ABUJA, Sep 12 (IPS) – A recent study published The Journal Communications Medicine examines how people with different income levels and urban or rural backgrounds view the factors that influence health in eight countries: Brazil, China, Germany, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and the United States.
It was found that people with higher incomes are more likely to think that genetics is the most important factor for health, while people with lower incomes place more value on social support. In contrast, urban residents prioritize health care, while people in non-urban areas place more importance on social support. This information can influence public health messaging.
This study highlights the three most important perspectives to consider when improving health care: social support, place of residence, and genetics.
They are all important in predicting health conditions and providing quality health care. Neither should be viewed in isolation. Genetics helps predict health conditions before birth or years before they occur, some health conditions are more common in certain locations, and lack of social support can exacerbate the severity of several health conditions.
The three perspectives should also be connected when creating public health messaging around a condition like sickle cell disease. Here’s why.
Genetics
Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that only affects black people. AS is the genotype for the sickle cell trait. It is an inherited disease, meaning that a person gets it from their parents if both carry the gene for sickle cell disease. A man and a woman who have the AS genotype have a 25% chance of having a child with sickle cell disease (SS) with each pregnancy.
In sickle cell disease, red blood cells that are normally round are shaped like sickles. This makes them sticky and makes it harder for them to move through blood vessels. They can get stuck, blocking blood flow and causing pain, infection and organ damage. Care for sickle cell sufferers is very expensive because of the frequent pain crises and hospitalizations that can occur.
Public health messaging around sickle cell disease should focus on prevention, keeping in mind that it’s hard to appeal to people’s emotions when they’re in love. Messaging should be driven by families who are already caring for people with sickle cell disease. It’s the responsibility of health officials. However, there is an ecosystem of health advocates who can support it.
If a woman with the AS genotype becomes pregnant by a man who is also pregnant, the disease can diagnosedin a fetus by removing some of the amniotic fluid.
This test can help parents prepare for the birth of their child. They will learn more about sickle cell disease, its complications, how to prevent complications so that their child can live a pain-free life, and the best way to care for their child.
It would also allow them to financially prepare for caring for a sickle cell warrior. As heartbreaking as it may be, knowing a couple’s genotype can sometimes lead them to call off their wedding or decide not to have children of their own, choosing instead to adopt. They need all the information they need to make an informed decision for themselves.
Social support
Family members are the primary and most important caregivers for sickle cell warriors. They are often not paid for their services; some give up their dreams while caring for sickle cell warriors and it also takes a toll on their mental health.
Government and non-profit organizations should push for caregiver care policies. Such policies should provide financial compensation to caregivers, provide opportunities for continuing professional development for caregivers, and provide paid alternative caregivers who allow caregivers to get some rest.
Other social connections include organizations such as the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. These organizations contribute to fundraising for warrior care, research, policy development, and advocacy. These organizations routinely organize public awareness campaigns, working closely with public health authorities and health care providers. Families of sickle cell warriors can reach them by asking their health care providers and contacting these organizations through their websites.
Place of residence
Sickle cell disease is prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. In these countries, more serious complications can occur due to widespread poverty, poor diagnostic capabilities, and limited access to health care. Even in high-income countries, poorer families bear a disproportionate burden of sickle cell disease.
A study In the US, it was found that 98% of sickle cell cases are African-American and 42% had a household income close to the federal poverty level. However, people in the higher socioeconomic class also suffer from sickle cell disease. Therefore, the message should be targeted to everyone, regardless of social class.
Of course, public health messages need to be tailored to the perspectives of different demographics. However, we must not lose sight of how interconnected they are. Understanding the roles of genetics, social connections, and socioeconomic status is crucial to designing effective messaging strategies. In this way, the findings of this study can benefit everyone.
Dr. Ifeanyi M. NsoforMBBS, MCommH (Liverpool) is a member of the Global Fellows Advisory Board at the Atlantic Institute, Rhodes Trust, Oxford
© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service