Human Factors Causing Ill-Health Questions and Answers Grade 12

Learners who smoke often spend time with friends who also use other substances, so peer pressure and easy access make it more likely that they will try stronger drugs.

Two measures that could be implemented by schools to discourage learners from smoking are:

1. Schools could invite health professionals or former smokers to speak to learners about the dangers of smoking, because real-life experiences leave a lasting impression and can change attitudes.
2. Schools could add strict rules to the code of conduct, with demerits, fines or suspension for learners caught smoking, because consequences discourage learners from breaking the rules.

Two examples of human factors that cause ill-health are:

1. Psychological factors, such as stress or depression.
2. Social factors, such as peer pressure to drink or smoke.

Four possible social factors that may lead to stereotyping are:

1. Stereotyping may be caused by ideas about other people learnt from family members and friends.
2. It can also come from the media portraying certain groups or genders in a fixed way.
3. People who do not mix with others who are different from them tend to stereotype.
4. Gender inequality and racism in society also feed stereotypes.

Two negative effects of stereotyping on the mental health of victims of stereotyping are:

1. Victims of stereotyping may develop a negative self-concept and low self-esteem. Because they are constantly judged, they start to see themselves in a negative way. This leads to irrational thinking, and as a result they come to believe that they are worthless.
2. Victims may stop trusting other people and withdraw from social contact. They isolate themselves to avoid being judged, which makes them feel disconnected from others. In the end they experience deep loneliness, which can lead to depression.

Two ways in which a person could determine whether he/she may be unintentionally stereotyping others are:

1. A person could pay close attention to the language they use when speaking to different groups of people. This helps them notice whether they use offensive expressions or jokes based on generalisations. Such language can exclude or disrespect others, and recognising it shows them where they need to change.
2. A person could also question their own assumptions about people, for example judgements based on someone's appearance or background. These assumptions are often reinforced by their own cultural views without them realising it. By challenging them honestly, they can see whether their beliefs are unfairly shaping the way they treat others.

Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen carried in the blood to the skin, which causes the skin to become discoloured and uneven, and leaves yellow stains on the teeth and fingers.

A social factor is something that comes from our interaction with other people and affects how we think and behave in social situations.

Texting while driving is a social factor because the need to stay connected with friends on WhatsApp or social media makes the driver take their eyes off the road, so they miss road signs and dangers and may cause an accident.

Three reasons why teenagers continue to use their cell phones while driving despite the risk it poses are:

1. Many teenagers believe that bad things will not happen to them, so they think the risks of texting while driving do not apply to them.
2. Young drivers are often overconfident and believe they can multi-task, so they do not realise that their lack of experience makes texting even more dangerous.
3. Some teenagers fear missing out and feel they must always stay connected, so they keep using their phones even while driving.

Three practical ways to alert teen drivers to the dangers of texting and driving are:

1. Invite victims of texting-related accidents to speak at schools, so that teenagers hear the real consequences from people their own age.
2. Run social media campaigns using hashtags such as #DontTextAndDrive, so that the message reaches teenagers where they spend their time.
3. Put up billboards and posters along roads and in public places, so that teen drivers are reminded of the dangers while they drive.

A disaster is a sudden event, natural or caused by people, that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community and causes great damage, injury or loss of life.

Two other examples of disasters that may be caused by humans are:

1. A veld fire can be started by a burning cigarette thrown into dry grass.
2. Toxic waste can be dumped in a river that local communities use.

Poor security at the venue lets too many people get in, which leads to overcrowding and makes a stampede more likely when the crowd panics.

Survivors may suffer from post-traumatic stress or depression, because they keep reliving the frightening memories of what they saw and experienced.

Two negative effects of people's personal views about infectious diseases on the health and safety of people are:

1. Some people form their own theories about a disease or virus and share them with others. Because others may believe these opinions, fake news spreads quickly. As a result, people become confused about whether they should follow safety regulations, and many stop wearing masks or social distancing, which increases infections.
2. Some people do not trust the scientific evidence about how a disease spreads and believe it is only a political conspiracy. They then refuse to follow compulsory safety measures such as testing or vaccination. This means they do not take the disease seriously, which puts their own health and the health of their families and communities at risk.

