description of index
The health index was created to measure the levels of health in different countries, the index measures five metrics: Life expectancy at birth, Tobacco usage, Obesity, Child mortality, and health expenditure. The most important value was life expectancy, so it was multiplied by a factor of 2. The percent of the population who uses tobacco was multiplied by a factor of two as well, and the value will be subtracted from the health index. The obesity percentage will be multiplied by a factor of 2 and will also be subtracted from the index. Child mortality rate was calculated as deaths under the age of 5 per 1,000 live births. It was multiplied by a factor of 4 and will be subtracted from the index. The final metric is current health expenditure as a percentage of the country's GDP, it will be multiplied by a factor of 5 and added on to the index. The final index results in a number which will typically be above 0, except in some LDCs, and the higher the index, the greater the health in that country is.
Metrics:
1.) Long Life
Life expectancy at birth +(2x): Ecuador: 72.2 Japan: 84.6 3.) Healthy Weight Obesity - adult prevalence rate (percent) -(2x) Ecuador: 19.9% Japan: 4.3% 5.) Functioning Hospitals Current health expenditure (percent of GDP) +(5x): Ecuador: 8.5% Japan: 10.9% |
2.) Clean Lungs
Percent of population uses tobacco products -(2x): Ecuador: 11.3% Japan: 20.1% 4.) Healthy children Child Mortality rate - Under 5 years old (deaths per 1,000 births) -(4x): Ecuador: 15.2 Japan: 2.5 Total Health Index Score: Ecuador: 63.7 Japan: 164.9 |
SnapShot Analysis
Overall, Japan's health index value was much greater than Ecuador's as it was over 100 points higher. The primary factor of this was Japan's high life expectancy at birth. This high life expectancy is because of the healthy Japanese diet consisting of low red meat consumption and high consumption of plants and fish. Another factor that contributes to the high life expectancy is the available access to healthcare and hospitals because Japan is an MDC. In Japan, people are required by law to have health insurance, which means that there are less people who do not have healthcare coverage. In Ecuador, there is a lower life expectancy because of less access to healthcare and other factors. So, the large difference in life expectancy set Japan up for a much greater health index value. In both Japan and Ecuador, the health expenditure was very similar because it was measured in a percentage of the country's GDP. This metric initially didn't have that much of an effect on the countries. However, because the metric was multiplied by a factor of five, it influenced Japan by raising its index by about 12 points.
The metrics which were subtracted from the index are where the greatest variation in data between the countries was found. The obesity rate had the greatest effect between the two countries because the obesity rates in Ecuador were over four times higher than the rates in Japan. As with the lifespan, the Japanese diet contributes greatly to this metric. Also, the economic change in Ecuador has resulted in an increase of high-calorie diets rich in fat, which is why Ecuador's obesity rate has steadily been increasing over time. The child mortality rate also had a massive effect on the index, as child mortality rates in Ecuador were over 6 times greater than in Japan. In Japan, because of the low TFR, many laws and policies have been implemented to try and increase birth rates. These policies allow mothers and families to have very good financial support and healthcare accessibility which has reduced the number of child deaths. In Ecuador however, the reduced access to healthcare and high levels of disease have resulted in a high rate of infant mortality. This metric also had a large effect on the difference between countries. The final metric was tobacco usage rates. This metric favored Ecuador as they had about half as many tobacco users as Japan. The high rates of tobacco usage in Japan are primarily from people smoking, as lots of people smoke to relax after working. Furthermore, Japan Tobacco is the world's third-largest tobacco company and is located near the government in Japan. This metric had a large effect on the index. But, overall Japan still had a much higher health index number than Ecuador.
The metrics which were subtracted from the index are where the greatest variation in data between the countries was found. The obesity rate had the greatest effect between the two countries because the obesity rates in Ecuador were over four times higher than the rates in Japan. As with the lifespan, the Japanese diet contributes greatly to this metric. Also, the economic change in Ecuador has resulted in an increase of high-calorie diets rich in fat, which is why Ecuador's obesity rate has steadily been increasing over time. The child mortality rate also had a massive effect on the index, as child mortality rates in Ecuador were over 6 times greater than in Japan. In Japan, because of the low TFR, many laws and policies have been implemented to try and increase birth rates. These policies allow mothers and families to have very good financial support and healthcare accessibility which has reduced the number of child deaths. In Ecuador however, the reduced access to healthcare and high levels of disease have resulted in a high rate of infant mortality. This metric also had a large effect on the difference between countries. The final metric was tobacco usage rates. This metric favored Ecuador as they had about half as many tobacco users as Japan. The high rates of tobacco usage in Japan are primarily from people smoking, as lots of people smoke to relax after working. Furthermore, Japan Tobacco is the world's third-largest tobacco company and is located near the government in Japan. This metric had a large effect on the index. But, overall Japan still had a much higher health index number than Ecuador.
Highest scoring countries:
#1: Japan: 164.9
#2: Iceland: 134.2
#3: Canada: 130.5
#4: Switzerland: 124.8
#4: Australia: 122.9
#2: Iceland: 134.2
#3: Canada: 130.5
#4: Switzerland: 124.8
#4: Australia: 122.9