Disparities in Health
Geneva County is in the southeast portion of Alabama. According to 2015 Health Profile report, the population of Geneva County is 26,777. The minority group is 13% of the total population and is comprised of black and other non-white races. The health disparities that are more prevalent in the minorities in Geneva County are cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, 59% of all deaths in Geneva County in 2015 in the minority community were related to these three health conditions (County Health Profile, 2015). Likewise, heart disease and cancer were the leading cause of death of blacks in Alabama according to the Office of Minority Health (Health Disparities, 2006).
The doctorate prepared nurse can advocate for the minorities that he/she services by first becoming aware of the determinants that affect the minorities in that community i.e. dangerous neighborhoods, lack of fresh food, transportation difficulties. An advanced practice nurse can partner with community leaders to provide safer areas for exercise. APNs are to educate the patient on proper foods, but in areas where fresh food is not easily accessible to educate on reading nutrition labels and better food choices (Schroedl, 2012). The DNP should work to increase the knowledge of health disparites in the community,
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Achieving health equity requires valuing everyone equally with focused and ongoing societal efforts to address avoidable inequalities, historical and contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and health care disparities (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, n.d., para. 4).” The Beureau of Health Workforce makes available monetary support and policy guidance in conjunction with Healthy People 2020 objective AHS-3, Increase the population of persons with a usual primary care physician (Offices of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,