Diabetes Prevention: Health Promotion Program for Indigenous Groups

This report outlines a health promotion program designed to address the disproportionately high rates of diabetes within indigenous communities. It begins with a needs assessment, highlighting the increased prevalence of diabetes, associated complications, and contributing factors such as ethnicity, obesity, socioeconomic status, and limited access to healthcare. The report then proposes a health promotion program based on the Health Belief Model, encompassing both short-term and long-term goals. The short-term goal focuses on health education sessions to improve health literacy and awareness of diabetes prevention and management, utilizing the teach-back method and visual aids to ensure understanding. The long-term goal aims to address the social determinants of health that contribute to diabetes development, advocating for policy changes and community strengthening initiatives. The report details the strategies for implementing these goals, including health education sessions, community engagement, and advocacy for governmental support to create effective and culturally sensitive interventions. The program emphasizes lifestyle modifications and addresses barriers to healthcare access, aiming to improve health outcomes and quality of life for indigenous populations.

Running head: HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM
HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM
Name of the program:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM
Introduction:
Health promotion and disorder prevention can be explained as the programs that are
developed with the main focus of keeping people healthy. These programs mainly aim in
effective engagement as well as empowering of the individuals as well as the communities
for choosing appropriate healthy behaviours. The health promotion programs accordingly
make changes that help in the reduction of the risks of development of chronic disorders as
well as other morbidities (Thomas et al., 2016). The World Health Organisation had defined
health promotion as the main procedures that enable people in increasing their control over
health and thereby improve their health. Researchers are of the opinion that the focus of these
programs should move beyond a particular individual behaviours towards a wider range of
social and even environmental factors. Over the past decade, the statistical analysis had
showed that the indigenous communities are showing higher number diabetic patients in
comparison to that of the non-indigenous communities (Diouf et al., 2016). They are seen to
suffer more not only physically but also economically and emotionally because of the
consequences of the disorders. Therefore, it is important to shed more light on the issue and
come up with strategies that help the indigenous community to overcome the barriers of
diabetes and love healthy quality lives
Needs assessment:
Brief overview:
Diabetes can be defined as the disorder that is marked by increased glucose level on
the blood. This is mainly caused by the inability of the body to produce or use insulin
effectively. It is one the complex chronic disorders which are leading to huge number of
morbidity, disability as well as reduced quality of life and even premature death among the
indigenous communities. Of the disorder is found to be poorly managed as well as

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undiagnosed, it can result in huge number of complications. The different types of
complications are seen to include disorders of the large blood vessels called the macro-
vascular disorders. This is seen to include disorders like stroke as well. Other small blood
vessels disorders or micro-vascular disorders like that of the kidney disorders as well as eye
diseases and nerve disorders (Hawley et al., 2015). Therefore, it becomes important for the
indigenous communities to be made aware of the negative health complications associated
with the disorder of diabetes and how they might lead to poor quality life. Hence, health
promotion initiatives are important to be undertaken.
Statistical analysis of needs assessment:
Researchers are of the opinion that the greatest burden of the disorder tends to be
present among the socially disadvantaged groups and the indigenous communities. The latter
are seen to experience disproportionately high levels of diabetes. The indigenous
communities are found to be thrice more likely to have diabetes in comparison to that of the
indigenous communities (Gibson & Regal, 2015). The mortality rate is is also found to be
higher in the indigenous communities. Aboriginal and Torres Islander people are also seen to
be six times more likely to die from the diabetes than the non- indigenous people.
In the year 2012-2013, studies have found that age-standardised hospitalisation rates
for the different types of complications arising for diabetes were about six times higher in
the indigenous communities than those of the non indigenous communities. It has been found
that the rate of hospitalisation due to renal complications arising from diabetes was found to
be about 10 times higher among the indigenous communities in comparison to that of the
non- indigenous communities (Narres et al., 2016). Data also shows that in the year 2013, the
indigenous people suffering from diabetes, chronic kidney disorder and cardiovascular
disorders had seven times more hospitalisation rates in comparison to the non- indigenous

