Building a Health Campaign for African - Research Paper Example

Building a Health Campaign for African – American and Hispanic Communities Introduction The ability to create healthy communities while developing initiatives for target individuals is one that begins with grass root initiatives which reflect the federal standards required for health. Examining growing problems within the community, such as obesity, can provide deeper insight into creating health campaigns and goals within communities. Minorities, such as African and Hispanic communities, are a main target to assist with obesity and other health issues. Defining the needs of minority communities and designing health campaigns that directly assist those in need can then provide more opportunities that align with federal responses to health while redefining the understanding of health for different individuals. Obesity in African and Hispanic Communities Obesity is currently defined as one of the most chronic diseases, specifically because it leads to Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. If obesity is not cared for, it may also lead to more fatal illness that can’t be cared for. According to several surveys through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are growing numbers of children and young adults who are at risk for obesity and which have higher BMI, also known as body to fat ratios. Through the same measures, it has been found that African – American and Hispanic children and youth are more at risk for obesity than other ethnic groups. It has also been found that the children who are at risk in these communities primarily develop obesity because they don’t take part in forms of exercise and healthier activities, both which would prevent the overweight and obese factors in the communities. More important, children with parents who are obese are 80% likely to be obese, with a child who has only one parent that is obese to have a 40% change of obesity (Pazder, 2010). The high risk factors associated with obesity in African – American and Hispanic communities have led to an increased focus in finding solutions for communities. The statistics show that there is a direct relationship from parents to children in relation to obesity and eating patterns as well as lifestyle habits. There are also social and cultural groundings in the lifestyle and the patterns of physical exercise within these families. The complexity associated with the health of both communities has led to five dimensions of focus for those that are interested in better health for minorities. These include health effects, social and environmental context, prevention and treatment, research methods, and training. When brining these five aspects to the community, there is a better response from the groups to change their lifestyle while understanding why it is important to stop obesity within the household and through specific activities. Implementing a process of research and solutions that target specific communities can redefine the objectives for health issues while providing more alternatives for those in high risk families (Kumanyika et al, 2005). Health Campaigns and National Goals The focus to implement healthier communities among African – Americans and Hispanics is furthered through the national goals through federal agencies, as well as reflections seen in state and local agencies. Healthy People 2000 is a main objective that has been launched at a national level to provide healthier communities by the year 2020. The focus is to provide more education about health issues and incentives, access to more health services, community based activities and infrastructures for more physical activity and assistance with health disorders. The first step is to increase the awareness of issues related to health related issues and diseases. Objectives to reach more levels of education are combined at this level. After this, there is a focus of engaging different sectors to take more action and to strengthen the policies and practices that are available through the community. Through these goals, there will be promotion of quality lives that individuals can live at for longer periods of time, specifically because of healthy behaviors (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). The overall goals of the federal agency are based on collaborative efforts that promote health at all levels. The collaboration for health begins with development at a public level and through specific communities. State and local agencies that are associated with public health at a governmental level are also tied into this. There are also opportunities being created for public engagement and stakeholder dialogue that allow individuals to ask about the threats and problems within their household. The public input then leads to an output of what communities need to be provided with to address the main risk factors within the communities while working toward preventative measures for health and diseases that affect communities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Health Campaigns for Communities The focus used for the health campaigns has the direct focus of building sustainable communities. This is combined with levels of information as well as health initiatives that promote activities for health. A five phase model used for this is seen through the Sisters Together initiative, which provides African – American women with support groups to promote a healthier lifestyle. The five stages include design, promotion, demonstration, transfer and sustained activities. The focus is to initiate community building with healthier lifestyles as the main component. The design used is built on building health activities and initiatives. The promotion moves into the African – American communities to grab the attention of those in need of health activities, while working toward incorporating individuals at every level for the main initiative. The demonstration comes through those that are a part of the program and which are educated about the health system currently in use. The transfer goes to other parts of the community to build the lifestyles of those involved in the project, which leads to continuous activities through the support groups which are developed. The implementation of this model provides sustainable development