Health Statistics and Populations
Professional Competency addressed in this Assignment:
PC-4.3: Apply concepts of multiculturalism and diversity to become an agent of change.
Directions
Select a health topic of interest such as breastfeeding, coronary heart disease, or juvenile diabetes that affects a specific population such as older adults or women of reproductive age or race. Locate health statistics for your selections. You must include national and state data. Your work may also include local county or city data if available.
Additionally, research content regarding concepts of multiculturalism and diversity, and include interventions that address health disparities.
Input your responses using a table similar to the one below. You may recreate the table in Word©. A Word document version of this table is available in Doc Sharing. Excel© files are not accepted. Include a title page and reference page. Length of Assignment should not exceed 3 pages.
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, organizations and agencies for health statistics were searched to find relevant health statistics. Be specific and thorough in your search. | |
Provide the health information obtained in the search. Include any significant statistics and information on risk factors and trends in epidemiology data on your topic. | |
Interpret your findings and determine if there is any evidence of health disparities based on the population examined. Be sure you understand what health disparities are and address if your topic is or is not impacted. Provide several examples and include interventions that would improve this disparity. |
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
In this assignment, we will be applying the concept of multiculturalism and diversity to health statistics and populations. The professional competency that will be addressed in this assignment is PC-4.3, which involves becoming an agent of change. We will select a health topic that affects a specific population and locate health statistics for national and state data. We will also research content regarding concepts of multiculturalism and diversity, and include interventions that address health disparities.
Q: 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.).
A: The population of interest for this assignment is women of reproductive age and the health condition of interest is maternal mortality. This population group refers to females who are able to have children and can become pregnant. Maternal mortality refers to the death of a woman during pregnancy, childbirth or within 42 days after the delivery.
Q: Summarize your search process. Specify what sources, organizations and agencies for health statistics were searched to find relevant health statistics. Be specific and thorough in your search.
A: To find relevant health statistics on maternal mortality among women of reproductive age, the following sources, organizations and agencies were searched:
– World Health Organization (WHO): The WHO website provided global, regional, and country-level maternal mortality statistics.
– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The CDC website provided national and state-level maternal mortality statistics in the United States.
– National Vital Statistics System (NVSS): The NVSS website provided data on maternal deaths in the United States.
Q: Provide the health information obtained in the search. Include any significant statistics and information on risk factors and trends in epidemiology data on your topic.
A: Based on the search conducted, the following information was obtained:
– According to the WHO, approximately 295,000 maternal deaths occurred worldwide in 2017.
– In the United States, the maternal mortality rate (MMR) was 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018 (CDC).
– Black women in the United States are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women (CDC).
– Risk factors for maternal mortality include advanced maternal age, socioeconomic status, poor access to healthcare, and pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (WHO).
– Trends in epidemiology data show that maternal mortality rates have been increasing in the United States since the 1990s (CDC).
Q: Interpret your findings and determine if there is any evidence of health disparities based on the population examined. Be sure you understand what health disparities are and address if your topic is or is not impacted. Provide several examples and include interventions that would improve this disparity.
A: Health disparities refer to differences in health outcomes between different groups of people. In the case of maternal mortality among women of reproductive age, there is evidence of health disparities based on race. Black women are disproportionately affected by maternal mortality compared to white women. This is likely due to a combination of factors such as systemic racism, socioeconomic status, and limited access to healthcare.
Interventions to improve this disparity include:
– Increasing access to quality healthcare for all women, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
– Implementing strategies to reduce implicit bias and racism within the healthcare system.
– Providing education and support to women during pregnancy and after childbirth to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
– Increasing access to family planning services to ensure that women can plan their pregnancies and receive appropriate care.
In conclusion, the issue of maternal mortality among women of reproductive age is a significant health concern that requires attention. By addressing health disparities and implementing interventions that improve access to healthcare, we can work towards improving outcomes and reducing maternal mortality rates.
