Paper 1 -Population Analysis: 5-8 pages
Population Pyramids
Factors determining age
Comparative Analysis of Factors
Interpretation using Modernization Theory
Projection living in these countries at age 65
Part 11-- Article Review 2 – 3 pages
Description of the problem
Brief Summary of the article
Research questions and hypothesis
Summary of findings
Abstract
Ageing has had various connotations among cultures in different countries. This presentation reviews various aspects of aging. First a comparison of two countries to the United States of America will be discussed and an article critique on aging would be embraced.
Paper 1 -Population Analysis: 5-8 pages
This report will compare statistics of United States of America located in North America with Ethiopia, in Africa and China
Population Pyramid Ethiopia
(US Population Census, 2012)
Population Pyramid China
(US population Census, 2012)
Population Pyramid USA
(US population Census, 2012)
Factors Determining Age
Factors determining how people will age can be associated with the determinants of health. Population pyramids display a variety of factors. They include distribution of age groups by sex, different ethnic groups and categories which cannot be defined (US Population Census 2012). Three factors which have been selected to review from these pyramids are birth rate; death and life expectancy.
The baby booming cycle has social determinants associated with class. Birth rate timing would influence how a person will age due to the opportunities of earning a living as well as the an extended quality of life. Quality of life means adequate health care, nutritious food, sufficient housing and educational opportunities. If quality of life is below the required standard then factors which would influence life expectancy and death rate are evident. People will die earlier if there are no economic resources to keep them alive. Also sickness an disease would be rampant since there may be a situation of over population. This is reflected in the pyramids cited above. For example, a pyramid showing a wide base and steep sides indicates a country with high birth rates and low life expectancy. When examining the three pyramids displayed in this document Ethiopia has a wide base and relatively steep sides.
This means that country has a high birth rate with low life expectancy and a high death rate subsequently. China and United States of America do not have the same graphical representations of a wide base and steep sides. China in particular has what is known as the 'rocket' shaped pyramid. It is wide at the middle, and narrow at the top and bottom. This pyramid usually depicts a post baby boom period.
These babies have grown and enter the working class population. In this case the standard of living improves. These children attain adulthood as life expectancy improves. Subsequently, less children are born; there are more elderly people who live longer. Thus, a higher standard of living expands life span through quality of life experiences
Inverse pyramids have a large top and small bottom small. This indicates that there are low birth rates, low death rates and long lifespans. This is a feature of developed counties. It is believed that the factors influencing this characteristic are people having fewer children. As such, there is a narrow base. The working class represents the middle. This shrinks as more of the population becomes older and retire. The wide top represents high living standards with more people living to old age representing an aging population.
Applying this information to the United States population pyramid, there are a few features characteristic of an aging population. First, the top is comparatively wider than that of Ethiopia and China which are narrow. This reflects chances of more people reaching old age. However, the low birth and death rates are not reflected as positive features in this pyramid. There is a relatively wide bottom as Ethiopia indicating either incidences of high birth rates or reduction in life expectancy.
Comparative Analysis of Factors
A comparative analysis of statistics pertaining to birth rate, death rate and life expectancy factors shows where Ethiopia has an estimated birth rate of 42.9 births per 1000 population. China’s estimated birth rate is 12.31 per 1000 population and United States of America is 13.5 per 1000. The death rate in Ethiopia is 10.5 per 1000 population; China is 15.62 and United States of America 8.39 per 1000 population ( US Population Census, 2012).
Life expectancy in Ethiopia pertaining to males it is 53.64 years for males and 58.81 for females with an overall rate of 56.19 on an average. China life expectancy rates are 72.82 males and 77.11 males. This gives an overall average of 74.84 years. Life expectancy in United States of America is at an average of 78.11 years with males being 75.6 and females 80.69 (US population Census, 2012).
In linking these statistics to the pyramid Ethiopia has the highest birth rate, which is depicted in a broad/wide bottom subsequently a low life expectancy and high death rate as well. This is evident in the narrowing or peaking of the pyramid. China’s birth rate is relatively average with showing a narrow bottom and wide middle and narrow top.
United States of America has a comparatively low birthrate and high life expectancy typically of a society that exercises birth control; focuses on education and available health resources. Therefore, factors influencing age has social determinant implications when comparing these three countries (US population census, 2012)
Ethiopia has a population of 84,320,987 people. China has 1,343,239,923 people and United States of America 311,591,917 (US Population census, 2012) Comparatively, China has the most people with a life expectancy rate of above 70, and the same can be said of United State of America. However, Ethiopia with the lowest amount of people has the lowest life expectancy rate which is below 65. It can be argued then that social determinants such as class, education and opportunities to earn a living are factors affecting age due to birth rate adjustments, death rate alterations and life expectancy increases or reductions.
Interpretation using Modernization Theory
Modernization theory seeks to interpret the social determinants that affect a person’s life expectancy within certain countries as it relates to variables that create differences in defining a country as being developing developed and underdeveloped. The countries depicted in this document can be classified developed (USA), developing (CHINA) and underdeveloped (Ethiopia).
Clearly, the population statistics when examined from a perspective of birth rate, death rate and life expectancy linking these variables with social determinants such as health care, nutritious food, sufficient housing and educational opportunities modernization influence these elements in a society. Principles of modernization have been derived from the concept of progress.
