A Report on Addressing Health Inequalities: Public Health Strategies

This report addresses health inequalities, focusing on public health issues like HIV/AIDS in the United Kingdom. It examines the determinants of these issues, including income, education, and environmental factors, and explores various public health interventions such as evidence-based practices, screening, and vaccination. The report also highlights the roles and challenges of healthcare professionals in preventing and controlling infections, comparing the responsibilities of nurses, dieticians, and physician assistants. Furthermore, it discusses the role of statutory bodies in developing health protection strategies and utilizes the Gibbs reflective model to analyze personal experiences and feelings related to diagnosing and caring for individuals with HIV/AIDS. The report concludes with an action plan based on the reflections.

ADDRESSING HEALTH
INEQUALITIES

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Determinants of public health issues and their prevalence.........................................................1
Different public health interventions and national strategies......................................................2
Role and challenges of healthcare professional in preventing and controlling infection............4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
Description..................................................................................................................................5
Feelings.......................................................................................................................................6
Evaluation...................................................................................................................................6
Analysis.......................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................7
Action Plan..................................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
1

INTRODUCTION
Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their
communities. There are various public health issues which are faced by the world today like
HIV/AIDS, diabetes and many more (Lewis, 2015). Following essay will highlight the current
public health issues like HIV/AIDS in United Kingdom. It focuses on different type of
interventions used for resolving health issues. Essay will also explain the role of statutory bodies
in developing health protection strategies.
TASK 1
Determinants of public health issues and their prevalence
Current public health issues in United Kingdom
Public health is basically the art of preventing disease in order to promote human health
through organised efforts and informed choices of society, public- private organisations and
various communities. United Kingdom is surrounded with various public health issues that
includes HIV, AIDS. (Abuse and Administration, 2016.). This disorder have laid a huge impact
on the health and working of an individual living in local areas. It has reduced the physical
efficiency of local public. There are many factors that leads to facing of such diseases in an
individual. HIV/AIDS is one of the major public health issue faced in the local region of United
Kingdom.
It has been analysed that 60% of death in local region of nation is because of -
communicable diseases that includes HIV/AIDS. It can be transmitted because of sexual
interaction or eating food of any infected person. (Gostin and Wiley, 2016). These diseases
severely affect patients body. It reduces their efficiency to work and perform making them ill and
unhealthy. Substance abuse is also one of the reason for public health issues. Teenagers and
young adults are heavily surrounded by it. This is because, they are engaged in sexual interaction
without any protection.
Analysis of population data used to highlight health determinants contributing to current
public health issues

There are various health determinants that contributes to public health issues in United
Kingdom. It has been analysed that 60% of population living in local region are affected by
social and behavioural factors. Main factors that contributes to public health issues are:
Income and social status: Higher income of an individual in local area leads to better
health. People are suffering from various health issues such as HIV/AIDS because of lower
income and deprive of basic amenities. Also, culture, beliefs and attitude all lay impact on the
public health of people living in United Kingdom. People have no knowledge about spread of
this disease.
Education: Poor health and facing of various public health issues like HIV/AIDS are
because of lower education and knowledge about the early signs and symptoms of diseases. It
can worsen the condition of patient
Physical environment: Local people of region if deprived of safe water and clean air can
suffer from various public health issues like HIV/AIDS. Individual in order to improve their
health outcome should be provided with safe and healthy working conditions (Stanhope and
Lancaster, 2015).
Genetics: It is also one of the major health determinants causing various health issues.
Like for example If an individual have family history of HIV/AIDS than he or she can also suffer
from it.
Different public health interventions and national strategies
Different types of intervention used to address public health issues
Different types of nursing interventions are been used in local region of United Kingdom
in order address public health issues. They are basically utilised in order to improve health
outcome of patients. Various types of interventions like evidence based and community based
are used by healthcare professionals in order to enhance the health outcome of people suffering
from public health issues (Brownson and et.al., 2017). To cure diseases such as HIV/AIDS and
other evidence based practices are been used by nurses. It includes the use of multi-disciplinary
team which includes dietician, psychologist, psychiatrist, healthcare professional and nurses who
are engaged in improving the health outcome of patients.
In order to enhance the problem of public health issues like HIV healthcare professionals
are involved in determining the early signs and symptoms of diseases. They also provide
knowledge and learning to patients about the disease and what medication service users need to
2

