Family-Centered Health Promotion

Family-Centered Health Promotion

Grand Canyon University: NRS-429VN

Introduction

There are many chronic diseases in that take the lives of people every day. Among the Hispanic population, along with other minorities, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke are the most common causes to illnesses and death in the currently (Finding Solutions, 2016). In the last century alone, America is more diverse than ever. According the 2010 U.S. Census, approximately 36 percent of the population belongs to a racial or ethnic minority group (Strategies, 2016). So, does minority health, specifically speaking of the Hispanic population, determine the health of the nation? The focus of this report will be on the discussion of current health status, health promotion, health disparities and the three levels of health promotion prevention (primary, secondary, and tertiary) in the Hispanic population.

Current Health Status

Among all of the minorities, obesity and diabetes affect more Hispanics that any other minority today. Obesity results alone lead to a higher rate of major negative effects and a higher rate of heart related illnesses in this population. A trend comes from these rates and due to diabetes; this tends to lead the Hispanic population further away from education and preventative care (Health Promotion, 2017). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the diabetic Hispanic population increased 12.2 percent as compared to the 8 percent of the overall population (Health Promotion, 2017). Currently in the United States there are approximately 52 million Hispanics or Latinos ( about 16.7% of the total population) in which this number is expected to double by 2050 making the total population of American approximately 30% (Racial, 2016).

Health Promotion

Health promotion would be defined by the Hispanic population as dissemination of educational materials aimed at improving access to preventative health care (Health Promotion, 2017). Because diabetes is the most common health concern for the Hispanic population, it is imperative to promote health and wellness. The primary goal would be to reduce risks of obesity and diabetes by promoting better eating habits and diets along with exercising in not only adults, but in children as well. Through this approach, this would impact the disease and directly address the damaging effects that are affecting Hispanics today. To teach this effectively, printing the materials in Spanish, specific to Diabetes Mellitus is a great way promoting health for the population to raise awareness, thus overcoming the language and educational barriers. For example, the educational material could include the appropriate foods as compared to the foods diabetics should not have, as well as include some low impact exercises that overweight people can handle even as a beginner.

Health Disparities

What are health disparities and how do they affect the Hispanic population? Health disparities are the differences in health outcomes and their causes among groups of people. The public health believes reducing health disparities to be a major goal of the public health. One goal of Healthy People 2020, is to eliminate disparities and improve the health in (Strategies, 2016). There are many health disparities that exist in the Hispanic population as well as other minorities. There is no specific cause, but many of the causes are complex. A list of health disparities in the United States include poverty, racism, lack of education, discrimination, lack of resources for health promotion, poor diet and lower quality medical services, just to name a few.

While Hispanics are not the worse in some areas such as life expectancy, birth weight and alcohol/tobacco use, they are doing poorly in other areas such a high teenage pregnancy rates, lack of physical activity and having or maintain health insurance (Understand Latino, 2015). Every person in deserves to be healthy. We can help improve Hispanic health together as a nation by merely understanding Hispanics and their health disparities.

Health Prevention

Prevention, also known as “interventions”, are done to lower the risks associated with ones health. There are three types of prevention methods know as primary, secondary and tertiary prevention (What Researchers, 2006). Primary prevention is what one can do to prevent the disease before it ever happens. For example, educating about immunizations to fight off infectious diseases, or promoting a healthy heart by exercising. Secondary prevention focuses on the impact of the disease or injury that has already occurred and aims at detecting the disease and treating it to help slow the progress. Finally, tertiary prevention focuses on treating the illness to the fullest to decrease the impact it has on the body to further the quality of life. Some examples include rehabilitation programs, daily low dose aspirin intake to prevent recurring heart attacks and diabetes management. For the Hispanic minority, diabetes management would play an important role in these types of preventions. Primary prevention for diabetes would include eating a healthy diet and exercise to prevent obesity and diabetes. Secondary prevention would include treating the diabetes with care such as keeping regular scheduled doctors appointments and checking blood sugar daily, before meals and at bedtime as indicated. Tertiary prevention would focus on reducing the severity of the disease. Some examples would include attending dialysis as scheduled for the renal patient and preventing amputation by checking feet on a daily basis to prevent ulcers those are unaware of due to diabetic neuropathy.

Conclusion

Among the Hispanic population there is no question of the rise in diabetes, heart disease and obesity alone, not to mention the other diseases occurring in the minorities. If health promotion is not in effect, the health care system will see an increased number in those suffering with these diseases. Through education and diet, could help reduce the rise in these diseases affecting the Hispanic population. Knowing the health disparities the Hispanic population faces, can help educate, promote health and use preventative measures to decrease the growing number of these diseases before they start.

References

Finding Solutions to Health Disparities at a Glance 2016. (2016, November 29). Retrieved , from https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/aag/reach.htm

Health Promotion in the Hispanic Population. (2017, February 9). Retrieved , from https://soapboxie.com/social-issues/Health-Promotion-in-the-Hispanic-Population

Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations. (2016, February 8). Retrieved , from https://www.samhsa.gov/specific-populations/racial-ethnic-minority

Strategies for Reducing Health Disparities. (2016, October 3). Retrieved , from https://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/strategies2016/index.html

Understand Latino Health with our new Hispanic Health Statistics Brief Report. (2015, July 19). Retrieved , from https://mhpsalud.org/understand-latino-health-with-our-new-hispanic-health-statistics-brief-report/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9eDitrHw1gIVBjBpCh2T8QdxEAAYASAAEgIwLPD_BwE

What Researchers Mean by Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Prevention. (2006). Retrieved , from https://www.iwh.on.ca/wrmb/primary-secondary-and-tertiary-prevention

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