Two practical strategies that you could use to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of a disastrous situation at a major sports or social event are:

1. Find out where all the exit points are as soon as you arrive, so that you can get out quickly and safely if there is an emergency.
2. Avoid alcohol and drugs at the event, so that you stay sober and can think clearly and react correctly if something goes wrong.

A: creating forums to help drug addicts and families.

Community forums give addicts and their families support and information. Making laws, arresting people and workplace rehabilitation are the work of government, police and employers, not the community.

Three ways in which a sedentary lifestyle could lead to ill health are:

1. A sedentary lifestyle could slow down your metabolism and lead to obesity.
2. It could weaken your bones and muscles.
3. It could cause plaque to build up in the arteries, leading to heart disease.

Unsafe sexual behaviour is having unprotected sex with one or more partners, which puts people at risk of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

Two reasons why this type of behaviour is still prevalent amongst the youth are:

1. Many young people give in to peer pressure to experiment and fit in.
2. Alcohol and drugs lower their judgement and lead to risky behaviour.

Three negative effects that unsafe sexual behaviour may have on the life of a young person are:

1. Unsafe sexual behaviour can delay or derail a young person's plans for their future career, because the consequences take away the time and focus needed to pursue their goals.
2. It can seriously harm their emotional and physical health, so they are unable to live the healthy and fulfilling life they had planned.
3. It can damage their relationships with family and friends, whom they need as a support system to move forward and achieve their life goals.

A campaign is a series of planned, organised activities over a period of time aimed at bringing about a particular positive change in society.

Two benefits of the youth participating in anti-substance abuse campaigns are:

1. Taking part makes young people aware of the negative consequences of substance abuse.
2. It gives them a chance to share their own experiences and ideas about the risks with their peers.

Three contributing factors that may lead to an increased number of learners abusing substances in schools are:

1. Drugs are easy to get at some schools, because dealers have contacts inside the school, so learners are tempted to try them.
2. School authorities do not monitor the school grounds properly, which makes it easy for learners to get and use illegal substances without being caught.
3. Academic pressure, peer pressure and personal problems lead some learners to start using substances as a way of coping.

Two practical strategies that the National Department of Social Development could implement to ensure that the campaign is effective are:

1. The department should research which areas need the campaign most. This allows it to design a programme that suits each community, so that the campaign addresses the real needs of the people it is aimed at.
2. It should place social workers at schools and in communities while the campaign runs. They can counsel young people who need help, which removes problems that could work against the campaign and makes it more successful.

Three ways in which a sedentary lifestyle could lead to ill health are:

1. A sedentary lifestyle slows down your metabolism and causes excessive weight gain, which can lead to obesity.
2. It causes plaque to build up in the arteries, which strains the heart.
3. It can harm your mental well-being and lead to depression.

Three aims of this campaign are:

1. To make the community, especially the youth, aware of the dangers of nyaope and other drugs.
2. To reduce crime linked to drug use in the area.
3. To refer drug users and victims for professional help.

Two reasons why boys are more likely to use drugs are:

1. Boys are often under strong peer pressure to prove that they are tough and 'manly'.
2. Boys are less likely to talk about their emotions, so they may use drugs to cope with stress or problems.

Three ways in which the community can support the campaign so that it is more effective are:

1. Community members can join the community policing forum and street patrols, so the police have more eyes on the ground and crime is reported quickly.
2. Residents can report drug dealers and drug houses anonymously to the police, which helps to cut off the supply of drugs in the area.
3. Parents, churches and local organisations can create safe recreational activities such as sport and youth clubs, so young people are kept busy and away from drugs.

Two ways in which one could evaluate the impact of this campaign are:

1. Compare police crime statistics, such as house robberies and cable theft, from before and after the campaign. A drop would show the campaign worked, although other factors could also explain the change.
2. Conduct surveys or interviews with residents and young people to find out whether they now know more about the dangers of drugs, but people may not always give honest answers about drug use.

Women in abusive or unequal relationships often have little power to insist on safer sex such as condom use, so they are more likely to be infected with STIs, including HIV.

A campaign is a series of planned actions carried out over a period of time to achieve a particular goal or bring about positive change in society.

Two benefits of the youth participating in anti-substance abuse campaigns are:

1. When young people take part in anti-substance abuse campaigns, they become more aware of the harmful consequences of abusing substances.
2. They get a platform to share their experiences and talk about issues that are hard to discuss with their parents.