Community Health Assessment Report: HLTH1036, Horizon City Analysis

This community health assessment report provides a detailed analysis of the City of Horizon, focusing on psychosocial factors impacting health. The report examines education levels, employment, income, housing, and transportation, highlighting key health issues like obesity and type 2 diabetes. It explores the social determinants contributing to these problems, such as low education and income levels. The report also outlines the role of registered nurses in health promotion, emphasizing the application of strategies from the Ottawa Charter: enabling, mediation, and advocacy. By understanding these factors, healthcare practitioners can better address the community's needs through targeted programs and policies. The report is structured into three sections: psychosocial analysis, health issues and social determinants, and the role of registered nurses in health promotion.

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT REPORT
COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT REPORT
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COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT REPORT
Community Health Assessment Report
Introduction
This report is aimed at providing a detailed analysis of the City of Horizon. The aim of the
report is to aid health care practitioners in comprehending the existing health needs in the
City of Horizon by creating an overview of the psychosocial analysis. Additionally, the report
is geared towards promoting partnerships with policy makers, departments of health,
educators and health care professionals in implementing educative programs and policies that
will provide health benefits, Hahn & Truman (2015).
The report also outlines the specific roles that should be played by registered nurses so as to
address the existing health problem in the City of Horizon. As such, it enables nurses and
other health practitioners in knowing the existing health problems thus enabling them to plan
adequately and provide the needed services to the City of Horizon populace.
The report has three sections whereby the first section provides a psychosocial analysis of the
City of Horizon. The second section points out the health issue as well as the social
determinants linked to the existing health issue. The last section provides the role that should
be played by registered nurses in health promotion with the help of the three main strategies
of health promotion stipulated in the Ottawa Charter. Those strategies include enabling,
mediation and advocacy, Ottawa Charter (1986). The scope of the report involves pointing
out the social determinants linked to the existing health issue and the health care necessities
of the community, that will enable health care practitioners come up with appropriate actions
required in handling the needs of the community. However, it does not provide an outlined
action for addressing the needs of the community in question.

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT REPORT
City of Horizon Psychosocial Assessment
The percentage of individuals with university and college education stands at 9% in the City
of Horizon, City of Horizon (2016). This percentage is wanting because it indicates a deficit
in the levels of education, yet there is a close connection between edification and health.
Studies have shown that individuals with higher education levels avoid risky behaviors such
as alcoholism and smoking, Zimmerman, Woolf & Haley (2015). Education accords
individuals the opportunity for learning about health and health risks in institutions of higher
learning. The percentage of employed individuals in the city Horizon is 93%, City of Horizon
(2016). However, in as much as the percentage of employed individuals is high, the majority
of them are employed in the informal sector because the percentage of persons with higher
education is low. As pointed out by Johnson (2013), well-paying job opportunities enable
individuals to lead better lives because they will be in a position to reside in safe
neighborhoods, provide quality education to their children, and they can purchase nutritious
food. Additionally, well-paying jobs enable persons to acquire better health insurance
coverage that enables them to get services such as preventive care like blood pressure
screenings. Furthermore, in order for individuals to lead healthy lives, they not only need to
be employed but they should be employed in places with good working conditions. In the
City of Horizon, a huge percentage of individuals are employed in informal sectors and the
working conditions could be unsafe. Based on the employment statistics in the City of
Horizon, many individuals are employed in the sector of retail, followed by healthcare and
community service, and the agricultural sector. These sectors do not require highly skilled
labor force and the income is usually low and job security is not normally guaranteed.
The income statistics of the City of Horizon indicate that 4% of individuals earn over $1500
weekly while a majority of them earn $400-599 weekly. This is worrying because health and
income go hand in hand. As shared by Woolf et al., (2015), the level of income earned by

