NR503 Week1 Discussion Question

Describe the chosen Healthy People 2020 topic area and specific health issue

The chosen Topic Area of Healthy People 2020 is HIV. There are approximately 1.2 million persons living with HIV in America which makes it a health concern particularly because; about 1 out of 8 people do not know they have the virus (Cox et al., 2020). Even though HIV continues to spread, recent statistics reveal a decline of infection rates by 18% in the period between 2008 and 2014 annually. This has been achieved through the implementation of specific preventive strategies that reduce the risk of transmission, increase access to care, and as well decrease the health inequalities and disparities.NR503 Week1 Discussion Question

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The specific health issue of concern associated with HIV is prevention. This is the most important step in managing the virus by stopping its spread and reducing the risk factors. The implementation of particular interventions such as the use of condoms during sexual intercourse, maintaining one sexual partner, screening of blood for transfusion, not sharing sharp objects, abstaining as well as gaining awareness on the causes and impacts of the illness. Testing helps in keeping positive behaviors as well as allows the beginning of antiretroviral therapy (ART) early to increase the life expectancy and quality of life. Regardless of the availability of these preventive measures, there is still a lack of awareness, healthcare access, and discrimination among other disparities and inequalities which undermine the preventive efforts. This has resulted in the increase of transmission rates among both diagnosed and undiagnosed cases with about 91% of new infections not in care. According to Healthy People 2020, understanding HIV is critical in prevention and treatment. As such, the goal is to prevent infection and the deaths and illnesses related to HIV.

       Contrast causes of disparities related to this health issue within populations.

Multiple health disparities are associated with HIV. These preventable differences increase the burden of HIV and accelerate its severity among certain disadvantaged populations. Racism is a major disparity affecting healthcare in the US. These are linked to the genetic differences whereby most chronic infections are associated with the minority populations. For instance, every year, about half of the new HIV infections are accounted by the African American population. Often, this is due to the increased lack of awareness and health literacy, poverty, and lack of access to healthcare among this population in comparison to the White population. The Black population is also genetically predisposed to HIV due to the presence of a genetic variant present only in this ethnic community. Discrimination is also rampant among this population.

On the other hand, sexual orientation is another disparity whereby black man who have sex with men (MSM) present the highest HIV infections in comparison with other groups. Consequently, gender inequality predisposes women and girls to HIV infection compared to the male population. This is attributed to intimate partner and gender-based violence, unsafe sexual behaviors, harmful cultures, and discrimination among other factors. Education presents other health disparities associated with HIV. In essence, a knowledge gap exists between prevention and infection whereby, lack of awareness and ignorance, illiteracy, and health literacy factors influence preventive and risky behaviors of different populations.NR503 Week1 Discussion Question

The geographical location of an individual or a particular population affects their ease of access to healthcare services. In this case, persons in inaccessible areas with limited social amenities particularly in the rural settlements have limited access to HIV preventive awareness, care measures, medication, and tools. In addition, the disabled population experiences discrimination in the distribution of prevention resources and care increasing their vulnerability. They are also prone to sexual violence. Lastly, income and poverty disparities are associated with limited or lack of care access including medications and healthcare services.

Propose a public health communication strategy to reduce disparity and promote health.

Health communication includes plans that may empower and influence individuals in communication to make the best health choices either through verbal or written methods (Jennings, Bond & Hill, 2018). In this case, health communication may comprise a theoretical framework as well as various models to instill positive behaviors and attitudes to the public. A proposed health communication strategy to reduce disparity while promoting health may be generating a concrete public policy. For instance, this will involve the development of fiscal measures, taxation, legislation, and organizational changes that support the health sector. Still, this demands the promotion of health in all segments of the government intending to promote a healthier outcome. More so, in the prevention of HIV public policy are important in decreasing the spread of the disease since the occurrence is varying to the different population in terms of poverty, gender, education, and unequal health access these are some of the factors associated with health disparities.

Outline a plan for communication.

Planning for HIV communication to the public is a significant element that helps in strategizing for the fulfillment of stipulated goals and objectives. More so, in this case, the aim of this plan is to communicate with the aim of promoting health project. For example, in planning communication, there are some of the basic questions that should be considered. Some of the questions include to whom the communication is aimed to reach, the purpose of the plan, the messages being communicated, communication channels being applied, and the mode of message distribution to the public. In addition, the answers given from these questions will create a foundation for a communication plan. At this point, the remaining part of the plan is to implement and evaluate the planned action to the intended audience.

Describe an evaluation plan for communication.

Communication evaluation is the judgmental analysis of the message being publicized based on the effectiveness to attain specified principles and goals (Gillespie et al., 2020). In this phase, an evaluation will be conducted to determine how best an HIV communication plan works as well as how is being carried out. Subsequently, defining effective communication there is a basic question needed to be addressed such as who are staff members, objectives, targeted audience, communication frequency, and result from the staff experience. Once, an evaluation is conducted it gives chances of maintaining effectiveness. NR503 Week1 Discussion Question

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Likewise, while determining an evaluation plan for communication it is important to test message effectiveness through consideration of strategic questions that assist in the identification of strengths and weaknesses of the plan. Such a question includes specificity, simplicity, stickiness, and structure. This can be practically examined to the community by observing the change in sexual behaviors of the people, determining infection rate, compliance with medication, comparing the level of awareness pre and post health public policy implementation. By examining probable evaluation steps an evaluation plan for communication for health will significantly be achieved.

Create targeted communication for each population.

Targeted communication uses current and accurate information, seeks to build trust, power, promote respect, use acceptable imagery and language as well as takes a participatory approach.  For instance, among men who have sex with men (MSM) bisexual and gay population, comprehensive communication of facts regarding the relative risk of their sexual behavior such as unprotected sex is riskier in their population. on the other hand, the participatory approach is recommendable while communicating with the population that injects drugs. This will involve them in understanding the vulnerability associated with sharing of sharps objects and how drugs put them at risk. Among the African Americans and Latino ethnic populations, the use of acceptable language and imagery that promotes cultural sensitivity is essential in promoting self-respect.

Reflect on learning through this project.

The learning of this project is an essential aspect of my professional and academic development. It has enabled me to examine the topic areas of healthy people 2020 and identify HIV as a current significant healthcare concern topic. More so, I have learned the health disparities influencing HIV infections among different populations these include Education, poverty, income, disability, sexual orientation, and geographic location. Besides, the project taught me the importance of establishing a communication plan before executing public health teaching. I have also learned that different populations require specific communication approaches to prevent discrimination and disparities. As such, a public health communication strategy is essential in reducing disparity and promoting health to different populations. Finally, the project reflection is an eye-opener to determine the importance of involving the evaluation stage in understanding the progress of the project and success. NR503 Week1 Discussion Question

References

Cox, A. L., El-Sayed, M. H., Kao, J. H., Lazarus, J. V., Lemoine, M., Lok, A. S., & Zoulim, F. (2020). Progress towards elimination goals for viral hepatitis. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology17(9), 533-542.

Gillespie, J., Hughes, A. R., Gibson, A. M., Haines, J., Taveras, E. M., Stewart, L., & Reilly, J. J. (2020). Healthy Habits, Happy Homes Scotland (4HS) feasibility study: Translation of a home-based early childhood obesity prevention intervention evaluated using the RE-AIM framework. Public Health in Practice1, 100026.

HealthyPeople2020. (2020).HIV. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/hiv

Jennings, W., Bond, C., & Hill, P. S. (2018). The power of talk and power in a talk: a systematic review of Indigenous narratives of culturally safe healthcare communication. Australian Journal of Primary Health24(2), 109-115. NR503 Week1 Discussion Question