BSN 432 Assignment 4

1. Introduction

This project will target the Hispanic population in Los Angeles, California, which represents a significant segment of the population demographic of the city. According to the last census, nearly half of the more than 3.9 million residents of Los Angeles are Hispanics or Latinos. This ethnic diversity can be described as having a rich cultural heritage, whose origins date back to different countries in Latin America such as Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The Hispanic community is an important factor in creating the social, economic and cultural environment of Los Angeles, which has added to the colourful neighbourhoods and local economy. The Hispanic community in the city has its own challenges, such as socioeconomic imbalance and inadequate access to medical services, and deserves targeted public health strategies (Artiga et al., 2020).

2. Description of Your Target Population

The Hispanic people in Los Angeles are typified by a mixed cluster of demographic indicators. There are wide inequalities in socioeconomic status in this group, with many facing economic difficulties. In Los Angeles, the median household income of Hispanic households amounts to around 60, 000 dollars, as compared to the median household income in the city of 75,000 dollars. Such economic inequality frequently results in low access to fundamental services such as healthcare, education and healthy food options.

According to vital statistics, the Hispanic community has a lot of health problems. As an example, the prevalence of obesity in Hispanic adults is also alarming, and approximately 37% are obese. This is a high prevalence rate as opposed to that of the country. Moreover, the prevalence rate of diabetes is at 13%, which is significantly higher in comparison with the overall population, indicating the necessity of specific health interventions.

Disparities in educational attainment among the Hispanic population are also represented. The median Hispanic adult has a high school education, with only 30% having a bachelor’s or higher degree. This educational distinction may serve as a barrier to jobs and economic mobility, which helps to perpetuate poverty (Javed et al., 2021).

The Hispanic community has a strong attachment to religious beliefs with approximately 70 per cent being Roman Catholic. There is, however, an increase in the trend of religious diversification, with protestant affiliations and non religious. The job trends reveal that we have relatively high levels of employment in the service industry where approximately 45 per cent of the Hispanic workers are engaged in low-paid jobs, and they make them financially unstable.

Demographic Data Table

III. Comparison of Sentinel City Demographic Data

To be able to adequately meet the health needs of the Hispanic population in Los Angeles, it is critical to compare the pertinent demographic data with that of Sentinel City. Sentinel City is an artificial urban setting, with a mixed population, including a Hispanic community, that makes up nearly 35 per cent of the overall population.

A major difference is the median household income which in Sentinel City is approximately 75000, which is much better compared to the economic situation experienced by the Hispanic population in Los Angeles. Moreover, the unemployment rate is quite low in Sentinel City, 5 percent, as compared to 10 per cent in Los Angeles. These economic indicators imply that the Hispanic population in Sentinel City might have increased access to resources, which could have a positive influence on their health outcomes.

The two groups also have a difference in educational attainment. The Hispanic population in Sentinel City is 50 per cent highly educated, 40 per cent are high school graduates, and 40 per cent also possess a bachelor’s degree or higher, as opposed to 40 per cent and 30 per cent in Los Angeles, respectively. The increased education in Sentinel City could be associated with the increased employment opportunities and health literacy, which can lead to better health outcomes.

Comparative Demographic Data Table

4. Key Health Concerns or Issues

Health issues of the Hispanic population in Los Angeles are complex, and the three main problems that were revealed are obesity, diabetes, and mental health problems. Of great concern is obesity, in which approximately one-third of Hispanic adults are considered obese. The condition is a serious risk factor for a number of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and some kinds of cancer.

The prevalence of diabetes in this population is also interesting, as it is 13% higher than the national average. Some of the factors that have led to this high prevalence are eating habits, inaccessibility to healthy food choices and inadequate health education.

The mental health problems of the Hispanic population have acquired more and more recognition over the past few years. Cultural stigmas about mental health, along with socioeconomic pressures, contribute to a high incidence of untreated depression and anxiety. The difficulties are further worsened by a lack of access to mental health services, which requires culturally competent services.

Obesity is one of these health issues that is selected as the main area of intervention. Obesity will be an important matter to address not only in the context of decreasing the number of associated chronic diseases but also in improving the general quality of life in the Hispanic community. The Healthy People 2030 objective that aligns with this health concern is to reduce obesity rates among adults to 36% by the year 2030.

5. Community Health Nursing Diagnosis

The community health nursing diagnosis of the Hispanic population in Los Angeles could be expressed in the following way: There is a high possibility of obesity among the Hispanic population due to lack of access to healthy foods and safe recreational facilities, as indicated by high obesity rates in this community. This diagnosis underscores the interdependence between social determinants of health and the importance of specific interventions in dealing with these systemic obstacles (Davey et al., 2020).

6. Intervention to Address the Diagnosis

To tackle the diagnosed community health nursing, an integrated community-based health and nutrition program will be adopted. This intervention will incorporate various important elements that will enhance healthy eating and physical activity among the Hispanic community in Los Angeles.

Proposed Intervention

Nutrition Education Workshops: The workshops will be targeted at healthy diets, meal planning, as well as budgeting for healthy foods. It will focus on culturally appropriate food habits and cooking techniques that appeal to the community.

Cooking Classes: Hands-on cooking classes will be available, with healthy recipes using traditional Hispanic ingredients. The participants will be taught how to make healthy meals even as they are made familiar with healthier cooking techniques.