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT REPORT
individuals affects their health. They share that individuals with better income enjoy better
health and increased lifespan compared to those earning a low income. Additionally, as
pointed out by Woolf et al., (2015), low-income earners are at a risk of suffering from
diabetes, heart diseases, and other chronic conditions compared to individuals with higher
income. Furthermore, the health of children and infant mortality is also linked to income
rates. Children brought up in families earning low income tend to suffer from health
problems such as heart problems and digestive disorders, Woolf et al., (2015). Apart from
healthiness, better earnings enables individuals to access a wider range of health options,
better housing, and good nutrition. The other important data in relation to the City of Horizon
is housing. Housing statistics indicate that 44% of individuals own their own houses while
23% are in the process of acquiring their own houses. 21% of individuals are residing in
rented apartments, City of Horizon (2016). There is a close relationship between housing and
health of individuals. Good housing characterized by good ventilation, well-maintained and
safe neighborhood reduces cases negative health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease,
Rogerson (2016). Additionally, inexpensive housing allows individuals to cater for additional
important requirements such as medical services and foodstuff. Furthermore, housing
location matters. This is because housing characterized with easy accessibility to good
learning institutions, public transportation, great jobs, grocery shops, and medical centers
assists in reducing cases of chronic diseases and other health problems, Rogerson (2016).
Aside from that, the housing community matters too. Housing communities with supporting
relationships play a role in improving both physical and mental well-being of individuals.
This is because individuals are not stressed out and they are not exposed to violence.
However, in the circumstance of the City of Horizon, there is a likelihood that the majority of
individuals reside in insecure environments because they earn low income. This implies that
the majority of them are likely to experience health problems from time to time. The main

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT REPORT
mode of transportation in the City of Horizon is road transport. However, the number of
motor vehicles is low especially public vehicles. Public motor vehicles account to 5%, City of
Horizon (2016). This statistic is not good because there is a close relationship between
transport accessibility and the well-being of individuals. Limited public means of transport
will limit the accessibility of individuals to health services, shopping centers and other
important facilities. The data relating to transportation in the City of Horizon indicate that
64% of individuals drive themselves. In as much as this enables them to access facilities
easily, it encourages physical inactivity. As shared by Johnson (2012), the higher the number
of hours spent in cars, the higher the likelihood of increased cases of obesity. On the other
hand, cycling and walking improve the health of individuals. Cycling and walking reduce
cases of obesity. The percentage of cycling and walking stands at 4.8% in the Horizon
Community. This percentage is very low and it implies that a large percentage of individuals
are at risk of being obese. However, community occupants shared that the community has
high levels of connectedness. Majority of them pointed out that they were able to get the
needed assistance during moments of crisis, City of Horizon (2016). This indicates the
existence of cohesiveness in the community and the readiness of individuals towards making
a positive contribution to the community. A large percentage of the population is made up of
the elderly. The percentage of individuals aged between 60-74 stands at 27.4%, City of
Horizon (2016)
Health Problem
The impending health problem in the Horizon Community is the prevalence of chronic
ailments such as obesity, asthma, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. As highlighted by the
City of Horizon public health and wellbeing plan (2015), type two, diabetes is the leading
type of diabetes in the community. The contributing factors of type two diabetes include
physical inactivity, weight, and obesity. Based on the statistics provided by City of Horizon

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT REPORT
(2016), 64% of individuals own cars. This implies that the majority of individuals drive
themselves when moving from one place to another. Therefore, they rarely take part in
physical activity. Those that walk and cycle makeup 4.8%. This explains why type 2 diabetes
is prevalent. The causative factors of type 2 diabetes include being overweight, Ndisang,
Vannacci, & Rastogi (2017). Being overweight is considered as the major causative factor of
type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health problem that tampers with the manner in
which the body of an individual utilizes sugar. As such, since there is no cure for diabetes,
individuals are normally encouraged to lose weight through exercising and eating well.
Therefore, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes will continue if individuals do not take the
initiative of exercising from time to time. Spending more time driving contribute to being
overweight. According to City of Horizon (2016), the community has a greater rate in terms
of lack of exercise among adults unlike other parts of South Australia. The percentage stands
at 40.1%. The other health issue in the community is obesity. Obesity is linked to social
health elements among them nutrition and exercising, lakerveld & Mackenbach (2017).
Consumption of foods containing high energy levels and physical inactivity are the chief
contributing factors in developing obesity in individuals. According to City of Horizon
(2016), figures indicate that 79% of grownups are either obese or weighty in the community.
The percentage is very high thus portraying obesity as a health problem that needs to be
addressed. Additionally, nutrition plays a key role in matters relating to obesity. Individuals
are usually encouraged to consume food containing less energy such as vegetables and fruits
but in the City of Horizon, only 48% adhere to the commended day-to-day consumption of
two fruits. Furthermore, the majority of individuals in the community are physically inactive,
City of Horizon (2016). Obesity and being overweight usually rises the threat of developing
other chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases and asthma.

