International rankings of Iran
Health
Table:
Rankings

Name

Rank

Out of

Source

Notes

Year

Suicide Rate

164

183

WHO

Total suicide rate = 3.6/100,000 people

2015

Tobacco Consumption per capita

71

182

WHO

835.51 Cigarettes smoked per adult per year.

2014

Alcohol consumption per capita

168

World

WHO

Per capita alcohol consumption of 1.00 liters per year; More info: Alcohol and cancer & Alcoholic liver disease

2010

% of population with access to essential drugs

54

163

World Health Organization

Categorized in medium access level of 80%; Number of factories producing medicine: 122[13]

2000

Female % of HIV positive population 15+ years

107

112

World Bank

16.67% of over-15 years old HIV+ population is female

2005

Incidence of tuberculosis per 100,000 people

144

200

World Bank

23.48 per 100,000 People; 100% of all patients are under proper medical treatment as per WHO guidelines[74]

2005

Physicians per 1000 people

138

202

World Bank

0.45 physicians/1000 people; Alternative WHO 2005 indicators: Total Physicians=61,870, Pharmaceutical personnel density=0.2/1000 People, Nursing and midwifery personnel density=1.6/1000 People, Dentistry personnel density=0.2/1000 People[75]

2004

Prevalence of opiate addiction

1

132

United Nations

Prevalence rate of 2.8% of population; Almost all opiates smuggled into Iran from Afghanistan; Initiation age for most Iranian addicts is their 20s;[76] More info: Rankings of most harmful drugs

1999

Annual cannabis use by country

31

67

United Nations

Annual prevalence rate of 4.2% of population

1999

HIV/AIDS prevalence rate

153

171

CIA World Factbook

HIV/AIDS Prevalence Rate of 0.1% of Population; Recent WHO report puts the number of HIV+ people at 110,000 people or ~0.16% of population in 2007 & accelerating;[77][78] In past the primary mode of transmission was by syringe sharing among drug addicts but it is now being replaced by high risk sexual contacts;[79] Iran in 2003 had over 700,000 cases of sexually transmitted infections[80]

2001

Deaths due to HIV/AIDS

47

153

CIA World Factbook

4,300 people die annually because of AIDS/HIV infection; Recent WHO report puts the number of deaths at 6,000 in 2007[77] WHO report puts the coverage of antiretroviral therapy at 6%[77]

2007

Prevalence of HIV among population aged 15-49 years

104

148

World Bank

Listed from highest rate to lowest; Iran: 0.15% of 15- to 49-year-olds are HIV+; Recent WHO report puts the % of HIV+ 15- to 49-year-olds at 0.3% in 2007[77]

2005

Access to Sanitation

22

129

CIA World Factbook

99% of population have access to proper sanitation

2003

% of Population undernourished

76

76

United Nations

Listed from highest malnourishment rates to lowest; Iran: less than 5% of population is malnourished; More info: Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Iran & Nutrition Landscape Information System for Iran & United Nations map of the world showing % of national population suffering from undernourishment

2009

Prevalence of contraceptive use among women

25

176

World Bank

74% of women aged 15–49 use contraceptives; alternately ranked by UN at 12th/89 with 73% prevalence; Most widely used method is "contraceptive pill";[81] More info: Contraceptive security

2000

Hospital beds/1000 people

133

191

World Bank

Hospital beds/1000 population: 1.6/1000; 758 hospitals, 225,000 hospital beds, 438 emergency centers[13]

2001

Underweight children rate

63

95

United Nations

Ranking is from highest rate to lowest; Iran: ~2% of children are underweight

2005

Dietary caloric intake

40

World

FAO

Iranians on average consume 3040 kcal/person/day; More info: Nutrition

2007

Malaria cases per 100,000 of population

72

94

United Nations/Complete report for Iran

Ranking is from highest rate to lowest; Malaria cases in Iran: 27/100,000 of population

2001

World ranking of overall national health systems

93

190

WHO

Ranked from best overall health care systems to worst; More info: Health literacy

2000

Based on the tabular data together with the supporting text below.

