Assingment
MN505: Unit 6 Assignment Health Statistics and Populations Directions This Assignment requires you to select 1) a population of interest (e.g. older adults, women of reproductive age) and 2) a health condition or event (e.g. hysterectomy, breastfeeding, unintended pregnancy), and then locate health statistics for your selections. Please search for data at the national, state, and local levels. Input your responses using a table similar to the one below. A Word document version of this table is available in Doc Sharing.
Data Search Directions Summarize Your Findings
Identify the population of interest and health condition/event to your practice. Specify how you define the population (e.g. age, gender, health status, etc.).
Summarize your search process. Specify what sources of health statistics were searched to find relevant health statistics.
Provide the health information obtained in the search.
Interpret your findings and determine if there is any evidence of health disparities based on the population examined.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
In this assignment, the students are tasked with selecting a population of interest and a particular health condition/event, and then locating health statistics for their selections. The purpose of this exercise is to help students understand the importance of health data collection, analysis, and interpretation in providing effective healthcare services.
Answer:
Population of interest: Women of reproductive age
Health condition/event: Breastfeeding
Definition of population: Women between the ages of 15-49 who are capable of reproducing
Search process: The relevant health statistics were searched using various public health data sources such as the National Vital Statistics System, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Health information obtained in the search:
– Breastfeeding initiation rates among women of reproductive age in the United States: 83.2%
– Duration of exclusive breastfeeding (up to 6 months) in the United States: 25.6%
– Breastfeeding rates among women of reproductive age vary by race: Non-Hispanic Black women (69.1%), Hispanic women (81.9%), and Non-Hispanic White women (83.4%)
– Breastfeeding rates among women of reproductive age vary by education: College-educated women (85.9%) vs. women with less than a high school education (71.1%)
Interpretation of findings: The data suggests that although the majority of women of reproductive age initiate breastfeeding, the percentage of women who exclusively breastfeed for up to 6 months is low. Additionally, there is a disparity in the breastfeeding rates based on race and educational level, with Non-Hispanic Black and less educated women having lower rates. This points to the need for targeted interventions and education programs to promote breastfeeding and reduce disparities in breastfeeding rates.
