Please read the Guidelines and follow the steps step by step.
Assessment 1 Guidelines: Identifying populations and health behaviours
Task: Identify a population and health behaviour warranting change. Identify the underlying reasons for the health behaviour and provide an example of an existing health promotion intervention in this area
Intent: To identify specific populations, their health behaviours and underlying psycho- social, medial, and political determinants
Weighting: 30%
Type: Essay
Length: 1,500 Words Please don’t forget (1500 words)
What is a population?
A group of people with a common definable characteristic. A population may be defined by culture or ethnic origin (e.g., Torres Strait Islanders), sexual orientation (e.g., bisexual women), gender identity (e.g., men),…. Please note that a population can still differ significantly between countries due to differences in the political and socio-economic environment. Hence, it is important to clearly define the population you are talking about (e.g., discuss bisexual women in Australia rather than just bisexual women in general). You might want to discuss a population you work with such as patients with a specific condition. Please not that in this case the condition would be the common characteristic defining the population, NOT the health behaviour warranting change.
In this part of the assessment you should a) define the population, b) describe and discuss common characteristic(s), and c) describe the population in detail (e.g., size of the population, where they commonly live etc.)
What is a health behaviour and which warrant change?
Sources will often define health behaviour as a behaviour or activity that enhances health or prevents ill-health. However, for the purpose of this assignment you would usually focus on a health impairing behaviour; this could be harmful substance use, unsafe sexual activity, low levels of or no physical activity, unhealthy diets, etc. It is important that the behaviour you talk about is clearly defined and relates to the population. You should discuss the prevalence of the behaviour (both within the population and in comparison to other groups or the general population) as well as the negative (and positive) consequences of the behaviour on the population’s mental, physical, and social health. You may want to discuss broader macro-level consequences of their health behaviours as well (e.g., financial burden). This section of your assessment should present a sound and concise argument to why it is important to change this behaviour.
Underlying reasons for the behaviour
Why is this behaviour more prevalent in your population? What is the cause? Review the definition of social determinants of health as a starting point, looking at how differences in socio-economic positioning can explain disparities in health outcomes between the general society and the population at hand. Depending on population and behaviour, consider socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions, social and community networks, individual lifestyle factors as well as bio-medical factors. Discuss how these determinants affect the behaviour specifically. Remember, disparities are often multifaceted and may originate from an interplay of bio-medical and socio-economic determinants.