Defining Social Problems, Essay Example

Describe three key insights or strategies you would share with your team if you were engaged in planning for a program related to the scenario described above.

In order to increase the participation rate among women in the Appalachian region in Mammography screening, it is important that the team introduces culturally appropriate health promotion methods, described by Leeks (2013). Further, it is important to note that those living in rural areas have limited health awareness and knowledge of their risks. Using the health promotion and behavioral change theory, the project developers need to review the health belief model that targets the population that has negative attitudes towards mammography. Paraska’s study (2012) reveals that there are five different factors that influence participation rates: “perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy“ (Paraska, 2012, p. 142). However, it is  also important that the team develops cultural competencies that addresses the health beliefs of women who choose not to participate in mammography. Further, it is important to meet the needs of the diverse population, not only by providing linguistically and culturally relevant health educational materials to change  beliefs and attitudes, but also reaching out to the community. Fontenoy et al. (2013) states that mobile mammography units can increase participation rates, as they deal with one of the most important health barriers that these women face: distance to the closest clinic providing the service. It also reduces health disparities between those who live in urban areas and have access to  health education, and women in rural areas.

Knowlden and Sharma’s study (2011) examines the methods used to increased mammography participation rates among African American women, and found that the population faced health disparities, due to the late diagnosis and the lack of regular screening. Practice-based and community-based targeted intervention plans were proven to be effective in increasing participation rates.

How do you expect that your intended approach to developing an understanding of social problems could affect program planning? Be sure to support your response.

Caban & Adams-Huet (2012, p. 26) found that “minorities fear losing confidentiality, thus programs increasing the awareness of the benefits of early detection could ameliorate this problem”. The authors compared usual and culturally sensitive health education’s results, and found that the latter were more successful in increasing mammography participation rates. Schoenberg et al.  (2013) found that the most important health barriers for women living in the region are inadequate personal and community resources, competing demands, attitudinal and knowledge barriers, family health history, personal health habits, and the  lack of trust in health care providers. It is also important to note that the study revealed general characteristics based on the research sample, such as low education level, and low income (73 percent reported to either struggle to get by, or have just enough to get by). One of the respondents in the study stated that “I think it would help people a whole lot if they just had a way to answer all of their cancer screening questions without having to go to the doctor!” (Schoenberg et al., 2013, p. 2).

The above review if the population’s characteristics indicates that community-based, and mobile health education and screening services could successfully help women overcome their attitude-based, knowledge-based, and economic barriers. As many women would have just enough to get by or not enough, they would possibly not be able to afford traveling to the nearest health center to get more information about their risks and the benefits of early detection. However, culturally responsive materials need to be developed in order to achieve the goal:  higher participation rate in mammography screening programs.

References

Caban, M & Adams-Hue, B. (2012) Meta-analysis: Culturally sensitive education and mammography uptake of minority women. in: Mammography – Recent Advances, Nachiko Uchiyama and Marcelo Zanchetta do Nascimento (eds)

Fontenoy, A., Langlois, A., Ling Chang, S., Daigle,  J., Pelletier, E., Guertin, M., Théberge, I. & Brisson, J. (2013) Contribution and performance of mobile units in an organized mammography screening program. Canadian Journal of Public Health. 2013;104(3):e193-e199.

Knowlden, A. & Sharma, M. (2011) Examining The effectiveness of interventions designed to increase mammography adherence among African American women. American Journal of Health Sciences – Fall 2011 Volume 2, Number 2

Paraska, K. (2012) Relationship Between Expanded Health Belief Model Variables and Mammography Screening Adherence in Women with Multiple Sclerosis. International       Journal of MS Care. 2012;14:142–147

Schoenberg NE, Kruger TM, Bardach S, Howell BM. (2013) Appalachian women’s perspectives on breast and cervical cancer screening. Rural and Remote Health 13: 2452.Retrieved from:http://www.rrh.org.au