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT REPORT
Other social determinants contributing to the health problems experienced in the commnity of
Horizon include the level of education, level of income, and type of occupation. Based on the
statistics provided by City of Horizon (2016), only 9% of individuals have acquired higher
education and University level of education. This figure is worrying because education is
considered a crucial social determinant of health, Hann and Truman (2015). Additionally, a
large percentage of individuals earn a low income with only 14% earning $1500 weekly. This
implies that the majority of individuals are unable to access proper medical services due to
financial limitations.
Role of the Registered Nurse in Health Promotion
Registered nurses are the major influencers to the health of individual patients and the
communities, Lucatorto, Thomas, and Siek (2016). Therefore, in order to address the chronic
disease health problem in the community, registered nurses could take part in health
promotion because they are tasked with promoting public health, Kemppainen, Tossavainen
and Turunen (2013). They have a complex responsibility in health promotion because of their
experience in health promotion and their multidisciplinary knowledge in the field of nursing.
In the case of the City of Horizon, the registered nurses could apply the strategies of health
promotion such as enabling, mediation and advocacy, Ottawa Charter (1986). The Enabling
strategy involves partnering with individuals for the purpose of empowering them so that
they can take charge of their health. Mediation involves a certain team of individuals bringing
together different groups with varying interests so that they can reconcile their interests in
ways that promote the health of individuals in the community. Advocacy involves putting in
place support systems that promote health. Therefore, in the case of the City of Horizon,
registered nurses could apply the three main health promotion strategies outlined in the
Ottawa charter. Regarding the Enabling strategy, the registered nurses may take the initiative
of educating individuals in the City of Horizon about the importance of good nutrition and

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT REPORT
physical activity. As pointed out earlier, 79 %of adults are physically inactive and a small
percentage adhere to proper nutrition. Therefore, with the vast knowledge possessed by
registered nurses in health matters, they could educate the community on the importance of
physical activity. This will assist in reducing obesity and type 2 diabetes. The registered
nurses could also come up with healthy eating challenges as a way of encouraging individuals
to take the initiative of adopting good nutrition. Furthermore, they should come up with
campaigns that create awareness among individuals regarding the causes of chronic diseases
such as diabetes, asthma, and obesity. This will go a long way in promoting health in the City
of Horizon. Registered nurses could also play a role of advocacy in promoting health in the
City of Horizon. Registered nurses act as health advocates who utilize various platforms for
the purpose of promoting health in the society. Therefore, the registered nurses may
participate actively in political and community forums by advocating for low rate insurance
premiums. By advocating for low rate insurance premiums, the registered nurses will create
equity in terms of accessing health services in the City of Horizon. Additionally, they should
take part in the formulation of policies related to health such as 'walk to work days', whereby,
individuals are encouraged to walk to work on some days as a way encouraging physical
activity and promoting the general health of individuals in the City of Horizon. The other role
of registered nurses is acting as mediators. Mediation is the third strategy in health
promotion. Therefore, registered nurses could collaborate with other stakeholders in the
health sector such as non-governmental organizations, media, drug organizations, and
community leaders in attaining support when initiating measures to physical activity and
nutrition in the City of Horizon.
Conclusion
The main aim of the report was to point out the various health problems distressing the
individuals in the City of Horizon for the purpose of coming up with recommendations

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT REPORT
geared towards addressing health issues. The report provided a wide variety of findings
regarding the communal and financial factors distressing the health of individuals in the City
of Horizon. One of the findings indicated that the population comprised mainly of aged
individuals, a factor associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes. The other findings
showed that majority earned low-incomes thus hindering adequate accessibility to health
services. Furthermore, the population of Horizon has low education levels and the majority of
individuals are employed in sectors that require lowly skilled labor force. Additionally, they
had limited access to public transport because the number of public vehicles was limited.
However, the City of Horizon has high levels of connectedness. The main health issue
identified in the city was chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and asthma. The
mentioned health problems are prevalent due to physical inactivity and poor nutrition. In
order to address the existing health issue in Horizon, it was recommended that registered
nurses take part in promoting health by applying the three health promotion approaches
namely enabling, mediation and advocacy. The registered nurses should be able to take part
in creating awareness regarding the importance of physical activity and good nutrition as well
as collaborating with other stakeholders so that they support the activities geared towards
promoting the health of the population in the City of Horizon.

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT REPORT
Reference List
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Lakerveld, J. and Mackenbach, J. (2017). The Upstream Determinants of Adult
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