Problem Description:
Austria, a country known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and high standard of living, has been grappling with an alarming issue – excess mortality. This term refers to the number of deaths that surpass what would be expected based on the average mortality rate in non-crisis situations. The problem has been escalating over the years, causing concern among health professionals, policymakers, and the general public alike. The excess mortality rate is a critical indicator of the overall health status of a population and can shed light on underlying health issues that may not be immediately apparent.
Analysing Impact of Excess Mortality
The impact of excess mortality in Austria is far-reaching and multifaceted. On a personal level, it leads to untimely loss of life, leaving families bereaved and communities shattered. On a societal level, it can strain healthcare systems, increase healthcare costs, and lead to a decrease in the productive workforce. Moreover, it can also have significant implications for Austria’s economy as it affects the labour market and increases public spending on health care and social security benefits.
Finding out the Main Root Causes of Excess Mortality using the 5 Why Model
To understand the root causes of excess mortality in Austria, we can employ the 5 Why Model – a simple but powerful tool for getting to the root cause of a problem by asking ‘why’ five times.
1. Why is there an increase in excess mortality in Austria? The immediate answer points towards an increase in chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes.
2. Why is there an increase in these chronic diseases? Lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are major contributors.
3. Why are these unhealthy lifestyle habits prevalent? This could be due to lack of awareness about healthy lifestyle choices or socio-economic factors that limit access to healthier options AND measures of the government during the Covid-Pandemic.
4. Why is there a lack of awareness or limited access to healthier options? This could be due to inadequate health education, lack of public health initiatives promoting healthy lifestyles, or socio-economic disparities that make healthier choices less accessible or affordable. Government measures as lockdowns, wearing masks, G-regime and vaccination of the entire population.
5. Why are these political forced health measures, health education and public health initiatives inadequate? This could be due to insufficient funding, lack of prioritisation of public health, or ineffective implementation of health promotion strategies and lack of democratic mindset among the ruling governements .
Conclusion and What to Learn
The issue of excess mortality in Austria is a complex one, with roots in both individual lifestyle choices and broader socio-economic factors as the impact of the governement management of the Covid Pandemic . It underscores the importance of comprehensive public health strategies that not only focus on treating diseases but also on promoting healthy lifestyles and addressing socio-economic disparities.
To tackle this issue effectively, there needs to be a multi-pronged approach. This includes increasing funding for public health initiatives, improving health education, promoting healthier lifestyle choices, and addressing socio-economic factors that limit access to healthier options.
Moreover, it is crucial to regularly monitor and analyse mortality data to identify trends and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented strategies. Only through such comprehensive and sustained efforts can Austria hope to curb the problem of excess mortality and ensure the health and well-being of its population.