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communities. Therefore, it can be easily understood that the indigenous communities are
highly vulnerable to develop diabetes that remain associated with poor quality life and
suffering in different aspects. Hence, it is extremely important for the healthcare
professionals to develop health promotion programs by which the problem can be mitigated
successfully.
Factors leading to diabetes:
Ethnicity plays one of the big roles in making the indigenous communities more
prone to develop diabetes. However, this is non-modifiable risk factor. Many modifiable risk
factors are also present which when controlled efficiently can prevent the occurrence of
diabetes among the indigenous communities. It has been seen that obesity is intricately
associated with the development of diabetes and the rate of obese people are quite high
among the indigenous communities. Presence of high fat content in cells affects the ability of
the cells to respond to insulin and becomes insulin resistant. This makes obese individuals
suffer from obesity. Poor quality calorie dense food which is devoid of nutrients can be only
afforded by the indigenous communities as they are cheaper. They belong to
socioeconomically lower classes and hence they cannot arrange for nutrient dense organic
foods (Chamberlain et al., 2014).
They are also seen to have low levels of education. Most of the people in the
indigenous communities are not seen to complete their education or have completed the
secondary sessions not completing their higher education. Hence, they have poor knowledge
on healthy living strategies. So they have poor food habits and they are not aware of low
levels of physical activities that they take. They are poor in health literacy and all of these
make them probe to practice lifestyle factors that make them develop diabetes.

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They are also seen to have lower levels of employment which makes them financially
insecure. Their low levels of education are one of the important contributors of poor
employment status. However, studies have also found that racial discrimination and stigma
are also the reasons that prevent them to seek for services from the non indigenous
organisations. Therefore, they spend more time without any specific activities that makes
them bored and frustrated (Fertman, 2016). This contributes to higher levels of alcohol
drinking. Researchers have associated drinking alcohol with that of development of diabetes.
Therefore, indigenous communities are more prone to develop diabetes.
Inability to access to high quality healthcare for both prevention regimens and
treatments of the diabetes are usually avoided by the indigenous communities. They tend to
receive culturally incompetent services as well as discrimination and racism from the
western healthcare systems. This has often acted as a barrier for the indigenous communities
to seek for support and help regarding this chronic disorder. Moreover, sometimes,
remoteness of the indigenous communities from western healthcare centre also becomes one
of the contributing factors (Sallis et al., 2015).
Hence, after the needs assessment, it can be seen that it becomes important for the
healthcare professionals to develop health promotion programs by which the issues can be
handled effectively and indigenous communities are made free from development of the
disorder and affecting quality lives.
Health promotion that need to be followed:
The best model for the development of a health promotion program that would bring
out beneficial outcome is the Health Belief Model. This model would be excessively useful
for developing both short term as well as long term interventions that would align with the

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goals of health promotion program. The health promotion program for preventing diabetes
among the indigenous communities would comprise mainly of five important steps:
 Gathering of valuable information by conducting of the health need assessments of
the indigenous communities as well as other efforts that would help in determination
about who is at risk and the population who is to be targeted. This program would be
targeted to mainly adults of the indigenous communities (Rowsell et al., 2015).
 The second step would mainly include conveying the different consequences of the
health issues that are associated with different risk behaviours. This should be done in
a clear as well as unambiguous fashion for helping to understand the perceived
severity.
 The third step would mainly involve in communicating the target population about the
steps that are involved in taking the recommended actions. The benefits of the actions
would also be highlighted.
 The professionals should also be providing assistance in effective identification as
well as effective reduction of the barriers to the actions
 The professionals should also demonstrate actions through the skill development
activities; they also need to provide support which helps in enhancing self-efficacy as
well as likelihood of the successful behavioural changes (Trinh et al., 2015).

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Development of goals for the health promotion project:
Development of short term goal: development of knowledge and awareness by providing
health education sessions to the indigenous communities regarding diabetes prevention
and management
Specific measurable achievable relevant time
The health
education sessions
would be aimed at
developing health
literacy and
knowledge about
diabetes
prevention and
care
Teach back
method would be
applied for
ensuring the
success of health
education
sessions.
Moreover,
surveys also
would be
conducted to
estimate the
satisfaction of the
indigenous
communities after
attending the
sessions
This goal can be
achieved by
encouraging the
indigenous
communities to
attend the
sessions after
making them
aware of the
negative
consequences that
the disorder can
result. This will
make them feel
the urgency to
attend the
program to
develop their
awareness and
live better quality
lives
The indigenous
communities
Have adopted
poor lifestyles due
to their lack of
knowledge of the
consequences that
their improper
lifestyles are
resulting
(Pirbaglou et al.,
2018). Therefore,
if they are made
aware of the
lifestyle factors
that need to be
changed, they can
prevent the
disorders
successfully and
hence this
This would be
completed within
2 to 3 months

