Activity 2.3: how can wellbeing indicators be read as positive or negative?

Introduction

Students undertake research to provide detail about one wellbeing indicator, using an example or case study based on an Asian country.

Resources

Bitesize: development and health (BBC)

• Activity stepsShow details
  1. As a class list the some of the indicators students have learned about in previous activities and discuss how they could be read as either positive or negative.
  2. Students select one or more wellbeing indicators to research further, with particular reference to an Asian country. They examine the causative factors relating to the chosen wellbeing indicators and the implications for particular societies.
  3. For example: The wellbeing indicator of infant mortality
  4. High infant mortality can be the direct result of numerous factors such as inadequate access to medical care, poor levels of sanitation, limited access to fresh drinking water and underdeveloped infrastructure. It can be symptomatic of low levels of education and lower socio-economic status.
  5. High infant mortality has implications for a country in that it contributes to high birth rates, over-taxed health systems and loss of human potential.
  6. Globally, infant mortality is generally highest in the African continent, but several Asian countries, including Afghanistan, have alarmingly high levels of infant mortality. The Asian nations of India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan all rank poorly for infant mortality.
  3. Students present their findings as a report or an oral presentation.