Importance of Health
Introduction
In order to understand the importance of health, one should focus on the statistics on a particular aggregate group. Various indicators are floated in order to describe the health status of this particular group. This paper will consider the children of America as an aggregate group. Using literature from various scholars, the paper will examine this aggregate group with regards to various indicators. The paper will also examine where the responsibilities for the health of this aggregate group fall. In recognition of the raging disparities to access of health services for this group, this paper will evaluate how the poor and the uninsured population in this aggregate group can be addressed.
The destiny of a nation is vested in its children. Over the years, various measures have been instituted in order to ensure the well being and health of the children. In examining this aggregate group, especially with regards to health, it is important to focus on disparities in access to healthcare. The improvements towards improving the health of the children have been uneven in their benefits. For instance, these disparities are characterized by geographical areas, income levels and race. Children whose parents live in suburbs have superior access to and better health care services compared to children whose parents live in inner cities and rural areas (Nies & McEwen, 2013).
Disparities in quality and access to health care still remain between children of color and white children. Due to the disparities in quality and access, children are not getting optimal health. This is evidenced by statistics on child morbidity and mortality. For instance, over twenty eight thousand children die annually before their first birthday in the United States of America. Over 500,000 children are born prematurely, and suffer from respiratory, learning difficulties, cerebral palsy and physical disabilities. There is increased maltreatment of children, with over 800,000 documented cases annually. This among other factors contributes to violence being ranked as the second leading reason for adolescent deaths in America (Nies & McEwen, 2013). These statistics delineate the need for continued improvements, especially bearing in mind that the destiny of the children is vested in its children.
The Health of Children as an Aggregate Group
In order to understand who is responsible for the health of children, it is necessary to delve into the individual level, family level and community levels. Children at the individual level do not shoulder significant responsibility for their health. According to the resolutions of the Convention of the Rights of the Child in1990, a child was defined as anyone less than eighteen years unless the majority was attained earlier under laws that were applicable to children. Under this definition, most children are dependent on their parents. However, they still shoulder some responsibility for their health. This includes reporting any incidences of ill health to their parents or guardians (Nies & McEwen, 2013).
At the family level, parents shoulder more responsibility towards the health of their children. It is important to note that such responsibility starts even before the children are conceived. According to Nies & McEwen (2013), the preconception period is as important as the prenatal and postnatal period. By practicing good maternal habits such as proper nutrition, parents are meeting their responsibilities towards the health of the children. It is also the responsibility of the parent and other family members to provide good social and physical environments, as they are influencers of health.
One of the issues discussed earlier is child maltreatment. This indicator shows the importance of the social environment as a factor in the health of the child. With violence ranking as the second leading cause of child mortality, it is imperative for parents to ensure that the children are only exposed to enabling social environments. Despite the disparities and other impeding factors, it is the responsibility of the parents to access health services for their children. This incorporates both preventive and curative health services. Nies & McEwen (2013) argue that it is the responsibility of the parent to get information regarding potential environmental hazards and threats to the health of the child, learn about and provide optimal nutrition, take the child for immunizations and screening and educate the child on the emotional and physical development.
At the community level, the responsibility is shouldered by diverse people of organizations. One of the elements at the community level who are responsible for the health of the child is the related government departments. For instance, the department of health is responsible for ensuring health programs designed to meet the health needs of the children. This is by ensuring that immunization programs, preventive programs, environmental health assessment and hazard identification programs are running efficiently. Through these programs, parents and individuals get information that is vital enhancing the health of the children (Nies & McEwen, 2013).
It is also the responsibility of the government departments to address disparities in access to health services. Community nurses also have a responsibility towards the health of children. In addition to offering treatment services, community nurses are also involved in preventive measures through community screening, public education and immunization and vaccination programs. In order to clearly understand the responsibilities at the three levels, it is important to not the overlap in the responsibilities and the fact that all the responsibilities are mutually inclusive, and that the responsibilities should take place simultaneously (Nies & McEwen, 2013).
The Poor and the Uninsured
In terms of coverage programs on health care, it is estimated that up to 88% of children in America have some form of health insurance (Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, 2008). Although this number appears large, the importance of health for the children casts a spotlight on the 12% that is uninsured. According to Nies & McEwen (2013), this 12% is more likely to lack access to health care, experience poor health outcomes when compared to children with insurance and to have health needs that are not met. This merits the focus on this part of the aggregate group, especially with regards to access to health care. This part of the aggregate group can be addressed through a number of ways.
According to Ku, Lin & Broaddus (2007), one of the ways through which this can be addressed is through public insurance programs. These include programs like Medicaid and Child Health Insurance Program. This is in recognition of the fact that private insurance is often more expensive and out of reach for the poor and disenfranchised in the community. Additionally, this population can be addressed through the use of preventive measures. Preventive measures are relatively cheaper compared to curative measures. The combination of these two approaches can gift the poor and uninsured in the community with the access to health services.
Promoting Wellness using the Nursing Process at various Levels of Care
The nursing process as well as the different levels of care is important in promoting wellness for this aggregate group as well as the entire population. The principles governing the nursing process, when applied at the individual level, family level and community levels of care aid community health nurses in providing services to the children with increased effectiveness. Using these principles, the community health nurses get information on the needs of the children and the families. It is important for the community health nurse to consider the needs of the family even when focusing on the child, because as identified earlier, these children grow and develop within the context of and are dependent on the family unit. Through this understanding, community health nurses can tailor programs that respond to the needs of the child at the individual level, family level and community levels of care. Additionally, the community health nurse can promote the well being of children by incorporating strategies at the primary level, secondary level and tertiary prevention levels (Hunt, 2009). The strategies incorporate at each of these levels are informed by the nursing process.
Conclusion
The importance of health for children cannot be underscored more. As discussed in the paper, a healthy foundation sets children on a path of good health into adulthood. In understanding the importance of health for children, the statistics on various indicators paint a grim picture, even in the midst of sustained improvements. The biggest challenge for this aggregate group is the disparity in access to health services. This is characterized by elements like race, income levels and geographical locations. However there is reprieve in the fact that community health nursing and the engagement by other organizations is mitigating the effects of the disparities. As identified in the paper, the entire community as broadly defined has the responsibility to ensure that the health of children is safeguarded. By all taking our responsibilities, the children in the country are going to be healthier.
References
Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, (2008). America’s children in brief: key indicators of wellbeing. Retrieved from> www.childstats.gov/americaschildren /index.asp
Hunt, R. (2009). Introduction to community-based nursing. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Ku, Lin & Broaddus (2007). Chartbook: Improving Children's Health - The Roles of Medicaid and SCHIP. Retrieved from> http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=1296
Nies, M. & McEwen, M. (2013). Community/Public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations. St. Louis. Elsevier Saunders.
