Health Promotion Report: Socio-Economic Factors and Campaign

This report examines health promotion, focusing on socio-economic influences on health, barriers to healthcare access, and the role of government initiatives. It analyzes various health promotion models, including the UK's tobacco plan, and discusses factors influencing health promotion, such as health behavior theories. The report also highlights the roles of healthcare professionals in meeting government targets and promoting healthy lifestyles. It emphasizes the impact of low income, lack of education, and environmental factors on health outcomes. Furthermore, it details the significance of government reporting, the importance of routine healthcare, and the development of health promotion campaigns. The report concludes with a plan to address specific health objectives through strategic interventions and highlights the importance of professionals and communities in ensuring good health.

HEALTH PROMOTION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1 SOCIO-ECONOMIC INFLUENCES ON HEALTH.......................................................3
TASK 2 MODELS OF HEALTH PROMOTION...........................................................................5
TASK 3 FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE HEALTH PROMOTION.........................................8
TASK 4 PLAN A HEALTH PROMOTION CAMPAIGN...........................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
The below report has been carried out to gain understanding on issues and aspects
preventing health support access to the local community. The study will cover the socio
economic influences on health, the barriers to accessing basic healthcare and relevancy of
government sources in healthcare reporting. It also analyses the models of health care promotion
in linkage with government strategies. It also explains the role of professionals in meeting
government targets and role of routine healthy life for good living. The third part of the report
covers the factors influencing health promotion which includes theories of health behavior and
significance of health related information to the general public. The last part of the report will
plan a health promotion campaign to meet specific objectives and support health promotion
strategies.
TASK 1 SOCIO-ECONOMIC INFLUENCES ON HEALTH
The socio economic factors that are responsible for inequality in health and create
differences in health status are identified as below -
A major percentage of population it still living on low income. It becomes very difficult
for them to manage their daily care needs. The low income has a direct impact on accessibility to
nutritious food and healthy living. People with high income potential have access to health food
along with health and medical insurances to cover the cost of medical expenses (Pender,
Murdaugh, & Parsons, 2002).
Illiteracy and lack of knowledge also have a direct bearing on health status. Uneducated
people do not have understanding on the consequences of unhealthy food and need to maintain a
routine healthcare life. Many people either do not have access to the basis education or due to
social factors imposed on girl child they are deprived of necessary education regarding health
benefits.
The social support group and connection with the culture also impacts the behavior of
people about disadvantaged surroundings and circumstances. Many communities still wants to
stick to their traditional beliefs and thoughts and have a different opinion for the health issues.
The cleanliness in the nearby environment and housing facility also impact the quality of
health of the people living in the area (Bandura, 2004). The factory and industrial waste dumped
by the owners polluted the nearby environment and affects the health of the residents.
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In context with the early childhood development the access to nutritional food is essential
in the growth years of human beings. Lack of food and nutrition in growth years impacts the
growth and in terms of fighting ability of the body.
There are many areas in the world which still does no have access to basic health care
facilities. Either the medical professionals are not available to the areas are too remote that
facilities do not reach in time (McKenzie, Neiger, & Thackera, 2009).
It is also equally important tot have regular and nutritional food supply for every human
being to maintain healthy living. Many children are deprived of sufficient notional in early
childhood that results in inability of their immune system to fight with diseases.
The national governments around the world are active in identifying the health
inequalities among the citizens of the nation. People in any part of the world want a healthy life.
The national governments are also concerned with the health and medical needs of the nation.
National governments introduced many initiatives to reduce the disparities of inequality of
health. Every year the national government evaluates the data and measures the outcomes of the
initiatives taken at national and local level. The data is representing the result of various
initiatives by the government and society to create a healthy living. The national governments
form policies and directives which are then independently implements by the regional
government at the local level. The national government allocates funds as per the need and
requirements of health and medical facilities of the region (Glasgow, Lichtenstein, & Marcus,
2003). The local and regional officials are responsible for the effective and efficient
implementation of initiatives.
It is not doubt that initiatives taken by the government have proved effective in the last
many decades. It is because the governments' source which reports about the inequality of health
status in society has generated the need for initiatives and actions to promote equality in health.
The national governments are concerned for the health of their citizens because unhealthy people
are incompetent for the growth of the economy (Glanz, Rimer, & Viswanath, 2008).
The government efforts in providing basic medical facilities to remote areas have reduced
the death rate. The initiatives for free medical facilities for poor people have increased the access
to all class of people. Also, the initiatives to educate people for health living, food and
cleanliness of the environment have reduced the spread of contagious diseases which have
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caused thousands of lives in the past. Thus it can be said that government play very crucial role
in addressing issues related to health inequalities in UK.
