Assignment: Global Healthcare Comparison Matrix and Narrative Statement

Assignment: Global Healthcare Comparison Matrix and Narrative Statement

Assignment: Global Healthcare Comparison Matrix and Narrative Statement

Assignment: Global Healthcare Comparison Matrix and Narrative Statement

HIV/AIDS is one of the health problems that are of concern to public health globally. HIV/AIDs is associated with significant burden to the patients, their significant others and the population as a whole. The effect of HIV/AIDS can be seen from the high cost associated with its treatment as well as loss of productivity in the affected populations. HIV/AIDs also has significant effects on the overall socioeconomic development in a state. Therefore, this paper compares the policy approaches adopted to address HIV/AIDs in the USA and Canada

Global Healthcare Issue

 

HIV/AIDS

Description

HIV/AIDS is one of the health problems that are affecting a significant proportion of population globally. The treatment of HIV/AIDs has been improving over the past years with better outcomes due to technological advancements and new interventions for the disease. HIV/AIDS is a problem experienced in both the US and Canada. Statistics shows that about 1.2 million people in America have HIV/AIDS. The prevalence is reported to be high in specific groups such as ethnic minorities when compared to the native populations (hiv.gov, 2021). In Canada, the incidence rate of HIV/AIDS is reported to be 6 per every 100000 people. The estimated number of people living with HIV is 62050 (Haddad et al., 2019). The burden of HIV/AIDs is significantly high in both governments. As a result, they have embraced policies that aim at improving the safety, quality, and access to care for people affected by HIV/AIDS.

Country

United States

 

Canada

Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issue

The US government has embraced a number of interventions to address the issue of HIV/AIDs. It adopted the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for use in implementing response and management of the epidemic. Through the strategy, the US government has increased its funding on programs that aim at addressing the disease. It has also increase its screening services to facilitate the early diagnosis and treatment of patients. The government has also increased the access to healthcare for patients with HIV/AIDs through programs such as Medicare and Medicaid (Panagiotoglou et al., 2018).

The government of Canada has also invested its resources in initiatives that aim at the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDs. The government through its initiatives supports programs that aim at creating awareness in the population about HIV/AIDs. The government also works closely with other agencies to empower the populations address the issue of HIV/AIDs (Bourgeois et al., 2017).

What are the strengths of this policy?

One of the strengths of the policy adopted by the US to address HIV/AIDs is its focus on disease prevention and early management. The policy also addresses barriers to healthcare for patients with HIV. It also promotes health promotion through early diagnosis and treatment (Beyrer, 2021).

The policy by the Canadian government is associated with the strength of promoting population empowerment. It also mobilizes the use of the locally available resources to address issues related to HIV/AIDs. There is also the increased focus on community participation in addressing the health issue (Haddad et al., 2018).

What are the weaknesses of this policy?

The policy strategy utilized in the US does not account for the actual unmet needs of the populations affected by HIV/AIDS. The policy also ignores the critical resources that are needed for the effective management of the epidemic. Lastly, the approach to funding the implementation of strategies is not provided. Therefore, it might be difficult to implement most of the strategies to address HIV/AIDS.

The policy of HIV/AIDS management in Canada has the weakness of providing a comprehensive analysis of the sustainability of HIV/AIDS prevention and management strategies. It also lacks an effective framework for continuous improvement of the policy provisions.

Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the specified global health issue. (Be specific and provide examples)

Social determinants of health may affect HIV/AIDS management and prevention in the US in a number of ways. Social determinants such as socioeconomic status affect access to high quality care among the affected populations. People with high socioeconomic status are likely to access the care that they need to affordability of care when compared to low socioeconomic status. Factors such as ethnicity also affect HIV/AIDS. For example, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is higher in ethnic minority groups such as African Americans when compared to native Americans. Employment status also affects HIV/AIDs. In this case, lack of employment predisposes individuals to engaging in risky sexual behaviors such as prostitution, which predisposes them to HIV/AIDS (Jeffries & Henny, 2019).

Income level is one of the social determinants of health that relates to HIV/AIDS in Canada. People with high income experience enhanced health outcomes in relation to HIV/AIDS when compared to low income earners. The level of income influences access and affordability of high quality care. Level of education is the other determinant of health that relates to HIV/AIDS. Level of education influences awareness about the causes, risks, treatment, and prevention of HIV/AIDS. For example, educated populations that are well informed about HIV/AIDS are least likely to engage in practices that predispose them to the epidemic when compared to the illiterate persons. The influence can also  be seen from the utilization of preventive and health promotion services for people living with HIV/AIDS (Gormley et al., 2020).

How has each country’ government addressed cost, quality, and access to the selected global health issue?

The US government has addressed issue of cost, quality and access to care for HIV/AIDS patients through programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Patients also have access to free anti-retroviral medications. Testing and counseling for HIV/AIDs for the population are also free. The government also adopted the Affordable Care Act that increased the ability of the population, including those affected by HIV/AIDS to access the care that they need (Panagiotoglou et al., 2018).

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The government of Canada through its provinces provides partial or full coverage for antiretroviral medications for its affected populations. Through it, the cost-burden of medications is reduced. The government through programs such as Trillum Drug Program also addresses issues of cost, access and quality by covering the costs of medications for the population. Screening services for patients with HIV/AIDs and the population are also free (Gormley et al., 2020).

How has the identified health policy impacted the health of the global population? (Be specific and provide examples)

The National HIV/AIDS strategy has increased access to high quality and affordable care for patients affected by HIV/AIDs. The policy has also increased the lifespan of the patients due to reduced complications and worsening of outcomes. The policy has also led to increased productivity among the affected populations due to reduced hospitalization, hospital visits, and costs of care.

The policy on increased funding for HIV/AIDS programs adopted by the Canadian government has enhanced access to care for the patients. It has also expanded access to preventive and screening services for the population. It has also addressed barriers to care such as cost that people living with HIV/AIDS experience.

Describe the potential impact of the identified health policy on the role of nurse in each country.

The impact of the policy on the role of the nurses is that nurses have to act as advocates for the people with HIV/AIDS. Nurses have to ensure equity in access to and use of HIV/AIDS-related care and services. They also have to educate the public about the benefits of HIV/AIDs screening, early treatment and prevention strategies (Mottiar & Lodge, 2018).

The impact of the policy adopted by the Canadian government on the role of nurses is that nurses have to advocate the adoption of better policies to address the needs of patients with HIV/AIDs. The majority of care services for HIV/AIDs in Canada are not universally covered in government programs for health. The implication is the high cost of care incurred by people with HIV/AIDs. Nurses therefore have the role of advocating the adoption of policies that address barriers to care for people with HIV/AIDS (Mottiar & Lodge, 2018).

Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. (Be specific and provide examples)

HIV/AIDS affect local healthcare organizations and policies in America. HIV/AIDs cause significant burden to the affected populations in America. It also contributes to high expenditure by the state in addressing the needs of the affected populations. It also affects policies by increasing the need for policy provisions that expand access to care for the affected populations. For example, besides the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid, the state has to adopt new policies or policy improvements to address the social determinants of health in populations affected by HIV/AIDS (hiv.gov, 2021).

HIV/AIDS also affects local healthcare organizations and policies in Canada. An increasing prevalence of HIV/AIDs results in increased care needs and workload in healthcare organizations. It also increases the burden of the disease to the patients and significant others due to issues such as costs and loss of productivity. As noted earlier, Canada does not have universal coverage programs for HIV/AIDs patients. As a result, it increases the need for the adoption of more inclusive policies for HIV/AIDs in the state (Bourgeois et al., 2017).

General Notes/Comments

Conclusion

            In conclusion, HIV/AIDs is an issue of concern for both the US and Canada. The US and Canada have adopted policies aiming at improving quality, cost and access to care for HIV/AIDs. The policies have a number of strengths as well as weaknesses. Nurses have a unique responsibility of ensuring that the policies adopted address the barriers to care experienced by patients with HIV/AIDs. Therefore, they should advocate the prioritization of the care needs of people with HIV/AIDs in policy-related issues.

