Question 1
The future of nay society is vested in their youth. Their health is an integral prerequisite for this future. The responsibility of improving the health of the children and adolescents rests on the children and adolescents at the individual level, the parents and relatives at the family level and the community at the community level (Nies & McEwen, 2013). It is the responsibility children to report cases of ill health to their parents for immediate action. However, parent shoulder more responsibility in improving the health of the children and the adolescent compared to the individual children.
Firstly, it is important to note that health habits that children and adolescents develop have an influence on their future health. In this regard, it is the responsibility of the parents and adult relatives to ensure that they teach good health habits at a tender age. In addition to molding the individual behavior of the children and adolescents, the parents are also responsible for providing a good physical and social environment, as they are the other determinants of health. This responsibility is also shared by the community. This involves the community health nurses who are tasked with educating the children and adolescents on good health seeking behaviors and preventive measures (Lundy & Janes, 2009).
Question 2
The importance of women in the society and the roles that they play demand that awareness is raised with regards to the disease process of heart disease as it remains a potent killer of women. Several things can be done at all levels in order raise the awareness of women. Firstly, health education at the community level is a plausible approach to raising awareness. According to Nies & McEwen (2013), women are looking for information on ways of improving their health. Health education programs can be design to take advantage of the women groups in order to offer information of measures of preventing and early detection of heart disease (Kastan, 2008).
At the individual level, Nies & McEwen (2013) argue that women are relatively ignorant of the body features, social economic and education status notwithstanding. As such, they are not aware of their smaller blood vessels compared to the male population and the effect this can have on their health status, especially when they are predisposed to other causes of heart disease (Herrmann, 2008). This creates an opportunity at the individual level where women can purpose to gain more information on body awareness. At the family level, support for women is required. This is in regard to preventive measures and compliance with treatment regimes.
Question 3
It is no longer debatable that the male population shies away from primary health care. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2010), the number of men who saw, physicians, doctors or nurse practitioners for routine care was significantly low compare to the number of female population. More precisely, a mere 57% of men compared to 74% of women seek routine care from medical practitioners. Men shy away from these vital services for various reasons. Firstly, socialization, especially with regards to masculinity explains this phenomenon.
Male socialization lays emphasis in reckless behavior, limited emotional display, assertiveness and concern for power. By internalizing these societal norms, men are unlikely to engage in health promoting behaviors like routine checks. The compliance with these societal norms is fueled by peer pressure. This compliance is acculturated into new generations of men (Nies & McEwen, 2013). These masculine attitudes have been attributed to low adherence to treatment regimes by studies (Nyamhanga et al., 2013). Additionally, men, more than women will regard themselves as healthier compared to their female counterparts. This negates the need for routine health checks.
References
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2010). Men Shy Away from Routine Medical Appointments. Retrieved from> http://archive.ahrq.gov/news/newsroom/news-and- numbers/061610.html
Herrmann, C. (2008). Raising awareness of women and heart disease—women’s hearts are different. Critical care nursing clinics of North America, 20(3): 251-263
Kastan, K. (2008). From the heart: A woman's guide to living well with heart disease. Cambridge, Mass: Da Capo Press.
Lundy, K. S., & Janes, S. (2009). Community health nursing: Caring for the public's health. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Nies, M. & McEwen, M. (2013). Community/Public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations. St. Louis. Elsevier Saunders.
Nyamhanga, T. et al., (2013). Masculine attitudes of superiority deter men from accessing antiretroviral therapy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Global Health Action 6: 21812
