The Factors and Strategies of Health Promotion - Term Paper Example

Learning Style Name Course Lecturer Date Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over the determinants of their health and in the long run improve their health (WHO, 1986). It has been regarded as the most ethical, effective and sustainable approach towards achieving good health. Health promotion have for a long time been used to improve personal and public health through integrating strategies which also align with implementation of behavior change strategies , health protection measures, risk factor detection health, health enhancement, health education and health maintenance (Webb, 2011). It is well elaborated that, for an individual to realize complete physical, mental and social well being, then that same individual must have the capability to realize aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or even cope with the environment. This being the case, health is therefore considered as a day to day resource and not at any case is it referred the objective of living (WHO, 1986). Health promotion therefore goes beyond healthy lifestyles to well being. Literature depict that, health promotion and strategies that go with this promotion all correlates to the determinants of health (Petch-Levine et al, 2003). These include the social and community influences, gender and culture, lifestyle and behavioral factors, socioeconomic determinants and environmental conditions. When all this factors are amicable addressed, and then all activities that are directed to promoting health are all linked to the equality of access to services which may include programs aimed at ensuring that the health is promoted in each and every community. This therefore means that, there are also effective ways and means which are used for health promotion. There are diverse strategies which are use in health promotion. There are diverse strategies which are use in health promotion. Health education is a vital intervention in health promotion. This is whereby, effective communication is designed and implemented to improve health literacy (Webb, 2011). In this strategy, many efforts are concentrated in improving knowledge and developing life skills which support the individual or even communities’ health. However, this is not a strategy that can be used for long term behavioral change as speculated by WHO (WHO, 1986). Building healthy public policy is a key strategy which is useful and effective in health promotion. In this case, many efforts are concentrated in heavy investments in governmental and social policy, creation of legislation and regulations. For example, creation of road safety and social policy for income security and poverty reduction has proven to be an effective healthy public policy (Pender, Murdaugh & Parsons, 2006). This is attributed to the fact that, health public policy concentrates with the health and equity in all areas of the policy and by accountability for health impact. In actual facts, it brings about supportive environment which in the long run enable people live healthy lives. These are policies which make health choice easier for common citizens. In other words, all the social and physical environments are configured to be health conversant and hence the individuals surrounded by the same have no choice than to live healthy lives. Public policies influence the determinants of health and do reduce social and economic inequalities. By ensuring that there is equitable access to goods and services as well as healthcare are just some of the public policies which are effective in health promotion (Polit & Beck, 2010). According to WHO (1986), for these public policies to be effective, then substantial support to women health must be accorded, much improvements must be made to ensure that there is food security, safety and nutrition, the use of alcohol and tobacco has to be reduces and supportive environments for health must be created and maintained. Having effective community initiative to promote health has also proved to be an effective strategy in health promotion. For instance, it has been proven that, in preventing road injuries, educational activities alone may not be very effective. But community programs where the local participation is to the maximum and policy and legislative change actions have given effective results. Community based health promotion are coordinated approaches which affect long term health behavior change by influencing the community, cultural norms by giving them the right information and reaching them through community organizations (Whitehead et al, 2005). These promotion strategies help individuals to change health risk behaviors. The most effective way to change the health behavior of an individual and have long lasting change of behavior is mostly changing the culture in which that individual lives. This is in the other hand means that, the community leadership must be actively involved in providing the community based health promotion programs (Webb, 2011). The reason why this strategy has been effective is because the communities are actively involved in decision making whereby they come together and come up with the best strategies that are best suit for their community (International Council of Nurses, 2009).). Involving them in planning and implementing these strategies also ensures that cooperation and coordination are accurate and these are pivotal in the success of the promoting efforts. Moreover, community based health promotions are in most cases directed to the healthy people. This fall under the notion that, people need to be reached before they are symptomatic, and at such a time when a change of behavior can prevent illness, disability and even death. This promotion encourages individuals and communities through lifestyle changes so that they can manage their overall health and well being. And that is the reason why it proves to be an effective mechanism. Developing personal skills which include health education,, health communication and skills development skills have proven to be very effective when used in collaboration with other strategies. When it comes to communities with low socio-economic status, this has proven to be very effective (Webb, 2011). In the same case, personal skills developments is also linked to the creation of structural level conditions to support health and increase access to goods, products and services. Research depict that, people from low socio-economic status are less likely to participate in lifestyles interventions and are more likely going to attend to initiatives that are aimed at improving their quality of live in the short term (McMurray & Clendon, 2010). Intervention used to increase the