- Describe the ethnic minority group selected. Describe the current health status of this group. How do race and ethnicity influence health for this group?
The selected ethnic minority group for study is American Indian also known as Alaskan Native. The group comprises of Inupiat, Tsimshian, Yupik, Haida Aleut, Eyak and Tlingit tribes. They trace ancestry to North and South America. At least, 120,000 reside in Alaska with 44% inhabiting urban areas. Outside the state, native reside in Arizona and California and Oklahoma among many other places. The Alaskan natives accounts for 15% of the Alaskan population. CDC reports indicates that the health status of the community is lower than the national average in terms of life expectancy, and quality of access to care. The community is equally prone to chronic conditions.
The health situation among Alaskan natives indicates that only 44% of the population live in geographically accessible urban areas where there is ease of access quality care services. The life expectancy of the group stands at 77.5 years. Women live longer with an expectancy of 80.3 years while men’s expectancy stand at 74.7 years. Tuberculosis prevalence is the highest in the grouping of all the minority communities with risks rates being four times higher than the national average. Incidence of the diseases stands at incidence rate of 3.9 for Alaskans natives. The cultural practices of Alaskan influence dieting habits and socialization also dictates care outcome. As of 2017, Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) data highlighted cases of health risks in the community with figures indicating higher susceptibility to obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure (Adakai, et al 2018). The figure for the conditions stands at 76.7%, 21.4% and 32.9% compared to the representation of the white American at 63.2%, 8.0% and 27.6% susceptibility to obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure respectively.
The current care status of the population indicates that 51.3 percent of have private cover and 43.2 percent use Medicaid or public coverage in facilities across the US. only 14.9 percent struggle due to lack of cover. However, a significant section has not attained highest care standards because of their racial differences. The approach to profiling the community by allowing those earning 100% and 300% of the federal poverty level to access insurance has led to disparity in care. Likewise, the decision to encourage diagnosis using advanced technique has been disadvantaging the minority accustomed to traditional method. The scanty research on the population health issues affecting the group has equally contributed to the marginalization of the natives. Additional concerns that affects care distribution is the complexity in the classification of the Alaskan natives.
- Discuss the barriers to health for this group resulting from culture, socioeconomics, education, and socio-political factors.
The cultural issues that include the perception toward reproductive care has been a hindrance to advancement of modern medicine for dealing with population health matters. One of the nutritional challenges that affect the natives is the tendency to consume high sugar diet that elevates risk for blood sugar level and diabetes. Moreover, the population is accustomed to living in remote areas that has contributed to difficulty of access to care. Those in urban areas dwell in shelters with poor drainage. Few seek medical attention due to cultural believes. Nonetheless, the number soliciting modern medicines for ailments that demand nutritional supplements is lower compared to the figures of the average American household.
Economic factors that include earning affects care. According to Lillie, Dirks, Curtis, Candrian, Kutner, & Shaw (2020), the low income of the members living adjacent to urban areas also explain the poor dieting habit that contributes to high cases of lifestyle diseases. A significant section of the population earns lowers income that contributes to difficulties paying for premiums for care. The long-term impact of the social economic factors is the inability to solicit services from licensed facilities in the united states. The mythical perception of the population is also a hinderance to care access. On the educational sphere, the smaller representation of the community in the care sector has equally disfranchised the natives when it comes to care access. The doctor to patient ration in the community is lower. Few native students pursue studies in care professional.
Additional barriers to access to care are the restrictive care policies that mandate use of advanced techniques in diagnosis yet a section of the community is accustomed to traditional medicine. The reliance on the diagnostic techniques even in a context where modern medicine could aid in the eradication of care poses a barrier to care. The negative attitude of a section towards medical schemes advanced by the government as the Medicaid and CHIP has halted access to quality care. Subsequently
- What health promotion activities are often practiced by this group?
