Community Health Teaching Project Outline

Assess a targeted population in your community to see what needs to exist. This is done by researching health data for your population. Make sure you select and define your community by noting the history of your community.

  1. Capture a picture of your selected community. What are the vital statistics of your community? Think about socioeconomic statistics. What illnesses or diseases are present in your community? Do citizens in your community have easy access to primary care? What are the most prevalent health problems in your community?
  2. Formulate a community health nursing diagnosis related to this health need, based on this data, what are the strengths and needs of your community?
  3. Plan community intervention. Ask yourself if this will have a positive health impact in the designated population? How do you know?

Full Answer Section

           

Picture of the Selected Community: Vital Statistics and Health Profile

  Vital Statistics (Socioeconomic): Based on general data available for informal settlements in Kisumu and Kenya, specific real-time data for Obunga can be estimated as follows:
  • Population Density: Extremely high, with many households living in single-room dwellings.
  • Income Levels: Predominantly low-income, with a significant portion of the population engaged in informal sector employment (e.g., street hawking, casual labor, boda-boda driving). Many households live below the national poverty line.
  • Education Levels: Lower than the national average, with high rates of school dropouts, especially among girls due to early pregnancies or economic pressures to support families.
  • Unemployment/Underemployment: High, particularly among youth.
  • Access to Basic Amenities:
    • Water: Limited access to piped water; residents often rely on communal water points or vendors, which can be expensive and of questionable quality.
    • Sanitation: Inadequate sanitation facilities; reliance on shared latrines, pit latrines, or open defecation in some areas, leading to poor hygiene and disease transmission.
    • Housing: Overcrowded, poorly constructed, and lacking proper ventilation, contributing to respiratory illnesses.
  • Food Security: Many households experience food insecurity, leading to malnutrition, especially among children.

Sample Answer

         

Community Health Assessment: A Focus on Maternal and Child Health in Obunga, Kisumu

   

1. Targeted Population and Community Definition

  My targeted population is the residents of Obunga Informal Settlement in Kisumu, Kisumu County, Kenya. History of Obunga: Obunga is one of the largest informal settlements (slums) in Kisumu City, located to the north-east of the city center. Like many informal settlements in Kenya, Obunga grew rapidly from the mid-20th century onwards as people migrated from rural areas to Kisumu seeking economic opportunities. These settlements typically develop on unplanned land, leading to inadequate infrastructure, poor housing conditions, and limited access to basic services. Obunga is characterized by high population density, makeshift housing, unpaved roads, and often