Promoting Healthier Alternatives in Remote Communities - Essay Example

Needs and Strengths Assessment Introduction Salisbury city is the second largest Local Government community in South Australia. The city covers 160 square kilometers and, as of 2006, was comprised of a harmonious, diverse and talented community of around 118,500 residents (Skinner, 2003). It is the Australia’s most productive region in terms of manufactured products. The development of Salisbury city is a rich and exciting story that traces its origin back to the year 1839 (Skinner, 2003). Demographics In the 2006 national population count there were about 2,050 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders living in Salisbury. Close to 30,500 people were born abroad; this was just about 26% of the then total population of 118,500 (Wagner, 2003). Salisbury has a high proportion of young people and a significant number of people over 60 years old. This in essence shows that the focus of most services in the Salisbury area is geared towards young people. Food is a major component in the day to day lives of young people (Weber, 2005). Health and Obesity In defining the environment around Salisbury city, it is worth noting that the type of environment surrounding the age group most vulnerable to obesity profoundly affects what they will and will not eat. On a day to day basis, children are exposed to a series of obesogenic surroundings that pose risks to their health. Environments such as school, day care centers and kindergartens affect the healthy eating behaviour of children (Garret, 2005). Though it should be noted, the environment can also contribute to healthy eating in children if proper guidelines are instituted by those in authority. The table below shows the break down in ages of residents residing in Salisbury area as per the last census carried out in 2006. Age Number Percentage 0-4 7,919 6.8% 5-11 11,434 9.7% 12-17 10,193 8.7% 18-24 12,305 10.5% 25-34 16,766 14.3% 35-49 25,987 22.2% 50-59 14,580 12.4% 60 and over 9,391 8.0% An analysis of this information shows that the majority of the Salisbury population is aged between 0-17; this is represented by 25.2% of the total population. National Interest In a study titled “Australia the Healthiest Country By 2020,” it was pointed out that smoking, obesity, detrimental use of alcohol, physical indolence, poor diet and their related risk factors account for 32% of illness in Australia. Food security can be defined as the ability to obtain physical and financial access to enough food to meet one’s dietary needs and food preferences (Verrinder, 2003). Conversely, food insecurity can be defined as a person’s limited or uncertain ability to access appropriate foods in a socially acceptable way. Food insecurity can exist if there is stress associated with obtaining enough food or when people are forced by circumstances, such as economic constraints, to make changes to their usual eating patterns. This is not the case in Australia as a majority of the population has access to food. However, it should be noted that there are certain groups of people who do not have access to healthy food. Food security comes along with acquiring enough healthy food to meet one’s dietary needs. Obesity is one possible result of not being able to meet all of one’s dietary requirements (Keen, 1994). Different research has shown that it is not only the lack of proper dietary nourishment but also the type of activities one engages in that affect one’s physical and mental health. In a study carried out by Deaken University in collaboration with the WHO, it was noted that children spend 20-30 hours a week watching television (Keen, 1994). It was further found that nearly half of all the secondary school respondents had a television set in their rooms. This pointed to two things: 1) the time spent watching television could be spent doing physical exercise; and 2) television influences the eating habits of children. Nature of the problem Recent research estimates that as many as 25% of children in Australia can be regarded as obese or overweight. A further 4 million are obese with a BMI > 30.0 kg/m2. Obesity recently surpassed smoking as the primary cause of early deaths. It is predicted that by the time children reach the age of 20 years, they will encounter many health complications in their years ahead.. It is important to note that research has shown Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are 1.9 times more likely than non-indigenous Australians to be obese (Keen, 1994). The 2006 Census shows there were 2,046 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders residing in Salisbury. 30,492 people were born overseas, representing close to 26% of the then total population of 118,424. Secondary complications as a result of obesity include diabetes, with estimates showing 275 Australians developing diabetes everyday (Garret, 2005). What is Obesity? Obesity is regarded as a condition where excess body fat amasses in the body to dangerous health levels. An individual is perceived to be obese when his/her body mass index goes beyond 30 kg/m2. Obesity is commonly caused by excessive intake of high energy foods, lack of physical activity and gene susceptibility (Keen, 1994). All the above considerations play a role in the prevalence of obesity in Salisbury city. As this paper progresses, further discussions will shed light on how these causes of obesity can be clearly identified and how they impact on the younger generation. Resources and relationships within the community The Salisbury community is endowed with a variety of resources that contribute positively to the prevention and control of obesity. However, it should be noted that the same community harbors within it the resources that contribute to the increase of obesity-related cases. The community in Salisbury is composed of families with school going children. It is socially acceptable that parents might not be around