Provide an answer to this question: On which date was this specialised agency set up that realized statistics of this death , about 16 deaths per 100,000 men , by country ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}.

The following are lists of countries by suicide rate according to data from the World Health Organization ( WHO ) and other sources . A country 's rate is determined by its age-adjusted total rate ( per 100,000 population ) of deaths officially recorded as suicides in the most recent available year . About one person in 5,000-15,000 dies by suicide every year ( 1.4% of all deaths ) , with a reported global rate of 10.5 per 100,000 population in 2016 ( down from 11.6 in 2008 ) . In high-income countries , male and female rates of suicidal behaviors differ at a greater degree compared to those in the rest of the world : even though women are more prone to suicidal thoughts , rates of suicide are higher among men . Europe is the most suicidal region in the entire world , while the Eastern Mediterranean the least . According to a recent study , the global rates of suicide death have fallen by a third between 1990 and 2016 when data is asymmetrically adjusted for age , meaning younger people suicided less , vice versa with regards to adults ( total number of deaths from suicide actually increased by 6.7% , from 762,000 to 817,000 annually ) . Also , at the national level , rates of suicide mortality for women were lower than those for men in all countries ( except Liberia ) . Worldwide , the rates were about 16 deaths per 100,000 men and 7 deaths per 100,000 women in 2016 : women also experienced a greater decrease in suicide rates compared with men over the study period . Per recent WHO releases , social stigma , the taboo to openly discuss suicide , and low availability of data lead to poor data quality for both suicide and suicide attempts : given the sensitivity of suicide - and the illegality of suicidal behaviour in some countries - it is likely that under-reporting and mis-classification are greater problems for suicide than for most other causes of death .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) is a specialised agency of the United Nations that is concerned with world public health . It was established on 7 April 1948 , and is headquartered in Geneva , Switzerland . The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group . Its predecessor , the Health Organisation , was an agency of the League of Nations . The WHO constitution was signed by 61 countries ( all 51 member countries and 10 others ) on 22 July 1946 , with the first meeting of the World Health Assembly concluding on 24 July 1948 . It incorporated the Office International d'Hygiène Publique and the League of Nations Health Organisation . Since its establishment , it has played a leading role in the eradication of smallpox . Its current priorities include communicable diseases , in particular HIV/AIDS , Ebola , malaria and tuberculosis ; the mitigation of the effects of non-communicable diseases such as sexual and reproductive health , development , and aging ; nutrition , food security and healthy eating ; occupational health ; substance abuse ; and driving the development of reporting , publications , and networking . The WHO is responsible for the World Health Report , the worldwide World Health Survey , and World Health Day . The current Director-General of the WHO , Tedros Adhanom , served as Ethiopian Health Minister from 2005 to 2012 and as Ethiopian Foreign Minister from 2012 to 2016 . Adhanom started his five-year term on 1 July 2017 .
This is a list of countries by annual per capita consumption of tobacco cigarettes . Cigarettes are smoked by over 1 billion people , which is nearly 20% of the world 's population in 2014 . About 800 million of these smokers are men . While smoking rates have leveled off or declined in developed nations , especially among men , in developing nations tobacco consumption continues to rise . More than 80% of all smokers now live in countries with low or middle incomes , and 60% in just 10 countries , a list headed by China . China is the world 's most populated country , and is also the leading country in the cigarette industry . In 2014 , China produced and consumed more than 30% of the cigarettes in the world . There is a strong relationship between socioeconomic status ( SES ) and smoking behaviors . According to research , developing countries have the highest rate of tobacco use . China was found to be one of the countries with the highest male-to-female ratio of smoking prevalence : 74% of males and 8% of females were smokers . Over half of adult males in Indonesia are smokers ( 57% , but mostly kretek , a local form of cigarette ) and China ( 53% estimated ) , and nearly half in Bangladesh , though for women the figure is much lower . Smoking rates in the United States dropped by half from 1965 to 2006 , from 42% to 20.8% of adults , with further significant decline to 18% by 2012 .
