Introduction
The main components of reproductive health are safe and effective protection against unwanted pregnancies. Women should have access to a choice of contraceptive methods and means that would not entail complications and harm to health. Pregnant women and children are one of the most vulnerable populations because of the number of resources needed for health and maintaining the comfort of life. Unfortunately, access to health care services is not always equitable in all neighborhoods, and in some areas of Orlando, the standard of living is well below average. The public health nurse’s role is to create a supportive healthcare environment and develop health care support strategies.
Vulnerable Population
Orlando is one of the most visited cities globally, and its population is growing rapidly. In 2020, the city’s population was 307,500, and by 2021 it had increased by 2.7% (population, 2020). The child population under the age of 18 is 60,000 and growing. The female population makes up half, so it can be assumed that a large proportion of the population requires pregnancy counseling. In addition, the increase in the number of children is also associated with cases of teenage pregnancy stemming from the social disadvantage of girls, which also requires new medical strategies.
The social conditions of pregnant women are ambiguous: the central neighborhoods are prosperous. In such environments, women and their babies are supported, and large organizations like Orlando Health take care of their health. However, areas like Mercy Drive or Malibu Groves are characterized by poor living conditions. Pregnant women cannot participate in recreational activities, and the small population provokes frequent armed robberies or other crimes. Children often engage in crime with their parents to support themselves. The economic conditions of these neighborhoods are also obviously bad: there are no jobs, and housing prices are not justified. Disadvantaged communities in Orlando remain poor for their environment. There are no places for children to play because of crime in the parks, and pregnant women cannot work because of unemployment. A few health centers provide medical care, but it can be costly and impractical.
Pregnant women have individual characteristics that contribute to a decreased quality of life. These are physiological problems: difficulty moving around and low hemoglobin and oxygen values. In addition, women are affected by hormones, so pregnancy is accompanied by changes in behavior, high exposure to external influences, and the development of psycho-emotional disorders. Children, especially young children, are characterized by a constant increase in needs and learning. They also need good nutrition, environment, and physical activity for growth and development. In disadvantaged areas of Orlando, shopping, recreational, and leisure facilities remain deplorable.
Public Health Nurse & Multidimensional Strategies
The job of a public health nurse is to advise specific families about their health. For women, public health nurse assistants assist in planning pregnancies, advise on an intelligent approach to pregnancy, and help prevent aggravating health factors. The nurses also contribute to prevention: in disadvantaged areas, women face the effects of smoking, alcohol, and drugs. The nurse’s task is to point out these factors and help to get rid of them. For children, the public health nurse should become a friend-leader who demonstrates the importance of self-care through games. At a younger age, nurses help children understand the importance of hygiene and help parents educate their children about health ecology. At an older age, the nurses point out the consequences of interest in dangerous substances. Many adolescents refuse to be helped by their parents, but healthcare workers inspire more trust in them. Therefore, public health nurses should help children from disadvantaged neighborhoods as much as possible to keep them from the social bottom.
Stress accompanies pregnant women because it is the body’s protective response to changes in the internal environment. Therefore, one of the multidimensional strategies of the public health nurse is to analyze the sources of stress (Alves et al., 2021). The nurse should pay attention to the social environment of the pregnant woman: neighborhood of residence, income level, and availability of medical care. In addition, nurses should pay attention to individual aspects: age, presence of other children, and psycho-emotional type. They can use multidimensional stress assessment tests, which will allow them to monitor the state of health on time and intervene if the influence of any factors aggravates it.
Children who grow up in disadvantaged neighborhoods have a greater risk of mental traumas. A complex social environment does little to promote gradual maturation and forces an early loss of childhood (Werlen et al., 2020). In this regard, public health nurses can create a multidimensional strategy for identifying psychological problems and counseling early. To do this, nurses can visit children’s homes and learn about their well-being and the resources parents spend to support them. Food and housing availability, education, and upbringing are important issues. The children’s environment and the parents’ marital status can contribute to the development of psychological illness. A nurse’s task is to see the influencing factors and eliminate them.
Conclusion
Pregnant women and children in disadvantaged areas are thus one of the most vulnerable groups. This group lacks access to high-quality health care, adequate economic conditions, and a favorable recreational environment. For pregnant women, nurses can create a multidimensional strategy for dealing with stress: the use of tests, psychological support, and assessment of living conditions. Public health nurses develop multidimensional strategies to prevent psychological illness in children: counseling, home visits, and tests.
References
Alves, A. C., Cecatti, J. G., & Souza, R. T. (2021). Resilience and stress during pregnancy: A comprehensive multidimensional approach in maternal and perinatal health. The Scientific World Journal, 2021, 9512854. Web.
PopulationU. (2020). Orlando population. PopulationU, Web.
Werlen, L., Gjukaj, D., Mohler-Kuo, M., & Puhan, M. (2020). Interventions to improve children’s access to mental health care: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29, E58. Web.