There are many barriers to the health care access which causes the increasing diseases
and disparities among the people in different parts of the world. The differences in healthcare
access to healthcare in the population cause disparities in health status. The differences arise for
several reasons and some of them are described as below -
Several groups of the society categorized on the basis of race and ethnicity do not have
adequate health insurance to cover the cost. These groups delay the basic healthcare needs and
more prone to diseases (Baranowski, Perry, & Parcel, 2002).
Unavailability of finance is also a significant barrier that reduced the access to minority
groups. Minority groups may have services available but are limited by the providers.
Women still have larger proportion of unmet healthcare needs as compared to men (Noar,
Benac, & Harris, 2007). Women's are often deprived of getting necessary medical facilities for
the minor health problems.
In many remote areas and small cities, people do not rely on healthcare facilities and care
provided by the local sources. The irregularity of healthcare sources affects the availability of
treatments. The remote areas are also affected by lack of necessary and basic facilities.
Low income group often faces legal problems in obtaining the insurance service to cover
their healthcare needs. There are many formalities needed to be fulfilled to access private
insurance. The insurance providers due to monopoly or high cost of the health care requirements
do not offer easy access to the services to low income groups because if the patient or the
immediate family fails to pay the cost, the services provider have to bear it anyway.
Lack of transport to remote areas and unavailability of healthcare professionals cause
long waiting lines for people in need of care. These factors affect the individuals' access to
appointments and treatment needs (Bellg, and et. al., 2004).
Older people have less financial sources and are dependent which is the main reason that
they cannot afford their healthcare needs which is most required in their age group.
TASK 2 MODELS OF HEALTH PROMOTION
The national government in UK develops health promotion strategies in alignment with
the different models of healthcare to ensure that the health objectives reach to maximum people.
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The UK government has introduced several plans to date in order to prevent people from
smoking. The government also conducts market research to identify the issues related to smoking
and take measure accordingly. The tobacco plan for England is a government initiative that
hopes to reduce the prevalence of smoking in UK. The plan targets adults with emphasis on
younger generation and pregnant women. The government has set up a target to reduce smoking
by 18% by 2015 which results in approximate 200000 less smokers per year (Chaudhry, and et.
al., 2006).
In the past also, the government initiative to decrease smoking have proven beneficial to
the society which also see its affects in less diseases due to smoking. The government focus on
educating the smokers about the severe diseases caused due to smoking have reduce the
prevalence rates to 21% in 2009 which was 45% in 1974. The government has also initiated ban
on displaying the cigarettes from the shops which may have little affects but have it is helps in
reducing the number of smokers (Eysenbach, & Köhler, 2002).
The Local stop smoking services have also proven to be effective way in reducing the
tobacco users. The initiative started at the local level and appears to be challenging initially. But
its targeted strategies such as providing one to one support, delivering expert opinion to small
groups have quantified in reducing the smokers counts positively.
The UK government develop strategies that are linked with the health promotion models
and ensures that health strategies and effectiveness is covers as many people in the nation. for
any new policy and programme, the government at the national level ensure that local bodies
carried out the same with proper efficiency. The government strategies are based on the change
models of the community which aims to asses the readiness of the community to change and
accept the new health promotion activities.
The national government also ensure that it provides learning practices and
communicates the benefits of the new policies and be informed with the behavioral intervention
of the community to help them make health choices in their routine.
The health professional play an important role in educating users and non users of
tobacco to understand its side effects on their personal health as well as people in their
surrounding. The healthcare professions educate users on many aspects such as cost, pro long
diseases and affects of family and friends form their smoking. Professional identifies major
factors that cause people to start smoking. These factors help to decide on solutions best
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applicable for them. The various played by professional to meet the government targets and
promote healthy living are -
Healthcare professionals provide understanding and education to people about the bad
effects of use of tobacco. They helps them understand with examples about the long term effects
of the continue use of tobacco on their health (Eysenbach, Powell, Kuss, & Sa, 2002).
Professional also raises awareness between non users to prevent them from starting the use of
tobacco and similar things. It is for the purpose that if non users are understood, they will not sue
and also prevent other from using it. Professional also form small groups of people who have
used and face the consequences. These people from their own experiences can help people to
stop using any such substance. The health care professionals performs an important role in
educating the society and people on a wider level to help them understand about the
consequences of ill health and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The professional are not only
meant to provide services at the occurrence of the health issues or any disease, instead they are
aimed to guide the community to maintain a healthy life and avoid any health issues. the health
care professionals through seminars and presentation at the local levels and even in remote areas
educate the people in their common and understandable languages about the health and issues in
the locality and methods to avoid it.
Professional develops communities to promote good health such as creating
neighborhoods, cultural communities and interest groups (Cline, & Haynes, 2001). The
healthcare professionals also develop emotional, personal and social skills among the population
to maximize their health and enable them to build health promotion in their surroundings. They
also develop partnerships with key people, organizations who through their initiatives and
finances influence public health and promote good health opportunities.