This is a list of countries by alcohol consumption measured in equivalent litres of pure alcohol ( ethanol ) consumed per capita per year .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) is a specialised agency of the United Nations that is concerned with world public health . It was established on 7 April 1948 , and is headquartered in Geneva , Switzerland . The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group . Its predecessor , the Health Organisation , was an agency of the League of Nations . The WHO constitution was signed by 61 countries ( all 51 member countries and 10 others ) on 22 July 1946 , with the first meeting of the World Health Assembly concluding on 24 July 1948 . It incorporated the Office International d'Hygiène Publique and the League of Nations Health Organisation . Since its establishment , it has played a leading role in the eradication of smallpox . Its current priorities include communicable diseases , in particular HIV/AIDS , Ebola , malaria and tuberculosis ; the mitigation of the effects of non-communicable diseases such as sexual and reproductive health , development , and aging ; nutrition , food security and healthy eating ; occupational health ; substance abuse ; and driving the development of reporting , publications , and networking . The WHO is responsible for the World Health Report , the worldwide World Health Survey , and World Health Day . The current Director-General of the WHO , Tedros Adhanom , served as Ethiopian Health Minister from 2005 to 2012 and as Ethiopian Foreign Minister from 2012 to 2016 . Adhanom started his five-year term on 1 July 2017 .
Alcoholic beverages are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer ( IARC ) as a Group 1 carcinogen ( carcinogenic to humans ) . IARC classifies alcoholic beverage consumption as a cause of female breast , colorectum , larynx , liver , esophagus , oral cavity , and pharynx cancers ; and as a probable cause of pancreatic cancer . 3.6% of all cancer cases and 3.5% of cancer deaths worldwide are attributable to consumption of alcohol ( also known formally as ethanol ) . [ needs update ] Even light and moderate alcohol consumption increases cancer risk in individuals . Some nations have introduced alcohol packaging warning messages that inform consumers about alcohol and cancer . The alcohol industry has tried to actively mislead the public about the risk of cancer due to alcohol consumption , in addition to campaigning to remove laws that require alcoholic beverages to have cancer warning labels .
Alcoholic liver disease ( ALD ) , also called alcohol-related liver disease ( ARLD ) , is a term that encompasses the liver manifestations of alcohol overconsumption , including fatty liver , alcoholic hepatitis , and chronic hepatitis with liver fibrosis or cirrhosis . It is the major cause of liver disease in Western countries . Although steatosis ( fatty liver ) will develop in any individual who consumes a large quantity of alcoholic beverages over a long period of time , this process is transient and reversible . More than 90% of all heavy drinkers develop fatty liver whilst about 25% develop the more severe alcoholic hepatitis , and 15% cirrhosis .
The World Bank ( French : Banque mondiale ) is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of poorer countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects . It comprises of two institutions : the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ( IBRD ) , and the International Development Association ( IDA ) . The World Bank is a component of the World Bank Group . The World Bank 's most recent stated goal is the reduction of poverty . As of November 2018 , the largest recipients of World Bank loans were India ( $ 859 million in 2018 ) and China ( $ 370 million in 2018 ) , through loans from IBRD .
This is a list of countries ( and some territories ) by the annual prevalence of opiates use as percentage of the population aged 15-64 ( unless otherwise indicated ) . The primary source of information are the World Drug Report 2011 ( WDR 2011 ) and the World Drug Report 2006 ( WDR 2006 ) , published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ( UNODC ) . The indicator is the annual prevalence rate which is shown as the percentage of the youth and adult population who have consumed the drugs at least once in the past year . The largest producer of opiates in the world is Afghanistan to a total of 93% of the world 's market . The list does not include opioids , which is classified as a different drug under the World Drug Report 2011 list , which is considered opiates and prescription opioids .
The United Nations ( UN ) is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security , develop friendly relations among nations , achieve international cooperation , and be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations . It is the largest , most familiar , most internationally represented and most powerful intergovernmental organization in the world . The UN is headquartered on international territory in New York City ; other main offices are in Geneva , Nairobi , Vienna and The Hague . The UN was established after World War II with the aim of preventing future wars , succeeding the ineffective League of Nations . On 25 April 1945 , 50 governments met in San Francisco for a conference and started drafting the UN Charter , which was adopted on 25 June 1945 and took effect on 24 October 1945 , when the UN began operations . Pursuant to the Charter , the organization 's objectives include maintaining international peace and security , protecting human rights , delivering humanitarian