Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

In lesser-developed countries, which type of disease accounts for the highest percentage of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)?

1. Non-communicable diseases

2. Injuries

3. Communicable diseases

4. Chronic respiratory diseases

The correct answer is: Communicable diseases

In lesser-developed countries, communicable diseases account for the highest percentage of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to various factors linked to healthcare access, socioeconomic conditions, and infrastructure challenges. These countries often grapple with a higher burden of diseases caused by infectious agents, such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other preventable illnesses. Communicable diseases typically lead to significant morbidity and mortality in these regions, often exacerbated by limited healthcare resources and public health interventions. Consequently, these factors contribute to a substantial number of DALYs, which is a measure that combines years of life lost due to premature mortality and years lived with disability. This makes communicable diseases a primary concern for public health initiatives aimed at reducing health disparities and improving overall health outcomes in lesser-developed countries. While non-communicable diseases, injuries, and chronic respiratory diseases also pose challenges, particularly as some regions begin to develop and experience shifts in health profiles, it is the ongoing impact of communicable diseases that predominantly drives the DALY statistics in these settings.