Important Apsects of Health Promotion - Essay Example

"Important Aspects of Health Promotion" is an inspiring example of a paper on the health system. The last few decades have experienced significant developments that support health promotion importance whose aim is to focus on reducing the burden of diseases, especially in vulnerable communities. A suggestion made by the evidence is that various complementary actions occurring in tandem are most effective compared to single strategies.

Taking participatory approaches

Taking participatory approaches means involving people and doing something with them rather than doing it for them. It recognizes that the contribution of everyone is valuable and that seeking to involve other people is beneficial (Bartholomew et al, 2011). This is applied to participation by the whole community. If it is the wish of any group to incorporate in its program health promotion then it must actively support, court and nurture people’s participation in the program. The group should establish and maintain contact with another social service, environmental, and health agencies on every regional and administrative basis and determine public health programs’ priorities.
Addressing the determinants of health

A health determinant is a characteristic or factor contributing to health status. They consist of a range of individual, social, behavioral, physical, environmental, cultural, and economic factors that interact to influence health. Determinants of health in most cases are known and it is important for health promoters to address all of them during planning and evaluation of their programs as well as in ensuring that the various health promotion features that are important in their work are the reference of all they do. There are suggestions from the current evidence that to improve existing health inequities adequately, and action is required. The distribution of resources and opportunities in many ways affects health over a lifetime.
Funding

According to Bartholomew et al, (2011), it is normally very good to have ideas and plans about how to do a health promotion but they may become useless if there are little or no funds to have it running. Limited funding more often is the biggest challenge faced by existing and new health promotion programs. Program funding can be available through various research, government, and philanthropic organizations in the form of loans and grants, but grants are most safe and advisable. Thus, the availability of funds determines the success of a health promotion program. Collaboration with other groups is also good in order to make things easier.

Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study of how often and why diseases occur and the application of this study in controlling health problems and diseases in different groups of people. Like pathology and clinical findings, epidemiological information of a disease is an important part of its basic description. This information is important in planning, implementing, and evaluating health promotion programs. If the health problem can be linked, through epidemiological data, to conditions or behaviors in the environment which can be prevented or changed then it will be easier to attract the support needed for the health promotion program. (Gilmore, 2011). It is for this reason that health promotion specialists should understand the epidemiology and use it to develop their programs.

Respect

Gilmore (2011) asserts that, in health promotion, respect means valuing diversity, considering differing viewpoints, being open to different perspectives and cultures on health and wellness. It is really a virtue to be respectful and should be a strategy or approach to be practiced in daily work. Respect means supporting challenge and growth with dignity while still being in a position to acknowledge your own biases.