aid , promoting sustainable development , and upholding international law . At its founding , the UN had 51 member states ; this number grew to 193 in 2011 , representing the vast majority of the world 's sovereign states . The organization 's mission to preserve world peace was complicated in its early decades by the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union and their respective allies . Its missions have consisted primarily of unarmed military observers and lightly armed troops with primarily monitoring , reporting and confidence-building roles . UN membership grew significantly following widespread decolonization beginning in the 1960s . Since then , 80 former colonies have gained independence , including 11 trust territories that had been monitored by the Trusteeship Council . By the 1970s , the UN 's budget for economic and social development programmes far outstripped its spending on peacekeeping .
Afghanistan has been the world 's leading illicit opium producer since 2001 . Afghanistan 's opium poppy harvest produces more than 90% of illicit heroin globally , and more than 95% of the European supply . More land is used for opium in Afghanistan than is used for coca cultivation in Latin America . In 2007 , 93% of the non-pharmaceutical-grade opiates on the world market originated in Afghanistan . This amounts to an export value of about US $ 4 billion , with a quarter being earned by opium farmers and the rest going to district officials , insurgents , warlords , and drug traffickers . In the seven years ( 1994-2000 ) prior to a Taliban opium ban , the Afghan farmers ' share of gross income from opium was divided among 200,000 families . As of 2017 , opium production provides about 400,000 jobs in Afghanistan , more than the Afghan National Security Forces . In addition to opium , Afghanistan is also the world 's leading producer of hashish .
This is a list of the annual prevalence of cannabis use by country ( including some territories ) as a percentage of the population aged 15-64 ( unless otherwise indicated ) . The indicator is an annual prevalence rate which is the percentage of the youth and adult population who have consumed cannabis at least once in the past survey year .
The human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) , which causes AIDS , varies in prevalence from nation to nation . Listed here are the prevalence rates among adults in various countries , based on data from various sources , largely the CIA World Factbook . As of 2018 , 37.9 million people are estimated infected with HIV globally . The HIV pandemic is most severe in Southern Africa . Over 10% of all people infected with HIV/AIDS reside within the region . Adult HIV prevalence exceeds 20% in Eswatini ( Swaziland ) , Botswana , and Lesotho , while an additional six countries report adult HIV prevalence of at least 10% . Outside Africa , the highest prevalence rate is found in the Bahamas ( 3.3% ) . In absolute numbers , South Africa ( 7.1 million ) , followed by Nigeria ( 3.2 million ) , and India ( 2.1 million ) had the highest HIV/AIDS number of cases by the end of 2016 . While South Africa 's large population of HIV-positive people is attributable to its high disease prevalence ( 18.9% , one of the highest in the world ) , Nigeria 's is lower at 2.9% , with India 's prevalence rate at 0.3% . However , countries such as Nigeria with high HIV rates above 1% are classified as having Generalized HIV Epidemics ( GHEs ) by UNAIDS , while India 's prevalence is well below this threshold , with a prevalence lower than the US 's and about the same as France On the other end of the spectrum , Svalbard is reported as having no cases of HIV/AIDS .
The World Factbook , also known as the CIA World Factbook , is a reference resource produced by the Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) with almanac-style information about the countries of the world . The official print version is available from the Government Printing Office . Other companies - such as Skyhorse Publishing - also print a paper edition . The Factbook is available in the form of a website that is partially updated every week . It is also available for download for use off-line . It provides a two- to three-page summary of the demographics , geography , communications , government , economy , and military of each of 267 international entities including U.S.-recognized countries , dependencies , and other areas in the world . The World Factbook is prepared by the CIA for the use of U.S. government officials , and its style , format , coverage , and content are primarily designed to meet their requirements . However , it is frequently used as a resource for academic research papers and news articles . As a work of the U.S. government , it is in the public domain in the United States .