Living a healthy life starts from taking care of daily routine and ensuring that every act of
food and diet confirm healthy input. Health cannot be maintained or destroyed in a single day. it
takes days effort to maintain good health. This can only be achieved when people start taking
care of their routine life. It is not necessary that everyone spend their whole day in gym and
equipped with fitness accessories to keep good health. People can follow small things and keep
their in good condition all through the life. Daily routines are maintained and enhanced through
focusing on four areas -
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Daily morning exercise and walk acts as health boosters and also prevents from
addictions. It reduces the stress and increased stamina in the body. It improves physical
appearances and improved work performance. People can also do small daily exercise at their
home and maintain healthy living (Naidoo, and Wills, 2000). It is not necessary that exercises
can only be performed at the gym and fitness centers. People can also learn small exercises to be
practiced at home on daily basis and maintain good health. there are different forms of exercises
developed these days such as yoga and mediation which does not require mush physical
movement of the body but still keeps it healthy.
Good food at regular intervals of hours is a much better option than eating in lot in one to
two times in a day. In today busy life, people do not have time to eat and specially health food.
But it is equally important to have health meals in short intervals to fulfill the need of the body
and keep it working all through the day. People must understand that their body requires equal
portion of nutrition and regular supply of healthy food. in today's busy life, people intake
unhealthy food at odd intervals of the day. the different times of the day requires different
proportions and type of food such in the morning the body needs health an light food while at the
lunch time, they can eat good amount of food. In the night again, the body requires light food
because usually people go to sleep after they competed their dinner.
It is not necessary to need to spiritual person to practice spirituality. People can develop
this habit from their belief in a higher power. The daily practice prevents people from indulging
in small issues. It rather opens up the mind, reduce stress and keep focus on bigger picture of
life. Spiritual people are considered more balanced towards their view on everything
(Raingruber, 2014).
The benefits of rest and relaxing in between the work hours are also important. The mind
and body in relaxing hours are more powerful and may solve issues that are unable in when
people are awake.
TASK 3 FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE HEALTH PROMOTION
The theories have been developed to predict, explain and change the health behavior of
people are decided into two main categories -
The first if the Social cognition models which specifies similar set of beliefs and attitudes
as an important determinant of health behavior. This model is sub divided into five models -
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Health belief model
It explains the reasons people are not using health services of immunization and
screening. The model has four constructs - Perceived susceptibility, Perceived severity,
Perceived benefits, Perceived barriers, protection motivation theory (Sharma, Atri, and
Branscum, 2011). The theory explains the health related behavior of individuals. It is useful in
predicting the attitude and beliefs of people through observation. In order to promote healthy
behavior among people by encouraging them to adopt healthy choices. For example in order to
quit smoking and alcohol misuse individuals ca be made aware of negative consequences of such
fatal habits.
The approach of Self-efficacy theory state two constructs - one that behavior is perceived
as self efficacy and second outcome expectancies
The Theory of reasoned action is based on the assumption that social behavior of an
individual is under volitional control. It has been observed that stronger intentions lead to
increased efforts to perform a desired health related behavior which in turn elevates the
likelihood of the behavior to be performed. For instance: individuals who addicted to smoking
intend to quit smoking in order to have good health will most likely make efforts for cigarette
cessation.
The Theory of planned behavior refers to the behavior of the individual based on the
assumption of positive consequences from the personal behavior. For example : in order to
encourage breast feeding among mothers the health promotion program may focus on explaining
the long term benefits of the practice on the health and well being of newly born infants to
mothers.
The second is the stage model which is based on the approach that behavior change
involves several stages and sequence of activities. The transtheoretical model is the dominant
model in this group. The model explain that there are different stages of the health behavior
arises due to different condition of health issues (Tones, and Tilford, 2001). This model
In the present context, organizations in health industry are focused on profit earning
opportunities instead of the primary objective of promotion of health. Whether it is medial
services or health services, brands are more concerned in increasing revenue generation. On the
other side the growing population is facing the consequences of health issues and there are new
disease spreading in many parts of the world. On the other hand, national government are trying
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to provide as many services and facilities to their citizens to reduce the disease and their effects.
But it is obvious that when objectives of government and companies are different, conflicts are
likely to arise (Goodson, 2010). There is no doubt that organizations are conducting in depth
research and development activities to find cure for the diseases and their efforts have proved
successful in the past years. But it is also true that companies are costing too much on per unit
basis to cover their expenses. The services and facilities are available for people to take the
benefits but the costs of such services are beyond the ability of an average income group. This
conflict between the local industry and health promotion is creating a gap between the
effectiveness of government strategies.
