Improvement in the General Standards of Living in Latin America - Research Paper Example

Lecturer Why Some Latin American Countries have a Higher Life Expectancy than Others Introduction Latin America is a section of America where people speak romance languages. Romance languages developed from Latin and include; Portuguese, Spanish or even French. The area of Latin America is approximately 7,412,000 square miles; this is around 3.7% of the surface of the Earth (Colburn, 23). As at the year 2013, the population of Latin America was approximated as more than 614 million people. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was also estimated to be $ 5.16 trillion, in the year 2013. Three regions comprise the Latin America: the Middle America, the Caribbean and the South America. The countries which make up the Latin America are: Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Haiti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Columbia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. Life expectancy is the forecasted age, or numbers of years, a group of people on average, are expected to live (Santrock 27). The average implies that some group of people in that given society will die before that expected age, and others will die after that stated age. Issues such as high rates of accidents, wars, plagues, and child mortalities, lower life expectancy. On the other hand, improvement in the general standards of living improves the life expectancy (2012). Literature Review Jorge A. Brea (2003) explains that the general population of the Latin America has increased significantly, as from mid 2oth century to date. This is because of two main factors; increase in the rates of birth and reduction in the rates of death. This rate of growth reduced in the 1970s, this is because overall fertility reduced. Between 1950 and 2000, the population of the region tripled. The change in the general population of the Latin America is in line with the model showing demographic transition. This model shows the experience of Europeans countries between the 18th and the 20th centuries in term s of changes in population patterns (Santrock 29). During the first stage of the model; the agrarian societies experience high birth rates and high death rate; hence, there is little population growth (Colburn, 29). This first period lasted up to the 1980s. The second stage in the model shows high birth rates and low death rates due to improvement in living standards and health care. This period was between 1980s and 1960s when Latin America experienced peak population growth. The third stage involves decline in population due to economic trends and urbanization. Latin America entered this stage towards the end of the 1960s (Steve et al.). The model has a fourth stage where there is low birth rate and low birth rates, this leads to low population growth or even population decline. Some Latin American countries have a higher life expectancy than others, because their infant mortality rate is lower. Infant mortality rate involves measuring the number of infant deaths for every 1000 infants, in one year in a given country. For example in the year 2002; Argentina had an infant mortality rate of 18 and life expectancy of 74 years, also Haiti had an infant mortality rate of 80 and life expectancy of 49 years, therefore, Argentina has a relatively high life expectancy than Haiti due to low infant mortality rate. Generally, the Latin America is in the third part of the demographic transition model, but however, countries differ in the way they experience the transition. Countries in the first stage include Haiti and Bolivia; the death rates are lower than the birth rates hence they experience natural increase in population (Santrock 61). These countries experience relatively low life expectancy due to low economic growth which results from poverty, low education standards and low modernization rate. Countries in the second stage include; Paraguay, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. Mortality rate reduces but their fertility rate improves. In the 1990s the populations increased by around 3%. These countries have young population (low life expectancy), and they experience low level of modernization. The third stage shows countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador. The rate of their population growth is reduced; the mostly urban population represents high fertility in the recent past. These countries have shown increase in the life expectancy from an average of 39.6 years during the 1960s to 71 years during the 1990s. This has been made possible by the improvement in the health sector which has reduced the rates of infant mortality. Countries in the advanced fourth stage include; Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. These countries experience below average rates of population growth. Their life expectancy is high due to low infant mortality rates. These countries have the oldest populations in the Latin America, and they are the most modern due to superior health and education standards. The life expectancy during the birth stage is an effective measure of the health sector of a country. This is because it takes into consideration the rates of child or infant mortality, and it is not affected by age stratification (Santrock 33). Many countries in the Latin America have implemented technology that cure or prevent infections that lead to many children deaths. These technologies assisted in malaria prevention, usage