부산대학교 도서관

Adults, defined here as people between 15 and 59 years of age, in developing countries have a high risk of premature death and suffer from frequent morbidity and high rates of chronic impairment. Their ill health imposes a major burden on health services and large negative consequences on families, communities, and societies. This paper describes the level and impact of adult mortality and morbidity, and highlights some of its characteristics and causes, which in some cases contradict commonly held beliefs. It concludes that 'adult health' is a legitimate public health concern for developing countries that is not being addressed. An agenda for remedial research and action is proposed.
Programs that address adult health problems in developing countries are scarce, because of an emphasis on children's health and safety, lack of knowledge about the causes of ill health in adults and lack of understanding of how timely prevention and treatment could cut healthcare costs. Research has focused on specific diseases rather than accurate surveys of all illness among adults. What is known is that poverty increases illness and mortality rates. However, this relationship does not hold absolutely. The US, for example, has a higher mortality rate than its per capita income would suggest, while Spain has a lower one. Except for tropical diseases, the leading causes of death for adults in developing countries are noncommunicable diseases. Campaigns that reduce smoking; promote traffic safety, safe sex, prenatal care, cancer screening, disease management and vaccinations against communicable diseases, and clean up pollution are designed to lower the incidence of adult morbidity and mortality rates.