Delivery date
A community can be described as a social group or unit usually of different sizes and resides within a specific group geographical location at a certain given time. People living in a community usually have common goals, social norms and values, are ruled by the same government, and have similar resources. Community health, on the other hand, can be defined as a discipline in the field of public health that is concerned with the study as well as improvement of health within a community. It focuses on a specific geographical area, not people who have similar characteristics. The community as a client is a nursing concept that refers to people in a community being the center of focus for a given nursing service.
Partnerships are the main way through which communities get to provide affordable health services for residents in communities. In this particular community, the main kind of partnership that exists is that between the community and the government of the state. The state provides medical needs for the community, though dispensaries and hospitals. They also subsidize the amount of fee that community members are supposed to pay to obtain treatment in these facilities. Moreover, they pay the medical staff salaries and supply drugs to the medical facilities. The drugs are sold to the sick community members at an affordable rate as compared to the rate they would buy with from private pharmacies. This is mainly done through the American Association of Healthcare.
Another kind of partnership that exist in this society is that between the community residents and the church. However, this partnership is informal. Churches build hospitals and dispensaries from where they are able to serve the community and usually at affordable rates. Though they are private establishments, since the people of the community are also church members, they do not pay much to receive treatment in the various hospitals the church owns. Similarly, the church sponsors those who are unable to cater for their bills. In this community, the best example of this partnership is the Catholic Charities USA group.
The community can be described in many ways. Let’s start with education. The community has community schools where the members take their children to school. However, some prefer to homeschool their children and from private tutors who are well educated. It is an acceptable form of educating the young ones. The community has various laws, values, norms and customs by which they abide by in their daily operations. All members are expected to adhere to them otherwise, guidelines and institutions are in place to punish lawbreakers. Lots of health facilities are also available. Here, members are educated on the importance of nutrition, treated and taught on ways of avoiding health problems. The impression of this community, as can be concluded from above characteristics, is that it is a peaceful community where people live in harmony.
There are many things that can affect the health of residents of a community. The first is education. When people are not well educated, they are likely to have poor health and others are linked to lower self-confidence. Income also affects the health of residents. High income is usually linked to better health as individuals can pay for expensive treatment and check on their nutritional needs. Access to health services is another aspect that influences the health of community resident. When people have the access to health services, they are treated whenever sick, and the doctors advise them on prevention of certain diseases. Thus, their health will be better.
Another aspect of the community that influences resident’s health is the social support network. People with a great support network of friends, relatives, and the society in general are healthier than those who do not. Similarly, communities that follow strict health, cultural traditions and customs as well as beliefs ensure that the residents are healthy. However, some customs and beliefs may turn people away from seeking medical advice and treatment from hospitals thus risking the health of residents. The physical environment in a community also affects the health of community residents. When the environment is clean, safe water and clean air available, garbage is well disposed, and limited pollution to the environment is emitted, the health of the community will be better. However, when the opposite of this is true, the health of the community residents will be poor.
In this community, several diagnoses can be concluded. First, the nutrition in the community is high. Its diagnosis is as related to very minimal incidences of insufficient breast milk, obesity or underweight cases, and unstable glucose level cases reported and treated in the healthcare facilities. This is evident from the records in the community health centers. There are very few cases of malnutrition that have been reported. Similarly, the health of the community is stable. The diagnosis is as related to fewer cases of sickness reported in the hospitals. This is evident by the healthcare facility logs. Most people visit these facilities to obtain knowledge on how to prevent illnesses before they occur. As a result, people in the community are very healthy. Pregnancies among teenagers in the community are very minimal. The diagnosis is as related to the enforcement of the customs, cultural beliefs, and values of the community. It is evident by the fewer cases of teenage pregnancies reported in the healthcare facilities as can be found in their records.
One-healthy people 2020 leading health indicator is a ten year national goal and objective set by the American government geared towards improving the health of Americans. By 2020, the American government is working to ensure that the health status of all the residents will be improved. Healthcare services are being increased and improved so as to cater for all residents. Similarly, their health is being monitored now and then, and scientists are coming up with new and improved medicine to treat diseases. The indicator is important for the community as it is part of America. The health of residents is bound to be improved and directed healthcare directions by American government bound to be followed by all the community residents.
REFERENCES
Allender, & Spradley. (2014). The Community as Client: Assessment and Diagnosis. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Armenakis, A. (2007). Social & Cultural Factors Related to Health. San Francisco, CA: University of California San Francisco.
Bullard, L. (2013). Community Health Assessment Public Health Madison & Dane County.
Muecke, M. A. (2011). Community Health Diagnosis in Nursing. Public Health Nursing Vol. 1 No. 1 , 23-35.
Rowlingson, K. (2011). Does income inequality cause health and social problems? Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
US Department of Health and Human Services. (2014). Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicators: Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity.
Wood, R. (2011, September). Where We Live Matters For Our Health: Neighboourhoods and Health. Neighborhoods and Health.