Part 2

            An effective plan of social change to address HIV/AIDS locally and internationally is embracing multi-sectorial and stakeholder interventions for health. The interventions should adopt the global perspective because of their ability to promote inclusiveness in care as well as the realization of care needs of the diverse patient populations. I would therefore advocate the incorporation of global perspectives into my practice and role as a nurse through a number of ways. One of them is through creation of awareness. I will work with other nurses to create awareness among healthcare providers on the importance of global perspective. I will also link nurses with other nurses globally for them to share ideas on the ways in which enhanced health outcomes can be achieved in HIV/AIDS management. I will also champion the use of globally recognized, evidence-based interventions in addressing HIV/AIDS (Catton, 2020). Through the above interventions, I will be advocating the use of global perspective in my practice as a nurse leader.

            The incorporation of the global perspective in addressing HIV/AIDS may impact my local practice and as a nurse leader. Firstly, global perspective builds the desired cultural competence in nurses and nurse leaders. It enables them to understand the unique approaches to care that can be used in their practice to improve outcomes of care. Global perspective also advances the knowledge, skills, and experience of nurses and nurse leaders. Nurses and nurse leaders learn about new aspects of practice that can be used to advance patient care. Global perspective also strengthens system understanding of the nurses and nurse leaders. Nurses understand the critical determinants of inter-professional and international relationships that should be incorporated into care for optimum outcomes (Yatsu & Saeki, 2021).

            Incorporation of global perspective into my local practice as a nurse leader contributes to social change. Firstly, it increases the cultural competence that I need in working with patients and individuals from diverse backgrounds. The global lens also strengthens my understanding of the system and structural changes that are needed in nursing practice to address the needs of the diverse populations. For example, it increases my understanding of interventions such as research, innovation, and evidence-based practice in addressing global issues affecting health. Therefore, the understanding is a critical source of social change in my practice.

References

Beyrer, C. (2021). Work undone—HIV/AIDS in the USA. Science, 372(6549), 1369–1369. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abk0619

Bourgeois, A., Edmunds, M., Awan, A., Jonah, L., Varsaneux, O., & Siu, W. (2017). HIV in Canada—Surveillance Report, 2016. Canada Communicable Disease Report, 43(12), 248–256. https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v43i12a01

Catton, H. (2020). Global nursing leadership: Alive and kicking in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. International Nursing Review, 67(3), 301–302. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12623

Gormley, R., Lin, S. Y., Carter, A., Nicholson, V., Webster, K., Martin, R. E., Milloy, M.-J., Pick, N., Howard, T., Wang, L., de Pokomandy, A., Loutfy, M., Kaida, A., Abdul-Noor, R., Anema, A., Angel, J., Bakombo, D. M., Barry, F., Bauer, G., … on behalf of the CHIWOS Research Team. (2020). Social Determinants of Health and Retention in HIV Care Among Recently Incarcerated Women Living with HIV in Canada. AIDS and Behavior, 24(4), 1212–1225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-019-02666-7

Haddad, N., Li, J., Totten, S., & McGuire, M. (2018). HIV in Canada—Surveillance Report, 2017. Canada Communicable Disease Report, 44(12), 324–332. https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v44i12a03

Haddad, N., Robert, A., Weeks, A., Popovic, N., Siu, W., & Archibald, C. (2019). HIV in Canada—Surveillance Report, 2018. Canada Communicable Disease Report, 45(12), 304–312. https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v45i12a01

hiv.gov. (2021, June 2). U.S. Statistics. HIV.Gov. https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics

Jeffries, W. L., & Henny, K. D. (2019). From Epidemiology to Action: The Case for Addressing Social Determinants of Health to End HIV in the Southern United States. AIDS and Behavior, 23(3), 340–346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-019-02687-2

Mottiar, S., & Lodge, T. (2018). The role of community health workers in supporting South Africa’s HIV/ AIDS treatment programme. African Journal of AIDS Research, 17(1), 54–61. https://doi.org/10.2989/16085906.2017.1402793

Panagiotoglou, D., Olding, M., Enns, B., Feaster, D. J., del Rio, C., Metsch, L. R., Granich, R. M., Strathdee, S. A., Marshall, B. D. L., Golden, M. R., Shoptaw, S., Schackman, B. R., Nosyk, B., Del Rio, C., Dombrowski, J. C., Feaster, D. J., Gebo, K. A., Golden, M. R., Granich, R. M., … the Localized HIV Modeling Study Group. (2018). Building the Case for Localized Approaches to HIV: Structural Conditions and Health System Capacity to Address the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Six US Cities. AIDS and Behavior, 22(9), 3071–3082. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2166-6

Yatsu, H., & Saeki, A. (2021). Current trends in global nursing: A scoping review. Nursing Open, n/a(n/a). https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.938

Global Health Care

Part 1

  United States Response to HIV/AIDS Kenya Response to HIV/AIDS
National Health Policy One of the federal policies that have been adopted in the US is the National HIV/AIDS strategy for the United States. It is an action plan that federal governments should adopt. The action plan provides guidance on a number of issues related to HIV/AIDS in America. They include strategies to reduce new infections, increase access to care by the affected, improving outcomes of care for the patients, reducing disparities and inequities in access to care by the affected, and promoting a highly effective coordination of the state’s response to the epidemic (The White House Washington, 2015). One of the policies that Kenya has adopted in response to HIV/AIDS is the Kenya AIDs strategic framework 2014/2015-2018/2019. The framework provides closely related guidelines to that of the US on issues related to HIV/AIDs. They include the strategies for reducing new infections; enhancing health outcomes of the patients, utilizing human rights based approach in increasing access to services, strengthening community integration and health systems, strengthening research and innovation to meet goals of the framework, and enhancing utilization of evidence to improve outcomes of the affected (National AIDS Control Council 2014).
Strengths and weaknesses of each of the policies One of the strengths of the above policy is its focus on the utilization of the existing resources in the state to address the endemic. There is also the focus on the promotion of equity in access to services by the affected patients. There is also the increased focus on the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration for the goals of the policy to be achieved. One of the weaknesses of the policy is its minimal emphasis on the active role of the healthcare providers in achieving the goals of the policy. Minimal focus has also been placed on the importance of research and innovation in the realization of the goals of the policy. One of the strengths of the above policy is its focus on community integration into the implementation of strategies to achieve the outcomes of the policy. There is also a strong focus on the need for research and innovation to facilitate evidence-based practice in caring for the affected patients. The framework however has the weakness of failing to identify the critical national and local resources that are needed for the success of the policy.
Effects of Social Determinants of Health Determinants of health such as employment status influence one’s ability to afford high quality care. It also influences one’s health insurance coverage. Factors such as the level of education also influences uptake of existing services for HIV/AIDs. Other factors such as age influence the uptake of HIV/AIDs related services as elderly experience challenges in utilizing them due to low socioeconomic status (Kelley, 2020).  
Addressing Cost, Quality, and Access to HIV/AIDs care Access to HIV/AIDS-related care and services has been improved through provision of free testing and treatment of the disease. There is also expanded health insurance coverage for patients with HIV/AIDs. Quality has been achieved through the utilization of evidence-based practices. The issue of cost has been addressed by providing HIV/AIDs services such as testing and treatment for free. Healthcare providers receive continuous training to improve the safety and quality of care. The policy also encourages research, innovation, and evidence-based practice to improve the quality of care. Access has been achieved through decentralization of the provision of HIV/AIDs-related services to the lowest levels of healthcare in the country.
Impact on health of global population It increases access, affordability and utilization of HIV/AIDs related services. It also improves the quality of care offered to the affected patients. It also reduces the disease prevalence globally. It normalizes the disease by addressing issues such as stigmatization of HIV/AIDs patients.  
Impact on the role of the nurse Nurses have the role of reducing the disease prevalence through health education for the public. Nurses also advocate the realization of equity goals of care for the patients. Nurses have to utilize evidence-based practices to improve the outcomes of care for the patients. Nurses have to focus on collaborating with other healthcare providers to improve outcomes of care. They have to engage in researches to identify innovative, evidence-based practices to improve outcomes of care. They also have to advocate for the adoption of interventions that address disparities in access and utilization of healthcare services.
Impact on Local Health Issues The policy increases the need for inter-organizational collaboration in addressing issues related to HIV/AIDs. It also strengthens the need for community involvement in issues related to HIV/AIDs. Local organizations have been encouraged to support initiatives that improve outcomes of care for HIV/AIDs patients.

