which is higher than that of developing countries like Brazil at 73 years. People in developed countries have longer life durations than those in developing countries due to many factors, such as health facilities and infrastructure standards. Most developed countries have better-structured, state-of-the-art hospitals, care facilities, and strategies to curb diseases than developing countries (Freeman et al., 2020). The governments invest heavily in improving these facilities, providing safe, quality, and cost-effective care. Another reason for the life expectancy disparity is the income gap. Developed countries are wealthier than developing ones and have reduced the gap between the rich and the poor by creating adequate employment opportunities and improving food security (Freeman et al., 2020). The income gap significantly improves the well-being of their citizens and reduces mortality rates.(Life-expectancy in developed countries Sample-Essay)

Also, Freeman et al. (2020) argue that developed countries emphasize education and gender equality in every economic sector more than developing countries. High literacy is critical in improving the life expectancy of individuals since it leads to increased wealth generation, better health awareness, and well-equipped healthcare facilities. Consequently, developed countries comply with gender balance regulations to ensure that women are equally employed and can access treatment like men. For instance, countries like Canada have established paid maternity leave regulations to help improve health and reduce mortality rates. Lastly, improved housing conditions in developed countries contribute significantly to high life expectancies compared to less developed countries (Freeman et al., 2020). Houses in developed countries have adequate access to essential services like electricity and water supply which are critical to the well-being of individuals.(Life-expectancy in developed countries Sample-Essay)

Reference

Freeman, T., Gesesew, H. A., Bambra, C., Giugliani, E. R. J., Popay, J., Sanders, D., … & Baum, F. (2020). Why do some countries do better or worse in life expectancy relative to income? An analysis of Brazil, Ethiopia, and the United States of America. International journal for equity in health, 19(1), 1-19. https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12939-020-01315-z