Introduction
There are numerous community health problems that Americans endure in recent times. The public health defects range from disasters like the current Hurricane Dorian, diabetes, substance abuse, or HIV. The following paper seeks to analyze intricately three different pandemics prevalent in Miami that raise a public health concern. The diseases include cancer, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Mental Health and Mental Disorders. They are identified because of their dominance in Miami, Florida which cannot be ignored.
Cancer
Cancer is among the leading causes of death in America. In 2018, Florida had about 8,000 people diagnosed with melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2018). Cases of melanoma have been growing because it is considered different from other cancers. Chemotherapy is found out not to work well for melanoma thus its easier identification. This form of cancer is recognizable by spotting atypical moles on the skin. It can be argued that Floridians are getting more sun than they think they do. The ultraviolet radiation is found to cause changes in DNA that result in melanoma. The ultraviolet light exposure is the leading risk factor in this type of cancer despite other factors like genetics. Melanoma affects a significant population in Miami which leads to increased mortality rates if not detected and treated early (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2018). This outlines how geographical location matters based on acquiring cancer. This happens regardless of a person’s socioeconomic status, income or educational level. It is a public health concern in Miami, Florida.
Florida Cancer Plan
Cancer requires a lot of research to understand its biological aspects for better treatment. Cancer institutes like Miami forges new ground in cancer treatment, clinical expertise and discovery to open the way for personalized care administered with the heart of Baptist Health. The public needs efficient mobilization to encourage them have monthly self-examinations of their skin. More screening centers need to be set up to enhance early cancer detection. More emphasis should be put on cancer survivors as they often encounter emotional, social, financial, and physical difficulties due to their diagnosis and treatment (HealthyPeople 2020). This is essential to avoid the risk of developing other forms of cancers.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
STDs are numerous infectious organisms mainly transmitted through sexual activity. Various factors result in the spread of STDs including biological aspects like unprotected sex with infected partners and also social, economic, and behavioral factors like substance abuse. Miami-Dade County faces some challenges in its curb against increasing STD rates. In 2015, Miami-Dade County was number one in the state for recorded STD cases (Moore, 2016). An average of 15 cases was diagnosed daily among 20 to 25-year-olds in that year alone (Moore, 2016). A state-wide public health statistics database showcases how STD rates have risen in Miami in the last four years. Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and infectious syphilis have augmented dramatically since 2012 with chlamydia taking the lead in Miami (Moore, 2016). In Miami, STDs are known to cause damaging, usually irreversible, and costly clinical complications like cancer, reproductive health defects, and fetal and perinatal health problems.
STDs Health Plan
A health plan is essential in managing the prevalence of STDs since they are costly to Miami and the state at large is ignored. Timely treatment of persons infected is a necessity including implementation of advanced partner therapy when handling chlamydial ad gonorrheal infections. To understand the epidemiology of STDs and to controlling prevention efforts, an improved data collection on demographic and behavioral variables like sex of infected people needs to be enhanced. Communication and coordination strategies are necessary for STD prevention measures in the city, which are also helpful in leveraging new developments.
Mental Health
One may think that they can escape to a coastal city like Miami, believed as the ‘Magic City’ to cure their depression, but the statistics is the opposite despite the unending attractions. In reality, 563,000 adults in Florida reported experiencing thoughts of suicide in 2018 according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Hedden, 2015). Mental disorders are behavioral patterns that cause significant impairments of individual functioning. Mental illnesses contribute to a lot of problems in the city of Miami including disabilities, violence and may lead to lethal outcomes. It is a community health concern that has raised worries in the population because it affects wide range of people including younger citizens and the aged populace. Mental disorders like anxiety and depression primarily jeopardize the ability of people to indulge in health-promoting behaviors in Miami.
Mental Health Plan
The most significant opportunity for inhibition of mental illnesses is found at a young age. More research findings indicate the advocating for multidisciplinary prevention approaches at the community level that cares for children’s development in healthy social settings. Families facing difficulties like divorce or parental depression should be focused on, and effective intervention measures undertaken are effective in reducing depression risks among children. According to Hedden, early childhood interventions are the most effective in protecting the future generation from mental disorders (2015).
References
Hedden, S. L. (2015). Behavioral health trends in the United States: Results from the 2014 national survey on drug use and health. Department of Health & Human Services.
Healthy People. (2019). Topics and objectives. Web.
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. (2016). County profile: Miami-Dade County, Florida. Web.
Moore, E. (2016). Responding to high rates of sexually-transmitted diseases in Miami-Dade County. Epi Monthly Report, 17(4), 1-4.