University of Alabama- ROLL TIDE! Below is a Philosophy Statement that I just submitted for my last assignment for the class Women and Health Promotion:
Women
are dynamic. Adolescence, adulthood, and old age each pose unique challenges to
a woman’s health, as do other intrapersonal factors. The social ecological (socioecological) model basis of health
promotion involves the interplay of five multiple level factors which include:
intrapersonal or individual factors, such as age and race; interpersonal
factors; institutional or organizational factors; community factors; and public
policy factors. It is my belief that the
effectiveness of women-centered approaches to health promotion hinges on the utilization
of theory-driven, evidence-based programs that consider these five multi-levels
of influence on health.
Two
concepts of this ecological perspective will help to identify key intervention
points in a woman’s life that I will use to influence my approach to planning,
implementing, and evaluating health promotion programs. First, a woman’s behavior both affects, and
is affected by, the multiple levels of influence. Second, her individual behavior both shapes,
and is shaped by, her social environment.
Personal, social, economic, and environmental factors greatly impact a
woman’s health. It is my belief that
health education and promotion should not merely focus on the physical aspects
of a woman’s life to improve her health.
Effort must be devoted in health interventions to also target the six
dimensions of health; which are physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual,
environmental, and social. Therefore, needs
assessments are critical to the success in the planning and implementation of health
promotion programs for women.
As a health educator, my role is to influence
a woman's journey in life by giving her the tools and education that will
empower her to take charge of her own health.
Women have a great deal of influence on those around them, especially
their family and friends. Helping women
to take charge of their own health will have a ripple effect to the rest of
their family members because women are generally responsible for the schedule,
meals, and overall care for a great deal of their family members. Often, women care for others at the expense of
their own health. Therefore, one of the
most critical approaches to health promotion is to reiterate the adage that
“one cannot pour from an empty cup.” In
other words, if a woman is unhealthy and not feeling her best, she cannot be an
effective employee, mother, wife, friend, or caretaker. Emphasis in health promotion programs should
be placed on instilling women with the knowledge that health status impacts all
areas of her life. A woman must learn
that her health should be her top priority.
Americans spend more each year on healthcare
than any other developed country on the planet, yet Americans are plagued with
chronic, life-style related, preventable diseases. The expensive costs of health care and loss
of wages due to absenteeism from work create an enormous amount of stress for
women. Therefore, it is my belief that to
decrease health care spending, the paradigm must shift from sick care to
wellness. Women should be taught the
notion that it is not enough to just get mammograms on time or other routine
check-ups and tests, but that health is greatly affected by lifestyle choices,
including proper diet, exercise, and stress management. Proactive, rather than reactive, health
behaviors should be the dominant actions in a woman’s life.
Women
must be actively involved in helping to set their health goals. Women must be coached to take ownership of
their health decisions and actions, which will motivate them to work hard and
master the skills necessary to reach their health goals. In health promotion, it is important for women
to work with health educators who are aware of, and sensitive to, her
individual needs. It is evident and
widely recognized now that women have much different health needs than men. Yet, in terms of health studies, it has
historically been acceptable to generalize the findings to women in studies
involving men. A woman’s menstrual
cycle, pregnancy (or infertility), and menopause are undeniable factors that
differentiate them from men.
In
conclusion, theory-driven and evidence-based programs utilizing a
socioecological model should be planned and implemented to address constructs
that play a role in women’s health beliefs and behaviors. Women must be empowered through health
programs to achieve optimal health in all six dimensions. Women must be educated on their unique needs
and more research must be done that includes women. Social support is an invaluable tool for
increasing the self-efficacy of women towards positive health behaviors. When women have friends and family members
actively involved in engaging in positive health behaviors with them, such as
eating healthy and exercising, the prognosis of maintaining a healthy lifestyle
will be increased dramatically. Women
should be taught that the benefit of a healthy lifestyle outweighs the required
time and effort. I believe that life is
richer and much more fulfilling when women obtain optimal health and wellness;
and are thus able to meet the unique, unpredictable demands that are and will
be placed upon them throughout their lifespan.
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