The Jamaica district of Queens is famous for its diversity of cultures, which is reflected in diverse attractions, like local park markets, restaurants, and cultural institutions. The district overflows with cultural institutions like theaters and art centers. The children can play in Roy Wilkins Recreation Center, which includes summer day camping programs and after-school programs. The York College offers the residents and visitors various events open for the public, from observatory nights to jazz concerts.
Education
Education is vital for health conditions, as higher education levels are generally associated with better health outcomes. The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (2021) recognizes the quality of education and access to education as one of the social determinants of health. The rates of absenteeism in the elementary school and its comparison to other districts are the main criteria for evaluating the community’s situation with education (NYC Health, 2018). The results report that the level of absenteeism in both Jamaica and Hollis is close and just slightly higher than in NYC overall. In general, about three-quarters of high school students graduate within four years. There are almost 50 public schools in the area and less than ten public libraries.
Economy
Even though the community in Jamaica is culturally educated, one could not describe the community as thriving in terms of economic conditions. Although the poverty rate is close to average in NYC, the unemployment rate is significantly higher in Jamaica, with fewer job opportunities present in the district. More than half of the residents lives in rented homes and spends more than 30% of their income on rent (NYC Health, 2018). Thus, the community has difficulties in affording food and healthcare services. Local Snap Center Food Stamp Office offers help and nutrition assistance for income-eligible households. There are currently three NYC farmers markets in Jamaica and Hollis that provide fresh and healthy food options to the population. As one of the Healthy People 2030 initiative objectives indicates creating social, physical, and economic environments to promote health and well-being for all, the initiative must focus more on economic factors (The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2021). The initiative could solve several issues in the Jamaica district, like shortage of food for vulnerable groups of residents and unaffordable prices for healthcare services.
Currently available services
NYC Health + Hospitals and New York Diabetes Wellness Center offer various services for the population that includes assessment, evaluation, care, and treatment of diabetes. The programs of the center highlight programs focused on diabetes self-management education and training (NYC Health and Hospitals, 2021). The center also provides insulin pump services and organizes support groups for patients with diabetes.
Cultural competence and ethics
The first part of the plan for delivering culturally congruent and ethical interventions is to raise the population’s awareness about the issue. As NYC Health (2018) states, almost 160,000 adults in New York are estimated to have diabetes but are not aware of their diagnosis yet. As reports indicate that a significant part of Jamaica district residents drink one or more 12-ounce sugary drinks per day, the population needs to become aware of the risks from increased intake of sugar-saturated drinks (NYC Health, 2018). Around 13% of adults from the Jamaica district report that they experienced no need for medical care for more than 12 months (NYC Health, 2018). Additionally, Jamaica has the highest rates of cases of hypertension, angina, congestive heart failure, and long-term complications from uncontrolled diabetes in Queens (Northwell Health, 2019). The residents need to be reminded that yearly checkups are essential for health care and help to minimize the risks of negative health outcomes.
Strengths and Needs
Although the district offers various activities to its residents, people are forced to resort to cheaper food alternatives due to low income and a high poverty rate. As almost a quarter of children in Jamaica and Hollis have obesity, it is necessary to raise awareness amongst adults about obesity, diabetes, and hyperventilation. Since residents struggle to afford healthcare services and some of the residents do not have insurance, the district’s rate of avoidable hospitalizations among adults is higher than in NYC overall.
References
Northwell Health. (2019). Community health needs assessment: Queens County assessment.
NYC Health. (2018).Community health profiles 2018: Jamaica and Hollis.
NYC Health + Hospitals. Diabetes care.
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Social Determinants of Health. Web.