Promoting Sickle Cell Awareness

This article aims to promote awareness of sickle cell disease and reduce its prevalence. It discusses the disease, its complications, and the importance of awareness. The article also explores the Beattie's model of health promotion and its application in promoting sickle cell awareness. The main objective is to improve the quality of life of individuals affected by sickle cell disease.

“Sickle cell”
Target Group and Key Issue
Sickle cell disease can be defined as the group of
inherited red blood cell disorder which affect haemoglobin
and the protein which carries oxygen through body. In this
disease, the shape of red blood cells is crescent or sickle
shaped and they do not move and bend easily and can block
the flow of blood in rest of the body. This can lead to serious
issues involving infections, episodes of pain, eye issues and
stroke. Having sickle cell can also increase the risk for severe
illness because of covid-19. For curing this disease, the bone
marrow and blood transplant is the only way, but there are
some treatments which can effectively reduce the symptoms
of disease and prolong life. This is a genetic blood disorder
that is inherited from parents.
Most of the individuals affected from sickle cell
anaemia are African or African Caribbean origin, although
the gene is found in ethnic groups. The prevalence of disease
is rising due to immigration into United Kingdom and new
births. It is a vaso occlusive crisis that cause severe pain and
impact the quality of life of patient and maximize risk of
organ damage as well as early death. According to the
International Sickle Cell World Assessment Survey, it has
been found that the most important goal reported by Health
Care professionals and patients was Improving quality of life
improving overall symptoms.
Needs and Priorities
The awareness among people regarding Sickle Cell disease is
very necessary as it is a genetic disorder and serious issue to be
consider. The main reason is that the blockage due to Sickle Cell
anaemia in blood cells can lead to several complications like a
stroke, eye issues, acute chest syndrome, infections etc. Apart from
this, there are some factors which triggered the sickling including
lack of oxygen, hard exercise, high temperature, cold, lack of
blood in body, infection etc. All the people are not aware about
these triggering factors so, awareness regarding the disease and its
prevention is very necessary as this will help in reducing the cases
of disease and improving the quality of life of people.
Reflection
The developed artefact is highly effective in promoting the Sickle
Cell awareness among people as it includes information about
Sickle cell and its associated complications. However, do not
contain a lot of information which can be considered as a
limitation of the artefact. But, overall it can be said that this
artefact will prove to be effective in meeting the overall aim and
objective of developing it and contribute in improving the quality
of life of people and enhance their health and wellbeing.
Health Promotion Theory
Beattie’s model of health promotion:
This Health promotion model is a complex analytical
model which acknowledges that the promotion of health is
embedded in broader cultural and social practices. It not only
provides the ability to analyse previous and current health
promotion strategies as well as the own role of people within it,
but it also provides with the resources to develop upon current
practices and formulate new strategies for promoting the Sickle
Cell awareness appropriately. This model consists of four
quadrants which are arranged on two axes. These quadrants
represent distinct ways in which the health of people can be
promoted through government, professionals and individuals, by
using help persuasion techniques, personal counselling,
community development and legislative action. The two axis
depicts "mode of intervention" that can be authoritative or
negotiated as well as "emphasize of intervention “which can be
collective or individual.
The health care professionals as well as the government
work in top down approach by health persuasion techniques and
legislative actions. The recommendations and advice regarding
the sickle cell disease are handed out and interventions and
policies are developed to maximise uptake of these
recommendations a developed. The main aim of executing this
theory in Health promotion is to protect communities and
individuals. However, the approaches may disempower people
through victim blaming culture on their own way and may thus
result in only limited transformations.
The community development and the personal
counselling approach seek to empower as well as to improve
understanding, skills and knowledge. With personal counselling
approach, it is accomplished by health professionals helping the
people to develop as well as reach their goals instead of acting
as an export instructing the way to change. The similar is
community development approach, except instead of
emphasizing on people, it emphasizes on groups like local
community groups. Execution of this theory help in effectively
promoting the awareness regarding Sickle Cell disease to the
people and helping improving their quality of life and contribute
in improving their health and wellbeing.
Aim:
The main aim of this artefact is “To promote the awareness
of sickle cell disease so as to reduce its prevelence”
Objectives:
 To promote awareness regarding sickle cell disease.
 To reduce the prevelence of disease and contribute
in improving the quality of life of people.
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