Safe sex is sexual activity using methods or devices ( such as condoms ) to reduce the risk of transmitting or acquiring sexually transmitted infections ( STIs ) , especially HIV . Safe sex is also sometimes referred to as safer sex or protected sex to indicate that some safe sex practices do not completely eliminate STI risks . It is also sometimes used colloquially to describe methods aimed at preventing pregnancy that may or may not also lower STI risks . The concept of safe sex emerged in the 1980s as a response to the global AIDS epidemic , and possibly more specifically to the AIDS crisis in the US . Promoting safe sex is now one of the main aims of sex education and STI prevention , especially reducing new HIV infections . Safe sex is regarded as a harm reduction strategy aimed at reducing the risk of STI transmission . Although some safe sex practices ( like condoms ) can also be used as birth control ( contraception ) , most forms of contraception do not protect against STIs . Likewise , some safe sex practices , such as partner selection and low-risk sex behavior , [ example needed ] might not be effective forms of contraception .
Sexually transmitted infections ( STIs ) , also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases ( STDs ) , are infections that are commonly spread by sexual activity , especially vaginal intercourse , anal sex and oral sex . Many times STIs initially do not cause symptoms . This results in a greater risk of passing the disease on to others . Symptoms and signs of disease may include vaginal discharge , penile discharge , ulcers on or around the genitals , and pelvic pain . STIs can be transmitted to an infant before or during childbirth and may result in poor outcomes for the baby . Some STIs may cause problems with the ability to get pregnant . More than 30 different bacteria , viruses , and parasites can be transmitted through sexual activity . Bacterial STIs include chlamydia , gonorrhea , and syphilis . Viral STIs include genital herpes , HIV/AIDS , and genital warts . Parasitic STIs include trichomoniasis . While usually spread by sex , some STIs can be spread by non-sexual contact with donor tissue , blood , breastfeeding , or during childbirth . STI diagnostic tests are usually easily available in the developed world , but this is often not the case in the developing world .
The management of HIV/AIDS normally includes the use of multiple antiretroviral drugs in an attempt to control HIV infection . There are several classes of antiretroviral agents that act on different stages of the HIV life-cycle . The use of multiple drugs that act on different viral targets is known as highly active antiretroviral therapy ( HAART ) . HAART decreases the patient 's total burden of HIV , maintains function of the immune system , and prevents opportunistic infections that often lead to death . HAART also prevents the transmission of HIV between serodiscordant same sex and opposite sex partners so long as the HIV-positive partner maintains an undetectable viral load . Treatment has been so successful that in many parts of the world , HIV has become a chronic condition in which progression to AIDS is increasingly rare . Anthony Fauci , head of the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , has written , With collective and resolute action now and a steadfast commitment for years to come , an AIDS-free generation is indeed within reach . In the same paper , he noted that an estimated 700,000 lives were saved in 2010 alone by antiretroviral therapy . As another commentary in The Lancet noted , Rather than dealing with acute and potentially life-threatening complications , clinicians are now confronted with managing a chronic disease that in the absence of a cure will persist for many decades . The United States Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization recommend offering antiretroviral treatment to all patients with HIV . Because of the complexity of selecting and following a regimen , the potential for side effects , and the importance of taking medications regularly to prevent viral resistance , such organizations emphasize the importance of involving patients in therapy choices and recommend analyzing the risks and the potential benefits . The World Health Organization has defined health as more than the absence of disease .
There were 795 million undernourished people in the world in 2014 , a decrease of 216 million since 1990 , despite the fact that the world already produces enough food to feed everyone - 7 billion people - and could feed more than that - 12 billion people .
Malnutrition is a condition that results from eating a diet in which one or more nutrients are either not enough or are too much such that the diet causes health problems . It may involve calories , protein , carbohydrates , vitamins or minerals . Not enough nutrients is called undernutrition or undernourishment while too much is called overnutrition . Malnutrition is often used to specifically refer to undernutrition where an individual is not getting enough calories , protein , or micronutrients . If undernutrition occurs during pregnancy , or before two years of age , it may result in permanent problems with physical and mental development . Extreme undernourishment , known as starvation , may have symptoms that include : a short height , thin body , very poor energy levels , and swollen legs and abdomen . People also often get infections and are frequently cold . The symptoms of micronutrient deficiencies depend on the micronutrient that is lacking . Undernourishment is most often due to not enough high-quality food being available to eat . This is often related to high food prices and poverty . A lack of breastfeeding may contribute , as may a number of infectious diseases such as : gastroenteritis , pneumonia , malaria , and measles , which increase nutrient requirements . There are two main types of undernutrition : protein-energy malnutrition and dietary deficiencies .
