Posted: June 14th, 2023

COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING

COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING
Discussion Social Factors

There are many factors that make people healthy or ill. This week we will focus on the social factors and determinants that impact health.
It is time to get out into your community!
• Go online to the U.S. Census Bureau at https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/ Links to an external site.(*note, you will be using this website in the Week 2 assignment, so you can get started on collecting all the required data if desired)
o Input your local zip code, city, or county. Try to get as specific data as possible (city, township, county).
o Next, identify the:
 Total population
 Median income
 Percentage or number of persons living in poverty
• Go to your local grocery store, use a flyer, or app. Include the stores name, city, and state. Identify cost for the following items (please note whether items are organic):
o 1 gallon of milk
o 1 loaf of bread
o 1 bag of apples (include price per pound)
o 1 bag of carrots
o 1 large container of yogurt
o 1 2-liter of soda
o 1 bag of chips
o 1 package of cookies
• Utilizing the data collected, discuss social factors that might impact what groceries are purchased. Try to be as specific to your community as possible (location, availability, poverty levels, etc.).
• Discuss how a community health nurse (CHN) could use one of the 17 intervention categories from the Public Health Intervention Wheel to address areas of food security (Nies & McEwen, 2019).
• In your responses to classmates, include comparisons and contrasting information.
Your discussion post should look like:
• Paragraph one: Utilizing the data collected, discuss a social factor that might impact what groceries are purchased. Try to be as specific to your community as possible (location, availability, poverty levels, etc.)
• Paragraph two: Utilizing the data collected, discuss another social factor that might impact what groceries are purchased. Try to be as specific to your community as possible (location, availability, poverty levels, etc.)
• Paragraph three: Discuss how a community health nurse (CHN) could use one of the 17 intervention categories from the Public Health Intervention Wheel to address areas of food security
• Resources: Where did you find your data?

In my community, the median income is $65,000 and the poverty rate is 10%. One social factor that impacts what groceries are purchased is the availability of healthy options. In low-income areas, there may be a lack of grocery stores that offer fresh produce and other healthy options, forcing individuals to purchase cheaper, less nutritious items. Additionally, the cost of healthy options may be too high for those living in poverty, further limiting access.

Another social factor that impacts grocery purchasing in my community is cultural food preferences. Certain ethnic communities may prefer to purchase culturally specific items that may not be readily available or affordable in the area, leading to less variety in their diets.

A community health nurse could use the intervention category of advocacy to address areas of food security. They could work with local government officials and community organizations to advocate for policies and programs that increase access to healthy food options, such as farmer’s markets or community gardens. By raising awareness of the importance of healthy eating and advocating for changes in the food environment, a CHN can help improve the overall health of the community.

Data was found from the U.S. Census Bureau website and local grocery stores.

Comparing with my classmates’ posts, it seems that access to transportation also plays a role in grocery purchasing decisions, as those without reliable transportation may be limited to nearby options. Additionally, cultural food preferences and affordability were common factors across different communities. Some classmates also mentioned the impact of education and knowledge on food choices, as individuals may not know how to prepare healthy meals or may have misconceptions about certain foods.