The health problem that will be explored is obesity in Hispanic children. Obesity is a rather common health concern in the US, and both scholars and healthcare practitioners have dedicated many efforts to identifying the causes of the disease and finding solutions to it. However, despite the interest in the problem, there are still many unanswered questions regarding it (Cunningham, Kramer, & Narayan, 2014). The population chosen for the analysis presents a risk because childhood obesity is the major cause of adult obesity, and it is most frequent in Hispanic children as compared to other ethnicities (Ogden, Carroll, Fryar, & Flegal, 2015). Also, childhood obesity may lead to the development of other severe health problems. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the chosen population and health concern in order to find solutions to crucial healthcare questions.
Social Assessment, Participatory Planning, and Situation Analysis
The first phase of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model is concerned with the social evaluation of the identified problem. It also includes the analysis of social issues that may impact the health problem. The major social indicator that is used to describe the quality of life within the specified population is race and ethnicity (Mehta, Lee, & Ylitalo, 2013). This factor is closely related to the second indicator: socioeconomic status of the family in which a child lives (Carroll-Scott et al., 2013). Hispanic families usually have low income and cannot afford sufficient healthcare services (Mehta et al., 2013). Parents’ education also plays a crucial role since obesity frequently occurs as a result of bad diet and poor exercising which can be caused by inadequate knowledge.
The following strategies for engaging community members in the assessment and planning processes may be suggested:
- distributing educational materials on obesity risk factors;
- arranging meetings for parents from Hispanic families to evaluate their awareness of the problem;
- teaching parents how to mitigate the risk of their child developing obesity or how to relieve the symptoms if they are already present.
The rationale for using these strategies is to increase parents’ knowledge about childhood obesity and teach them the basic ways of eliminating the problem.
Epidemiological, Behavioral, and Environmental Assessments
The second phase of the model involves the analysis of statistics and data pertaining to the health issue. Also, this stage presupposes behavioral and environmental evaluation of the factors that affect the development of the health issue. Childhood obesity is present to a great extent at all levels in the US, but the best evidence is suggested for the national level. The statistics on the prevalence of this illness is given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to data, nearly 13 million of the US children and adolescents are affected by obesity (“Childhood obesity facts,” 2017). The highest prevalence is noted in Hispanic children.
Behavioral and environmental factors are related to the quality of life and parents’ conduct. Frequently, the actions of parents harm children and lead to the development of obesity. In families with low income, there may be no access to information, or parents may be unable to provide their children with appropriate nutrition. As a result, these factors lead to the increased rates of obesity prevalence among Hispanic children.
Educational and Ecological Assessment
The third phase of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model involves choosing the educational and ecological factors the modification of which may bring a positive change in behavior. These factors are divided into three types: predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing. The dominant predisposing factor contributing to the chosen problem is the low level of income in Hispanic families. Because of it, these people frequently cannot afford healthy food for their children (Acheampong & Haldeman, 2013). However, not only financial but also educational problems contribute to the development of childhood obesity. Thus, the enabling factor is support from the community that includes better access to information. The reinforcing factors involve peer support and social support. A relevant theory that might be employed in this case is social cognitive theory (Binkley & Johnson, 2013). This approach presupposes the observation of model behavior that guides to following the right conduct, thus leading to improved health outcomes.
Administrative and Policy Assessment
The last phase of PRECEDE assessment is the administrative and policy analysis. This stage concentrates on the organizational issues that are crucial for implementing the change. Administrative evaluation involves the inspection of policies and resources needed. For the chosen problem, the most appropriate resources are community meetings and consultations of specialists. Possible barriers are the lack of resources and the failure to arrange education for parents or encourage them to participate. What concerns policies, the goals of the proposed program fit the regulations and aims of the US health department. Since the program attempts to manage one of the acutest healthcare issues, it is crucial to support it in order to maintain sustainability of these efforts. Potential resources are the efforts of community centers, schools, and hospitals and the experience and knowledge of specialists. Material resources include costs needed for preparing educational materials and distributing them.
Conclusion
The analysis of four PRECEDE assessment phases allows making the following conclusions. The major social factors related to the analyzed health problem are low level of education and low income of children’s families. Epidemiological issues are concerned with race and ethnicity. The potential for educational and ecological improvement is in community support. Administrative and policy aspects involve financial support and community involvement.
References
Acheampong, I., & Haldeman, L. (2013). Are nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs associated with obesity among low-income Hispanic and African American women caretakers? Journal of Obesity, 2013, 1-8.
Binkley, C. J., & Johnson, K. W. (2013). Application of the PRECEDE-PROCEED planning model in designing an oral health strategy. Journal of Theory and Practice of Dental Public Health, 1(3), 14-25.
Carroll-Scott, A., Gilstad-Hayden, K., Rosenthal, L., Peters, S. M., McCaslin, C., Joyce, R., & Ickovics, J. R. (2013). Disentangling neighborhood contextual associations with child body mass index, diet, and physical activity: The role of built, socioeconomic, and social environments. Social Science & Medicine, 95, 106-114.
Childhood obesity facts. (2017). Web.
Cunningham, S. A., Kramer, M. R., & Narayan, K. M. V. (2014). Incidence of childhood obesity in the United States. The New England Journal of Medicine, 370(5), 403-411.
Mehta, N. K., Lee, H., & Ylitalo, K. R. (2013). Child health in the United States: Recent trends in racial/ethnic disparities. Social Science & Medicine, 95, 6-15.
Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Fryar, C. D., & Flegal, K. M. (2015). Prevalence of obesity among adults and youth: United States, 2011-2014. NCHS Data Brief, 219, 108.