If you talk about a possible poor health outcome, do you believe that outcome will occur? Do you believe eye contact and personal contact should be avoided?

You would have a difficult time practicing as a nurse if you believed these to be true. But they are very real beliefs in some cultures.

Differences in cultural beliefs, subcultures, religion, ethnic customs, dietary customs, language, and a host of other factors contribute to the complex environment that surrounds global healthcare issues. Failure to understand and account for these differences can create a gulf between practitioners and the public they serve.

In this Assignment, you will examine a global health issue and consider the approach to this issue by the United States and by one other country.

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To Prepare:

  • Review the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global health agenda and select one global health issue to focus on for this Assignment.  Global health issue I select is STDs ( Sexual Transmitted Disease)
  • Select at least one additional country to compare to the U.S. for this Assignment. one additional country is Australia.
  • Reflect on how the global health issue you selected is approached in the U.S. and in the additional country you selected.
  • Review and download the Global Health Comparison Matrix provided in the Resources.

The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Global Health Comparison Matrix; 1-page Plan for Social Change)

Part 1: Global Health Comparison Matrix

Focusing on the country you selected and the U.S., complete the Global Health Comparison Matrix. Be sure to address the following:

  • Consider the U.S. national/federal health policies that have been adapted for the global health issue you selected from the WHO global health agenda. Compare these policies to the additionalcountry you selected for study.

Part 1: Global Health Comparison Matrix

Global Healthcare Issue

Communicable Diseases

Description

Communicable diseases, also known as infectious diseases, are illnesses caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that can be transmitted from one person to another, either directly or indirectly. These diseases can spread through different modes of transmission, including respiratory droplets, bodily fluids, contaminated food or water, and insect bites. Common examples of communicable diseases include influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19.

Country

United States

Nigeria

Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issue

In the United States, the national health policies that have been adapted for communicable diseases include the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB) and the National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan. The CARB plan aims to address antibiotic resistance by improving the prevention and control of infections, strengthening national One Health surveillance efforts, and promoting the development of new diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines. The National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan focuses on the prevention, screening, care, and treatment of viral hepatitis, including hepatitis A, B, and C.

In Nigeria, the national health policies that have been adapted for communicable diseases include the National Strategic Health Development Plan II and the National Health Policy. The National Strategic Health Development Plan II aims to improve the health of Nigerians by strengthening the health system, improving access to quality health services, and addressing communicable and non-communicable diseases. The National Health Policy focuses on promoting the health of Nigerians by addressing the determinants of health, improving access to health services, and strengthening the health system.

  • Explain the strengths and weaknesses of each policy.
  • Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the global health issue you selected. Be specific and provide examples.
  • Using the WHO’s Organization’s global health agenda as well as the results of your own research, analyze how each country’s government addresses cost, quality, and access to the global health issue selected.
  • Explain how the health policy you selected might impact the health of the global population. Be specific and provide examples.
  • Explain how the health policy you selected might impact the role of the nurse in each country.
  • Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. Be specific and provide examples.

Part 2: A Plan for Social Change

Reflect on the global health policy comparison and analysis you conducted in Part 1 of the Assignment and the impact that global health issues may have on the world, the U.S., your community, as well as your practice as a nurse leader.

In a 1-page response, create a plan for social change that incorporates a global perspective or lens into your local practice and role as a nurse leader.

  • Explain how you would advocate for the incorporation of a global perspective or lens into your local practice and role as a nurse leader.
  • Explain how the incorporation of a global perspective or lens might impact your local practice and role as a nurse leader.
  • Explain how the incorporation of a global perspective or lens into your local practice as a nurse leader represents and contributes to social change. Be specific and provide examples.

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Global Health Comparison Grid Template

Use this document to complete the Module 6 Assessment Global Healthcare Comparison Matrix and Narrative Statement

Global Healthcare Issue  
Description  
Country United States  
Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issue    
What are the strengths of this policy?    
What are the weaknesses of this policy?    
Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the specified global health issue. (Be specific and provide examples)    
How has each country’ government addressed cost, quality, and access to the selected global health issue?    
How has the identified health policy impacted the health of the global population? (Be specific and provide examples)    
Describe the potential impact of the identified health policy on the role of nurse in each country.    
Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. (Be specific and provide examples)    
General Notes/Comments    

Global Health Comparison

Grid Template

© 2018 Laureate Education Inc. 2

Rubric Detail

Grid View
List View

Part 1: Global Health Comparison Matrix

Focusing on the country you selected and the U.S., complete the Global Health Comparison Matrix. Be sure to address the following:

• Consider the U.S. national/federal health policies that have been adapted for the global health issue you selected from the WHO global health agenda. Compare these policies to the additional country you selected for study.

Global Health Comparison Grid Template 

 The emergence of coronavirus disease of 2019 and the subsequent declaration by the World Health Organization as a public health concern caused a lot of panic, anxiety and restrictive practices and measures to control its spread and lethal effects. Over 300 million people have been infected by the virus so far with over 4.5 million dead. The U.S. leads in the number of deaths and infections. Efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic include vaccination of at high risk populations and individuals (WHO, 2021). Many countries, including the United States, do not have vaccine policies and this has affected intake of the jabs that were rolled out nearly a year ago. The purpose of this comparison matrix is to evaluate vaccination policies in the United States and Mexico, especially in relation to COVID-19 as recommended by the World Health Organization for countries to get a herd immunity and stop and prevent the spreads.  

 

Global Healthcare Issue 

 

Immunization/ Vaccination  for COVID-19 

Description 

The international or global perspective on vaccines and immunization has always differed from one nation to another. The World Health Organization has always encouraged and implored its member states to embrace vaccines and immunizations as means of preventing infectious diseases and reducing their adverse effects if contracted. Vaccination for COVID-19 remains a global issue as the world focuses on stopping the spread of the infectious disease first detected in a wet Chinese market.  

Country 

United States 

 

Mexico 

Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issue 

While no federal policy exists on vaccinations in the country, with each state having its own requirements for children getting into public schools, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated several mandates at all levels of government (CMS, 2021). Policies by the federal government include latest revised ones requiring employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 disease.  

In Mexico, no mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policies exist but efforts focus on ensuring that more individuals get the jab. Like the U.S. the country has no vaccine policies, except for children enrolling in schools.  

What are the strengths of this policy? 

All states allow exemptions from vaccines on medical grounds while 45 allow on religious reasons. Another 15 states exempt people from vaccines on philosophical or personal beliefs. Subsequently, the rollout of COVID-19 jab also follows these guidelines with some states relaxing vaccination mandates and requirements (CMS, 2021).  

Mexico allows exemption from vaccination on religious and medical grounds. However, personal reasons cannot enable one to get exemption from vaccination (Jimenez & Gandy, 2021). The country’s efforts to vaccine against COVID-19 follows these trends as it is not mandatory.  

What are the weaknesses of this policy? 

Individuals and parents continue to express concerns about the number of vaccines that one should get apart from the COVID-19 jabs. The safety of these vaccines remains an issue of concern (The White House, 2021b). The population requires effective education to understand the impact of the vaccines.  

Vaccine-preventable diseases account for significant mortality and morbidity in developing nations like Mexico. The enforcement of increased vaccination against infectious diseases and even COVID-19 remains a challenge due to funding and infrastructural challenges (2020).  

Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the specified global health issue. (Be specific and provide examples) 

Social determinants of health impact routine immunization for children; especially among lo-income populations. For instance too reduce mortality and morbidity associated with vaccinations, the needs of different populations must be met, especially access to better living conditions and information. 