N/A
Contraceptive security ( CS ) is a situation in which people are able to reliably choose , obtain , and use quality contraceptives for family planning and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases . The term refers primarily to efforts undertaken in developing countries to ensure contraceptive availability as an integral part of family planning programs . Organizations , usually government health agencies , work to ensure clients have long-term access to a range of high quality contraceptives and other essential health supplies . A framework and tool , the Strategic Pathway to Reproductive Health Commodity Security ( SPARHCS ) , was developed in 2004 by the US Agency for International Development ( USAID ) and partners to help countries identify and prioritize key commodity security issues ; assess current capacity for commodity security among country or regional programs , systems and policies ; and shape commodity security strategic plans . Measures taken to provide contraceptive security may include strengthening contraceptive supply chains , forming CS committees , product quality assurance , promoting supportive policy environments , and examining financing options . Strengthening commodity security requires routine monitoring of donor and government commitment , policies , stakeholder coordination , and supply chain information . Tools including the CS Indicators and the CS Index offer ways of measuring contraceptive security , and allow comparisons over time and across countries . A recent analysis of 48 countries CS Index scores between 2003-2012 indicates that all regions improved on measures of supply chain , financing , health and social environment , access , and utilization , with the greatest progress made in sub-Saharan Africa . Subsidized products , particularly condoms and oral contraceptives , may be provided to increase accessibility for low-income people .
Food consumption refers to the amount of food available for human consumption as estimated by the FAO Food Balance Sheets . However the actual food consumption may be lower than the quantity shown as food availability depending on the magnitude of wastage and losses of food in the household , e.g . during storage , in preparation and cooking , as plate-waste or quantities fed to domestic animals and pets , thrown or given away . According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations , the average minimum daily energy requirement is about 1,800 kilocalories ( 7,500 kJ ) per person .
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ( FAO ) [ Note 1 ] is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security . Its Latin motto , fiat panis , translates to let there be bread . Founded in October 1945 , the FAO is the oldest existing agency of the U.N . The FAO is headquartered in Rome , Italy and maintains regional and field offices around the world , operating in over 130 countries . It helps governments and development agencies coordinate their activities to improve and develop agriculture , forestry , fisheries , and land and water resources . It also conducts research , provides technical assistance to projects , operates educational and training programs , and collects data on agricultural output , production , and development . Composed of 197 member states , the FAO is governed by a biennial conference representing each member country and the European Union , which elects a 49-member executive council . The Director-General , currently Qu Dongyu of China , serves as the chief administrative officer . There are various committees governing matters such as finance , programs , agriculture , and fisheries .
Food energy is chemical energy that animals ( including humans ) derive from food through the process of cellular respiration . Cellular respiration may either involve the chemical reaction of food molecules with molecular oxygen ( aerobic respiration ) or the process of reorganizing the food molecules without additional oxygen ( anaerobic respiration ) .
Nutrition is the science that interprets the nutrients and other substances in food in relation to maintenance , growth , reproduction , health and disease of an organism . It includes food intake , absorption , assimilation , biosynthesis , catabolism and excretion . The diet of an organism is what it eats , which is largely determined by the availability and palatability of foods . For humans , a healthy diet includes preparation of food and storage methods that preserve nutrients from oxidation , heat or leaching , and that reduces risk of foodborne illnesses . The seven major classes of human nutrients are carbohydrates , fats , fiber , minerals , proteins , vitamins , and water . Nutrients can be grouped as either macronutrients or micronutrients ( needed in small quantities ) . In humans , an unhealthy diet can cause deficiency-related diseases such as blindness , anemia , scurvy , preterm birth , stillbirth and cretinism , or nutrient excess health-threatening conditions such as obesity and metabolic syndrome ; and such common chronic systemic diseases as cardiovascular disease , diabetes , and osteoporosis . Undernutrition can lead to wasting in acute cases , and the stunting of marasmus in chronic cases of malnutrition .