all the time to take care of their children. Schools have a certain role to play in ensuring children practice healthy eating habits (Keen, 1994). It is now widely accepted that the environment outside the house has a significant role to play in the day to day life of the child. There are a variety of community facilities that offer children with opportunities to spend their free time. These include the Salisbury memorial park, leisure and community centre’s, parks and reserves. This in effect shows that there are durations of time when children might be left to go alone with their peers in such areas. Such moments would provide children with opportune moments to eats anything of their choice. This, in turn, provides grounds upon which poor eating habits are developed (Garret, 2005). Another major resource residents of Salisbury can access is the variety of news sources, media and publications available to them. Apart from the media reporting on the rising cases of obesity in Salisbury, the same media can be used to constructively fight this menace. Publications such as The Salisbury Aware and The Salisbury Snapshot can be used to effectively teach the public and make them aware of their eating habits. Community Facilities 1. Bagster Road Community Centre This centre is located a few kilometers from the city centre. It provides a cafe which offers one the possibility of taking a quick lunch. This is one facility that can be used to contribute to healthy eating in the city. It has adequate space to offer seminars and training sessions on healthy eating. 2. Burton Community Centre This centre is located in the heart of Burton and was opened in 1990. It has been refurbished a number of times. This facility has grown over time and can be used as a perfect place to give both parents and children the history of Salisbury while also encouraging healthy eating. Health services The Salisbury council should try and introduce more services geared towards health awareness. This is as a result of the national statistics showing the extent of obesity prevalence in Australia. Such services should involve participation of schools because children are the one who are more prone to unhealthy eating habits. The Library The library is regarded as the centre for knowledge acquisition. It should be noted that most of the children who are affected with obesity have parents who often leave them to make eating decisions on their own. They are of a school going age. Hence enhancement of the reading culture and expanding the resources the library to include books on healthy eating would greatly benefit the community in Salisbury city. School curriculum The school curriculum content should be enhanced in order to introduce more class work on healthy eating. This should include a clear distinction between healthy foods and unhealthy foods. Such lessons could also enhance children’s ability to decide what types of food they should and shouldn’t eat. Stakeholder’s Survey Several stakeholders are directly connected to the problem of this assessment. The main stakeholders are: 1) Parents: Parents are of interest here since they are the ones who live with and guard their children. Any nutritional matter their children are involved in is connected with the decisions they make. The survey for parents will involve several questions to be used as information gathering tools. This will inform the study on matters related to nutrition and their children obesity condition. This will be discussed under the information gathering section. 2) Learning institutions: Learning institutions are also another important stakeholder as they interact with children when the parents are not with them. The institutional policies that they implement regarding nutrition and children’s activities are essential in informing this study. In the survey intended for learning institutions, several types of information will be sought. For instance, it will be of interest to know what nutritional policies they have in place regarding the meals children are offered. Additionally, are their policies in line with principles of healthy living? This will be a short questionnaire given to the heads of these institutions. 3) Health Institutions and Government: Regarding health institutions and government, the study will seek to inquire health statistics regarding the problem of obesity among children. Based on these statistics, what measures have the government and health institutions put in place to deal with the problem? Are they controlling the mediums that encourage the increase of obesity among the children? Gathering Information The information needed in this case will be gathered from a variety of sources. These sources will include the child’s environment, including social areas, schools and eateries. It will also include people who interact with the child frequently. Such people include parents, teachers and vendors in the various eateries. Some of the questions that can be asked include: To the Parents How often do you decide what your child eats? Do you make dietary considerations when giving food to your child? How often does your child engage in physical exercise? How many hours per week does your child spend watching television? To the Teachers What level of influence do you have on what your students eat? Do you think the syllabus has enough content on healthy eating? Does the cafeteria food follow the proper principles of healthy eating? To The Children How often does your parent decide what you eat? Do you follow the correct principles of healthy eating when choosing what to eat on your own? Do you get enough information on healthy eating from school? Do you think watching television influences what you eat? Do you prefer eating at home or eating fast foods away from home? The above questions will be framed according to the Likerts scale. The divisions made in the questions will help reap the maximum results from the respondents. Children aged 0-4 