of antibiotics, and usage of vaccines. The life expectancy during the 1950s varied from Uruguay’s 66 years, to Haiti’s 38 years. The region’s life expectancy was 52 years. The life expectancy increased gradually during the years; in 1990s the region’s level was 71 years. In 2002 the life expectancy level for Cuba and Chile was more than 73 years, while Haiti and Guatemala had less than 63 years. The increase in life expectancy over the years is due to reduction in deaths caused by infections and diseases. Cuba and Chile have one of the highest life expectancy levels because of a huge drop in deaths cause by these infectious and communicable diseases. Guatemala has low life expectancy because of high deaths cause by communicable diseases; in 1980s 45% of death cases were due to communicable diseases. In Latin America region, a death due to communicable diseases is higher in societies with low income and less education, especially among rural populations. Also in general, life expectancy is more in women than men. For example, in Uruguay, men live eight years less than women on average. The variables which affect life expectancy discussed in this paper are several; for example; education level, health standards, level of technology and income per capital. In Latin America, Haiti has low health standards and therefore the level of life expectancy is low. This is contrary to Cuba which has higher life expectancy in the region due to superior health sector. This discussion leads to the first hypothesis: there is a negative relationship between population and life expectancy. Increased population stresses available resources hence low life expectancy. Jorge Nef (2014) describes health security as the minimization of disease vulnerability in the society and enabling it to get well-being. Health security affects different countries in unique or different ways. There are three health security determinants; mortality caused by premature deaths, morbidity which refers to the effects of infections or diseases in a society, and poor health sector systems. Premature death affects the life expectancy level of a country negatively. Some of the causes of premature deaths include infectious diseases, murders and accidents. This paper reveals that a country with superior health security enjoys high levels of life expectancy. For example Cuba has a high health security hence its life expectancy is higher (78 years in 2002), while the heath security of Cuba is poor hence lower life expectancy level (49 years in 2002). The countries of Latin America have different life expectancies because of different effect of health insecurity. This discussion leads to the second hypothesis: there is a positive relationship between health security and life expectancy. Increase in health security leads to increase in life expectancy. Data used in writing this research paper was got from a survey on the registration of deaths and registration of births by Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The time period involved in the study was between childhood years and adulthood years of people concerned. According to Palloni, Novak and Pinto (2012), past smoking behavior of a population affects mortality and life expectancy levels. In Latin America, the effects of smoking are mostly felt among people who are above 60 years of age. certain factors has led to the growth of the tobacco market in Latin America since the 1950s; increase in youth population, adoption of urban life, increased urbanization and increasing number of female employees. Also reduction in the price of tobacco products and aggressive marketing campaigns has led to increased number of habitual consumers of cigarettes products. There are two main diseases which affect cigarettes consumers; pulmonary disease or lung cancer. Smoking also leads to the development of other cancer types. Lung cancer rates are highest in Cuba and Uruguay, in the Latin America region. The rate is however steadily increasing in other countries like Brazil and Venezuela. The life expectancy of countries like Cuba has been negatively affected by increase in mortality rates associated with lung cancer (Santrock, 129). This discussion leads to the third hypothesis: there is a negative relationship between cigarette smoking levels and life expectancy. High tobacco use leads to decline in life expectancy. The quantitative and qualitative data was retrieved from surveys conducted between 1980 and 20008 by Centre for Demography and Ecology, and also survey from Pan American Health Org Hypotheses The major hypotheses for this research are: H1: The level of insecurity in a country may determine the life expectancy of its citizens H2: The instances of tobacco smoking might have a direct influence on the life expectancy of a person H3: Is it that the level of economic growth of a country may have a great impact in determining the life expectancy of the people H4: Is it right that the life expectancy of a person is determined by the eating habits adopted? H5: s it true to say that life cycle may dictate the life expectancy of a person. Research Methodology Data was collected on the countries found in Latin America, by the use of surveys from Pan American Health Organization. The dependent variable is Life Expectancy. The dependable variables are; lifestyle, eating habits, cigarette smoking levels, security and economic growth. A sample of 50 people (25 men and 25 women) was taken using simple random sampling technique. They were randomly