Nur495reply

prompt1

An issue or area of public health concern in my community is the incidence of childhood asthma and childhood asthma attacks. In Los Angeles County, 9% of children have been diagnosed with asthma (County of Los Angeles Public Health, n.d.). Asthma incidence affects disproportionately minorities with higher cases in Latino and Black children. Rates have increased over the last ten years in both Latino and Black children. Hispanic children are affected at a rate of about 8% where as Black children are much higher at a rate of 25% (County of Los Angeles Public Health, n.d.).  The issue is attributed to environmental factors such as second-hand smoking and pollution. To make an impact on this issue, community health nurses need to partner with different key players. Through collaboration and partnership, alliances can be formed with other entities to problem solve such as law enforcement, government officials, non-profit organizations and community members.  (Choi & Choi, 2012). Collaborations need to be formed with parents, school nurses, family planning, law makers, and medical providers. Efforts need to be focused on prevention through education to discuss triggers and dangers of risk factors.

prIssues of concern to the public’s health in my city are the high poverty rate and the uninsured population. The poverty rate and uninsured rate of my city are higher than the national rate. According to Data USA (2017), 15.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Alhambra, CA live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. In 2017, the uninsured rate in my city was 10.1% and 8.8% was the national level. (Data USA, 2017) I believe the poverty rate and uninsured rate are connected because most uninsured people are in low-income (Tolbert et al, 2019)

Even after the affordable care act, some people in my city are still having trouble to get health care. Therefore,  the public health nurses should partner with the city, Medi-Cal, faith-based organizations, and some affordable care clinics to provide people more affordable health care insurances, free or low cost health care services, education about healthy lifestyle, job training, etc. I found out that there are 8 free health care clinics in my city, and they have been providing health care services to low income or uninsured people. ompt2