Ottawa Charter in a Community Setting, Research Paper Example

Introduction

A considerable number of people being tested for cancer test positive and a majority of this lot succumb to this condition. It has been observed that cervical cancer has been the leading cause of deaths of victims of cancer as more than 12,000 cases which had been identified had caused deaths of more than 4,500 women in the year 2004 in the US. Many have continued to persistently suffer although it has been proved evident that the use of Pap Smear Test gives a preventive answer to cervical cancer. If detected in the early ages, there are often greater chances that treatment and prevention can help (Yale university scientific journal, 2012).

In trying to prevent further problems from happening or decreasing chances of re-occurring, there has been a professional concern for development of policies, implementation of educational programs, administration of services in the systems of health, strict regulation of a number of health professionals and conducting research on various major issues of health.

The major cause of cervical cancer is a common sexually transmitted virus the human papillomavirus (HPV). A newly invented HPV vaccine named Gardasil protects women against two types of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancer (Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986). On http://www.who.int/hpr/NPH/docs/ottawa_charter_hp.pdf.

Cervical screening is very reliable in detecting, preventing and promoting treatment which is successful for cervical cancer. Over the past 3 decades cervical cancer rates of mortality have gone down, however 4100 women in the US died in the year 2002 from this disease which is preventable (American Cancer Society [ACS], 2003).

According to “build health public policy,” strategy, health promotion goes beyond provision of healthcare. It puts health matters the agenda of all stake holders in all sectors and at all levels. Policy makers, direct the public towards health consequences of their decisions and to accept their responsibilities for health. This policy is a coordinated action that leads to health, income, and social policies that foster greater equity (Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986).
Applying the strategies of Ottawa charter in community setting

Public health is a central part responsibilities involvement of governments to ensure a health population which consequently leads to a health nation. The government through the ministry of health formulates polices / strategies on how the society, community, neighborhood or the entire country is be protected from foremost health issues which are surpasses the control of the citizens. It is the liability of health professional physicians as well as nurses included to recognize and present rationale for community health issues so that the government may plan for polices as well as strategies to fight back the issues to maintain/ promote healthy living. Public health is a science concerned with defending as well as humanizing the health of communities through education, promotion of health life style, and research for diseases and prevention of injury. Professionals of public health analyze the effect on personal choices, the surrounding/environment in addition to health of genetics so as to build up potential programs of intervention for shielding community health. (http://www.whatispublichealth.org/what/index.html).

Public health professional concern themselves in trying to prevent problems from happening or re-occurring through implementation of educational programs, polices development, service administration, health systems and some health professionals regulation, and research conduction on major health issues. According to the Yale university journal (Jan 2012) the rates of the HPV vaccine in Canada it can be said that it is more or less the same like the rest of the world. About 70% of the population is said to have received this immunization. In the year 2008 the government came up with an ambitious plan to have girls from grade 5 vaccinated. The reasoning behind this was that it should be done before they become sexually active. The state of Alberta was the last one to enter in this campaign.

This paper will discuss community health issue and how one of the Ottawa charter strategies can be applied to address the issue or promote the health of the community. Further this article will discuss determinants of the community health issue and how they contribute in accelerating the health problems in the community. Finally, the paper shall provide guideline on how the Ottawa strategy can be applied in promoting community health.

Description of community health issue

According to information given by Women’s Health Magazine (Feb. 2012) the “National Cervical Cancer Coalition” documents the proliferating rates of cancer infection in recent past. A greater number of individual are testing positive with respect to cancer with majority succumbing to the condition. Cervical cancer has been observed to be the leading cause of death among the victims with over 12, 000 cases identified to cause the deaths of over 4,500 women in the year 2004 in the United States. Although it is evident that the use of Pap test offers preventive solution to cervical cancer, many have continued to suffer. When cervical cancer is detected at early stages, there are high chances of its treatment and prevention.

The major cause of cervical cancer is a common sexually transmitted virus the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). A newly invented HPV vaccine named Gardasil protects women against two types of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancer (Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986). It is saddening that despite the existing vaccine and preventive measures still a lot of women are diagnosed and dying of cervical cancer. This has become a serious community health issue which needs to be addressed to save the lives of many women.

HPV does not only affect women but also affects men causing throat cancer, anal cancer penile cancer and genital warts. It is very difficult to find testing for HPV in men although it is a real problem in causing the above types of cancer. Men are also supposed to be vaccinated so that they protect their women from infecting them during sex (Cosmo magazine, March 2012). For the sake of this paper, we shall only look into cervical cancer as a community health issue affecting women. Much about HPV causing cancer in men will not be tackled here although it is given credit as a contributor of women cervical cancer infections (Cosmo magazine, March 2012).

