Community Health and Disease Prevention: PUBH6006 Essay on Diabetes

This essay analyzes community-based interaction and health promotion strategies for type 2 diabetes, drawing upon Laverack's ladder of community-based interaction to identify effective approaches. It explores the disease, its symptoms, and the importance of community knowledge. The essay high...Read More

Running head: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
Introduction
The essay will focus on the concept of community-based interaction using various
health program. Different strategies are discussed and highlighted that will assist different
individuals to effectively engage and implement the method of community-based interaction.
The health issue identified in this essay will focus on type 2 diabetes and will focus on
Laverack’s ladder of community-based interaction to identify and implement the key
strategies that will be beneficial for the individual to engage in the program and address their
individual health concern (Herens & Wagemakers, 2017). Different approaches and models
are also highlighted of health promotion, which will primarily focus on the resolving the
health concern and identifying the strategies that will help the community members to
educate themselves regarding the health issue (Baum, 2016). The concept of capacity-
building was also explained that will be grounded on Liberato et al (2011) in order to provide
adequate support for community ownership and empowerment for establishing prevention
program for type 2 diabetes (Robertson, 2016).
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is considered as the life-long illness that inhibits the body from
utilising insulin in an appropriate way. The individual suffering from type 2 diabetes are
considered as insulin resistance and are considered as the common form of diabetes. There
are approximately 27 million people who are suffering from the condition if type 2 diabetes
in United States and approximately 86 million people are considered to have prediabetes
(DeFronzo et al., 2015). The common symptom of type 2 diabetes are blurry vision, feeling
thirsty, frequent urination, incapability of the wound to heal and yeast infection. The
population belonging to different community require adequate knowledge that will help them
to identify the condition as the matter of health concern and also identify appropriate

2COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
strategies that will help them to overcome from the health condition (Tangvarasittichai,
2015).
Laverack’s ladder of community-based interaction
Health promotion is a necessary components of enabling the community members to
identify the key strategies that will help them to develop effective ways to prevent the onset
of the condition, type 2 diabetes. Effective health promotion strategy will help different
individuals to achieve social, mental and physical well-being and also identify the factors that
might result in bad health condition (Noor, 2017). Health service development is defined as
the capability of the community to deliver specific program reaction to specific health issue.
In order to achieve precise strategy for better health condition it is crucial for the community
to adapt effective problem-solving ability. Laverack’s had identified different set of
significant characteristic that is crucial for community development and empowerment.
Community development is the crucial factor that is essential for engaging the
community members in order to successfully implement the health promotion program for
the identified health issue (Gram, Daruwalla & Osrin, 2019). Effective community
development is essential for bringing change within the community nationally, regionally and
locally. There are different strategies included under the Laverack’s ladder of community-
based interaction that is crucial for effective community development and empowerment. The
key strategies included are community participation, leadership and problem assessment. The
community empowerment from the organizational aspect is directly associated with the
interpersonal factors that include social capital, community cohesiveness, individual control
and contextual elements like economic, socio-cultural and political circumstances (Bryar,
2016) The key strategies identified using Laverack’s ladder of community-based interaction
are as follows:

3COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
 Community participation- Effective involvement of community members are
crucial in both larger and small organization in order to develop the knowledge and
information within the community. Community participation and community
empowerment are majorly included under the community development framework
considered as the grassroots of community participation. Active communication and
participation is required for implementing any health promotion strategy where the
members included under the community provide input and feedback that will enhance
the health promotion strategies of the community (Verlinghieri, 2019).
 Leadership- The concept of leadership and participation are inter-related to each
other, where leadership requires stable and confident participation base and
participation requires well directed structure and direction. Leaders have a crucial role
in developing the community organization associated with small group members,
which is considered as the base of community empowerment and continuum.
Necessary management expertise and skills are required in a leader that will be crucial
for managing the complete community and assisting the community members in
identifying the symptoms of type 2 diabetes and determine the program that will be
beneficial in overcoming from the health condition. Thus leadership is crucial for
improving the health condition within the community with better empowerment and
guidance (South, 2015).
 Problem assessment- Problem assessment is defined as the most crucial strategy for
improving the health condition within the community members. Problem assessment
will allow the population to identify the health condition like type 2 diabetes and
accordingly determine the best treatment and preventive measures that will reduce the
symptoms of type 2 diabetes. The steps to resolve the issue of type 2 diabetes is
identified and adapted and by the community members with enhanced competencies

4COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
and skills. Hence, this preventive strategy towards community-based interaction will
assist the community members to actively participate in the health promotion
campaign and accordingly determine the preventive steps that will help the population
to reduce the condition of type 2 diabetes (Mandarano, 2015).
The core domains of capacity building to support community ownership and
empowerment
Capacity building is also termed as capacity development that is defined as the
procedure using which different organization and individuals obtain, identify and recall their
individual tools, skills, equipment, knowledge and other associated resources that is required
to successfully complete the work. There are three different aspect of capacity building that
comprises the following (Robertson, 2016):
 Health infrastructure- This is defined as the capability to supply specific program
reactions to specific health issues.
 Program sustainability and maintenance- This is defined as the capability of the
program to deliver linkage of partnership among the community group members
assisted by different agencies.
 Problem-solving ability of communities and organization- This is defined as the
strategy where the community members enhances their capability to recognize the
health issue and accordingly determine the strategies to address the identified health
issue (Millar & Doherty, 2016).
There are nine different core domains of capacity-building that will assist in community
ownership and empowerment that is significant for identifying the appropriate health
prevention program. The core domains identified under capacity building are as follows:

5COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
1. Participation- Community participation and community empowerment are majorly
included under the community development framework considered as the grassroots
of community participation. Active communication and participation is required for
implementing any health promotion strategy where the members included under the
community provide input and feedback that will enhance the health promotion
strategies of the community (Rubin et al., 2016).
2. Leadership- Leaders have a crucial role in developing the community organization
associated with small group members, which is considered as the base of community
empowerment and continuum. Necessary management expertise and skills are
required in a leader that will be crucial for managing the complete community and
assisting the community members in identifying the symptoms of type 2 diabetes and
determine the program that will be beneficial in overcoming from the health
condition.
3. Organizational structure- Organizational structure is significant for large and small
groups that comprises of youth groups, church and committees. The level of
organizational structure is very significant as it assist different people to socialize
effectively and address their individual problems and concern. There are two domains
included in the organizational structure namely organizational element of community
groups and committees and social element of personal relationship, connectedness
and belonging (Donaldson, 2017).
4. Problem assessment- Problem assessment will allow the population to identify the
health condition like type 2 diabetes and accordingly determine the best treatment and
preventive measures that will reduce the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. The steps to
resolve the issue of type 2 diabetes is identified and adapted and by the community
members with enhanced competencies and skills.

6COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
5. Resource mobilization- The capability of the community to mobilize the resources
within the community so that the population can effectively utilize the resources and
exhibit high level of organization skill. Resource mobilization will allow the
community members to gain access of the important resources that will allow
empowerment within the community (Varsha et al., 2019).
6. Asking why- This is considered as the significant domain for community
empowerment that will allow the community members to evaluate economic, social
and political causes of the health condition. This section comprise of three major
attributes namely critical consciousness, critical thinking and critical awareness.
Health education and training is included under this domain (Bourgeois et al., 2017).
7. Links with other- Link with other associated organization and people is crucial for
establishing effective health promotion campaign that comprises of voluntary
alliances, coalitions and partnership. Participation with other community members
acts as catalyst that will motivate the community members to take adequate action and
practice for community empowerment.
8. Role outside agents- Agents are considered as the crucial factor for community
development and empowerment as this agents will facilitate the action of skill
development, critical awareness, provision of finances, technical expertise and
infrastructural support (Steiner, 2016).
9. Program management- program management will allow the community members to
empower their individual community by controlling the stakeholders regarding
decisions comprising of planning, implementing, evaluating, finances, administrating,
encounter resolution and reporting.

7COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
Health promotion approaches and models
Health promotion is defined as the method of empowering people to enhance their
control on their health and also improve the health condition in order to establish social,
mental and physical well-being. There are five different health promotion approaches that is
crucial for creating awareness among the community members and providing relevant
information regarding the prevention strategies of type 2 diabetes. The health promotion
approaches are defined as follows:
1. Medical Approach- This approach focus on the treatment strategy of the identified
health condition that will promote the prevention strategy of the illness. Example-
immunization (Hempler et al., 2018).
Advantage: This approach is simply measurable.
Disadvantage: This approach is incapable to identify the determinants of health that result in
such condition.
2. Behavioural change Approach- This approach focuses on encouraging people to
alter their behaviour and promote good health. Example- Smoking termination
program (Sallis, Owen & Fisher, 2015).
Advantage- This approach is simply measurable.
Disadvantage- This approach completely depends on the social and health care specialist to
assist the change of behaviour.
3. Educational Approach- This approach highlights the role and benefit of education in
order to improve the knowledge of an individual and empower them to transform their
behaviour and attitudes in relative to their identified health. Example- An educational
approach that aim to increase awareness regarding the advantage of quitting smoking

8COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
rather than focusing on the requirement to prohibit smoking within the individual
community (Eldredge et al., 2016).
Advantage- Assist each individual to alter their approach and enhance their knowledge
regarding the health issue.
Disadvantage- This approach is time consuming.
4. Empowerment Approach- This approach is completely different from all the other
health promotion approaches as it focuses on the perspective of each individual and
recognize their individual health concern by supporting them to enhance their
knowledge and idea of the health issue (Tengland, 2016).
Advantage- Issue of client perspective and lead.
Disadvantage- This approach is time consuming.
5. Social change approach- This approach focuses on the society and how the society
can change to assist good health. Example- Smoking prohibition in AU from 2004
(McCormack et al., 2017).
Advantage- Addressing social issues that include public consultation.
Disadvantage- This approach is considered as the top-down method, where health promoters
are devoid of skills to adapt this approach.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that health issue was identified in this essay (type 2 diabetes) and
focuses on the Laverack’s ladder of community-based interaction that will help the
community to identify and implement the key strategies that will be beneficial for the
individual to engage in the program and address their individual health concern. The concept
of capacity-building was also explained that will be grounded on Liberato et al (2011) and the

9COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
nine different domain included in this approach was also highlighted that will focus on
providing adequate support for community ownership and empowerment. Different
approaches and models of health promotion was highlighted, which will primarily focus on
the resolving the health concern and identifying the strategies that will help the community
members to educate themselves regarding the health issue. The five major health promotion
approaches was exhibited in this essay.

10COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
References
Baum, F. (2016). The new public health (No. Ed. 4). Oxford University Press.
Bourgeois, R., Penunia, E., Bisht, S., & Boruk, D. (2017). Foresight for all: Co-elaborative
scenario building and empowerment. Technological Forecasting and Social Change,
124, 178-188.
Bryar, R. (2016). The community dimension. Health Visiting: Preparation for Practice. 4th
edn. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.
DeFronzo, R. A., Ferrannini, E., Groop, L., Henry, R. R., Herman, W. H., Holst, J. J., ... &
Simonson, D. C. (2015). Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nature reviews Disease primers, 1,
15019.
Donaldson, S. I. (2017). Empowerment evaluation: An approach that has literally altered the
landscape of evaluation. Evaluation and program planning, 63, 136-137.
Eldredge, L. K. B., Markham, C. M., Ruiter, R. A., Fernández, M. E., Kok, G., & Parcel, G.
S. (2016). Planning health promotion programs: an intervention mapping approach.
John Wiley & Sons.
Gram, L., Daruwalla, N., & Osrin, D. (2019). Understanding participation dilemmas in
community mobilisation: can collective action theory help?. J Epidemiol Community
Health, 73(1), 90-96.
Hempler, N. F., Levisen, V. H., Pals, R. S., Krogh, N. R., & Laursen, R. H. (2018). A
Collaborative Approach to Health Promotion Targeting People with Mental Illness at
Risk of Diabetes—A Process Evaluation.
Herens, M., & Wagemakers, A. (2017). Assessing participants’ perceptions on group-based
principles for action in community-based health enhancing physical activity
programmes: the APEF tool. Evaluation and program planning, 65, 54-68.

11COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
Mandarano, L. (2015). Civic engagement capacity building: An assessment of the citizen
planning academy model of public outreach and education. Journal of Planning
Education and Research, 35(2), 174-187.
McCormack, L., Thomas, V., Lewis, M. A., & Rudd, R. (2017). Improving low health
literacy and patient engagement: a social ecological approach. Patient education and
counseling, 100(1), 8-13.
Millar, P., & Doherty, A. (2016). Capacity building in nonprofit sport organizations:
Development of a process model. Sport management review, 19(4), 365-377.
Noor, A. L. M. (2017). Understanding Different Forms of Community Development: A
Review of Literature. EUROPEAN CENTER FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION AND
RESEARCH, 103.
Robertson, J. (2016). Coaching leadership: Building educational leadership capacity
through partnership. New Zealand Council for Educational Research. PO Box 3237,
Wellington 6140 New Zealand.
Robertson, J. (2016). Coaching leadership: Building educational leadership capacity
through partnership. New Zealand Council for Educational Research. PO Box 3237,
Wellington 6140 New Zealand.
Rubin, C. L., Martinez, L. S., Tse, L., Brugge, D., Hacker, K., Pirie, A., & Leslie, L. K.
(2016). Creating a culture of empowerment in research: Findings from a capacity-
building training program. Progress in community health partnerships: research,
education, and action, 10(3), 479.
Sallis, J. F., Owen, N., & Fisher, E. (2015). Ecological models of health behavior. Health
behavior: Theory, research, and practice, 5, 43-64.
South, J. (2015). A guide to community-centred approaches for health and wellbeing.

12COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION
Steiner, A. (2016). Assessing the effectiveness of a capacity building intervention in
empowering hard-to-reach communities. Journal of Community Practice, 24(3), 235-
263.
Tangvarasittichai, S. (2015). Oxidative stress, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and type 2
diabetes mellitus. World journal of diabetes, 6(3), 456.
Tengland, P. A. (2016). Behavior change or empowerment: On the ethics of health-promotion
goals. Health Care Analysis, 24(1), 24-46.
Varsha, P. S., Reddy, G., Sudheendra Rao, L. N., & Kumar, A. (2019). Impact of self-help
groups, capacity building measures and perceived tension on women empowerment-
an empirical study. Asian Journal of Empirical Research, 9(3), 65-87.
Verlinghieri, E. (2019). Participating in health: The healthy outcomes of citizen participation
in urban and transport planning. In Integrating Human Health into Urban and
Transport Planning (pp. 535-562). Springer, Cham.