access of foods and qualities are just some of the initiatives that they can opt to have. Empowering individuals provides support, educational and information that help people build skills that help them make health informed information. Creating health literacy in people will be an effective health promotion. Having inter-sector collaboration and inter-organizational partnerships at all levels has been an effective action which is aimed at health promotion effectiveness. It has been deliberated that, the involvement of multiple sectors and organization which include government and nongovernmental organization and groups are very effective in attaining the required goal of health promotion. In the same case, involving the public and the community in addressing the strategies of health promotion is also very effective. Additionally, using schools and workplaces as settings or many interventions is also very effective in realizing health promotion. This is due to that fact that, school can reach many children directly at a critical stage of their lives, while workplaces reach adults effectively. From the literature it is clear that social inequalities in healthcare are significant variations in health outcomes across different social groups (Potter & Perry, 2009). There have been unfair disparities within and between many populations groups in terms of health outcomes resulting from unequal access, extreme vulnerabilities and exposure to risk factors. The World Health Organization have continually advocated for health equity in global health, which is more correlated in a spirit of social justice. This is attributed to the fact that, in many communities from the same region, there may be evidences of avoidable, unfair and remediable difference in health outcomes. The social economic position of the community involved also determines the health position of the involved population. Where the equity gap in a generation is not closed through the improvement of daily living conditions, avoiding inequality distribution of power, money and resources, then the health of the affected populations will continue to be compromised (Webb, 2011). For those who are excluded from the social and economic mainstreams, and then their health status is compromised. This is due to that fact that, the health position of an population is determines by the extent to which the same population is distributed their income equally with more equal societies achieving commendable health outcome (Piper, 2008). This in the long run states that, those with low economic status have poor access to information or health facilities and hence poor health. In the same case discrimination also plays a very vital role in determining the health of individuals. This is due to the fact that, those discriminated against are subjected to no or poor quality services pertaining their health. Other than offering education to enhance health promotion, nurses can be used in developing theory and policies which are used towards the advancement of health promotion (International Council of Nurses, 2009).). In the same case, nurses are said to have an individual ideology practice that focuses of disease and individual behavior changes. If only they can be incorporated to have the social political health promotion role, then they are best suited in handling health promotion in the population. Nurses should be routinely talk to their clients about health and lifestyles and this in the long run may help in building personal skills in dealing with health risks. When making policies for health promotion, nurses should be incorporated in making recommendation of the procedures and the ways to follow in order to realize health promotions. Conclusively, the strategies discussed in this paper have been effective in addressing many issues health issues which are common in the world today. By addressing and preventing chronic and communicable diseases and addressing lifestyle determinants, then health promotion should always be considered a success. In the same case it is clear that, through having policies that are directed to ensuring that health environments are realized will automatically lead to health promotion for facilities and other factors determining the health of an individual are made accessible. In the same case, even when policies are in place and the communities are not aware of the ways to take to manage their health, then some strategies may not be a success. I this case therefore, developing the personal skills is deemed a very effective strategy for it incorporates education and other activities. Additionally it also lets the individuals be actively involved in handling each risk factor that affect them in their day to day lives. concussively, addressing the inequality and the social economic status of individuals is an effective way of promoting health to people from all walks of lives. Finally, nurses can be used in making theories and policies that are aimed at promoting health and also can have access to information which can be used to make recommendations on the strategies to make. References International Council of Nurses. (2009). The nursing and social care interface. International Council of Nurses. Geneva. Retrieved from http://www.icn.ch/publications/primary health-care/ McMurray, A., and Clendon, J. (2010). Community health and wellness: primary health care in practice. 4th edition, Elsevier Australia: Chatswood, NSW. Polit, D. F., & Tatano Beck, C. (2010). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice (7th Ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Piper, S. (2008). A qualitative study exploring the relationship between nursing and health promotion language theory and practice. Nurse Education Today, 28, 186- 193. Potter, P.A. & Perry, A.G. (2009). Fundamentals of nursing (7th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier. Pender, N., Murdaugh, C.L. & Parsons, M.A. (2006). Health promotion in nursing practice (5th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Petch-Levine, D., Cureton, V., Canham, D. & Murray, M. (2003). Health practices of school nurses. The Journal of School Nursing, 19(5), 273-281. WHO. (1986). Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. First International Conference on Health Promotion. Ottawa, 21 November 1986 - WHO/HPR/HEP/95.1. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/publications/en/ Whitehead, D. & Wang, Y. & Wang, J., Zhang, J., Sun, Z., & Xie ,C. (2005). Health promotion and health education practice: nurses’ perceptions. Journal ofAdvanced Nursing, 61(2), 181-187. Webb, L. (2011). Nursing: Communication skills in practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Additional texts/readings Read More