It is important that people in every nation must be aware of the relevant health
information in regards with medical and health policies, availability of healthcare facilities,
government provisions, etc so that they are aware and informed about the necessary information.
Information plays an important role in prevention of diseases both at individual and
societal level through public health information (Bellg, and et. al., 2004). Good and useful
information will increase knowledge and understanding of the public for the disease, its
consequences and options to cure. Healthcare information aware the residents about the
possibility of occurrence of any disease in their locality and take measure to deal with them. the
information covers the medical and health aspects of various situations.
Health information creates awareness for the healthcare facilities and services available
for the public. It is no doubt that when people do not have information, they cannot be expected
to sue the services. So information helps the public to know specific services for their needs. The
information aims to share the experience of people on wider level so that other people learn and
avoid such mistakes. For example, the ill effects of smoking and tobacco are explained with live
examples of people suffering with the disease caused to them with the regular intake. The
national and local agencies explain other people in the society. Similarly the ill effects of
unhealthy living are also explained and provided them measures to fight with them.
Health information provided at the societal level results in overall development at a wider
level. It also enhances the quality of care and safety of individuals as it will make them more
aware about the alternative methods and services available (Chaudhry, and et. al., 2006). It helps
remove the misconceptions and myths associated with cultural background of the people. The
information does not help people but also the governments of different nations to identify the
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health issues and prevent there spread in their countries. The government also on collaborative
basis health and share such information to prevent the disease prevention and ill effects on large
level.
Health information encourages people to take more responsibility for their families and
own health. Relevant information coordinates the efforts of public officials and communities to
improve the health of the community. The purpose of health information is not to create a fear
and threat of any disease, instead the purpose it motivate people to live and adopt a healthy
lifestyle to avoid any health issues at nay stage of life.
The health promotion campaign play very important role in supporting health
promotional strategies that are meant to promote the well being of individuals ad communities in
UK. For example a health promotion campaign to combat obesity among young people is
designed then it not only helps in improving the health of individuals but also play vital role in
anchoring various health promotion strategies. The strategies are formulated to meet the long
term health related objectives in UK. For example in order to reduce the number of deaths
related to lifestyle diseases UK government has formulated certain strategy. The campaign that
aims to control obesity in young adults can be a great support to execute strategy.
TASK 4 PLAN A HEALTH PROMOTION CAMPAIGN
A health promotion campaign has been planned to deal with the growing issues of
overweight and obesity. The campaign undertakes two main approaches. First, to help people
know whether they are moving in direction of increased weight and secondly, advising them to
reduce their weight. For the wide spread of the campaign, a website and mobile app has also
been developed to reach maximum number of people. The website and app helps people to
access information and tips to measure the weight and reduce it (Eysenbach, Powell, Kuss,
2002). People in other parts of the world can also get access to the website and applications and
learn the current issues and how to deal with those.
The campaign is planned because obesity is now a growing concern for the public health
agencies as this one issues has many other diseases attached with it. The proportion of the people
in this are is increasing and the most important thing is that people are still to aware that they fall
into the category.
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The objective of the campaign is to promote health and wellbeing while reducing the
inequalities of health. Overweight and obesity are major reasons and increased the risk of cancer,
heart disease and diabetes. The aim is to inform people if they have an increased weight to be
aware of the consequences and take measures to address it before it's too late and give rise to
many other diseases. The campaign highlights small steps in routine life to maintain healthy
living through lifestyle changes and food habits.
The mobile application will help people to set personal targets and get motivated through
images and experiences of other people. The campaign wants to build an active community
which first set examples of their health living and then teach others to do the same (Cline, &
Haynes, 2001).
The campaigns for obesity help spread the word around healthy food and living. The
campaign will gain attention of people who are already in the phase and who are experiencing
the symptoms of the problems. For those who are facing the symptoms can face preventative
actions and control their weight to further increase.
Secondly it aware people about the promotion of health food. Junk and unhealthy foods
are the main cause of obesity in these days. When people do not have time they usually move to
junk which is available at every corner of the street (Naidoo, and Wills, 2000). Hence people will
understand that first attempt to control and reduce obesity is to start healthy foods and
ingredients.
As the campaign aims to reach at wide spread level, it keeps a check on childhood
obesity. It is no doubt that children are more prone to obesity than adults. Childhood obesity is
best to control at earlier stages before it results into severe diseases.
CONCLUSION
The above study aims to develop reader's understanding on healthy food and healthy
living. It gives insights about the issues and factors that still are preventing the access to basic
health care services. however due to support and initiatives from the government at the national
and local level have improved the access and quality of care to minority sections and lower
income groups but still there exits widespread disparities in the health status. Various theories of
health behavior are also explained to gain understanding on perceptions of people for healthy
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