Healthy People 2020 Analysis

As per Healthy People 2020 most Americans do not consume healthy diets and are not physically active at levels needed to maintain proper health. As a result of these behaviors the nation has experienced a dramatic increase in obesity in the U.S with 1 in 3 adults (34.0%) and 1 and 6 children and adolescents (16.2%) are obese. In addition to grave health consequences of being overweight and obese. It significantly raises medical cost and causes a great burden on the U.S medical care delivery system ("Healthy People 2020," 2014, p. 1).

One important Healthy People 2020 initiative to discuss is the prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections. The goal set through Healthy People 2020 (2015) is, “To promote healthy sexual behaviors, strengthen community capacity, and increase access to quality services to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and their complications.” This health care initiative is important through-out the lifespan. It is important when trying to prevent transmission from mother to child and during sexual contact between adolescents, young adults, middle-aged adults, and the elderly. During the pregnancy and birthing process it is important to identify TORCH infections that can be acquired congenitally from mother to offspring. These infections can be transmitted during the birthing process and through breast feeding. It requires important education and prevention measures to help reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality (Stegmann & Carey, 2002). This group

The Healthy People 2020 organization is generates objectives that are science-based up to ten years to improve the health of Americans (). The Healthy People 2020 monitors the American’s health so that they can encourage collaboration amongst communities, inspire individuals to take action in their health decisions, and determine the results of prevention actions (). The overall goal of the Healthy People 2020 organization is, “attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death” (para. 5). The Healthy People 2020 website has several topics and objectives to gain knowledge of. Two of the topics that will be discussed are diabetes, heart disease and stroke, as well as each topics risk factors in relation to its objectives.

I spent the past week reviewing all the data I have collected to this point. The data and health needs reported in Healthy People 2020, as well as the epidemiological and community data I collected, convey consistent themes. The HP 2020 topics of injury and violence prevention, hearing and communication disorders, oral health and access to health services all appear to be topics of concern and are identified health needs of the community I am targeting. With epidemiological data showing the rates of autism climbing at steady levels, the need for an increase awareness and planned interventions involving these health topics will be essential to meet the objectives established by the federal government.

US Department of Health and Human Services (2014) Healthy People.Gov: 2020 Topics and Objectives. Retrieved from: http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/default.aspx

According to “Healthy People 2020”, n.d. exclusively breast feeding infants for at least 3- 6 months significantly impacts their health outcomes and has long terms health benefits. Ultimately, the goal is to encourage nursing mothers to breastfeed for 1 year (“Maternal Infant and Child,” n.d.). Despite this knowledge women continue to face challenges in regard to public or employer accommodation to assist nursing mothers.

In the Common Wealth Fund’s most recent report of Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, despite the fact the US Health care system has the highest healthcare per capita expenditure and the highest proportion of specialists; it consistently has an overall ranking of last, in comparison to other industrialized nations in terms of health care efficiency, equity, quality, access, and healthy lives (Davis, Stremikis, Squires & Schoen, 2014). Healthy lives measured by mortality amenable to health care (deaths prevented with timely and effective care), healthy life expectancy and infant mortality, illustrates that a country is ensuring individuals live long and flourishing lives (Davis, Stremikis, Squires & Schoen, 2014). Healthy People 2020 which was launched

Healthy People 2020 has chosen twelve health indicators and has set a goal to improve them. Public health has a significant role in ensuring that these topics are addressed and that the goal is achieved. The leading health topic and indicator that I chose is within the Mental Health Status Improvement, and the indicator is reducing the suicide rate. In 2010, when the 10-year initiative started, the baseline measurement for suicides was 12.1; however, in 2015, it had increased to 13.3. The HP2020 target goal is 10.2 (Healthy People, 2017). The increase denotes that there was no progress made and that the measure worsens instead of improving.

Released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services each decade, Healthy People reflects the idea that setting objectives and providing science-based benchmarks to track and monitor progress can motivate and focus action (Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Healthy People 2020 represents the fourth generation of this initiative, building on a foundation of three decades of work (Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Over the years it has been modified, strengthened, and expanded to cover a wide range of health related concerns with its main focus aimed at prioritizing and emphasizing disease prevention. The goals of Healthy People 2020 are to attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability,

Healthy People 2020 define health equality as “the attainment of the highest level of health for all people.” Comprehension of this ideal brings forth the conclusion that everyone should receive equal amount of attention to prevent inequalities, injustices, and to remove health and health care disparities. According to the National Institute of Health, health disparities are resulted from multiple factors defined by race/ethnicity, sex, education, geographic location, income, and disability status. These disparities can stem from many elements like increase risk for disease, which may originate genetically, by ethnicity, or familial factors, occupational exposure, and if access to health care is available. Health inequality has

According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) (2011), Healthy People has changed during the three decades of its existence. The mission of Healthy People 2020 is to: Determine healthcare priorities; Arrange for objectives and goals to be attainable at all levels; Classify research evaluation and data collection requirements; Increase community awareness and knowledge concerning healthy habits, illness, disability, and opportunities for advancement; in addition, Engage various divisions to strengthen guidelines and advance practices by using understanding and evidence-based practices.

Healthy people 2020 “ establishes national goals and objectives for policy, programs, and activities to address the major health challenges facing our country today, and seeks to assure conditions in which people can be healthy, both now and for generations to come” (Secretary Advisory Committee, 2010, pg., 2). This initiative helps supports people on their health and wellbeing. It strives to identify potential health risks and help support improvement priorities. Healthy people 2020 have elaborated with different sectors to strengthen these policies by proving goals and objectives.

Background Upson County, Georgia, is the focus of our Healthy People Analysis. It is primarily White and African Amerian with high-home ownership but low valued homes, lower income than most of the state, and over 20% of the population living below the poverty line. Most of the current economic activity comes from tourism, since the manufacturing base left the area over the last two decades. The county shares some of the major health concerns of poorer communities across the nation: high obesity and resultant disease, higher than average type-II diabetes, especially in children; high smoking and substance abuse rates; and a low level of adequate services and transportation to those services to help the problem (Upson County, Georgia, 2012)

According to Healthy People 2020 (HP 2020) (2014), nutrition, physical activity, and Obesity are one of the leading indicators ranking high-priority health issues. There are determinants that affect an individual’s to eat healthy, to be physically active, and maintain a healthy weight. The community setting has an essential effect on actions that impact health. For instance, there are communities that access to fresh fruits and vegetables is not available, and places for physical activities may not be available to motivate individuals to exercise or play. As well, gender, race, ethnicity, education level, and socioeconomic position determine the individual’s perception on healthy eating, physical activity, and obesity (HP 2020, 2014). Furthermore,

In 2010, Healthy People 2020 was started by the Department of Human Health Services. Health programs and research topics were instituted to help Americans live healthier and longer lives (CDC, 2014). The 42 topics presented are all very important in maintaining the goals set by Healthy People 2020. If these programs were to be cut or budget restraints imposed on them, the impact would be felt by all Americans. There would be more unhealthy people, preventable chronic diseases would be more prevalent, and education and health associated programs would be