Immunization obstacles reduce the rates of vaccination. For instance, lack of awareness on the importance of COVID-19 jab and other vaccines can impact herd immunity.  

How has each country’ government addressed cost, quality, and access to the selected global health issue? 

The U.S. continues to address cost, quality and access through policies like the Affordable Care Act and using legislations as well as executive orders by the Biden administration (The White House, 2021). These include vaccine mandates to enhance the rate of vaccination against CIOVID-19.  

 

Mexico experiences funding challenges making it difficult for health populations to access vaccines on time. For instance, most of its COVID-19 vaccines are donated by nations like the U.S. and the World Health Organization under the COVAX facility (WHO, 2020).  

How has the identified health policy impacted the health of the global population? (Be specific and provide examples) 

The existing policies on vaccination in the U.S. impacts global population’s health as they ensure that as many Americans as possible get vaccines, especially the COVID-19 vaccines.  

 

 

 

Exemptions impacts the ability of the world to ensure that all eligible persons get vaccinated to control the spread of COVID-19 disease (Jimenez & Gandy, 2021).  

Describe the potential impact of the identified health policy on the role of nurse in each country. 

Policies on vaccinations and immunizations impact the role of nurses in the U.S. as they are health promoters and educators (Corless et al., 2018). As primary care providers, they offer education and interact with patients to encourage them to take vaccines.  

Low rates of vaccinated individuals, especially against COVID-19, exposes nurses to life threatening diseases that affect their ability to offer quality care interventions (Jimenez & Gandy, 2021). Because of these challenges, they cannot execute their roles well and meet care needs.  

Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. (Be specific and provide examples) 

The issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies as it implores providers to get training on management of COVID-19 and its effects on patients (The White House, 2021). Training on public health emergencies is essential to address increased rates of infection.  

 

 

Global health issues like pandemics and epidemics affect local health organizations and policies in Mexico by requiring the government to develop responsive policies to encounter adverse effects of infectious diseases and protect its population while providing high quality care.  

General Notes/Comments 

The U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic and need to vaccinate its population demonstrate efforts to tackle global health care issues (The White House, 2021b). The existing policies on vaccination should be altered to help the country and its population prepare for and tackle any future health emergencies.  

Mexico continues to make efforts to access vaccines and offer to its population despite limited resources (Jimenez & Gandy, 2021). The vaccination policies in the country illustrate the need for a global approach to diseases by leveraging existing local resources.  

 Part 2: A Plan for Social Change 

Social change is a deliberate process focused on the creation and application of ideas, and actions to promote the development of communities. Nurse leaders have a critical advocacy role for their patients and colleagues. As a nurse leader, having a global perspective is essential as it allows to advocate for patient’s education and awareness about COVID-19 jab and other critical vaccines, especially for children (Milstead & Short, 2019). Many Americans decline to take vaccines for different reasons due to the diversity that exists. However, a majority do not have sufficient education and awareness about the positive effects of vaccines and the protection that they offer. When patients have sufficient information on vaccines, they can make better and informed choices and decisions.   

The incorporation of a global perspective impacts my local practice and role as a nurse leader as it implores one to work collaboratively with other in development of interventions to reduce exposure to infectious diseases. As a nurse leader, one must prioritize education and awareness among peers and the general population to minimize exposure and its adverse effects. The policy encourages nurse leaders to educate their communities so that they accept vaccines.  

Further, the incorporation of global lens into local practice as a nurse leader represents and contributes to social change by imploring me to develop interventions that leverage the existing resources and tackles inequalities that hinder uptake of vaccines (Milstead & Short, 2019). The incorporation also means that I should develop effective interventions to minimize exposure among healthcare workers in various settings. The need for vaccines is important in the current dispensation as one must consider the effects of exposure to emerging infectious diseases that require effective control because of their adverse effects on populations.  

Conclusion 

COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need to have active vaccine policies targeted at different health populations and individuals. Vaccine exempt policies make health populations vulnerable to adverse effects of emerging infectious diseases like the coronavirus disease. Therefore, the analysis based on this comparison implores healthcare providers like nurses to focus on effective interventions to reduce exposure and apply a global lens in their nursing practice.  

 References 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) (2021). COVID-19. https://www.cms.gov/covidvax-provider 

Corless, I. B., Nardi, D., Milstead, J. A., Larson, E., Nokes, K. M., Orsega, S., … & Woith, W. (2018). Expanding nursing’s role in responding to global pandemics 5/14/2018. Nursing outlook, 66(4), 412-415. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2018.06.003 

Jimenez, S. K. & Gandy, A. (2021). Infographic | Mexico’s Vaccine Supply and Distribution Efforts.  https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/infographic-mexicos-vaccine-supply-and-distribution-efforts 

The White House (2021 November 4). Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Announces Details of Two Major Vaccination Policies. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/11/04/fact-sheet-biden-administration-announces-details-of-two-major-vaccination-policies/ 

The White House (2021b September 9). Executive Order on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/09/09/executive-order-on-requiring-coronavirus-disease-2019-vaccination-for-federal-employees/ 

World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.   https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett  

Learning. 

 

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NURS 6050 Assignment: Advocating for the Nursing Role in Program Design and Implementation

NURS 6050 Discussion: The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation

NURS 6050 Assignment: Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been actively involved in promoting and protecting the health of populations globally. Thus, WHO interventions focus on all areas of the global healthcare spectrum to address global health issues. Global health issues usually necessitate worldwide cooperation in response, planning, prevention, preparedness, and management that display health equity issues among countries (Da Silva Fagundes et al.,2018). The purpose of this paper is to discuss a global health issue and health policies enacted to address the issue in the US versus Australia.

Global Healthcare Issue  Access to COVID-19 tests, medicines, and vaccines  
DescriptionAny Covid-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines developed should benefit the whole world. Equitable access to Covid-19 tests, medicines, and vaccines means that: They are available to people who need them most.They have suitable options for all healthcare settings.Safe and effective options are accessed by all groups of people.They are affordable to low- and high-income countries alike.    
CountryUnited States  Australia
Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issue  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.The policy requires group health plans and individual health insurance policies to cover any qualifying COVID-19 preventive service, without cost-sharing. The policy also adds that COVID-19 tests are to be covered without cost-sharing by private insurance and Medicare, even if that test is yet to receive FDA emergency use authorization (Moss et al., 2020).Medicaid must also cover COVID tests regardless of whether they are authorized for emergency use by the FDA.    Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. The policy states that the COVID-19 vaccine will be free for all Medicare-eligible Australians and all visa-holders, excluding visa sub-classes. When COVID-19 vaccines are available, supplies will initially be limited and directed toward priority groups for vaccination (Attwell et al., 2021).  
What are the strengths of this policy?The policy expands Medicaid coverage and increases access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines to US citizens.  The policy supports early access to and delivery of safe and effective COVID-19 treatments and vaccines as soon as they become available (Attwell et al., 2021).
What are the weaknesses of this policy?The policy does not consider individuals without health insurance or have a provision to increase access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines for the uninsured (Moss et al., 2020).  The policy requires mandatory vaccination for a majority of occupations and workforces, which is against individuals’ right to autonomy (Attwell et al., 2021).
Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the specified global health issue. (Be specific and provide examples)  Individuals with limited access to healthcare due to lack of insurance may lack access to COVID-19 tests, medications, and vaccines.Thus, they may experience poor health outcomes due to delayed diagnosis and treatment or lack of vaccination (Paremoer et al., 2021).Individuals with limited access to healthcare due to lack of insurance may lack access to COVID-19 tests, medications, and vaccines (Paremoer et al., 2021). Thus, they may experience poor health outcomes due to delayed diagnosis and treatment or lack of vaccination.
How has each country government addressed cost, quality, and access to the selected global health issue?The US provides consumer protections on balance billing for COVID-19 tests.The government has increased some Medicare payments for treating patients with COVID-19 (Lukens et al., 2022).It increases access by requiring coverage of any COVID-19 vaccine without cost-sharing.  The Australian government has given a directive that charges should not be levied on consumers for COVID-19 immunization (Attwell et al., 2021).
How has the identified health policy impacted the health of the global population? (Be specific and provide examples)The health policy has increased access to healthcare for COVID-19 patients.The policy successfully improved access to critical services, prevented coverage loss, increased continuity of coverage, and made coverage more affordable when Americans needed it most.  The policy promoted equity in access to COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.Thus, the people who needed the vaccines most, such as healthcare workers and vulnerable populations, received the vaccine first.
Describe the potential impact of the identified health policy on the role of nurse in each country.The nurse has the role of ensuring that individuals are tested for COVID-19 and receive appropriate treatments and vaccinations regardless of their insurance status (Da Silva Fagundes et al., 2018).Adequate treatment of persons with COVID-19 is essential since it controls the spread of the virus, lowering the number of new cases.  The nurse has the role of ensuring that individuals are tested for COVID-19 and receive appropriate treatments and vaccinations regardless of their insurance status (Da Silva Fagundes et al., 2018).Adequate treatment of persons with COVID-19 is essential since it controls the spread of the virus, lowering the number of newly infected cases.    
Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. (Be specific and provide examples)Global health issues strain local healthcare organizations in the US, leading to poor coordination and delivery of healthcare services. Healthcare organizations often encounter challenges in workforce and finances when there are pandemics like the COVID-19 pandemic.  Global health issues create a significant financial strain on local health organizations in Australia.Many resources are channeled towards managing the adverse effects caused by the health issue, including treatment and rehabilitation.The state and local governments are forced to create or modify health policies to direct the response to global health issues.
General Notes/CommentsThe CARES Act promotes health equity in the access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccinations since any insurance provides coverage without cost sharing.  The COVID-19 vaccine was the best approach to protect the Australian community.The policy aimed to promote early access to and delivery of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and treatments for all Australians.

