Question

Write a 175- to 265-word response to the following questions:

Week 3 HCS/457 Public and Community Health

• Explain what impact lifestyles, socioeconomic status, and community resources have on public and community health. Provide an example.
• How have you seen this at work in your own community?

Answer 1

Impact of life styles, socio-economic status and community resources on public and community health:

Public and community health are influenced by many factors such as :

* lifestyle of the people

* Socio-economic status

* Community resources

Impact of lifestyle on Public and community health:

Lifestyle is a style of living that reflects the attitude and values of a person or group. Lifestyle of a person determines the health related habits of the person. Health habits/ choices may have a major impact on health of an individual. Positive health choices are may be Healthy dietary habits, excersie, adequate rest and sleep, personal hygien etc. Negative health habits that may have profound adverse effect on health and life of individuals and communities are Smoking, alcoholism and othet substance abuse, poor dietary habits like regular consumption of junk foods, lack of rest and physical activity, lack of relaxation techniques etc. Modern lifestyle of community that characterised by lack of physical activity,and consumption of high fat foids oily foods are the main causes for many Chronic disease/ lifestyle diseases such as Hypercholestrolemia, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Coronary artery disease etc.

Impact of Socio-economic status on public and community health:

Socio-economic status of individuals and families in a community can have major influence on public health. Communities, where families with poor soci-economic status like slum areas, may have poor education, ignorance about healthy dietary choices, increased use of Alcoholism etc. These may result in poor health status of individuals and families and also it may lead to Increase in infant and maternal mortality rate, increased incidence of congenital disorders etc.

Communities with families belong to high socio economic status, may have high education, good food to eat, knowledge about dietary choices etc. These communities are having a very less number of maternal and infant mortality. Certain areas are doing very well, but when coming to lifestyle diseases , communities where families are belong to high socio economic status, display higher prevalence of these diseases such as Hypertension, Coronary artery disease, Diabetes Mellitus etc , probably due to lack of physical activity, jobs that need hours of sitting together in a chair, more calories and fat ricj diet etc.

Impact of Community resources on Public and community health:

Availablity of Community resources also have an impact on Public health and Community health. If there is sufficient availability and inequality in distribution of Community resources such as public medical services, safe and good housing, access to safe water and food etc can have a positive impact on Public and community health. Countries with less availability of good community resources are suffering with poverty, communicable diseases and high mortality rate etc.

( in my own community also) It is very much visible that in the upper class of society, many individuals and families are living with life style diseases (either Coronary artery diseases or DM or Hypertension. ) . The negative lifestyle choices like lack of regular physical activity and high consumption of junk and processed foods can contribute to these diseases. But due to Good community resources, these groups are obtaining the proper treatment and the diseases are getting controlled.  

There are Urban slum areas( in my town/ city) , where the people with low socio-economic status are living. Most of them are having negative lifestyle choices like Alcoholism, smoking, poor personal hygiene etc. These areas are more prone to communicable diseases, especially waterborne diseases and mosquito borne diseases. Lack of safe housing and lack of safe water supply are having negative effect on their health.