The typical health promotion by the community include sensitization at the grassroots among the adult belonging to the community. The elderly leads the rest in forums as Tribal Practices For Wellness In Indian Country launched in May 2018 to educate the young on proper dieting practices, and disease management. The sense of family championed by tribal organizations helps promote activities that improve the health of the household. The tribal leaders coordinate with Urban Indian Organizations, and Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) to encourages preventive care practices. CDC supports the grouping through training. At present, communal organization are setting medical camps that encourage responsible behaviours among members of the community in different parts of the united states.
Additionally, the CDC works with the care professionals in the community in enforcing existing policies that discourage irresponsive behaviours as smoking. The medics promote cultural awareness and preventive care practices leading to dissemination of knowledge on ways for combating chronic ailments. There have been funding to GHWIC program to a tune of $15.6 annually to support health promotion activities. Part of the funds aid in intergenerational learning and socialization initiatives that empower the natives.
- Describe at least one approach using the three levels of health promotion prevention (primary, secondary, and tertiary) that is likely to be the most effective in a care plan given the unique needs of the minority group you have selected. Provide an explanation of why it might be the most effective choice.
The primary care can be the most effective model for administering care in the community. One of the reasons for the suggestion of the model is that it encourages holistic visualization of the care by alleviating disease before its manifestation. Such approach will make it easier incorporating the diverse aspect of the traditions of the minority community in care. The model will not restrict the natives from practicing traditional medicine such as using dieting as means of eradicating ailments. The primary approach will instead prioritize evidence-based methods that harmonizes the traditions with the goals of the process. Consequently, the models helped in reducing cases of heart ailments, and lifestyle disease that are leading killer among Alaskan Natives.
Primary care can align to Tribal epidemiology centre public health infrastructure programs (TECPHI) and many initiatives that encourage education of the members of the community on care issues. Research also indicates that Alaskan natives respond effectively to consumer cantered care that encourage interventional approach in prevention of diseases (Sánchez, et al 2016). The methods are key to averting risks concerns that affects natives as poor dieting habits. The primary approach is also recommendable because it allows formulation of policies that merges the interest of the community with the agenda of the authorities overseeing care practices in various section of the United States.
- What cultural beliefs or practices must be considered when creating a care plan? What cultural theory or model would be best to support culturally competent health promotion for this population? Why?
The cultural belief for consideration is the view or the attitude of the community towards sickness, life and death. Afterwards, an introspection in the religious and cultural beliefs that influence the diverse aspects of the lives of the natives is mandatory in the formulation of the care plan (Lillie, et al 2020). Madeleine Leininger’s Culture Care theory supports the idea since the framework recognizes the needs of the community as the primary determinant for the formulation of a care plan. According to the theory, nursing has to recognize the underlying beliefs of the patients for the selection of the suitable approach for treatment.
The reason for the consideration of Madeleine Leininger’s Culture Care Theory is that it recognizes the values of the community and such is suitable in the promotion of the care programs. As noted, the medics will consider the underlying issues defining the views of the Alaskan natives in the formulation of care plan. Such approach will ensure holistic adherence to diagnosis. The focus of medication program is on the patients. The methods ease adaptation of consumer-based care that helps improve patient outcome.
References
Adakai, M., Sandoval-Rosario, M., Xu, F., Aseret-Manygoats, T., Allison, M., Greenlund, K. J., & Barbour, K. E. (2018). Health Disparities Among American Indians/Alaska Natives—Arizona, 2017. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 67(47), 1314.
Sánchez, J. P., Poll-Hunter, N., Stern, N., Garcia, A. N., & Brewster, C. (2016). Balancing two cultures: American Indian/Alaska Native medical students’ perceptions of academic medicine careers. Journal of community health, 41(4), 871-880.
Lillie, K. M., Dirks, L. G., Curtis, J. R., Candrian, C., Kutner, J. S., & Shaw, J. L. (2020). Culturally adapting an advance care planning communication intervention with American Indian and Alaska Native people in primary care. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 31(2), 178-187.
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