Introduction
Utilization of health promotion has gained extensive use in the field of public health. According to the World Health organization (1986), health promotion refers to the holistic process that encompasses strengthening the individuals’ capabilities of controlling and improving their health. Health promotion is aimed at bettering the individual social, economic and environmental conditions in a bid to minimize the effects on the overall health of the individual and the society. It enables individuals and communities to have increased role in control of the predisposing factors thus securing improvements in their overall health. Health promotion is enhanced by several strategies and is dependent on the condition, desired action and intended participants. The essay will look into the health promotion strategies implemented based upon predictive factors and individual cultural needs while at the sane time describe the cultural factors that impact on individual health.
Strategies based on predictive factors
Health promotion strategies have provided the necessary tools for effective disease prevention in the public health field. Among the popular strategies include capacity building, community development, economic, regulatory and policy initiatives, health information, health education, counselling and skills development, social marketing, and screening combined with individual risk assessment (Australian Capital Territory Department of Health, 2009, para. 1-10). The strategies are designed to impact five core areas that entail health public policy, supportive environment, community action, personal skills development, and the reorientation of health services.
Based upon predictive factors of a disease, several strategies can be employed in the affected population. Predictive factors are the things that are likely to increase the risk of the development of a health illness in an individual or a given population. Capacity building targeting the infected and affected population helps in instilling leadership and the development of the workforce (Australian Capital Territory Department of Health, 2009, para. 1). Leadership is pivotal in providing direction to the affected individuals. The individuals and the community gain sustainable skills in the management of the determinants of health. Several stakeholders with diversified resources are brought on board thus enabling proper and effective resource allocation. Capacity building on the overall management of the predictive factors helps in the prevention of the occurrence of the disease. The effectiveness of this strategy is based on the proper identification, prevention, and control of the predictive factors.
Community development is another important strategy useful in the management of predictive factors. Community participation is imperative in the achievement of individual and society’s full health potential (World Health Organization, 1986). The individuals achieve long-term control over the predisposing circumstances through their involvement in decision making, implementation of the programs and making the necessary adjustments. For instance, change in lifestyles towards the control of diabetes and heart disorders can only be effective if the role played by community participation is appreciated. The strategy is effective due to its ability to influence the community to accept their local conditions thus enhancing the formulation of solutions to the underlying causes (World Health Organization, 1986). Its focus on the adjustments in the social and physical environment rather than on the individual is imperative in the achievement of long-term success. Direct participation of the community helps in their empowerment through access to health information and vital resources (Australian Capital Territory Department of Health, 2009, para. 2).
Counseling of individuals is important particularly if the conditions at hand have long-term negative effects on their health. Counselling provides the platform for the health caregiver to disseminate vital information on the predictive factors to the affected individual. The session equips the individual with the necessary motivation, confidence, and skills to effectively make the necessary adjustments in order to improve their overall health (Australian Capital Territory Department of Health, 2009).
Strategies to meet different cultural needs
Cultural considerations in health promotion are paramount in ensuring the effectiveness and acceptability of the desired changes in the individual and the community (Helman, 1990). Community development strategy takes into account the cultural, religious and social practices of the community. Consultation between the community and the nurse helps in addressing concerns and integration of the positive cultural values in the programs. Integration of religious and cultural beliefs is important in garnering support for the community programs.
Offering health education and provision of health information to the individual helps the nurse to understand and take into account the client’s cultural needs (Helman, 1990). The individual makes an informed decision based on factual information on culture-related illnesses. Social marketing with the aim of providing awareness helps in improving and changing how people behave and think. The use of culturally responsive literature enhances the improvement in the individuals’ health. This also helps in cementing cultural practices that result in healthy living (Helman, 1990).
Cultural factors that impact human health
Culture entails the beliefs, traditions, values and rules of behaviors that are commonly practiced by a specific group of people. Language, religious practices, customs, dietary practices and behavior are important cultural characteristics in all communities (Helman, 1990). Variations in cultural practices helped epidemiologists understand the distribution of disease prevalence in specific groups in the United States. An increase in the prevalence of coronary heart disease and stress was reported in immigrant Japanese and Africans respectively. This was attributed to change in dietary habits and stress due to a new cultural environment in that order (Paul, 1955).
The sense of disempowerment in people can lead to adverse health effects. The Latino in Central America suffered from a nerve disorder characterized by shaking and parathensia. Anthropologists attributed the disorder to political and social disempowerment (McElroy & Townsend, 1996). Cultural repression of women predisposes them to serious health effects such as blood-borne diseases. The lack of power to influence the decision on condom use increases their risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, particularly in Africa. Female oppression in decision-making on reproduction and education decreases the life expectancy and impact negatively on the health of the girls and mothers. Other cultural practices such as female genital mutilation result in serious health risks or even death (Helman, 1990, p.56-60).
Religious beliefs that promote vegetarian diets recorded decreased deaths from heart and lung diseases. Circumcision in Jewish has lowered cancer incidences compared to the gentiles who do not practice circumcision. This is attributed to improved sexual hygiene (Helman, 1990, p.56-60).
Conclusion
Health promotion strategies have gained prominence in the last three decades as the tools for achieving the desired structural adjustments in the individual and the environment. Cultural factors have positive and negative implications on health. It is imperative to entrench the positive cultures in health promotion strategies in order to achieve the desired results towards achieving a healthy lifestyle.
Reference List
Australian Capital Territory Department of Health. (2009). How To Do Health Promotion. Canberra: ACT. Web.
Helman, C. (1990). Culture, Health and Illness. Oxford, UK: Butterworth-Heinemann.
McElroy, A., & Townsend, P. (1996). Medical Anthropology in Ecological Perspective, 3rd edition. Boulder, CO: West view Press.
Paul, B. D., ed. (1955). Health, Culture and Community. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
World Health Organisation. (1986). Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. Geneva: WHO.