Assignment 1: Discussion Assignment In this module, you will pick one local or national newspaper and review the global, national, local, sports, life, health, and business sections, looking for public health-related issues. After conducting your review, you will participate in this discussion using the bullet points below as a guide. Tasks: In a minimum of 200 words, post your response to the following: Identify six public health issues in at least three sections. Discuss the impact of each identified issue on public health. Identify the level of public health prevention related to the issue. Discuss the impact on the community if public health intervention did not occur for the identified issue (e.g., premature deaths, intimate partner violence, unemployment, poor housing conditions, new manufacturing plant moving into the area, teen pregnancy, high school drop-outs, food recall, or heat or sports-related illnesses, etc.). Submission Details: By the due date assigned, post your responses to this Discussion Area. Through the end of the module, read all of your classmates’ postings and respond to at least two classmates’ posts that differ from your opinion. Consider sharing your own experiences and interpretation of the research. Support your findings with examples and scholarly references. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Grading Criteria Discussion Grading Table Maximum Points Quality of initial posting, including fulfillment of assignment 16 Quality of responses to classmates 12 Frequency of responses to classmates 4 Reference to supporting readings and other materials 4 Language and grammar 4 Total: 40
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To identify the level of public health prevention related to an issue, it is necessary to consider the potential impact of the issue on the community and the potential severity of the consequences if public health intervention does not occur. For example, if the issue is a food recall, it may be classified as a primary prevention level intervention, as it is important to prevent people from consuming contaminated food in order to prevent illness or injury. On the other hand, if the issue is premature deaths, it may be classified as a secondary prevention level intervention, as it is important to identify and address the underlying causes of premature deaths in order to prevent future deaths from occurring.
If public health intervention did not occur for the identified issue, the impact on the community could be significant. For example, if public health intervention did not occur for premature deaths, the community may experience a higher mortality rate and a corresponding decrease in overall population size. If public health intervention did not occur for a food recall, there may be an increase in the number of people who become ill or injured as a result of consuming contaminated food. Similarly, if public health intervention did not occur for other issues, such as intimate partner violence, unemployment, poor housing conditions, a new manufacturing plant moving into the area, teen pregnancy, high school drop-outs, or heat or sports-related illnesses, the community may experience negative consequences such as increased suffering, decreased quality of life, and potentially significant economic and social impacts.
There are many public health issues that can have significant impacts on public health. Some examples of these issues include:
Communicable diseases: Diseases that can be transmitted from one person to another, such as influenza, HIV, and tuberculosis, can have a significant impact on public health by spreading rapidly and causing illness or death in large numbers of people.
Non-communicable diseases: Chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer can also have a significant impact on public health, as they often require ongoing treatment and can lead to disability or death.
Environmental health issues: Factors such as air and water pollution, exposure to hazardous substances, and inadequate sanitation can have a negative impact on public health by causing illness or injury and reducing overall quality of life.
Mental health: Poor mental health can have a negative impact on public health by leading to decreased productivity, increased healthcare costs, and an overall reduction in quality of life.
Health disparities: Disparities in access to healthcare and other resources can lead to inequities in health outcomes for different population groups, with some groups experiencing significantly worse health outcomes than others.
Social and economic factors: Factors such as poverty, unemployment, and poor housing conditions can have a negative impact on public health by contributing to the development of health problems and decreasing overall quality of life.
Addressing these and other public health issues is important in order to promote the health and well-being of the population and reduce the negative impact of these issues on public health.