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HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM
approach is
effective
Development of long term goal: the indigenous communities need to be developed in ways
by which the social determinants of health leading to diabetes development among the
indigenous communities can be reduced to considerable limit.
specific measurable achievable relevant timeframe
Development and
strengthening of
the indigenous
communities so
that the social
determinants of
health that
contribute to
diabetes
development can
be managed
Effective social
analysis and
social surveys
would be
conducted and the
data would be
analysed; this
would help to
understand that
the co-relating
social determents
which were the
indirect cause of
diabetes
development
could be managed
or not.
The goal can be
achieved if
efficient
healthcare
professionals
undertake
successful
planning and
strategies and
accordingly
advocate about
the issues to the
government; this
would help in
ensuring the
meeting of the
needs of the
indigenous
communities
Low health
literacy, poor
education, poor
employment
structures, high
drinking of
alcohol, poor
financial security
and others are
leading to
diabetes in
indigenous
communities;
therefore
controlling and
managing these
determinists
would help in
development of
This would take 8
to 12 months for
completion

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HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM
their health
(Northridge et al.,
2016)
Strategies that need to be implemented:
Implementation of goal 1: health education session
 Development of health education session in the community halls would be developed
under the governance of effective health educators and trainers; the individuals would
be discussed about the disorder and pathophysiology in non-professional language so
that they can understand easily; they would be then told about the negative
consequences and complications that might result from undiagnosed or poorly
controlled diabetes (Eldredge et al., 2016). Accordingly, they would be discussed
about the management of the lifestyle factors that would reduce the chances of the
disorder. Teach back method would be ensured to understand the success of the
understanding of the indigenous communities about the disorder (Sorensen et al.,
2015).
 Development of pamphlets and brochures along with posters that would be handed to
all the members of the indigenous communities. The resources would be mostly
diagrammatic and picturesque with colourful and low levels of written information.
As their education level is low, the diagrammatic representation would be able to
attract their attention and help them to easily understand the information (Powell et
al., 2018).

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Implementation of goal 2: community strengthening
 Advocate to the government and associated departments for development of effective
policies that would help in effective management of the diabetes among the
indigenous communities. This should be prepared by stalwart healthcare
professionals, researchers and policy makers so that the policy covers each important
aspect of prevention and treatment of diabetes among indigenous communities
(Dickerson et al., 2018).
 Development of culturally competent healthcare services that would align with the
cultural expectations of the indigenous communities. This would involve development
of indigenous healthcare centres where healthcare professionals from ingenuous
background would be working with western healthcare professionals. This would help
in giving more culturally competent care and education sessions that would make
indigenous communities more accessible to healthcare mediums. This would be free
from racism and discrimination. This would help indigenous communities to visit the
centres when they have developed diabetes and would help them to ensure follow up
and proper treatment of their diabetes (Moungngern et al., 2018)
 Advocate the issue to food departments of the government. They should be told about
how calorie dense tale-away foods are affecting the health and their low cost are
making them a harmful option for their diet. They should be requested to lower the
price of nutrient rich organic foods and make programs for easily distribution of
organic foods among indigenous communities and prevent the sale of cheap calorie
dense takeaway foods. This would prevent obesity and chances of occurrence of
diabetes would also reduce (Poudel et al., 2017).
 Effective development of schools, colleges and employment sessions in the
indigenous communities. This would help them to get educated and develop good

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awareness and knowledge about proper healthcare habits and diets that can prevent
diabetes (Basak, Cinar & Schou, 2014). Employment centres would help in
development of financial security which can help them to lead better quality lives by
affording good food products and accessing healthcare and affording medications
required for treatment. This would also reduce chances of alcohol drinking which will
indirectly reduce chances of diabetes
Funding:
 In order to develop and conduct the healthcare sessions, a total of about 1000$ would
be required in each month
 Community strengthening is mainly based on advocacy. However, to develop the
reports for advocacy, research analysis is required and for this 1500$ would be
required
 Manpower and other inanimate resources would be requited and for this 1000$ would
be required for each month
Evaluation of the project:
After the implementation of the project, an evaluation team needs to be developed. The team
would be conducting a survey in the indigenous communities to understand their response
and feelings about the project that had been implemented. This survey would help to know
whether the people had understood the contents of the health education sessions and are
applying in their daily lives or not. The survey would be also containing questions to them
regarding the new initiatives that had been made in the communities like new employment
centres, new schools and colleges as well as healthcare centres that align with the culture and
tradition of indigenous communities. The replies of the indigenous communities would be
analysed and accordingly the success of the health promotion plan can be analysed (Macridis

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et al., 2016). Mainly impact evaluation would be done on an immediate basis about the
health literacy skills and outcome evaluation of the community strengthening would be done
after few months. Depending on results, further changes would be done