Community Health Promotion

Community Health Promotion
Name
Institution
Due Date
Community Health Promotion
Setting and Chosen Community
While assessing the risk factors of type 2 diabetes, income or socioeconomic factors are often ignored. According to Bird et al. (2015), some of the risk factors that have been identified as crucially leading to higher rates of type 2 diabetes in Canada include increased obesity levels, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating, smoking, and an association with the Aboriginal descent. However, fewer studies have considered the impact that income has on people’s choices and the eventual impact of these choices. Apparently, there is a growing belief in the idea that diabetes is a disease for the wealthy, a lie that has been demystified with lower income being showcased as a major risk factor in the growing percentages of type 2 diabetes patients. According to Dinca-Panaitescu et al. (2011), diabetes is 4.14 times prevalent among low-income groups compared to high-income groups. Therefore, there is a need to shed light on income as a major risk factor.
For the healthcare issue at hand, the community in focus is the low-income diabetes patients in Saskatchewan, Canada. Saskatchewan province in Canada is among the most affected places on earth with regards to type 2 diabetes. According to Diabetes Canada (2018), “the province experienced a 45% increase in diabetes prevalence during the last decade,” a figure that represents quite a significant increase in the condition’s prevalence. Within the province, there are several factors that appear to contribute to an increase in the prevalence of the condition. Apparently, the region boasts quite a significant concentration of indigenous people with a rating that is considered the second-highest in the country. Also, it boasts of having the highest obesity rates in Canada, and it is estimated that 14% of the province’s residents already have pre-diabetes. Lastly, Diabetes Canada (2018) also reports that because of the province’s high rural population, access to healthcare has been quite a problem compared to other regions. This adds to the challenge of introducing remedies to reduce diabetes prevalence. Therefore, there is a need to consider measures that can help reduce the province’s susceptibility to type 2 diabetes.
Harm Reduction
Diabetes is a condition that continues to impact the lives of the residents of Saskatchewan. According to Diabetes Canada (2021), diabetes complications are likely to lead to premature death, thereby reducing the lifespan of those affected by “five to 15 years.” Aside from the above, there is the notion that those living with diabetes are likely to be hospitalized with cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and non-traumatic lower limb amputation. Diabetes Canada (2021) also adds that depressive symptoms are also highly prevalent in people with diabetes. Lastly, cost implications for families and the affected individuals are quite high, with Canadians paying “more than 3% of their income or over $1500 per year for prescribed medications.” The harm caused by diabetes is indeed quite significant, and this creates a need to reduce the impact of diabetes, especially in the people of Saskatchewan, Canada. The impact of nurses in helping to reduce the impact of diabetes is quite obvious. Nurses have the ability to act as facilitators in the fight against diabetes. According to Nikitara et al. (2019), with the right resources, including time, training, and education, nurses can help reduce the impact of diabetes through informed decision-making in their care role, patient education, psychological support for patients, and advanced care. Therefore, there is a need to support the efforts of nurses and help them reduce the impact that diabetes has on Saskatchewan province.
Health Promotion
Health promotion mainly entails the aspect of enabling people and giving them more control over their health. It also entails all the activities that are undertaken to help improve the healthcare of a population. For example, health promotion entails the provision of the right information to a particular populace to help in their eventual decision-making process whenever the need arises. With regard to type 2 diabetes, health promotion could entail providing the people of Saskatchewan with information on the impact of diabetes, their susceptibility to the condition, and the numerous ways they can help prevent the prevalence of the condition in the region. Furthermore, it can also entail providing the right or healthier diet options for individuals whose income limits their access to healthier foods. As Anthony, Odgers, and Kelly (2004) indicate, people living with diabetes need to be empowered and be put in positions of control over their disease. They ought to understand the impact of habits like smoking and sedentary lifestyles. The role of nurses in helping to promote health is quite crucial among diabetes patients. Kemppainen, Tossavainen, and Turunen (2013) note that nurses are often involved in the prevention of diseases through their role in influencing the behavior of their patients. Health promotion is a crucial step in helping to reduce the exposure of patients to healthcare issues. It posits that the more people know about their condition and exposure to the same, the higher the chances of m...