Part 2: A Plan for Social Change

Access to COVID-19 tests, medicines, and vaccines is one sure way of controlling the COVID-19 spread and fighting the pandemic that has taken the lives of hundreds of thousands globally and left the healthcare systems overwhelmed. Thus, it is crucial for healthcare advocates to direct their advocacy initiatives to ensure health equity and accessibility for tests, treatments, and vaccines for COVID-19. Advocacy initiatives should champion policies that ensure treatments and vaccines are available for all populations regardless of their insurance status, which is the only way to curb the pandemic.

As a nurse leader, I have the role of championing health equity in the COVID-19 vaccination to ensure all individuals access vaccines in the fight against the pandemic. For example, I can take part in developing policies and presenting them to elected legislators to address the challenges faced by individuals in accessing COVID-19 treatment and vaccines. I can propose and champion a policy that provides free treatment and vaccines for all citizens (Da Silva Fagundes et al., 2018). The policy can also include vaccination outreach programs to increase accessibility to vaccines, especially for people living in remote areas with limited transportation options. In addition, I can organize community education programs to educate individuals about COVID-19 vaccines and the importance of getting vaccinated to control the spread of the disease.  

Incorporating a global perspective may significantly impact my local practice since there will be increased access to healthcare for the patient populations served, thus resulting in better healthcare outcomes. It will also lower the spread of communicable diseases like COVID-19 infections and reduce the health complications, morbidities, and mortalities associated with these infections, thus reducing related healthcare costs (Da Silva Fagundes et al., 2018). This will promote social change since more people will be aware of approaches to reduce the spread of communicable diseases like vaccination. Thus, they may embrace other vaccinations, like Influenza vaccines which will lower the burden of infectious diseases.

Conclusion

Access to COVID-19 tests, medicines, and vaccines is a global health issue since this plays a key role in curbing the pandemic. Countries have enacted policies to ensure their citizens access tests, treatments, and vaccines, which will promote the control of the virus. The US has the CARES act, which promotes access to COVID-19 treatments and vaccines by requiring insurance providers to cover these services without cost sharing. Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination policy directs all individuals to access vaccines at no cost. 

References

Attwell, K., Rizzi, M., McKenzie, L., Carlson, S. J., Roberts, L., Tomkinson, S., & Blyth, C. (2021). COVID-19 vaccine Mandates: An Australian attitudinal study. Vaccine, S0264-410X(21)01530-9. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.056

Da Silva Fagundes, L., Frota, O. P., & Silva, E. M. (2018). Nursing practices in vaccination: An integrative review. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice8(8), 128-136. https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v8n8p128

Lukens, G., Sullivan, J., & Erzouki, F. (2022). COVID Relief Provisions Stabilized Health Coverage, Improved Access and Affordability. CBPP, March, p. 10.

Moss, K., Wexler, A., Dawson, L., Long, M., Kates, J., Cubanski, J., … & Pollitz, K. (2020). The coronavirus aid, relief, and economic security act: Summary of key health provisions. San Francisco: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

Paremoer, L., Nandi, S., Serag, H., & Baum, F. (2021). Covid-19 pandemic and the social determinants of health. Bmj, 372. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n129

Global Health Comparison

Individuals, health care organizations, and communities apply different strategies to cope with health problems. Formulating health policies is highly effective since many have political and legal support. These policies differ across countries, albeit addressing similar problems. This paper compares policies in the United States and Mexico in addressing childhood obesity.

Global Healthcare IssueChildhood obesity
DescriptionChildhood obesity is a global health concern with profound impacts on children’s health. Childhood obesity is a leading cause of high blood pressure and cholesterol and a huge risk factor for diabetes (Gätjens et al., 2020). It is among the diseases increasing the illness burden at homes, health care organizations, and countries. With lifestyles and nutritional habits changing, a multidimensional approach is needed to reduce childhood obesity.
CountryUnited StatesMexico
Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issueUnited States applies policies to reduce risk at a very young age. It addresses mothers’ and children’s nutritional concerns through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The policy intervention seeks to reduce childhood obesity by providing healthy foods and nutrition education, particularly to low-income families (State of Childhood Obesity, 2020).Mexico applies regulations to address childhood obesity problems. One such policy is the front-of-package labeling system that provides labeling specifications for pre-packaged food and non-alcoholic drink products (UNICEF Mexico, 2020). The policy provides warning labels for consumables with excessive critical nutrients and calories.
What are the strengths of this policy?WIC’s main strengths include addressing the needs of mothers and children simultaneously. It also targets mothers at critical periods- pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Besides nutritional provision, WIC also seeks to promote a healthy populace.The policy guides adults when purchasing pre-packaged food and drinks for children.
What are the weaknesses of this policy?The program only supports children up to five years. It concentrates mainly on nutrition, overlooking other aspects like physical activity. It only targets low-income populations, and childhood obesity is widespread even in high-income families.It is primarily educative in approach. In this case, it does not prevent the productive of processed foods and options high in calories.
Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the specified global health issue. (Be specific and provide examples)  Living conditions, socioeconomic status, neighborhoods, and education have a huge impact on childhood obesity. Gätjens et al. (2020) found that children from low-income families are more vulnerable to obesity due to affordability and access to healthy food options problems. A suitable example is the high rate of obesity among African Americans and Hispanics.Employment, education, neighborhoods, and socioeconomic activities determine people’s choices of lifestyles and food. Change in lifestyles and food options are among the leading triggers of childhood obesity. For instance, obesity rates are directly proportional to the consumption of processed foods.
How has each country’ government addressed cost, quality, and access to the selected global health issue?On cost, the US government funds the WIC to reduce costs associated with running the program. It was allocated $5.5 billion for the 2021 activities (Baldari & Aherne, 2020). Such support ensures more mothers and children can get healthy foods and access to health services and nutritional education.The Mexican government heavily fines companies that fail to provide correct labeling of pre-packaged foods. It also advocates for the production of foods low in calories by less taxation, which improves their access. Such interventions are instrumental in reducing childhood obesity.
How has the identified health policy impacted the health of the global population? (Be specific and provide examples)WIC has been instrumental in reducing obesity rates in young children. Through WIC, obesity rates declined from 15.9% in 2010 to 13.9% in 2016 (State of Childhood Obesity, 2020). The decline was significant among minority populations. Reducing obesity improves overall health outcomes.  Front-of-package labeling is a way of helping people to make informed decisions when buying foods and drinks. Accordingly, buyers avoid prepackaged foods with warning labels and go for the healthier options.
Describe the potential impact of the identified health policy on the role of nurse in each country.Nurses should play an educative role to ensure that eligible populations enroll in the WIC program. WIC also reduces the illness burden in communities by reducing obesity rates, implies that it reduces nurses’ workload.  Nurses should inform populations on the importance of labeling and how to identify unhealthy foods. They should also play an active role in influencing policies that require labeling of all foods to guide parents in decision-making.
Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. (Be specific and provide examples)Childhood obesity burdens healthcare organizations by increasing the number of people receiving healthcare services. With the rates still high, there is an urgent need for policy frameworks to be expanded to ensure that they are multifaceted. For instance, WIC should be expanded to look into more interventions to address the childhood obesity problem besides healthy food options and nutritional education and referrals.Healthcare organizations respond to populations’ health problems directly. The magnitude of their burdens and responsibilities is directly proportional to the impact and severity of global health issues. It is important to formulate policies such as front-of-package labeling to address childhood obesity. Global health issues necessitate the formulation and progressive update of such policies as their dynamics change over time.
General Notes/CommentsWIC is commendable at all levels. It is among the interventions that address childhood obesity problem through a practical approach. If supplemented by other policy interventions and programs, it will help to reduce childhood obesity to a huge extent.Children need protection from childhood obesity. The front-of package labeling is a practical approach to addressing this problem. The government should continue supporting it and improving its implementation approaches to keep children safe from the risk of obesity.

