Population Root Cause Analysis
Understanding the Problem of Childhood Obesity in Communities of Color
The Setting for Root Cause Analysis
The setting for population RCA is a community clinic serving communities of color predominantly. Although overweight or obesity affects at least two-thirds of adults in the United States, the problem affects communities of color disproportionately (Nelson et al., 2018). According to Isong et al. (2018), the high prevalence of minority groups’ condition results from socioeconomic status, food insecurity, and limited recreational facilities, denying the people opportunities to ensure active living and healthy eating. Therefore, as a nurse leader in a community clinic serving people of color, the setting provides an opportunity to influence outcomes.
Problem Statement
Individuals living in low-income minority communities are among the unhealthiest in the United States because of challenges in meeting the basic needs, including affordable healthy food, clean water, and safe areas for physical activity. The problem of obesity starts from childhood and persists to adulthood, putting the people on perpetual poor health and low life expectancy. Therefore, it is important to engage, mobilize, and train communities of color on lifestyle changes and ensure access to healthy meals and physical activities as the main steps for reducing obesity rates.
Causes of Childhood Obesity in Communities of Color
Analysis of Root Causes
Different factors contribute to the development and persistence of obesity among low-income neighborhoods in the United States. According to Ochoa and Berge (2017), physical inactivity, parental influence, socioeconomic status, media information, and food availability lead to the development of obesity among communities of color. For example, physical inactivity leads to overweight and obesity as children engage in sedentary lifestyles characterized by watching television and playing video games. Parental influence contributes to the epidemic because of depression, dietary attributes, childcare challenges, and cultural issues (Ochoa & Berge, 2017). Similarly, households’ low socioeconomic status predisposes children to health problems, including corpulence. Moreover, media influence is a critical factor for the development of overweight because of marketing campaigns that promote less healthy foods, causing adverse outcomes. Above all, food availability is a key factor leading to overweight as people consume meals that are tasty, economical, and calorie-dense.
The Cause Map
As indicated in the cause map, various factors interact, leading to obesity and overweight. Societal and familial influences combine with biological factors such as genes to enhance the development of fatness. Noteworthy, the causes are worsened by the poor economic status of Minority neighborhoods, which affect access to healthy foods and physical activities.
Potential Solution
Relying on community organizations and government agencies could help in combating childhood obesity in the target population. At the core of the plan is the need to involve, educate, and organize residents to promote neighborhood changes that ensure people access healthy foods and conducive places for physical activity. In that regard, the proposed solution uses the population, creativity, leadership, and enthusiasm to attain policy and environmental changes that enhance active lifestyles and healthy diets. For example, the remedy would advocate for the use of fresh produce instead of fatty and sugary products in school lunches. In addition, it would restrict pollution causing actions and develop walking trails, community gardens, and parks to increase physical activity. Overall, empowering communities of color could be essential in helping the people to change their environment and ensure access to healthy foods and lifestyles.
Description of Problem
The high prevalence of childhood obesity is a critical concern in the US, disposing affected individuals to lasting poor health. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “for children and adolescents aged 2-19 years, the prevalence of obesity was 18.5% and affected about 13.7 million children and adolescents.” The statistics indicate that the problem affects communities of color more than whites. The rate of the epidemic in Mississippi, at 26%, is significantly high compare to the national data. The focus of the solution is on children and adolescent categories in the ranges of 2 to 5, to 11, and 12 to 19 years. In the state, the problem is pronounced in Cleveland, affecting Hispanics and Non-Hispanic Blacks than other population groups.
Possible Actions
Based on the root cause analysis, possible actions include ensuring healthy eating and active living. Based on the SMART goal model, the researcher outlines possible actions. Firstly, the Specificity aspect covers the prevention of childhood obesity among communities of color in Cleveland through healthy diets and physical activities. Secondly, the measurability element entails the availability and consumption of healthy foods and the number of times individuals engage in bodily exercises. Thirdly, the attainability facet entails the possibility of actions to lead to behavior change in the population, considering the social, economic, and environmental factors, among others, that contribute to the development of childhood obesity. The actions are relevant considering the high prevalence of the epidemic and the need to ensure healthy living among the affected people. Finally, the measures are time-bound as they would take one year to implement the necessary changes. The research will evaluate the success of the initiative through the adoption of healthy diets and physical activities. Above all, the ultimate measure of effectiveness would be reducing the prevalence of childhood corpulence and reversion of the upward trend in minority groups.
Summary
Population root cause analysis (RCA) is a fundamental healthcare model used to give stakeholders a clear idea about different conditions in a community . According to Hibbert et al. (2018), RCA employs a structured approach focused on identifying the true cause of a health problem in the population and determining the necessary measures to manage the situation permanently rather than intermittently. In that regard, RCA helps healthcare professionals determine the nature of a problem, the reason for its occurrence, and eliminate it from the population effectively. The discussion focuses on the obesity epidemic among school-going children in communities of color, using RCA to address the fundamental causes of the problem and create lasting solutions.
Reflection
Obesity is a major concern in the United States, affecting communities of color more than other population groups. The development informed conduction of the root cause analysis to determine contributing factors and effective actions to address the problem. In that regard, the analysis revealed the serious implications of the epidemic as it leads to perpetual health issues for the affected population. Obesity and overweight are linked to chronic conditions and adverse health outcomes such as “heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers” (Sharpe, Collins-McNeil, Sharpe & Hall, 2016). Although stakeholders undertook different initiatives targeting the epidemic, the RCA underscored the importance of targeted and practical measures involving affected communities to change behavior and adopt healthy lifestyles.
References
Sharpe, D. K., Collins-McNeil, J., Jones, J. W., Sharpe, J. F., & Hall, J. K. (2016). Contributing factors to obesity in African American children within the United States. Epidemiology: Open Access, 6(6). DOI: 10.4172/2161-1165.1000277
Hibbert, P. D., Thomas, M. J., Deakin, A., Runciman, W. B., Braithwaite, J., Lomax, S., … & Fraser, C. (2018). Are root cause analyses recommendations effective and sustainable? An observational study. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 30(2), 124-131. DOI: 10.1093/intqhc/mzx181
Nelson, C. C., Colchamiro, R., Perkins, M., Taveras, E. M., Leung-Strle, P., Kwass, J., & Woo Baidal, J. A. (2018). Racial/ethnic differences in the effectiveness of a multisector childhood obesity prevention intervention. American Journal of Public Health, 108(9), 1200-1206. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2018.304511
Isong, I. A., Rao, S. R., Bind, M. A., Avendaño, M., Kawachi, I., & Richmond, T. K. (2018). Racial and ethnic disparities in early childhood obesity. Pediatrics, 141(1), e20170865. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2017-0865
Ochoa, A., & Berge, J. M. (2017). Home environmental influences on childhood obesity in the Latino population: a decade review of literature. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 19(2), 430-447. DOI: 10.1007/s10903-016-0539-3