take. These interventions support them in enhancing their health and physical outcome. It makes
service users fit and healthy.
Different types of interventions used to improve health issues on local and national level
Various types of interventions are been used by healthcare professionals in order to
reduce health inequalities and health problems like HIV/AIDS in local and national public of
United Kingdom. These interventions include the following:
Evidence based practice: It is one of the most important intervention used by nurses in
order to reduce effect of health issues on local and national level. It includes multi-disciplinary
team who are engaged in improving the health outcome of patients suffering from chronic
diseases like HIV. The team is also involved in providing healthy and safe conditions to service
users. Education related to diseases like HIV/AIDS is given to patients.
Screening: This intervention is also been practised by healthcare professionals at local
and national level. It is a set performed on any individual who met the certain criteria of any
disease or disorder. Like for example if patient is been seen with HIV symptom such as pain in
abdomen, fatigue, loss in appetite screening is been done to them.
Vaccination: It is one of the most used public health intervention. Government of United
Kingdom is engaged in providing vaccination to all the public at local and general level suffering
from HIV/AIDS. NGO's are engaged in funding of vaccination. It helps in improving the health
outcome of patients.
Strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of disease in a local community
Various strategies are been used by healthcare professionals in order to reduce the
incidence of disease in local community of United Kingdom. Healthcare professionals guide
patients or service users to involve in eating healthy diet that includes lots of fibre in order to
reduce the incidence of chronic diseases like HIV/AIDS and many more (Rosen, 2015). Nurses
used strategies like utilizing evidence based practice so that to enhance the health outcome of
people of local communities living in United Kingdom. Education related to early sign and
symptom of diseases is also been given to patients or service users. This supports them in
enhancing their health outcome. Patient suffering from HIV/AIDS are also been advised to
engage in physical activities like aerobics, yoga and exercise. This improves the health outcome
of local communities of United Kingdom.
3

Role and challenges of healthcare professional in preventing and controlling infection
Role of statutory bodies in developing health protection strategies
Department of health, strategic health authorities and local authorities are also engaged in
developing health protection strategies at local and national level in United Kingdom. These
bodies are engaged in making policies related to health issues in order to improve the health
outcome of patients suffering from various chronic diseases like HIV/AIDS and many more.
Local boards of health are also in charged with the responsibilities for clinical prevention. They
have made strategies like immunization in order to enhance health conditions of patients.
Statutory body revised public health policies and monitors the performance of healthcare
professionals. There are more than antiretroviral drugs which are approved by food and drug
department in order to treat HIV infection. It can reduce the amount of virus in the blood and
body fluids to very low level.
Comparison of the role of different healthcare professionals involved in the prevention and
control of disease.
All healthcare professionals perform different functions in order to improve the health
outcome of patients. It includes the following:
Nurses Dietician Physician assistant
These are engaged in
providing acute care to the
patients who are suffering
from diseases like HIV aids.
For curing it nurses make use
of holistic approach.
Dietician prepare diet charts
for the patients suffering from
chronic disease like
HIV/AIDS.
They try to provide osteopathic
medicine to patients suffering
from HIV/AIDS.
Nurses make use of evidence-
based knowledge to deliver
safe treatment to HIV patients
They are engaged in
motivating patients to involve
in physical activities for user
suffering from HIV. They also
provide them with diet which
is full of fibre and healthy for
service users (Frumkin, 2016).
Physician assistant provide
patients with emotional
support and provide education
related to disease like
HIV/AIDS.
4

Ways through which healthcare professional promote infection control
Healthcare professional uses various ways in order to promote infection control related to
HIV/AIDS These ways include the following:
Environment hygiene and get tested: Healthcare professional suggest local communities
of United Kingdom to keep their environment neat and clean (Infection control, 2017). It is also
important to involve multidisciplinary environmental hygiene teams in meetings regarding
adherence to infection prevention protocols. Also patient should involve in protected sexual
intercourse.
Antibiotic stewardship: In order to control infection, healthcare professionals also
provides patients with antibiotic. These medications are given to service users after analysing
their signs and symptoms related to HIV. This supports nurses in curing it.
TASK 2
Health inequalities are the just and avoidable differences in health of people across the
population and between specific communities. Present study will use Gibbs reflective model to
reflect on community facing health issue like HIV/AIDS. It has been analysed that disease has
hampered the health outcome of patient (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. and
World Health Organization, 2016). This reflective model includes 6 stages of reflection. Gibbs
reflective model has been used to reflect on the public health issues like HIV/AIDS which has
been faced by various communities in region. Model has 6 stages which includes the following;
Description
I worked as nurse practitioner to diagnose diseases like HIV/AIDS. During my tenure I
found out that a lot of communities has been suffering and going through this problem ( Parker
and Aggleton, 2013). I have analysed that individuals are suffering from this problem because of
lack of education related to disorder and also no knowledge about the early signs and symptoms
of disease. In this disease people suffer from various problems like fatigue, loss of appetite,
nausea, fever. Also, various individuals in communities because of HIV/AIDS is going through
issues like anxiety, depression and sleep deceptiveness. They also feel guilty and shameful which
makes them more weak.
5

