In order to better understand why a population or a community might be struggling with health issues, it is very important to perform a health assessment. By doing so, a person can determine where the specific problems lie and whether those problems can be solved with the current methods being employed to address them. This paper looks at the community of Red Hook, in Brooklyn, NY, and the issues it is facing with health education in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
Health Education Plan: Red Hook
The main issue with health education in the Red Hook area is that the residents lack health awareness. This includes issues such as STDs, chronic diseases, and routine exams to screen for potential problems. Not every person who lives in that area is struggling with this issue, but there are significant numbers of people who miss out on the screenings they should be getting for various ailments and potential health problems. Naturally, that is a significant issue within the community, because people who are not screened for (and treated for) illness in its early stages can experience significant problems later in life (McKenzie, Neiger, & Thackeray, 2009). Additionally, this puts a financial drain on the healthcare system and causes difficulties for government programs that are designed to help those who cannot pay their own medical expenses (McKenzie, Neiger, & Thackeray, 2009). Because Red Hook is a large community, the scope of this problem is great. It is a priority that has to be addressed, and has been chosen to be discussed here because of its affect on such a large number of people in the community today and in the future.
There are several age-specific health risks and needs that have to be addressed in Red Hook. These include access to better geriatric care for an aging population, and more education for young mothers and fathers who are bringing children into this world when they are nearly still children themselves. This problem is not unique to African-American neighborhoods, but it is a problem there -- and one that should be addressed in order to help the neighborhoods transition to higher incomes and higher levels of education (McKenzie, Neiger, & Thackeray, 2009). Improving health and enhancing quality of life for all people in a neighborhood is significant, and part of the Healthy People 2020 initiatives (Healthypeople.gov, 2013). These kinds of initiatives are what can and should be worked into a plan for health education in Brooklyn and in other areas where poverty and disease are high.
The population of the African-American persons in Brooklyn, New York is quite high. The census done in 2011 released their overall population at 34,917 people. The population of the people living in the red hook houses is about 9,512 people (Brockwell, Kilminster, & Starr, 2009). The population of the African-American is majorly constituted by large numbers of low level of education, with up to 68% of the population not having formal education. In addition, the population is highly unemployed, with most doing manual labor and other small jobs. As a result, the income of the persons is quite low with about 60% earning less than $20,000 and 40% getting less than $10,000 and only 10% making $35,000 and above (Brockwell, Kilminster, & Starr, 2009). This indicates the very high poverty level of the people. However, other residents that live in the area of the Red Hook neighborhood, zip code 11231, are much better off. They own houses, and only 19.1% live below the poverty line.
There are several factors that could be barriers to learning for the people there, but the most important and significant factor currently is the devastation that was brought about by Hurricane Sandy. Most of the people in that area are still trying to rebuild from that, and they have put their health on the back burner for the time being. They are not as interested in tending to potential problems and going to doctors appointments when their homes and community are damaged or destroyed. In the coming months and years things will normalize and people will return to pre-hurricane activities, but for now the post-hurricane cleanup is something with which health care providers and health educators will simply have to deal. The other factor that is a barrier to learning is the geographic isolation of Red Hook, because it is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main part of the city. That can leave the people somewhat forgotten when it comes to their needs.
One of the most important issues has to do with the health education outcomes (McKenzie, Neiger, & Thackeray, 2009). There are two of these, and they are getting the population back to pre-hurricane levels of care, and then moving them beyond that point to better care for the elderly and more education for the younger generation to help reduce the number of unwed and/or teenage pregnancies. There are health indicators and behaviors that have to be changed to help this group, including better education on the value and use of birth control, and more care options for elderly people who do not want to leave their homes but may still have some trouble caring for themselves. The specific health education plan that will be used is educational information in schools and other places where young people congregate, as well as information provided to the community regarding the elderly. Flyers, radio, newspapers, and TV can be used to reach elderly people and their caretakers in their homes. The plan will reduce risk and promote the health of the group by giving older people more assistance options and reducing the healthcare burden of young, unwed mothers.
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