Determinants of Health

In general, the context in which an individual lives determines to a great extent his or her health status and quality of life. Health professional argue that health is maintained not only through application of health sciences but also through personal efforts, intelligent lifestyles, and individual choices and the society. World health organization (WHO) provides that major health determinants include; social environment, economic environment, the physical environment, and individual’s personal characteristics and behaviors. Additionally, educational literacy, working conditions, biology and genetics, social status and income, gender and culture determine the health of an individual or the community. Cervical cancer is on the rise in the society due to lack of literacy on preventive and curative measures available (Ottawa charter, 1986).

Majority of women are ignorant of the checkups and available medication (Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986). Provision of education programs to enlighten them will help promote its awareness and reduction. Also the social status of numerous women is low as a result of incomes which are very low (Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986, 16).  This hinders majority of them to afford costs for regular checkups, curative vaccines and treatment. Another determinant is personal choices and life style; some women are not keen of taking preventive measures when having sex a factor which contributes to HPV infections leading to cervical cancer. The health issue is also contributed to biology and genetics of specific individuals in the society. The biology and the genetics of some women plays a central role in the infection of cervical cancer, some of them inherit the infection from their genealogy. HPV has also been document to pose significant effects to boys and the current legislation should be amended to cater for vaccine to boys. Proper community health promotions will ensure that cervical cancer is prevented and the community is maintained health. According to The Calgary Heral May7, 2012, there are higher chances for women of advanced ages to develop heart related problems as a result of their eating habits and appropriate choice of diet is advocated to check this situation

Section of strategy from Ottawa chatter to community setting

The first international conference on health promotion held on Ottawa 21 November 1986 provided strategies for ensuring that all the individuals receive health care. The charter highlights health promotional strategies that are meant to enable people increase control over, and to improve, their health. During the conference of Ottawa strategies were selected to enhance health promotion they include; Build healthy public policy, Create supportive environment, Strengthen community action, Develop personal skills and Reorient health services (Ottawa Charter, 1986).

To better address the health issue of cervical cancer, Ottawa charter strategy for health promotion “build healthy public policy” will be employed. This strategy focuses on achieving equity in health. By taking full control of health determinants of cervical cancer, the community will experience maximum health potential.

Application of build health public policy Ottawa charter Strategy to address Cervical

Cancer community health issue

As earlier highlighted this strategy can be applied in the case of cervical cancer to promote health. With the use of such an important strategy, preventive and curative information is made available to the women and also facilitate the health care professionals to develop a successful public health policy. The policy works as a combination of complimentary approaches such as organizational change, use of fiscal measures and taxation with the intent of promoting public health. Additionally, the provision of equitable and indiscriminate health care services is informed through the use of legislature.

Build healthy public policy will address accordingly the fact that many women fail to get access to checkups and treatment. This can be enhanced by the approaches of this strategy such as legislation, fiscal measures, taxation, and organizational change. Women who cannot afford the costs of checkups and treatment of cervical cancer may be protected by legislation to receive the services at subsidized costs or even free of charge depending on the situation in the affected society (Yale journal, Jan 2012).

The Yale journal goes ahead to point that this strategy goes as far as identifying obstacles that exist in the community health public policy and develop ways to remove them. Information will be provided on available preventive measures, curative measures and the effects of HPV on cervical cancer. Provision and ease of availability of this vital information with allowances for equality/ free checkups for the disease will promote the community health as far as cervical cancer is concerned. According to “build health public policy,” strategy, health promotion goes beyond provision of healthcare. It puts health matters the agenda of policy makers in all sectors and at all levels. Policy makers, direct the public towards health consequences of their decisions and to accept their responsibilities for health. This policy is a coordinated action that leads to health, income, and policies in their social circles that enhance further equity. (http://www.whatispublichealth.org/what/index.html). The policy advocates for joint action that ensures safer and healthier services and goods, healthier public services and clean enjoyable environment. This policy will provide women with knowledge of cervical cancer; its treatment, prevention, and necessity of each individual taking personal responsibility in maintaining health lifestyles.

The policy will also enhance publication of journal and magazines to inform the general public about the statistics of cervical cancer and available preventive and curative guidelines. More so it will sensitize women on their need to take care of their own health by choosing better lifestyles and taking preventive measures to avoid infections of HPV.

References

American Cancer Society. (2003). Ohio cancer facts & figures. Ohio: ACS, Ohio Division.

The Calgary Heral May7, 2012.

The Yale university scientific journal available at: http://www.yalescientific.org/2012/03/hpv-vaccine-for-men/

The women’s health magazine available at: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/hpv-vaccine-facts

Cosmo magazine available at: http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/4888/should-boys-get-vaccinated-hpv

Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion 1986 World Health Organization available at: http://www.who.dk/policy/ottawa.html

http://www.whatispublichealth.org/what/index.html