Community Health Assessment Example Steuben County

Introduction

In today's world, the importance of human health has gained concerns as a result of increasing population and industrialization. In other words, the technology of the modern world has created new drawbacks such as air pollution, or even food dyes that harm human health. This assignment presents a community health assessment of Steuben County in terms of the community, group, individual, the elements that create an assessment, and findings. Although there seem to exist many health concerns among the Steuben community, many of such concerns can be easily overcome through collective and preventive approaches through school, family, and environmental education programs.

Steuben County Survey

The relative health of any community is a function of multiple variables. Although the health state cannot be expressed as a mathematical formula, some of such variables seem to be positive determinants of health, and some have negative impacts (Health Steuben, 2006). In particular, research findings suggest that health problems and smoking tobacco are highly interrelated (Clement, 2012). Therefore, one should not neglect the importance of certain valuables as they may as well reflect a community’s health. However, the full impact of mathematical variables that depend highly on surveys and statistics is not yet known. “Variables may also behave differently depending on the presence of and interaction with other variables, making it even more complicated to determine what actions to take to most effectively improve the health of community residents” (Health Steuben, 2006, para. 7). In this sense, one may readily infer that statistics and surveys (numerical data) does not seem to be the utmost indicator of a health assessment. Nevertheless, these can be useful assets for further interpretation by authorities.

Fig. 1 Survey Highlights

Source: www.health.ny.gov/statistics/chac/docs/steubencha.pdf

According to the health behaviors based on the survey conducted in 2006 with more than a thousand individuals, 16% of respondents are smokers, 53% of respondents are exposed to second-hand smoke, 52% of respondents try to lose some weight, 22% of respondents need stress relief (%26 would use a stress reduction program), 76% of respondents would participate in sports activities such as gardening, walking, and running, and 77% respondents indicated that they limit their fatty food intake (Health Steuben, 2006).

Fig 2. Significant problems in areas (1,000 completed surveys in 2006)

Source: www.health.ny.gov/statistics/chac/docs/steubencha.pdf

Although there exist numerous reasons such as environmental factors and human behaviors behind an individual's health status (positively or negatively), research findings have already proven simple statements that are beneficial for human health (Clement, 2012; World Health Organization, 2019). Accordingly, more than 25% of all community health outcomes can be improved by helping community individuals change individual habits in merely four areas, as listed: Level of physical activity, Tobacco use, Alcohol use, Nutrition

Lifelong habits, whether healthy or not, are developed in the early stages of life. For instance, 89% of smokers begin using tobacco products before the age of 18 (World Health Organization, 2019). In this sense, preventive intervention for such a group (smokers under 18) is highly required for overall community health. Also, the provision of programs that aim to encourage the emergence of positive habits that lead to improved health status should be intensified, especially in child care and school groups. Furthermore, sports and education should begin early and be reinforced gradually in order to be influential. Generally, it becomes more and more difficult to eradicate when negative habits or behaviors become established during the early years (“Preparedness,” 2019). Therefore, effective solutions require the whole effort of community individuals to accomplish such behavioral changes. In this sense, one may readily highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to solving community health problems as they are all interrelated. Accordingly, individual coordinated efforts in four areas are listed: The assistance of local media to define and address the community or group (school-age smoking etc.) issues, Environmental changes, Education and access to care, Changes in procedures and policies

Strategies and Interventions for Major Concerns

Substance abuse. As very few people begin to abuse alcohol and drugs after age 25, authorities should primarily target the prevention efforts (Health Steuben, 2006; Clement, 2012). In this sense, students need to be informed about the negative impacts of substance abuse through the Steuben local radio and TV channels. Also, families should be informed to pre-determine any substance-related suspicious behavior to prevent further damage to individuals.

Unintended pregnancy and teen pregnancy. Nationwide, almost 50% of all pregnancies are either unintended, and 90% of teen pregnancies are unintended (Health Steuben, 2006). In this sense, education, and access to care services, preventive and defending procedures, and policies, and environmental measures such as informative parents and school are among the primary strategies to combat against unintended pregnancy cases.

Tobacco use: Smoking. 63% of respondents feel that smoking is a significant problem, both individually and in a community sense (Health Steuben, 2006). Therefore, relevant authorities should continue implementing health education and use-prevention programs (especially in schools), support treatment/recovery programs (free), and develop social and psychological problems that help youth deal with their personal issues, which eventually result in substance abuse or smoking.

Conclusion

As a result, this paper analyzes the community health of Steuben County. Accordingly, substance abuse, tobacco use, and unintended pregnancy are among the leading concerns of residents, as per survey findings. Also, more than 25% of all community health outcomes can be improved by helping community individuals change individual habits in merely four areas, as listed above. Although there seem to exist many health concerns among the Steuben community, many of such concerns can be easily overcome through collective and preventive approaches through school, family, and environmental education programs.

References

Clement, I. (2012). Introduction to Community Health and Community Health Nursing. Manual of Community Health Nursing, 1–1. doi: 10.5005/jp/books/11640_1

Healthy Steuben. (2006). Health Ny Gov.

Preparedness. (2019). Accessed on January 20, 2020, from www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/disaster-preparedness/

World Health Organization. (2019). Risk reduction and emergency preparedness.