In an endeavor to bolster the health needs within a society such as a community, an effective community health nurse has to target the entire population. To achieve this goal, the community health nurse applies a scientific approach to determine the priority population focused health needs for that community. Just as Nies & McEwen (2011) depicts, a population focus assessment of the community is one of the primary tools utilized in order to cultivate planning, interventions, and evaluations for the community in need. The purpose of this paper is to ascertain a priority health problem of a specific community established on demographic data, epidemiological data, and a windshield survey of the community. Community
The community assessment for this project is Madison, North Carolina. Madison resides in the northern tip of Rockingham County and is referred to as the ‘Northern Star’. It has easy accessibility to surrounding major cities of Greensboro, Winston Salem, and High Point, North Carolina and Martinsville and Danville, Virginia. Being established in 1815 and named for the 4th president of the United States, James Madison, the town was incorporated in 1873. The town was initially known as a tobacco town with major contributors to the industry until after World War II. It then emerged as a textile town (The Town of Madison, North Carolina, 2013).
The Essay on Community Health Partnerships
Community: Social groups of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. A social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interest and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exist ( Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). ...
As reported per the United States Census Bureau in 2013, the population for Rockingham County was relatively 92,000 with 48.2% being male and 51.8% being female. The population is also noted to consist of 21% persons under the age of 18 and 18% persons 65 and older.
The racial make-up is 78.2% White or Caucasian, 18.9% Black or African American, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, and other races combined total of 1.2%.The median household income from 2008-2012 for Rockingham County was $38,004 with North Carolina as a whole was $46,450. Poverty level was noted at 17.2% in comparison to North Carolina’s at 16.8%. High school education rates are noted at average with the state at 78.1% versus 84.5% and those with Bachelor’s degree or higher at 13% versus 26.8% statewide (United States Census Bureau, 2014).
Demographic and Epidemiological Data
The 2013 SOTCH report notes that heart disease prevalence in Rockingham County represented 22.6% in 2011(Rockingham County Demographics).
This equivalents to approximately 21,000 people having some form of heart disease in a radius of “565.55 square miles” (United States Census Bureau, 2014).
With such a large number it poses significant risks to this community which has limited direct medical attention. This report also details that Rockingham County has suffered a decrease in the number of primary care physicians in the county going from 58 in 2008 to 44 in 2011 with 17% of residents being uninsured (State-of-the-County Health Report, 2013).
Contributing to the rising community problem is the percentage of smokers at 19.9% of residents in the Piedmont region (including Rockingham County).
“The survey also reported that 65% of residents were either overweight or obese, which increased from 63.7% in 2011” (State-of-the-County Health Report, 2013).
In comparison, the overall smoking rates in 2009 for North Carolina residents was 20.3% (United States Census Bureau, 2014) and the Healthy People 2020 goal of 12.0% (HealthyPeople2020, 2014).
modifiable risk factors such as smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity contributes to the 49% of Americans that have heart disease in concurrence with 600,000 deaths each year (CDC, 2014).
The Essay on Cardiovascular Disease Heart Blood Arteries
Cardiovascular diseases include a wide range of heart abnormalities, as well as diseases of other parts of the circulatory system, such as the coronary arteries, ther cerebrovascular system, the aorta and pulmonary vessels, and the peripheral arteries and veins. Abnormalities of these structures may be either congenital or acquired over time. It has been said that cardiovascular disease kills ...
Windshield Survey
The town of Madison notes to be a busy environment; from streets field with an array of vehicles types and local business’s with a consistent demand. These local businesses, including various chained retailers are surrounded by a multitude of fast food restaurants. The population is noted to be healthy to overweight with increased amounts of smokers causing an alarming awareness and concerns for rising the already determined issue with heart related diseases documented by the 2013 SOTCH report. There are a few parks located on the outskirts of town with tracks to walk and playground areas for children, but there is only one place to perform exercise. There is also noted to be very small amounts of medical offices: two general practice physician offices, one podiatrist, one chiropractor, and three dentist offices, most individuals travel outside the town for medical services. When reaching outside the town limits, the environment is less hustle and bustle noting livestock and farmlands. But one overall variable is still noted, smoking and being overweight. Problem
Heart disease is one of the most prevalent public health concerns in America’s society today. One in every four deaths are related to heart disease effecting both men and women (CDC, 2014).
Heart disease arises due to numerous circumstances, whether hereditary or lifestyle. Notably lifestyle habits are key contributory factors because of obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity, and smoking. This has serious consequences for children and adults, placing the population or community at risk for life-long problems (HealthyPeople2020, 2014).
Lifestyle modifications are the key to decreasing risks of developing heart disease and potential life-long complications. These modifications consists of diet change, increasing exercise, weight loss, smoking cessation, and stress reduction.
With the incorporation of moderate exercising, risks can be decreased by 30-40% (5 steps to prevent heart disease, 2014).
Notably, the greatest modifiable risk is smoking. Smoking decreases life-expectancy by approximately 20 years due to the detrimental effects it has on the human body (McEwen and Grothier, 2014).
The Term Paper on Heart Diseases
Aneurysm-This term refers to a localized dilation of an artery or chamber of the heart. The behavior and prognosis for aneurysms varies, depending on their size and location. Aneurysms of the heart are usually the result of a prior heart attack. They generally don't require surgical resection. They may result in congestive heart failure and arrhythmias. Aneurysms of the main artery of the body, ...
With the birth of this rural town noted on tobacco farming and still maintains a great deal of tobacco crops, these customs are passed down from generation to generation making this community still feel like these habits are acceptable. These modifiable risks are noted to be a visual problem within this community curtailing a serious lifestyle habit that promotes the rising rates of heart disease. Summary
As discussed in this paper, the rural town of Madison, North Carolina and its surroundings within Rockingham County, have a notably high rate of heart disease and deaths. Millions of lives are lost each year due to heart disease in relation to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy eating habits, and inactivity. Within such a small community with such a large population where tobacco has always been at the forefront along with numerous unhealthy dining options are available, the likelihood of tobacco abuse and uncontrolled weight issues are precedent from teenagers to elderly. This leaves these modifiable risks factors for heart disease as major direct and indirect factors.
References
5 steps to prevent heart disease. (2014).
Consumer Report on Health, 26(2), 6-7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014).
Heart Disease Facts. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm. Healthy People 2020. (2014).
Heart disease and stroke. Retrieved from: http://healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/default.aspx. McEwen, A., & Grothier, L. (2014).
Smoking cessation: The heart of the matter. Nurse Prescribing, 12(2), 93-99. Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2011).
Community/Public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations (5th ed.).
St. Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier. Rockingham County Department of Health and Human Services. (2013).
2013 State-of-the-County Health Report. Retrieved from: http://www.rockinghamcountypublichealth.org/docview.aspx?docid=35582. The Town of Madison. (2013).
Our Community: Our History. Retrieved from: http://www.townofmadison.org. United States Census Bureau. (2014).
U.S. Census Bureau: State and County QuickFacts- Rockingham County, North Carolina. Retrieved from: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37157.html.
The Essay on Heart Disease And Stroke
Heart Disease and Stroke Essay Every year, 17.1 million lives are taken away due to tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity. Factors which lead all lead to cardiovascular diseases, the world’s largest killer. Cardiovascular diseases affect all ages and gender; however, it is more perceptible in low and middle income countries, where more than 80% off cardiovascular related deaths ...