selected from Nicaragua, Hondurus, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, Brazil and Costa Rica. These countries were selected to act as a proportionate representative for the rest of the Latin American countries. In order to get all the required information from them, the researcher opted to use a series of techniques. Meaning, various research tools were used in collecting information from them. These included the following: i. Interviews The entire population sample was subjected into an interview. Meaning, the researcher allocated enough time in order to ask them a variety of questions which they were expected to respond without any unnecessary influence from the researcher. Here, short, long, structured and open and closed ended questions were asked by the researcher. However, in order to make it valid, the researcher was personally present during the interview sessions. Thus, it helped in gathering first-hand information from the respondents. ii. Questionnaires The other tool used during the data collection exercise is questionnaire. This simply means that the researcher designed a form with questions which the respondents were expected to answer. While doing this, the researcher had to identify the respondents, and then send them a copy of the questionnaire which they were supposed to fill then return to them within the specified time schedule. Efforts were made to distribute the questionnaires to all the respondents in Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, Brazil and Costa Rica. Here, a combination of short, long, simple, complex, structured, open and closed ended questions were asked. Although participation was purely voluntary, the respondents were given a set of rules to comply with. This enabled the researcher to get accurate and honest answers which might be relied on. Findings After the collection of the data, the following findings were made: i. 61% of the respondents said that there is a higher life expectancy in Latin America because of a high level of security. Most respondents said that with a tight security, many people have higher chances of living longer because their lives are not threatened. However, this was different in Mexico in which many people risk losing their lives to the violent gangs and drug traffickers. ii. 84% of the respondents attributed high life expectancy in Latin America to economic growth. According to them, countries with high economic growth often have high life expectancy as compared to those that are not. This explains why many people with higher life expectancy in Latin America come from the countries with high economic growth rate. This was the case with Cuba and Brazil which has achieved a significant economic growth as compared to other Latin American countries. iii. 89% of the respondents concurred that there is high life expectancy in Latin American countries because of the good eating habits adopted by these people. According to these respondents, those who eat a balanced and healthier diet live longer than those who do not. This is what is done by many people in these Latin American countries. For instance, 76% of the elderly persons said that they have adopted a good eating habit and consume a diet consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and a lot of recommended beverages like tea (Forstall). iv. 79% of the respondents agreed that the high level of life expectancy in Latin America is caused by a good lifestyle. To them, such a lifestyle implies lack of smoking, good sleeping habits and subscription to a religious belief. Those who go to church are not associated to any despair and distress. Instead, they are holistic people who feel fulfilled at all times. In Cuba, many respondents said that marijuana smoking has been on the rise. Thus, it has affected many lives making the life span to reduce. Life Expectancy Security and Life Expectancy Conclusion This research confirms that there is a high level of life expectancy in Latin America as compared to other countries. In conducting this research, all the necessary measures were taken to answer the research questions and the hypothesis. After identifying the subject population, a simple random sampling technique was used to identify the representative sample which would be studied before the generalization of the results were made. With the use of the appropriate tools, the data was gathered and appropriately analyzed. According to the findings, life expectancy is actually higher in Latin America. This is due to the high level of security, economic growth, good eating habits and lifestyle (Leonid and Natalia, 171). These are some of the strategies which should be adopted by anyone who wants to enjoy such longevity. Works Cited Colburn, Forrest, D. Latin America at the End of Politics. Princeton University Press, 2000. Print. Forstall, R.P.; R.P. Greene, and J.B. Pick. ‘Which are the largest? Why lists of major urban areas vary so greatly,’ Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie 100, 277 (2009). Leonid, A. Gavrilov and Natalia, S. Gavrilova, The Biology of Life Span: A Quantitative Approach. New York: Harwood Academic Publisher, 2003. Print. Steve Jones, Robert Martin & David Pilbeam, (ed.). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Evolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print. Santrock, John. Life Expectancy. A Topical Approach to: Life-Span Development (pp. 128-132). New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc, 2007. Print. Read More