Assume that you are working in a community health department. The department has some federal money that it wants to allocate to two health promotion programs from the following:
Decrease in deaths from cardiovascular disease
Decrease in deaths from breast cancer
Decrease in teenage pregnancy
Decrease in cigarette smoking
Decrease in incidence of diabetes
Decrease in motor vehicle accidents
Decrease in osteoporosis and hip fractures among women
Decrease in obesity
Identify the health promotion programs that you would want to investigate and get them approved by your instructor.
Address the following questions:
Identify the risk factors associated with the selected health promotion programs.
What is the target population associated with the selected health promotion program? Consider the hypothetical target population, consisting of middle-aged women, male adolescent gang members, premature infants, etc., and describe the characteristics of each program.
What are the risk factors that you want to focus on in order to achieve the objective of the health promotion program?
What intervention would you recommend to be most appropriate to reduce exposure to these risk factors? You can choose at what level of intervention you want to implement each program (primary, secondary, tertiary health intervention).
What will be the process by which this intervention will achieve the goal of the program?
What will be the anticipated outcome of this intervention?
cite your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format.
Title: Prioritizing Health Promotion Programs in a Community Health Department
Introduction:
As part of a community health department, the allocation of federal funds towards health promotion programs can have a significant impact on improving public health outcomes. In this scenario, we will investigate and propose two health promotion programs aimed at addressing specific health issues. The selected programs are "Decrease in deaths from cardiovascular disease" and "Decrease in obesity."
Program 1: Decrease in deaths from cardiovascular disease
Risk factors associated:
High blood pressure
High cholesterol levels
Sedentary lifestyle
Poor dietary habits
Smoking
Obesity
Target population: Middle-aged adults (40-65 years)
Characteristics: This program aims to target middle-aged adults who are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The program will focus on promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and providing education on risk factor management.
Focus on risk factors:
Encourage regular physical activity to combat sedentary lifestyles.
Promote healthy eating habits and the consumption of a balanced diet.
Raise awareness about the dangers of smoking and provide smoking cessation resources.
Educate individuals on the importance of regular blood pressure and cholesterol screenings.
Intervention recommendation: Primary and secondary health intervention
Primary intervention: Implement community-wide education campaigns to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease risk factors and prevention strategies. This can involve workshops, seminars, and distribution of educational materials.
Secondary intervention: Collaborate with healthcare providers to offer screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body mass index (BMI) to identify individuals at risk. Provide referrals for further assessment and support.
Process to achieve program goal:
Increase knowledge and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Encourage behavior change through education and support.
Promote regular screenings and early detection of risk factors.
Facilitate access to appropriate healthcare services for further evaluation and treatment.
Anticipated outcome:
Increased awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors among the target population.
Improved adoption of healthy behaviors, including regular physical activity, healthier eating habits, smoking cessation, and adherence to screening recommendations.
Reduction in deaths from cardiovascular disease due to early detection, management, and intervention.
Program 2: Decrease in obesity
Risk factors associated:
Sedentary lifestyle
Unhealthy dietary habits
Genetic predisposition
Socioeconomic factors
Lack of access to healthy food options
Environmental factors
Target population: Children and adolescents (5-18 years)
Characteristics: This program focuses on addressing childhood obesity by targeting children and adolescents who are at risk. The program aims to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors, increase access to nutritious foods, and provide support for sustainable behavior change.
Focus on risk factors:
Encourage regular physical activity through school-based programs, sports clubs, or community initiatives.
Promote the consumption of a balanced diet and educate about portion control and healthy food choices.
Advocate for policies that improve access to affordable, nutritious foods in schools and communities.
Address socioeconomic factors related to obesity through education and support services.
Intervention recommendation: Primary, secondary, and tertiary health intervention
Primary intervention: Implement school-based health education programs that incorporate nutrition education, physical activity promotion, and overall wellness.
Secondary intervention: Provide screening for obesity-related health conditions and refer individuals for appropriate interventions, such as counseling or specialized care.
Tertiary intervention: Offer targeted interventions for individuals with severe obesity, including comprehensive weight management programs involving healthcare professionals.
Process to achieve program goal:
Increase awareness about the importance of healthy eating habits and regular physical activity.
Facilitate behavior change through educational programs, community engagement, and policy advocacy.
Improve access to nutritious foods through collaboration with schools, supermarkets, and farmers' markets.
Provide support services for individuals with obesity-related conditions.
Anticipated outcome:
Increased knowledge about healthy lifestyles among children, adolescents, and their families.
Adoption of healthier behaviors, including increased physical activity levels and improved dietary habits.
Reduction in childhood obesity rates and associated comorbidities.
Enhanced overall well-being and improved long-term health outcomes.
References:
American Heart Association. (2019). Preventing Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease/preventing-cardiovascular-disease-in-women
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Childhood Overweight and Obesity. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html