Analysis of black community segmentation
Abstract
High blood pressure (HBP/ hypertension) prevalence is high among African and black Americans. Over 40% of black men and women have hypertension. Among Africans, HBP develops in early life and is associated with severity (American Heart Association, 2016). Blood pressure emanates diabetes and obesity among the black community. Researches have concluded that African people may have a gene that’s sensitive to salt, and that’s why high blood pressure is at higher rates among African-Americans. To the findings, it’s the additional salt that raises the blood pressure rate to 5 mm Hg. Uncontrolled blood pressure leads to adverse health effects with heart attack & dementia being the most often. Others include metabolic syndrome, weakened and narrowed blood vessels, aneurysm, etc. however, this campaign seeks to highlight resourceful systems and intervention levels to help control HBD among the black community. Information in the study aims at unveiling valuable guidance to health agencies, local governments. This could help facilitate positive change.
Analysis of black community segmentation
UN & WHO, 2010 report denotes that, Segmentation of the black community is a result of increased HBP among them than whites. HBP burden is shifting from commutable diseases, maternal, perinatal causes of mortality among Africans, the effect accounts for a great morbidity burden among Africans. World Health Organization Survey of 20 African countries between 2003-2009 reported higher hypertension rates among the population. HBP prevalence was higher in adults above 18 years. And so, target on the African community aims at improving quality care among hypertension patients.
Campaign goals and objectives
Ideally, this campaign forms an effortless approach to strengthened and quality health service delivery in the management of chronic NCDs. Besides quality health care and standard policy formulation, there should be a great focus in addressing and control of NCDs inclusive of hypertension. Community-based screening is necessary to strengthen primary health care to help curb simple illness and also establish strong referrals for continued diagnosis of patients (Beaglehole R, & Epping-Jordan et al. 2008). To sum-up, the campaign aims at helping improve health structure systems as well as improved quality care. The campaign goals can be attained by staging quality care and guidelines in treating, managing HBP. To control hypertension, assessing the burden of health risks increases awareness to help contain HBP for essential care.
Campaign channel
As noted by Lopez A et al. (2006), African is battling CVDS unprecedented epidemics with hypertension being the key diver to cardiovascular. Mass media channels will facilitate the campaign to help prevent the risk transmission to the coming generation. Mass mediation will help collaborate collocating information on the health risk of cardiovascular among Africans. Publications will be made for everyone to read, inclusive of the health ministries and local organizations. This will help a call action of support from international forums to help control and prevent hypertension in Africa. Also, mass media is an enthusiast for from of collaborating crucial developments in implementing health-care policies in a region.
Since mass media use exposes the message to a broader population, some of the media to use to deliver the message are Newspapers, radio, and television. Exposure of the message via these channels is thus passive that when done via SMS.
Health promotion campaign message
Mass media produces a tremendously positive outcome of the message. The proposed letter to air reads
HBP is treatable and preventable, with knowing your blood pressure being the first step. Make it an entry point to know your wellness for blood pressure management. The key to effective eradication, control, management, and prevention of high blood pressure is through the Segmentation of health care. There should be access to quality health care services, credibility to physical exercises to help reduce obesity to achieve the effective execution of the formulated health policies.
Reduction of salt intake should be adhered to as this keeps you active, trim, and active. It’s advisable you know your body weight and works towards it. Adhere to more fruits, vegetables, and junk foods. An easy-going to sugary diets should be avoided as well as tobacco and alcohol. Doing so reduces risks of stroke, heart diseases, and kidney failure.
I advise the public to be safe by; knowing your blood pressure, acting smart, and shaping up to one’s lifestyle. Your life lies in your hands, don’t let preventable killer snatch it away.
Implementation of the campaign
Surveillance and monitoring are necessary at ensuring the campaign peaks. Both regional and national bodies should be at the forefront of strengthening HBP surveillance and monitoring efforts. Effective monitoring and surveillance are ideal for tracking hypertension prevalence, increasing awareness, treating, and control. The process involves the characterization of subgroups patterns, assessing the problem change over time; this ascertains the intervention’s success.
Inconclusion, the black community battles at chronic NCD, and so awareness serve a significant role in confining the problem. To help prevent the problem, essential, and quality health care to hypertension patients in line with awareness would help improve intervention measures. This can be achieved through thorough and rigorous training of medical practitioners. To ensure consistent quality care, hypertension standard guidelines need to be implemented and developed.
References
Beaglehole, Robert, et al. “Improving the prevention and management of chronic disease in low-income and middle-income countries: a priority for primary health care.” The Lancet 372.9642 (2008): 940-949.
Seedat, Y. K. “Hypertension in developing nations in sub-Saharan Africa.” Journal of human hypertension 14.10 (2000): 739-747.
WHO. Cardiovascular diseases in the African region: current situation and perspectives. 2005 http://www.afro.who.int/rc55/documents/afr_rc55_12_cardiovascular.pdf. Accessed 5th February 2013.
World Health Organization. A STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS)2008 23-03-2012. Available from: http://www.who.int/chp/steps/riskfactor/en/index.html. Accessed 5th February 2013.
Lopez A, Mathers C, Ezzati M, et al. Washington DC: Oxford University Press and World Bank; 2006. Global burden of disease and risk factors.
Ibrahim, M. Mohsen, and Albertino Damasceno. “Hypertension in developing countries.” The Lancet 380.9841 (2012): 611-619.