Community Assessments of health

According to Rosanna (2008)

Health is extremely important, and assessing it is necessary for developing plans and improving health care delivery to populations in various places. The application of epidemiological concepts guarantees that there is a description of need in relation to specific problems where data of prevalence, incidence, and other surrogates that affect health are available. Various communities suffer a variety of health issues, which are mostly dictated by people’s activities. However, these problems can be prevented through the application of Milio’s framework who suggested that the choices of promoting health should be made readily available and affordable than the options used in damaging health for the community to improve health status by individuals gaining health (Niles & McEwen, 2015).

The Health people 2020

Suggested that various sectors such as education and community should be involved in promoting healthcare. On this basis, this study will assess the diagnosis facing a given community and how it can apply Milio’s framework in overcoming it as well as coming up with long and short term goals.

Introduction of the Community Diagnosis

The community that I have chosen for this study is Oakland County Michigan which has a population of 1,243,970 (Quickfacts, n.d.).The diagnosis that I identified in this community is the case of risk for mortality. In this case, 2,518 individuals died of cardiovascular diseases in 2013 while the obesity rate and the county’s population with inadequate physical activity were at 26.3% and 19.2% respectively. This is an indication that the main problems causing cardiovascular diseases in this community are the lack of physical activities and cases of obesity.

Analysis of Diagnosis Using Milio’s Framework

In the improvement of health behavior, Nancy Milio suggested six propositions that can aid an individual in improving a helpful behavior to the ability of the society in providing affirming and available options for choices of health (Milio, 2010).She indicated health nursing in a community needs to influence the health of the community through public policy. Like in the case of Oakland community, Milio stated that there are diseases related to excess afflict such as obesity affluent societies while those caused by the unsafe or inadequate shelter, water and food afflict the poor. The leading risk indicators in the community are obesity and insufficient physical activity resulting in cardiovascular diseases. For health to be improved in a community, the Milio framework suggested that the choices of promoting health should be made readily available and affordable (Niles & McEwen, 2015).

Comparison of diagnosis to Healthy People 2020 National Goals

The diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases experienced in Oakland community can be overcome through all Americans have an equal opportunity in making choices that result in good health. This is according to the Healthy People 2020 National Goals. In making sure that all individuals have the opportunity, several advances are needed in various fields apart from health. They include; child care, education, business, media, agriculture, transportation and community planning (Sullivan, 2011).The objectives for physical activity for Healthy 2020 relate to the high state of science that supports the benefits of the health of regular physical activities of individuals. These activities include muscle strengthening activities and moderate as well as vigorous, intense physical activities.

Short term goals

Firstly, engaging various sectors in addition to health care, in taking actions so as to strengthen policies and improve the practices which are enhanced by the best available knowledge and evidence. Such sectors include education, transportation, community planning and child care. Another goal could be the provision of measurable objectives at all levels in that the state, national and local levels. For instance, the objective could be educating people on how to reduce cases of obesity by engaging in physical activities and eating healthy to avoid cases of obesity. This way, there will be the minimization of the cardiovascular diseases among other diseases. Thirdly, increment of public awareness and gaining some understanding of the determinants of disease, health and disability as well as endless opportunities ((Milio, 2010)).The awareness should include letting people know how they can avoid the diseases and the foods to eat so as to enhance their health.

Long-term Goal

The community through the assistance of national government can be in a position of ensuring that every individual is subjected to equal health care as well as eliminating the disparities in the long run (Milio, 2010).Equal health care for all persons can be achieved by making sure that the health facilities have the proper equipment to cater for all patients and appropriate medication. Creation of physical and social environments used in promoting good health for all individuals in the society. The physical and social environments can aid in engaging the people of Oakland community in physical activities such as sports activities. Thus, the issues of obesity will decline which in turn minimizes the chances of having cardiovascular diseases. Also, people will be in a position to share various elements on how the diseases can be prevented through their own experiences or research.

References

Niles, M.A., & McEwen, M. (2015). Community/public health nursing (6th ed.). St. Louis MO: Elsevier Saunders.

Milio, N. (2010). PROMOTING HEALTH PROMOTION: HEALTH OR HYPE?. Community Health Studies, 10(4), 427-437.

Rosanna, Q. (2008). Epidemiologic Principles and Food Safety. Journal Of Epidemiology & Community Health, 62(9), 847-847.

Sullivan, M. (2011). Healthy People 2020: Goals Reflect Graying of America. Clinical Psychiatry News, 39(1), 34.