for community growth while offering new initiatives for different groups to become involved with knowledge and activities related to health (Rudd, Goldberg, Dietz, 1999). For models and initiatives like this to work, further analysis of the issue should first be provided. At a national level, statistics and health networks are built. However, these are not censored at a community level. Without the research and development available, there will be the inability to target the correct response while building community development. The first step to this is to identify the main issue and whether this is from a lack of education, lack of resources or communication. The audience that is determined, which consists of African – Americans and Hispanics, should further be identified. The main focus is not only on identifying the target market, but also determining how each of the individuals can be reached. Determining the main problems with obesity, vital statistics that define this and the lack of education about obesity is the first step. The cultural and social implications then have to be defined to help individuals and families in this target group. Testing of the initiatives and models should then be incorporated, specifically with messages that create specific types of responses and communication concepts that either work or don’t within the community. From the data collected, a health communication and activity program can be implemented within the community. By identifying more than the needs of African – Americans and Hispanics for obesity, is the need to work with new ways to promote health while reaching the target communities by identifying these concepts (NPIN, 2010). Epidemiologic Surveillance Systems for Monitoring The focus on the system for monitoring through epidemiologic surveillance is incorporated through systems defined to show improvements in health. The system established will collect, record, analyze, interpret and disseminate data about the community and population, specifically with those suffering from obesity. To begin, the target groups of African – Americans and Hispanics are monitored for the amount of obesity in families, as well as the exercise and lifestyle habits of each. The information will move into the health initiative as well as how many respond to this main initiative. The last step of collection is based on the results that allow families to move from obesity and into health. After analyzing this through test phases, the information is analyzed by determining the statistical differences in health as well as the comparison to the overall community. The statistics will determine the effectiveness of the promotion of the health campaign and will show the percentage rates of how much health is improving. If the health rates fluctuate at smaller levels, then the health campaign and initiatives will be altered to be more conducive with the community (Friis, Sellers, 1996). To initiate more responses for the health in the community, different uses of technology and alternative systems can be incorporated into the campaign. By using technological components, there will be a better analysis of the risks and trends that are related to obesity in the African – American and Hispanic communities. Using syndromic surveillance as the epidemiologic system is one of the defined options provided by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The basic concept is to detect the basic health issues within the community and to respond appropriately according to the trends. For instance, if it is found that certain socioeconomic levels have higher rates of obesity, then it becomes important to target these specific demographic regions first. The monitoring of different syndromes through the surveillance system will also become easier through the syndromic surveillance system, which incorporates the levels of assistance needed in various communities. Researching and defining these areas first will help to create a stronger target for the health initiative while using the community funding to build effective results with sustainable communities (Reingold, 2004). Conclusion The practice of healthy lifestyles for various communities is a main initiative at a federal, state and local level. For the practice of health to be implemented, is the need for communities to take part in different activities and to work toward better health with different groups of individuals. To build a health campaign that is sustainable, is the need to comply with regulations for communication and development of communities. Furthering this with epidemiological surveillance and monitoring of the communities will help to further this. Beginning with the focus of the two groups of African – Americans and Hispanics, as well as the problem of obesity, will instantly create a target for health. This can be furthered by following models and initiatives while developing new methods for reaching to communities and promoting health. The health campaign designed can then provide sustainable development of health within each community while building stronger foundations for the development of health lifestyles. References Friis, R, T Sellers. (1996). Epidemiology for Public Health Practice MD: Aspen Publishers. Kumanyika, Shiriki K. Tiffany L. Gary, Kristie J. Lancaster, Carmen D. Samuel-Hodge, Joanne Banks-Wallace, Bettina M. Beech, Chanita Hughes-Halbert, Njeri Karanja, Angela M. Odoms-Young, T. Elaine Prewitt and Melicia C. Whitt-Glove. (2005). “Achieving Healthy Weight in African – American Communities: Research Perspectives and Priorities.” Obesity: A Research Journal (13). NPIN. (2010). “Health Communication Strategies.” National Prevention Information Network. Retrieved from: http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/campaign/strategy.asp. Pazder, Nadine. (2010). “Childhood Obesity.” US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). Healthy People 2020 Framework. Retrieved from: http://www.healthypeople.gov/hp2020/Objectives/framework.aspx. Reingold, Arthur. (2003). “If Syndromic Surveillance is the Answer, What Is the Question?” Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science. (1), (2). Rudd, RE, J Goldberg, W Dietz. (1999). “A Five – Stage Model for Sustaining a Community Campaign.” Journal of Health Communities (4), (1). Read More