A Plan for Social Change

The health practice keeps on evolving as illness dynamics change over time. A glance at health care issues shows that they transcend national and international borders and are characterized by disproportionate impacts across populations. The vulnerable and underserved populations remain the most adversely affected. With the healthcare environment highly evolving, healthcare providers should embrace a global perspective which can be achieved by engaging in activities that enable healthcare providers to broaden their view of care and health problems. Such practices involve research, team-based care, and medical missions. As a nurse leader, it is crucial to be in the front line of improving cultural sensitivity and other practices that make the health practice more global in its approach to everyday problems.

Incorporating a global perspective or lens can have huge implications on local practice and my role as a nurse leader. Spaulding (2018) suggested that a global perspective in healthcare requires its providers to be more interconnected. In the local practice, health care providers would be obliged to examine how issues such as diverse cultures and international influences and beliefs affect health and health outcomes. As a nurse leader, my role would broaden since I would be tasked with ensuring that nurses understand the interconnection between health systems and the importance of approaching health care matters with a broadened mindset to achieve the desired outcomes.

Health care providers should be critical thinkers and highly innovative in their approach to care. Embracing a global perspective implies that health care providers are ready to apply comprehensive approaches applicable at a global scale to enhance health outcomes. Such an approach to care is the foundation of social change since social change entails enabling societies to live better lives. It is more about improving productivity, which is achieved by using a global perspective and proven interventions to address health care challenges.

In conclusion, health care problems across the globe vary according to people’s geographical locations, resources, and socioeconomic situations, among other factors. Policy interventions are designed to reduce the illness burden and promote healthy living by reducing vulnerabilities and protecting vulnerable populations, among other objectives. The comparative analysis between the United States and Mexico’s policies illustrates this difference as the countries look forward to ensuring that their people live safely and healthily.

References

Baldari, C., & Aherne, D. (2020, Mar 13). Fact sheet: Impact of the president’s 2021 budget on nutrition. First Focus on Children. https://firstfocus.org/resources/fact-sheet/fact-sheet-impact-of-the-presidents-2021-budget-on-nutrition

Gätjens, I., Hasler, M., Di Giuseppe, R., Bosy-Westphal, A., & Plachta-Danielzik, S. (2020). Family and lifestyle factors mediate the relationship between socioeconomic status and fat mass in children and adolescents. Obesity Facts13(6), 596-607. https://doi.org/10.1159/000511927

Spaulding, C. (2018, May 11). Our role in public health: Taking a global perspective.  AAP News & Journals. https://www.aappublications.org/news/2018/05/11/our-role-in-public-health-taking-a-global-perspective-pediatrics-5-11-18

State of Childhood Obesity. (2020). Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. https://stateofchildhoodobesity.org/policy/wic/

UNICEF Mexico. (2020, Mar 04). What are we waiting for?Child obesity in Mexico presents an urgency that demands immediate change. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/stories/what-are-we-waiting-for-obesity-mexico

 

I have selected a health program promoting health for children and adolescents in United states. This program includes reducing obesity risk in ECE facilities, preventing chronic diseases, and preventing tobacco use among school students (CDC). For promoting children’s health CDC recommended improving health food options in schools, encouraging good nutrition and physical activity for early obesity prevention, health education, survey, and monitoring youth tobacco through National Youth tobacco survey (CDC). These strategies are listed here to measure and compare the evolution strategies. According to Walden University, LLC “we need to think about evaluation of the program from the very beginning, when first crafting the policy and when we are first implementing the policy”. So, it is critical to design evolution strategies while designing and implementing a program and to vision ahead on measuring the effectiveness. 

Walden University, LLC said that “If you cannot measure you would not know its effectiveness”. To measure the evaluation CDC has framework of program evaluation which includes “engaging stakeholders, describing program, focus evaluation design, gathering credible evidence, justifying conclusions, ensuring use, and sharing lessons. According to CDC, “evolution program selecting an evaluation consultant, gain consensus among stakeholders, develop process evaluation questions”. For example, “for increasing implementation of effective physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco –use prevention (PANT) strategies in schools and schools district within a CSH framework” (CDC). The questionnaire for evaluation for these strategies will be – “to what extent does the program provide model CSH and PANT policies, how many schools and school district are aware of CSH and PANT, how useful the technical assistance in helping schools for implementing these strategies”. Additionally, data collection and analysis are another way to measure effectiveness of the program and in the end, there will be evaluation reports that will justify how successful the strategies for the program were. 

This heath care program to promote children’s health design is based on improving nutrition, tobacco control campaign and physical activities improving in school children. Recent research suggested that improving health in schools and health programs promoting health bring positive influence on the students improve their physical health and academic grades. Datas collected shows “42% of US high schools students mostly A’s, ate breakfast all 7 days, 66% Us high school students mostly A’s ate vegetables, 41% student did not drink soda or pop achieve A grades” (CDC). Datas illustrated good dietary habits not only give good health but also make students focused and sharp in studies. In 2021 2.55 million (9.3%) reported using tobacco products in high school. An estimated 15.8 million (60.9%) students reported and recognized in the high schools and middle schools participate in antitobacco campaign programs (US Food & Drug administration).  

Social determinants are education, poverty, and discrimination directly and indirectly of health, where families live and work, “families and care givers directly influence the health of young children” (Mistry et al, 2012). Poverty can be managed by taking help from government and community resources and providing healthy food to children. School also provides free healthy foods to children who are under the poverty line, health education regarding healthy diets, healthy environment physically, mentally required for children to grow in favorable conditions to be better health wise. According to Mistry et al (2012), another social determinate is institutional resources include parks, fresh food markets and early education centers play important roles in promoting health and developments of young children”. 

 

The ACA seems to be a popular healthcare program. It has been one of the most significant programs/policies in the last 12 years. Since 2010 the number of uninsured Americans fell from 48 million to 28 million in 2016 (Finegold & Conmy, 2021). The 20 million difference shows how this policy made healthcare more accessible and affordable to some. The social determinants you mentioned were lower socioeconomic level citizens and the elderly. To expand that further, racism, poverty, unsafe neighborhoods, and lack of education are some of the many social determinants that create health inequity in our country (Leong & Roberts,2013).