years are fed by their parents and hence have a limited chance in making choices for the type of food they eat. Thus parents serve a broader role in deciding for children of this age group, which will make it necessary to ask questions that address the dietary dynamics of this age group (Haslam, 2003). Children and teachers from local schools will be interviewed. The parents can be given these brief questionnaires to answer during weekends, in social places such as shopping malls, eateries. If they prefer, they can answer them during a weekday, either when they drop off or pick up their child from school. Discussion In a study titled, “Promoting Healthier Alternatives in Remote Indigenous Communities in Central Australia,” it was discovered there was a very high increase in the number of children taking in sugar-sweetened beverages, commonly referred to as SSBs (Verrinder, 2003). The major reasons identified for this were: 1) taste and sweet flavor; 2) colorful image and advertising; and 3) their availability in refrigerated forms. The study documented mixed results regarding the awareness of children and other members of the community of SSBs. Remote community members were largely found to be aware these beverages contain sugar, however, the amount of sugar they contained or how much can be consumed according to nutrition guidelines was not necessarily known (Verrinder, 2003). In research carried out in Port Pirie to study the community’s awareness of local among community food assistance organizations, programs and services, it was discovered that the general public in Port Pirie had little knowledge of the specific food assistance services and programs available (Timperio, 2005). The main idea was to show that the general population understands that there is a need for education that would enable them to make informed decisions about what they eat (Haslam, 2003). This research also found that many residents wished they knew more about healthy nutrition. This research sheds light on how important it is for the Salisbury community to have such programs in place. This is a countrywide problem in Australia. Each and every local administrative unit must join together in facing this challenge. The City of Salisbury needs to put in place measures in the public health department to help address this issue (Haslam, 2003). The above discussion recognizes that children cannot be the sole causal agent for obesity. In our survey questionnaire we will try to find out to what extent parents, teachers and the media contribute to obesity in children. From this data, we will be able to summarize which external influences contribute the most to what children eat. Recommendations  1. Introduction of a section to deal with healthy eating in the city council’s public health department. 2. Improving the syllabus and curriculum content to provide more information on healthy eating, the importance of physical exercise and the effects of obesity. 3. Establishment of websites that will help attract and encourage the youth to debate more on healthy eating and issues affecting their health. 4. Fruit eating centres should be encouraged in all schools. 5. Parents should be encouraged to know what their children eat at regular periods. 6. Recreation centres should be spread out in all areas of the city in order to encourage children to engage more in physical activities. Conclusion Obesity is a health disorder affecting not only Salisbury city. It affects the whole of Australia. Forming smaller units to fight obesity will help increase the effectiveness of national programs. It a shame for people to die in a country such as Australia because of a preventable disorder like obesity. The main cause of obesity is the environment and thus it can be prevented by proper and effective education geared to the general public (Verrinder, 2003). As mentioned, children and parents are the main stakeholders in what the child eats. Teachers only play a limited role in educating children on what is best to eat. It is therefore through the needs and strength assessment survey that we can effectively learn the degree to which children and parents have been empowered to eat healthy food. References Abelson, Skinner 2003, Sweetened Drinks, McGraw-Hill: Sydney Bragg, MS 2007, Food Nutrition: A Healthy Eating Guide, Wiley: New York. Riley, M & McCarthy, L 2007, ‘Indigenous communities’, Chapter 8 in Public Health Nutrition: From Principles to Practice, eds M Lawrence and Tony Worsley, Allen &Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW. Rowse, T, Scrimgeour, D, Knight, S & Thomas, D 1994, ‘Food-purchasing behaviour in an Aboriginal community: part 1, results of a survey’, Australian Journal of Public Health, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 63-66. Talbot, L & Verrinder, G 2010, Promoting Health: The Primary Health Care Approach,4th edn, Churchill Livingstone, Chatswood, NSW. Haslam, Dickens 2003, Obesity: A National Outcry, McGraw-Hill: Sydney Sanigorski A, Bell AC, Kremer P, Swinburn B, 2007 High childhood obesity in an Australian population , Chatswood, NSW. Pereira, MA 2006, ‘The possible role of sugar-sweetened beverages in obesity etiology: a review of the evidence’, International Journal of Obesity, vol. 30, pp. S28-S36. Remote Indigenous Stores and Takeaways Project 2005, Checklist: How healthy is your store?, Health Departments of Australia, SA, WA, NT, QLD & NSW. Garret L.2000, Betrayal of Trust; The Collapse of Global Public Health. New York: Hyperion. Verrinder, Stuart 2003, Eating Healthy In Children, McGraw-Hill: Sydney Sanigorski AM, Bell AC, Swinburn BA 2007. Association of key foods and beverages with obesity in Australian schoolchildren. Public Health Nutrition. Keen, S & Ducke, D 1994, ‘Healthy Eating With Parents: part 1, results of a survey’, Australian Journal of Public Health, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 63-66. 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