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals . Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever , tiredness , vomiting , and headaches . In severe cases it can cause yellow skin , seizures , coma , or death . Symptoms usually begin ten to fifteen days after being bitten by an infected mosquito . If not properly treated , people may have recurrences of the disease months later . In those who have recently survived an infection , reinfection usually causes milder symptoms . This partial resistance disappears over months to years if the person has no continuing exposure to malaria . It is caused by single-celled microorganisms of the Plasmodium group . The disease is most commonly spread by an infected female Anopheles mosquito . The mosquito bite introduces the parasites from the mosquito 's saliva into a person 's blood . The parasites travel to the liver where they mature and reproduce . Five species of Plasmodium can infect and be spread by humans .
Health care , health-care , or healthcare is the maintenance or improvement of health via the prevention , diagnosis , treatment , recovery , or cure of disease , illness , injury , and other physical and mental impairments in people . Health care is delivered by health professionals in allied health fields . Physicians and physician associates are a part of these health professionals . Dentistry , pharmacy , midwifery , nursing , medicine , optometry , audiology , psychology , occupational therapy , physical therapy , athletic training and other health professions are all part of health care . It includes work done in providing primary care , secondary care , and tertiary care , as well as in public health . Access to health care may vary across countries , communities , and individuals , influenced by social and economic conditions as well as health policies . Providing health care services means the timely use of personal health services to achieve the best possible health outcomes . Factors to consider in terms of healthcare access include financial limitations ( such as insurance coverage ) , geographic barriers ( such as additional transportation costs , possibility to take paid time off of work to use such services ) , and personal limitations ( lack of ability to communicate with healthcare providers , poor health literacy , low income ) . Limitations to health care services affects negatively the use of medical services , efficacy of treatments , and overall outcome ( well-being , mortality rates ) . Health care systems are organizations established to meet the health needs of targeted populations . According to the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , a well-functioning health care system requires a financing mechanism , a well-trained and adequately paid workforce , reliable information on which to base decisions and policies , and well maintained health facilities to deliver quality medicines and technologies . An efficient health care system can contribute to a significant part of a country 's economy , development and industrialization .
Health literacy is the ability to obtain , read , understand , and use healthcare information in order to make appropriate health decisions and follow instructions for treatment . There are multiple definitions of health literacy , in part , because health literacy involves both the context ( or setting ) in which health literacy demands are made ( e.g. , health care , media , internet or fitness facility ) and the skills that people bring to that situation . Since health literacy is a primary contributing factor to health disparities , it is a continued and increasing concern for health professionals . The 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy ( NAAL ) conducted by the US Department of Education found that 36% of participants scored as either basic or below basic in terms of their health literacy and concluded that approximately 80 million Americans have limited health literacy . These individuals have difficulty with common health tasks including reading the label of a prescribed drug . Several factors may influence health literacy . However , the following factors have been shown to strongly increase this risk : age ( especially patients 65 years and older ) , limited English language proficiency or English as a second language , less education , and lower socioeconomic status . Patients with low health literacy understand less about their medical conditions and treatments and overall report worse health status . Various interventions , such as simplifying information and illustrations , avoiding jargon , using teach-back methods , and encouraging patients ' questions , have improved health behaviors in persons with low health literacy . The proportion of adults aged 18 and over in the U.S. , in the year 2010 , who reported that their health care providers always explained things so they could understand them was about 60.6% . This number increased 1% from 2007 to 2010 . The Healthy People 2020 initiative of the United States Department of Health and Human Services has included health literacy as a pressing new topic , with objectives for improving it in the decade to come .