Seeing as this is such a comprehensive policy, it affected more people than I think the government thought. Those who did not fall under the poverty level did not see this implementation as positively as others. Those who did not qualify for subsidies had to go else wear for plans, and those plans were unaffordable for some Americans. The ACA has been great in helping those falling at or under the poverty level. Although the policy impacted millions of people who gained health insurance, it put some people into unaffordable plans, thus making them lose healthcare. In these situations, the good outweighed the bad, but that does not mean others did not suffer.

Finegold, K., & Conmy, A. (2021, February). HP-2021-02 trends in the U.S. uninsured population, 2010-2020 – Aspe. TRENDS IN THE U.S. UNINSURED POPULATION, 2010-2020. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/private/pdf/265041/trends-in-the-us-uninsured.pdf 

Leong, D., & Roberts, E. (2013). Social determinants of health and the Affordable Care

 Act. Rhode Island medical journal (2013), 96(7), 20–22.

Hi agree with you and would like to add, Health informatics is very useful in patient safety and patient care (Feldman et. al., 2018).  The ability to access and efficiently use data is very important in patient care, especially for nurses.  It is therefore important that nurses and other medical personnel understand how to use technology to retrieve important medical data in an effort to optimize patient care.  Data created by medical informatics is useless if nurses and others cannot properly retrieve and put it to good use in order to facilitate patient safety (McCullough et. al., 2010).   Information and technology skills are essential before the nurse can take advantage of medical informatics.  Without these skills, nurses will be ineffective in leveraging medical informatics to increase patient safety and outcome. 

Us  nurse represents the ideal personnel that would be the best champion for information and technology skills to increase patient safety and outcome.   Nurses are  the main advocate for the patient as the nurse cares for the patient from day one of the patient’s entry into the hospital.  In addition, nurse has the educational background and training that would allow valuable insight of patient data and information

References:

Feldman, S. S., Buchalter, S., & Hayes, L. W. (2018). Health Information Technology in 

Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety: Literature Review. JMIR medical informatics6(2), e10264. 

McCullough JS, Casey M, Moscovice I, Prasad S. The effect of health information 

technology on quality in U.S. hospitals. Health Aff (Millwood) 2010 Apr;29(4):647–54.

Global Health Comparison Grid Template 

HIV/AIDS is one of the health problems that are of concern to public health globally. HIV/AIDs is associated with significant burden to the patients, their significant others and the population as a whole. The effect of HIV/AIDS can be seen from the high cost associated with its treatment as well as loss of productivity in the affected populations. HIV/AIDs also has significant effects on the overall socioeconomic development in a state. Therefore, this paper compares the policy approaches adopted to address HIV/AIDs in the USA and Canada.  

Global Healthcare Issue  HIV/AIDS 
Description HIV/AIDS is one of the health problems that are affecting a significant proportion of population globally. The treatment of HIV/AIDs has been improving over the past years with better outcomes due to technological advancements and new interventions for the disease. HIV/AIDS is a problem experienced in both the US and Canada. Statistics shows that about 1.2 million people in America have HIV/AIDS. The prevalence is reported to be high in specific groups such as ethnic minorities when compared to the native populations (hiv.gov, 2021). In Canada, the incidence rate of HIV/AIDS is reported to be 6 per every 100000 people. The estimated number of people living with HIV is 62050 (Haddad et al., 2019). The burden of HIV/AIDs is significantly high in both governments. As a result, they have embraced policies that aim at improving the safety, quality, and access to care for people affected by HIV/AIDS.    
Country United States  Canada  
Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issue The US government has embraced a number of interventions to address the issue of HIV/AIDs. It adopted the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for use in implementing response and management of the epidemic. Through the strategy, the US government has increased its funding on programs that aim at addressing the disease. It has also increase its screening services to facilitate the early diagnosis and treatment of patients. The government has also increased the access to healthcare for patients with HIV/AIDs through programs such as Medicare and Medicaid (Panagiotoglou et al., 2018).          The government of Canada has also invested its resources in initiatives that aim at the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDs. The government through its initiatives supports programs that aim at creating awareness in the population about HIV/AIDs. The government also works closely with other agencies to empower the populations address the issue of HIV/AIDs (Bourgeois et al., 2017). 
What are the strengths of this policy? One of the strengths of the policy adopted by the US to address HIV/AIDs is its focus on disease prevention and early management. The policy also addresses barriers to healthcare for patients with HIV. It also promotes health promotion through early diagnosis and treatment (Beyrer, 2021).           The policy by the Canadian government is associated with the strength of promoting population empowerment. It also mobilizes the use of the locally available resources to address issues related to HIV/AIDs. There is also the increased focus on community participation in addressing the health issue (Haddad et al., 2018).  
What are the weaknesses of this policy? The policy strategy utilized in the US does not account for the actual unmet needs of the populations affected by HIV/AIDS. The policy also ignores the critical resources that are needed for the effective management of the epidemic. Lastly, the approach to funding the implementation of strategies is not provided. Therefore, it might be difficult to implement most of the strategies to address HIV/AIDS.            The policy of HIV/AIDS management in Canada has the weakness of providing a comprehensive analysis of the sustainability of HIV/AIDS prevention and management strategies. It also lacks an effective framework for continuous improvement of the policy provisions.  
Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the specified global health issue. (Be specific and provide examples)  Social determinants of health may affect HIV/AIDS management and prevention in the US in a number of ways. Social determinants such as socioeconomic status affect access to high quality care among the affected populations. People with high socioeconomic status are likely to access the care that they need to affordability of care when compared to low socioeconomic status. Factors such as ethnicity also affect HIV/AIDS. For example, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is higher in ethnic minority groups such as African Americans when compared to native Americans. Employment status also affects HIV/AIDs. In this case, lack of employment predisposes individuals to engaging in risky sexual behaviors such as prostitution, which predisposes them to HIV/AIDS (Jeffries & Henny, 2019).  Income level is one of the social determinants of health that relates to HIV/AIDS in Canada. People with high income experience enhanced health outcomes in relation to HIV/AIDS when compared to low income earners. The level of income influences access and affordability of high quality care. Level of education is the other determinant of health that relates to HIV/AIDS. Level of education influences awareness about the causes, risks, treatment, and prevention of HIV/AIDS. For example, educated populations that are well informed about HIV/AIDS are least likely to engage in practices that predispose them to the epidemic when compared to the illiterate persons. The influence can also  be seen from the utilization of preventive and health promotion services for people living with HIV/AIDS (Gormley et al., 2020).  
How has each country’ government addressed cost, quality, and access to the selected global health issue? The US government has addressed issue of cost, quality and access to care for HIV/AIDS patients through programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Patients also have access to free anti-retroviral medications. Testing and counseling for HIV/AIDs for the population are also free. The government also adopted the Affordable Care Act that increased the ability of the population, including those affected by HIV/AIDS to access the care that they need (Panagiotoglou et al., 2018).           The government of Canada through its provinces provides partial or full coverage for antiretroviral medications for its affected populations. Through it, the cost-burden of medications is reduced. The government through programs such as Trillum Drug Program also addresses issues of cost, access and quality by covering the costs of medications for the population. Screening services for patients with HIV/AIDs and the population are also free (Gormley et al., 2020).  
How has the identified health policy impacted the health of the global population? (Be specific and provide examples) The National HIV/AIDS strategy has increased access to high quality and affordable care for patients affected by HIV/AIDs. The policy has also increased the lifespan of the patients due to reduced complications and worsening of outcomes. The policy has also led to increased productivity among the affected populations due to reduced hospitalization, hospital visits, and costs of care.           The policy on increased funding for HIV/AIDS programs adopted by the Canadian government has enhanced access to care for the patients. It has also expanded access to preventive and screening services for the population. It has also addressed barriers to care such as cost that people living with HIV/AIDS experience.  
Describe the potential impact of the identified health policy on the role of nurse in each country. The impact of the policy on the role of the nurses is that nurses have to act as advocates for the people with HIV/AIDS. Nurses have to ensure equity in access to and use of HIV/AIDS-related care and services. They also have to educate the public about the benefits of HIV/AIDs screening, early treatment and prevention strategies (Mottiar & Lodge, 2018).           The impact of the policy adopted by the Canadian government on the role of nurses is that nurses have to advocate the adoption of better policies to address the needs of patients with HIV/AIDs. The majority of care services for HIV/AIDs in Canada are not universally covered in government programs for health. The implication is the high cost of care incurred by people with HIV/AIDs. Nurses therefore have the role of advocating the adoption of policies that address barriers to care for people with HIV/AIDS (Mottiar & Lodge, 2018).  
Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. (Be specific and provide examples) HIV/AIDS affect local healthcare organizations and policies in America. HIV/AIDs cause significant burden to the affected populations in America. It also contributes to high expenditure by the state in addressing the needs of the affected populations. It also affects policies by increasing the need for policy provisions that expand access to care for the affected populations. For example, besides the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid, the state has to adopt new policies or policy improvements to address the social determinants of health in populations affected by HIV/AIDS (hiv.gov, 2021).             HIV/AIDS also affects local healthcare organizations and policies in Canada. An increasing prevalence of HIV/AIDs results in increased care needs and workload in healthcare organizations. It also increases the burden of the disease to the patients and significant others due to issues such as costs and loss of productivity. As noted earlier, Canada does not have universal coverage programs for HIV/AIDs patients. As a result, it increases the need for the adoption of more inclusive policies for HIV/AIDs in the state (Bourgeois et al., 2017).  
General Notes/Comments              

