Literacy and illiteracy – This book covers the entire syllabus of “Community Health Nursing” prescribed by the Universities of Bangladesh- for Basic and diploma nursing students. We tried to accommodate latest information and topics.
This book is examination friendly setup according to the teachers’ lectures and examination’s questions. At the end of the book previous university questions are given. We hope in touch with the book students’ knowledge will be upgraded and flourished. The unique way of presentation may make your reading of the book a pleasurable experience.
Literacy and illiteracy
Definition of literacy
Literacy is traditionally understood as the ability to read, write, and use arithmetic. The modern term’s meaning has been expanded to include the ability to use language, numbers, images, computers, and other basic means to understand, communicate, gain useful knowledge and use the dominant symbol systems of a culture.
Definition of illiteracy
- A lack of ability to read and write.
- The state of being illiterate; lack of any or enough education.
- A mistake in writing or speaking, felt to be characteristic of an illiterate or semiliterate person.
Literacy rate
The total percentage of the population of an area at a particular time aged seven years or above who can read and write with understanding. Here the denominator is the population aged seven years or more.
Literacy rate in Bangladesh
The literacy rate in Bangladesh: For that indicator, UNESCO provides data for Bangladesh 2016.
| Year | Literacy Rate | Annual Change |
| 2017 | 72.89% | 0.13% |
| 2016 | 72.76% | 7.62% |
| 2015 | 65.14% | 4.04% |
| 2014 | 61.09% | 0.08% |
| 2013 | 61.02% | 3.15% |
Causes of illiteracy in Bangladesh
1. Poverty
2. Population Explosion
3. Inadequate Facilities
4. Social Evils
5. Gender Bias
6. Emigration of Educated Individuals
7. Individual Disabilities
8. Backward Thinking
9. Geographical Factors
10. Attitude towards Learning
The following are the most frequent causes of illiteracy in adults :
1. Parents with little schooling;
2. Lack of books at home and lack of stimulation as to the importance of reading;
3. Doing badly at or dropping out of school-many have not completed high school;
4. Difficult living conditions, including poverty;
5. Learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, dysorthographia, etc.
Life expectancy
Definition of Life expectancy
Life expectancy is a statistical measure of the average time an organism is expected to live, based on the year of their birth, their current age and other demographic factors including sex.
Life expectancy of Bangladesh:
Total population (Male & female): 70.65 years
Male: 68.75 years
Female: 72.63 years (2014 est.)
GDP & GNP
Definition of GDP
GDP Gross Domestic Product;
GDP is defined as, “An estimated value of the total worth of a country’s production and services, within its boundary, by its nationals and foreigners, calculated over the course on one year”
Definition of GNP
GNP Gross National Product
GNP is defined as, “An estimated value of the total worth of production and services, by citizens of a country, on its land or on foreign land, calculated over the course on one year”.
The formula of GDP
GDP consumption + investment+ (government spending) + (exports-imports).
The formula of GNP:
GNP GDP + NR (Net income inflow from assets abroad or Net Income Receipts) – NP (Net payment outflow to foreign assets).
Uses of GDP & GNP
- Business,
- Economic Forecasting.
- Used to produce manufactured goods because their value is included in the price of the finished product
- GNP does include depreciation and indirect business taxes like sales tax.
Difference between GDP & GNP
| GDP | GNP | |
| Stands for | Gross Domestic Product | Gross National Product |
| Definition | An estimated value of the total worth of a country’s production and services, within its boundary, by its nationals and foreigners,calculated over the course on one year. | An estimated value of the total worth of production and services, by citizens of a country, on its land or on foreign land, calculated over the course on one year. |
| Formula for Calculation | GDP consumption + investment + (government spending) + (exports imports). | GNP = GDP + NR (Net income inflow from assets abroad or Net Income Receipts) -NP (Net payment outflow to foreign assets). |
| Uses | Business, Economic Forecasting. | Business, Economic Forecasting. |
| Application (Context in which these terms are used) | To see the strength of a country’s local economy. | To see how the nationals of a country are doing economically. |
| Layman Usage | Total value of products & Services produced within the territorial boundary of a country. | Total value of Goods and Services produced by all nationals of a country (whether within or outside the country). |
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
The United Nations Millennium Development Goals are eight goals that all 191 UN member states have agreed to try to achieve by the year 2015. The United Nations Millennium Declaration, signed in September 2000 commits world leaders to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination against women. The MDGs are derived from this Declaration, and all have specific targets and indicators. The Eight Millennium Development Goals are:
1. to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
2. to achieve universal primary education;
3. to promote gender equality and empower women;
4. to reduce child mortality;
5. to improve maternal health;
6. to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases;
7. to ensure environmental sustainability; and
8. to develop a global partnership for development.
The MDGs are inter-dependent; all the MDG influence health, and health influences all the MDGs. For example, better health enables children to learn and adults to earn. Gender equality is essential to the achievement of better health. Reducing poverty, hunger and environmental degradation positively influences, but also depends on, better health.
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