Feelings
Various people in the communities living in United Kingdom is been suffering from
public health issue like HIV/AIDS. While providing them diagnosis and care I felt extremely
emotional. Patients were in lot of pain and extremely sad. I was really anxious while giving them
diagnosis. Also, I was engaged in providing them emotional support, so that it can make them
feel better. Service users while interacting with me was full with feeling of shame and guilt. I
was also engaged in establishing the safety culture. Also, I made them feel comfortable so that
they can overcome their feeling of fear and depression. During the tenure I have find out about
my strength and weaknesses. My weaknesses is that I am extremely emotional when I come
across the people who are in pain. This can hamper my working with patients so I need to
overcome it. Also, I have analysed about my strength that I am very effective in understanding
the needs and demands of patients who are suffering from HIV/AIDS. I was able to understand
their views, thoughts and believes.
6

Evaluation
During my tenure I evaluated that a lot of people are going through HIV/AIDS because
of lack of knowledge related to disease. One of the major cause of occurring of disease is
unprotected sexual interaction. People living in communities have no education related to
protected sex. Also, it was analysed by me that most of the patients ignore the early sign and
symptom of the disease. It was also been observed that HIV/AIDS were faced by individual who
were engaged in consuming injections of drugs. They inject drugs through infected needle
because of which people were suffering from this problem. Social factors like lack of learning
and education was the main reason for communities suffering from AIDS. I have evaluated that
providing patient learning and knowledge related to disease can help in overcoming it.
Analysis
As a nurse practitioner I have analysed that large number of individual in communities is
been suffering from HIV/AIDS because of social factors. These elements can include people are
deprived of education related to protected sex. They are not aware of the fact that HIV is a
communicable disease and can be transmitted sexually (Parker and Aggleton, 2013). In order to
overcome from this disease patient must be given firm knowledge related to early signs and
symptom of disorder. They must motivate services users to involve in physical activities. People
must be aware of the fact that coughing, sneezing and sharing food with an infected HIV person
do not cause any problem to that. This will help patient in overcoming the feeling of depression
and guilt. I have also analysed that if individuals living in communities become more aware
about the early signs and symptoms of disease, it can support them in overcoming the disease
and improve their health outcomes. Also, patient can engage in analysing the early signs and
symptoms of diseases to overcome disorder.
Conclusion
After treating the patients suffering from HIV/AIDS during my tenure I have concluded
that I could have engaged with service users more. This can help me in knowing their spiritual
needs. Also, it can act as an emotional support from my side by which I can have an idea of their
views and thoughts. For improving the health of people I may have also included multi-
disciplinary team that can support me in improving the health outcome of patients. It can also
assist them in overcoming the feeling of guilt and depression. Evidence-based practice and
interventions may also be used by me so that the service users get acute and chronic care. This

can help me in enhancing the health outcome of patient suffering from HIV/AIDS. It can support
in improving condition of service users.
8

Action Plan
If in future I am engaged in dealing patient suffering from HIV/AIDS I can involve in
making action plan and doing future improvements in my interventions.
Strength
Ability to analyse the early signs and
symptoms of disorders like HIV/AIDS
Weakness
Difficulty in handling emotions during
diagnosing patients with this chronic disorder.
Opportunity
Providing acute care to patients can also
enhance my professional growth.
Threat
Not analysing the disease properly can make
patient suffer severely.
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it has been summarised that healthcare professionals have made
use of various strategies related to infection control in order to enhance health outcome of
patients. They have also provided them with education so that service users overcome through
diseases easily and early. Healthcare professionals has also promoted environment hygiene. It
has been concluded that public health issues like HIV/AIDS has been overcome by having
proper knowledge related to the early signs and symptoms of disorders. This has helped patient
in enhancing or improving their health outcomes.
9

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Lewis, S., 2015. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five
approaches. Health promotion practice.16(4).pp.473-475.
Abuse, S. and Administration, M.H.S., 2016. 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Rosen, G., 2015. A history of public health. JHU Press.
Brownson, R.C. and et.al., 2017. Evidence-based public health. Oxford university press.
Gostin, L.O. and Wiley, L.F., 2016. Public health law: power, duty, restraint. Univ of California
Press.
Betancourt, J.R. and et.al., 2016. Defining cultural competence: a practical framework for
addressing racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care. Public health reports.
Frumkin, H., 2016. Urban sprawl and public health. Public health reports.
Stanhope, M. and Lancaster, J., 2015. Public health nursing-e-book: Population-centered health
care in the community. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. and World Health Organization, 2016. AIDS
epidemic update, December 2016. World Health Organization.
UNICEF., Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. and World Health Organization,
2002. Young people and HIV/AIDS: Opportunity in crisis. The Stationery Office.
Parker, R. and Aggleton, P., 2013. HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination: a
conceptual framework and implications for action. Social science & medicine.57(1).
pp.13-24.
Online
Infection control. 2017. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/10-best-strategies-for-infection-
prevention-and-control.html>.
10