Conclusion  

In conclusion, HIV/AIDs is an issue of concern for both the US and Canada. The US and Canada have adopted policies aiming at improving quality, cost and access to care for HIV/AIDs. The policies have a number of strengths as well as weaknesses. Nurses have a unique responsibility of ensuring that the policies adopted address the barriers to care experienced by patients with HIV/AIDs. Therefore, they should advocate the prioritization of the care needs of people with HIV/AIDs in policy-related issues.  

Part 2 

An effective plan of social change to address HIV/AIDS locally and internationally is embracing multi-sectorial and stakeholder interventions for health. The interventions should adopt the global perspective because of their ability to promote inclusiveness in care as well as the realization of care needs of the diverse patient populations. I would therefore advocate the incorporation of global perspectives into my practice and role as a nurse through a number of ways. One of them is through creation of awareness. I will work with other nurses to create awareness among healthcare providers on the importance of global perspective. I will also link nurses with other nurses globally for them to share ideas on the ways in which enhanced health outcomes can be achieved in HIV/AIDS management. I will also champion the use of globally recognized, evidence-based interventions in addressing HIV/AIDS (Catton, 2020). Through the above interventions, I will be advocating the use of global perspective in my practice as a nurse leader.  

The incorporation of the global perspective in addressing HIV/AIDS may impact my local practice and as a nurse leader. Firstly, global perspective builds the desired cultural competence in nurses and nurse leaders. It enables them to understand the unique approaches to care that can be used in their practice to improve outcomes of care. Global perspective also advances the knowledge, skills, and experience of nurses and nurse leaders. Nurses and nurse leaders learn about new aspects of practice that can be used to advance patient care. Global perspective also strengthens system understanding of the nurses and nurse leaders. Nurses understand the critical determinants of inter-professional and international relationships that should be incorporated into care for optimum outcomes (Yatsu & Saeki, 2021).  

Incorporation of global perspective into my local practice as a nurse leader contributes to social change. Firstly, it increases the cultural competence that I need in working with patients and individuals from diverse backgrounds. The global lens also strengthens my understanding of the system and structural changes that are needed in nursing practice to address the needs of the diverse populations. For example, it increases my understanding of interventions such as research, innovation, and evidence-based practice in addressing global issues affecting health. Therefore, the understanding is a critical source of social change in my practice.  

References 

Beyrer, C. (2021). Work undone—HIV/AIDS in the USA. Science, 372(6549), 1369–1369. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abk0619 

Bourgeois, A., Edmunds, M., Awan, A., Jonah, L., Varsaneux, O., & Siu, W. (2017). HIV in Canada—Surveillance Report, 2016. Canada Communicable Disease Report, 43(12), 248–256. https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v43i12a01 

Catton, H. (2020). Global nursing leadership: Alive and kicking in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. International Nursing Review, 67(3), 301–302. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12623 

Gormley, R., Lin, S. Y., Carter, A., Nicholson, V., Webster, K., Martin, R. E., Milloy, M.-J., Pick, N., Howard, T., Wang, L., de Pokomandy, A., Loutfy, M., Kaida, A., Abdul-Noor, R., Anema, A., Angel, J., Bakombo, D. M., Barry, F., Bauer, G., … on behalf of the CHIWOS Research Team. (2020). Social Determinants of Health and Retention in HIV Care Among Recently Incarcerated Women Living with HIV in Canada. AIDS and Behavior, 24(4), 1212–1225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-019-02666-7 

Haddad, N., Li, J., Totten, S., & McGuire, M. (2018). HIV in Canada—Surveillance Report, 2017. Canada Communicable Disease Report, 44(12), 324–332. https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v44i12a03 

Haddad, N., Robert, A., Weeks, A., Popovic, N., Siu, W., & Archibald, C. (2019). HIV in Canada—Surveillance Report, 2018. Canada Communicable Disease Report, 45(12), 304–312. https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v45i12a01 

hiv.gov. (2021, June 2). U.S. Statistics. HIV.Gov. https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics 

Jeffries, W. L., & Henny, K. D. (2019). From Epidemiology to Action: The Case for Addressing Social Determinants of Health to End HIV in the Southern United States. AIDS and Behavior, 23(3), 340–346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-019-02687-2 

Mottiar, S., & Lodge, T. (2018). The role of community health workers in supporting South Africa’s HIV/ AIDS treatment programme. African Journal of AIDS Research, 17(1), 54–61. https://doi.org/10.2989/16085906.2017.1402793 

Panagiotoglou, D., Olding, M., Enns, B., Feaster, D. J., del Rio, C., Metsch, L. R., Granich, R. M., Strathdee, S. A., Marshall, B. D. L., Golden, M. R., Shoptaw, S., Schackman, B. R., Nosyk, B., Del Rio, C., Dombrowski, J. C., Feaster, D. J., Gebo, K. A., Golden, M. R., Granich, R. M., … the Localized HIV Modeling Study Group. (2018). Building the Case for Localized Approaches to HIV: Structural Conditions and Health System Capacity to Address the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Six US Cities. AIDS and Behavior, 22(9), 3071–3082. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2166-6 

Yatsu, H., & Saeki, A. (2021). Current trends in global nursing: A scoping review. Nursing Open, n/a(n/a). https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.938 

Part 2: A Plan for Social Change

As a nurse leader, I will advocate for a global perspective on health issues like abortion in local practice by constantly improving my knowledge on global health issues and their impact on the health and wellbeing of local communities. I will also initiate interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural competence, and inclusion in my workplace to improve overall performance and quality of care. By participating in global health initiatives, I will bring global perspective to the local community and advocate for access to global health information. These efforts will enhance the provision of culturally competent and inclusive healthcare services to my local community, creating a health environment for patients, their families and the healthcare personnel.

Incorporation of a global perspective or lens can significantly impact my local practice and role as a nurse leader. With the rise of unsafe abortions leading to thousands of deaths and morbidities, nurse leaders should rethink their role in public health promotion to develop effective crisis mitigation strategies. As a nurse leader, I will collaborate with state and local health organizations to create awareness of the risks of unsafe abortion to reduce the rates of maternal deaths and morbidities.

Consequently, the nurse leader will contribute to social change addressing health disparities within local communities, promoting cultural competence to eliminate cultural barriers, bringing knowledge and resources to local communities through global health partnerships, and advocating for inclusivity in the workplace. These contributions result in improved job satisfaction for the nurse taskforce, address complex health challenges and improve patient outcomes.

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