Community Description
Bronx County, New York (zip code: 10453) is under investigation, and the collected data on this location enable the identification of social determinants of health. These factors are important because they influence which groceries people purchase, which, in turn, significantly affects individual health.
Issue of Poverty and Food Insecurity
The first social factor refers to a high poverty level in the community. According to the statistical data, 27.6% of the local population lives in poverty (United States Census Bureau, 2023). This finding demonstrates that more than a quarter of people in Bronx County have insufficient financial resources to cover their basic needs. This state of affairs makes these individuals save money, which evidently influences their purchase decisions.
Even though healthy products are readily available in the community, less nutritious products are bought. For instance, a 2-liter bottle of soda ($2.79) is more affordable than organic milk ($5.49) and yogurt ($3.99). Thus, when people experience financial tightness, this economic condition prevents them from purchasing healthy food and drinks. An increased poverty rate indicates that a large share of the local population suffers from poverty.
The second example reveals that another social factor can promote healthier habits. This statement refers to a median household income of $47,036, which is below the national median income of $75,149 (United States Census Bureau, 2023). Even though these figures are essentially different, it does not mean that citizens in the Bronx Community are totally deprived of the opportunity to buy good products. The lower income indicates that local people cannot afford luxurious items or technology devices at the same rates as the average American.
However, the given value implies that financial resources are sufficient to meet basic needs. In other words, the specified income level indicates that people typically have sufficient resources to purchase healthy, nutritious products. As stated above, grocery stores are available in the community, so individuals can easily find them and buy the food and drinks they need. In conclusion, people remain price-sensitive in this area, suggesting that any substantial price increase could affect their decisions. They can now afford healthy foods, but economic changes could worsen their outcomes.
Proposed Solutions
The presented information demonstrates that society suffers from food insecurity, and a community health nurse (CHN) can introduce an appropriate intervention from the Public Health Intervention Wheel. It seems that policy development and enforcement are a suitable solution for the given scenario. This activity implies that a CHN should highlight the problem’s importance to decision-makers and encourage them to enact effective laws and policies to achieve positive outcomes (Nies & McEwen, 2019).
Schaffer et al. (2022) support this suggestion and add that this intervention motivates others to abide by laws designed to protect the population’s health. In particular, a CHN can cooperate with policymakers to make healthy products more affordable in Bronx County. Even though it is impossible to offer a single and effective solution to the problem, a suitable response could be to grant appropriate subsidies to people in need. This step indicates that the state will surely provide a person with nutritious food and drinks, regardless of their income level. One should note that this solution will require essential monetary resources, but improved public health is worth it.
References
Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2019). Community/public health nursing (7th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences (US).
Schaffer, M. A., Strohschein, S., & Glavin, K. (2022). Twenty years with the public health intervention wheel: Evidence for practice. Public Health Nursing, 39(1), 195-201.
United States Census Bureau. (2023). QuickFacts: Bronx County, New York.