More importantly, theorists of modernization view it as related to traditions. These traditions become as obstacles to economic growth. In fact modernization produces revolutionary, radical changes. Traditional societies such as Ethiopia which is underdeveloped must seek to modernize its economic practices to increase the life expectancy of the population (Lerner, 1958).
A great advantage of modernization for traditional societies is eradication of poverty. It improves the standard of living, which ultimately raises the quality of life and life expectancy in the presence of low birth and death rates. Other advantages reveal improvements in living physical infrastructure, education accessibility and economic opportunity (Lerner, 1958). .
In applying this theory to United States of America which is considered to have integrated modernization in advancing its society presently has a higher life expectancy rate than China and Ethiopia comparatively. China in its developing state is progressing towards that level like America with a life expectancy rate of over 70 years.
Projection living in these countries at age 65
Living in the United States of America it is expected that being a developed country with a life expectancy rate of over 70 years with women living even up to 80 years the chances of a better quality of life is greater. Evidently, opportunities for better healthcare and education would influence delayed pregnancies, improved health to reduce death rate and promote a life span of 80 years and over.
Precisely, United States of America caters for its senior citizens through Medicaid and Medicare services. Opportunities to continue being employed way beyond the age of 65 once the individual is healthy promotes longevity because there is something to live for. Implications are that there is scope to expand consciousness and thereby expand life itself.
China is a developing country, therefore, even though there may be fewer opportunities for the elderly to continue living as a younger person there may be services that help older people remain active. Activity is the important element in keeping people over 65 years of age active besides being employed. Ethiopia even though may contain valuable resources it is an underdeveloped nation.
It means that modernization strategies are not applied towards managing the society. However, there may be lots of organic food grown locally, which is not readily available in a developed or developing country. If it is present in these developed and developing countries prices may be very high. This is a valuable resource. However, the chances of dying before age 60 is highly likely.
Part 11-- Article Review 2 – 3 pages
Cohen, J (2006).The Creativity and Aging Study -The Impact of Professionally Conducted
Cultural Programs on Older Adults. The Center on Aging, Health & Humanities,
The George Washington University (GW)
Description of the problem
A cooperative agreement with George Washington University was established in 2001 as the National Endowment for an Arts project. The aim was to conduct a multisite national study measuring the professional impact of community based implemented cultural programs on the older adults as it related to their general and mental health, as well as social activities. Precisely, the project was called the Creativity and Aging Study adapting a professional title “The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programs on Older Adults” (Cohen, 2006).
Accor4ding top the researcher this was the first study of its kind in the discipline. Importantly, it embraced an experimental design adapting a control group as part of the protocol for such studies. Strong positive differences were discovered between ‘the intervention group (those involved in intensive participatory art programs) as compared to a control group not involved in intensive cultural programs’ (Cohen, 2006).
As it pertains to description of the problem this research did not have a distinct problem to be explored. Rather it was a social phenomenon that was investigated in the4 form of assessing the effectiveness of programs designed to keep persons over 65 ye4ars old active.
Brief Summary of the article
The study was conducted from three different locations across within the United States of America. They were metro Washington, DC; Brooklyn, New York; and San Francisco, Texas. Two groups operated from each site. They were classified as:-
- the Intervention Group, contained older persons who were involved in a weekly participatory activities
- A Control Group, consisting of persons who participated in the normal daily activities within the facility ( Cohen, 2006)
At each site a sample of 100 older adults were the main participants—50 of them were members of the the Intervention Group and 50 in the Control Group as well. Ultimately, there was a maximum total of 300 participants which accounted for a distribution of 150 the maximum in each group. The researcher did not state how the sample was collected (Cohen, 2006).
An average age of 80 was the groups’ composition by age with a range between 65-103 years. About 30 % of the participants happened to be classified within the racial and ethnic minority groups. Careful matching of functioning levels formed the criteria for selecting this sample before beginning the study. Another priority for selection was whether they had similar physical and mental health, and activity level profiles. Research assistants interviewed the participants three times throughout the study; first at the beginning, next a year later a year later ultimately two years after the baseline assessment was completed (Cohen, 2006).
Research questions and hypothesis
There were not distinct research questions neither hypothesis. However, there were clearly stated objectives which included:-
According to the researcher The programs being evaluated contained cultural elements such as painting, pottery, dance, music, poetry, drama, material culture, and oral histories in a creative context (Cohen, 2006).
Summary of findings
The researcher reported that strong differences in the intervention group (those involved in intensive participatory art programs) as compared to a control group not involved in intensive cultural programs. Weekly participants after one year assessment proved to have had:-
- Better health status, fewer doctor visits, and less medication usage
- Mental health statuses were improved.
- More willingness to be involved in activities.
Conclusion
Community-based adult cultural programs for older reduces risk factors that lead to need for long-term care (Cohen, 2006).
References
Cohen, J (2006).The Creativity and Aging Study -The Impact of Professionally Conducted
Cultural Programs on Older Adults. The Center on Aging, Health & Humanities,
The George Washington University (GW)
Lerner, D. (1958). The Passing of Traditional Society: Modernizing the Middle East. Glencoe
ILL.: The Free Press.
US population census ( 2012). US and World Clock Census Bureau. Retrieved 14 th January,
2013 from http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html
