Determining an advocacy priority is the first step in engaging in policy change. You must first identify a need, analyze the need, consider the impact of the need, explore the contextual factors, and determine the best policy options before you can enact change.
In this module, you will explore an advocacy issue that you will make a priority for change. You will explore the issue, the need for change, and the factors influencing the issue before you determine the best policy option for the area.
According to Thornton et al. (2016), “Despite improvements in medical care and in disease prevention, health disparities persist and may be increasing for chronic conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer” (p. 1416), but health policy can serve as a form of intervention to address these health disparities. Whether the policy is directed at funding, education, or specific healthcare practices, identifying the health disparities, why they exist, and to whom they impact is a necessary component to improving overall public health.
During the next week, you will explore the how healthcare policy can help to address disparities that impact vulnerable, marginalized, or stigmatized populations. You will continue to explore the population you identified in Week 1 in order to determine a specific policy advocacy priority.
Full Answer Section
- Socioeconomic Disparities: Black women are more likely to live in poverty and have limited access to quality healthcare.
- Lack of Trust: Historical mistreatment of Black individuals in healthcare settings can lead to mistrust and reluctance to seek care.
- Systemic Racism: Systemic racism can limit access to quality healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, exacerbating health disparities.
Policy Advocacy Priority:
To address this pressing issue, I propose the following policy advocacy priority:
Increase funding for community-based maternal health programs that are culturally competent and address the social determinants of health.
By investing in community-based programs, we can:
- Improve Access to Care: Expand access to prenatal care, postpartum care, and mental health services.
- Reduce Implicit Bias: Train healthcare providers on cultural competence and implicit bias.
- Address Social Determinants of Health: Provide support for housing, nutrition, and transportation.
- Empower Black Women: Encourage community engagement and decision-making in healthcare.
By advocating for this policy change, we can work towards reducing maternal mortality rates among Black women and promoting health equity.
Sample Answer
Identifying a Health Disparity and Policy Advocacy Priority
Health Disparity: Maternal Mortality in Black Women
Need for Change: Black women in the United States experience disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality compared to white women. This disparity is a complex issue rooted in systemic racism, socioeconomic inequalities, and implicit bias within the healthcare system.
Factors Influencing the Issue:
- Implicit Bias: Healthcare providers may hold implicit biases that affect their treatment of Black women, leading to disparities in care.