Community Gardens: It will be important to create community gardens where residents can access fresh fruits and vegetables. This project will also create community interest and allow physical activity through gardening.

Physical Activity Programs: Exercise activities like Zumba and walking in groups will be arranged in secure and convenient places to promote exercise.

Justification for the Intervention

This intervention is aimed at meeting the needs of the Hispanic population. The program will help achieve healthier lifestyles by focusing on cultural tendencies and barriers to the availability of healthy foods and recreational areas (Ziso et al., 2022). The possible barriers to the implementation are financial difficulties and community buy-in, but all these issues can be overcome; cooperation with local organisations and volunteers is possible.

Goals and Objectives

Long-term Objective: Within five years, the level of obesity among the Hispanic population in Los Angeles will be reduced by 5%.

Short-term Objectives:

Organise 12 nutrition trainings (at least 300 participants) in the first year.

Create 5 community gardens in two years, benefiting 100 or more families.

Required Resources

Time: 5 years to implement the program and evaluate it.

Equipment: Cooking equipment, gardening equipment, educational equipment and advertising equipment.

Finances: Workshop materials, instructor fees, the costs of establishing the garden and outreach.

7. Evaluation Plan

To determine the success of the recommended intervention, a powerful evaluation strategy will be adopted. The assessment will involve quantitative and qualitative methods to assess outcomes based on knowledge and behaviour change as well as health status.

Evaluation Methods

Pre and Post-Surveys: Before and after nutrition workshops and cooking classes, the participants will be asked to fill in surveys in order to assess the knowledge, attitudes and dietary behaviour changes.

Attendance Tracking: Attendee activities will be tracked by attendance records at the workshops and physical activity programs.

Health Metrics: BMI and other health metrics will be taken at the start and conclusion of the program to determine the changes in the rates of obesity.

Goals and Objectives for Evaluation

Long-term Objective: To have a five per cent decrease in the level of obesity among the Hispanics in five years.

Short-term Measurable Objectives:

To have 75% of participants report increased knowledge about nutrition and healthy eating habits.

To achieve at least 50 per cent of participants regularly (at least 150 minutes per week) participate in physical activity after attending the program.

8. Summary of Sentinel City

Within the context of Sentinel City, when measuring the eight community subsystems, one can establish a number of strengths that would help to evaluate the overall health of Sentinel City residents. These subsystems include:

Physical Environment: Good parks and recreation facilities are well maintained to give the residents the opportunity to engage in physical activities.

Safety and Transportation: Access to healthcare services and community resources is improved by the availability of reliable means of transportation that are not unsafe (Glazener et al., 2021).

Health and Social Services: Preventive care and health education are aided by access to comprehensive healthcare services.

Education: Local schools offer good education, which has boosted the level of educational attainment among the population.

Recreation: Recreational facilities are numerous, promoting interaction and physical activity.

Politics and Government: Community health and resource distribution are facilitated by local government efforts.

Communication: Communication can be effective through channels of communication that spread health information and advertise community events.

Economics: A diverse economy helps to create employment and economic stability among residents.

Recommendations for Improvement

Along with these strengths, there are some areas that need improvement. In particular, it is possible to enhance access to recreational spaces and healthcare facilities by enhancing safety and transportation opportunities. Recommendations would be to increase the routes of the public transportation system so that underserved communities can have an opportunity to access healthcare services and create safe spaces within the neighbourhoods to promote outdoor activities. Also, community-specific health education campaigns can create awareness of resources and promote healthier lifestyles. Following these recommendations will also enable Sentinel City to consolidate its community subsystems and enhance the health and well-being of its citizens.

References

Artiga, S., Orgera, K., & Pham, O. (2020). Issue Brief Disparities in Health and Health Care: Five Key Questions and Answers. https://deancare.com/getmedia/e00c9856-28d0-4c63-b2c0-9bf68cadcebb/Disparities-in-Health-and-Health-Care-Five-Key-Questions-and-Answers.pdf

Bonal, X., & González, S. (2020). The impact of lockdown on the learning gap: family and school divisions in times of crisis. International Review of Education. Internationale Zeitschrift Fur Erziehungswissenschaft. Revue Internationale de Pedagogie, 66(66), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-020-09860-z

Davey, B., Sinha, R., Lee, J. H., Gauthier, M., & Flores, G. (2020). Social determinants of health and outcomes for children and adults with congenital heart disease: A systematic review. Pediatric Research. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-01196-6

Glazener, A., Sanchez, K., Ramani, T., Zietsman, J., Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J., Mindell, J. S., Fox, M., & Khreis, H. (2021). Fourteen pathways between urban transportation and health: A conceptual model and literature review. Journal of Transport & Health, 21, 101070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2021.101070

Javed, A., Lee, C., Zakaria, H., Buenaventura, R. D., Cetkovich-Bakmas, M., Duailibi, K., Ng, B., Ramy, H., Saha, G., Arifeen, S., Elorza, P. M., Ratnasingham, P., & Azeem, M. W. (2021). Reducing the stigma of mental health disorders with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 58, 102601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102601

Ziso, D., Chun, O. K., & Puglisi, M. J. (2022). Increasing access to healthy foods through improving food environment: A review of mixed methods intervention studies with residents of low-income communities. Nutrients, 14(11), 2278. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14112278