As a public health manager, you are concerned with certain health issues trending in your local community. You will analyze factors affecting public and community health by creating an action plan specific to the disease or health condition within the community you selected in Wk 3. You will demonstrate your community assessment skills using data to drive health improvements in community and public health.
Assessment Deliverable
Write a 850- to 1,050-word action plan in which you share your analysis and support it with data findings, evidence-based interventions, and a plan to improve community health. In your action plan:
- Provide a brief introduction or snapshot of the disease or health condition, community, and SDOH you selected in Week 3.
- Identify health disparities of the chosen disease or health concern (e.g., access to health care).
- Describe how the health disparities impact the risk of the chosen disease. (e.g., many of these people are isolated in rural locations).
- Analyze the local resource needs.
- What are the public health departments, local organizations, or others doing to reduce the threat of the disease or health condition?
- What services or resources are needed at the local level to address the gaps determined above?
- How could you pursue those needed resources?
- Recommend ways to decrease health disparities and improve community health as it relates to this disease or health condition.
Format your references according to APA guidelines.
Submit your assessment.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor, I believe that public and community health plays a crucial role in preventing disease and promoting overall health. Therefore, creating an action plan specific to the disease or health condition within the community is essential. Analyzing factors affecting public and community health will help drive health improvements in community and public health. In this assignment, I will share my analysis and support it with data findings, evidence-based interventions, and a plan to improve community health.
Answer:
The disease/health condition selected for analysis is obesity in the rural community. According to data findings, the prevalence of obesity in rural areas is higher than in urban areas. Social determinants of health (SDOH), such as limited access to healthy foods and lack of physical activity opportunities, impact the risk of obesity in rural areas.
Health disparities of obesity in rural communities include a limited number of healthcare providers, limited public transportation, and lack of access to affordable healthy food options. These disparities further impact the risk of obesity in rural areas as individuals face difficulty accessing physical activity opportunities and healthy food options.
Analyzing the local resource needs, it is crucial to identify the public health departments, local organizations, or others working to reduce the threat of obesity in rural communities. Resources such as community gardens, farmers markets, and educational programs focused on healthy eating and physical activity can help decrease the impact of health disparities.
To address the gaps determined above, we need services such as access to affordable healthy food options and safe areas for physical activity. Additionally, resources such as educational programs focused on healthy eating and physical activity will increase awareness and prevent obesity.
Public-private partnerships can be pursued to achieve those needed resources. For example, partnerships with local farmers, grocery stores, and recreational centers can help address the gaps of limited healthy food options and physical activity opportunities.
In conclusion, addressing obesity in rural communities requires a multi-faceted approach that includes an analysis of SDOH and the impact of health disparities on this disease. Identifying resources and pursuing public-private partnerships can contribute to reducing health disparities and improving community health.
