Impact of Infant Mortality in the Assessment of Community Health
Minkler (2012) defines infant mortality as the death that occurs during the first year of life. Infant mortality is a representation of the concern within the public health sector. The relationship between infant mortality and community health concerns was established in 1912 by the Federal Children’s Bureau (Minkler, 2012). Infant mortality affects community health since it enhances the shift in health issues. The primary effect of infant mortality in the evaluation of the community is that it helps provide policymakers with the right information to improve health care policies. Infant mortality is also associated with the improvement of health care services. Medical practitioners and researchers use statistics of infant mortality to create strategies to address the concerns of infants. Utilizing approaches suggested by medical practitioners help in advancing an individual’s health status.
Children’s most common health problems and their impact on the family and the community health
Today, children face a broad range of health issues. However, the most common health issue is tooth decay. Other health problems that affect children may include asthma, autism, and ADHD. While some children are born with birth defects, others develop heart conditions. As is argued by Campbell and Burgess (2012), these health conditions in children have a significant impact not only on the community’s health but also on the family. To begin with, the most common health problems in children have considerable effects on the family because they bring significant strains on the family’s budget. Families may experience financial hurdles when they try to mitigate these health issues. Secondly, common health concerns in children negatively impact community health (Campbell & Burgess, 2012). These health issues have a positive impact since they help in the formulation of appropriate strategies for health improvement. Because of their commonness, health problems in children attract medical practitioners, scholars and researchers with the aim to create health improvement policies.
Behavioral Problems in Adolescents with Health Consequences and their Impact on the Community
During the adolescence stage, teenagers develop independence. At this stage, the majority of adolescents practice their freedom by breaking the law (Elliott, Huizinga, & Menard, 2012). The most common behavioral problems at this stage include frequent fighting, substance abuse, and gang membership. Teen behaviors have a close association with health issues such the Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and accidents among other health problems. Behavioral problems have a significant impact on a community. Behaviors such as fighting, substance abuse, and gang membership lead to an increased crime rate (Elliott, Huizinga, & Menard, 2012). Besides, addressing issues associated with teenage behaviors strains the community’s resources. Governments spend a lot on programs funding that will help in mitigating problems caused by teenage behaviors.
How Community Health Nurse Role in Child Health Differ from the Acute Care Setting
Also known as Community Health Nursing, Public health nursing is a people-oriented medical intervention. Because of its role, Community Health Nurses are required to have unique skills, knowledge and capabilities (McNab, Paterson, Fernyhough, & Hughes, 2015). In the initial times, roles associated with public health have gone beyond health education, social and political reform, community shaping as well as sick care to incorporate support. The community health nurse’s role in child health is different from those of the acute care setting (McNab et al., 2015). Community health nurse roles focus on the health of the general public, while child health care focuses on issues that affect infants. The difference between the community health nurse roles and child health nurse roles in an acute care setting lies in the nature of care delivery. Child health nurses deal with more defined health issues than community health nurses. Another difference between community nurses and child health nurses is that the latter specializes in providing care to children while the former specializes in providing care to the entire population. While the roles of community nurses are defined under the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act, the children’s health nurses are guided by Child Protection Act 1999.
References
Campbell, C., & Burgess, R. (2012). The role of communities in advancing the goals of the Movement for Global Mental Health. Transcultural psychiatry, 49 (3-4), 379-395.
Elliott, D., Huizinga, D., & Menard, S. (2012). Multiple problem youth: Delinquency, substance use, and mental health problems. New York: Springer-Verlag.
McNab, J., Paterson, J., Fernyhough, J., & Hughes, R. (2015). Role of the GP liaison nurse in a community health program to improve integration and coordination of services for the chronically ill. Australian journal of primary health, 31 (4-8), 234-243.
Minkler, M. (2012). Community organizing and community building for health and welfare. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press.