Description

Assessment 1B: Strategic plan
Learning Outcomes: 2, 4,5,6, 7 & 8
Format:             Essay
Length:             2000 words
Due:                  5th October 2023 by 23.59pm (Singapore time)
APA style: 7
References: 20
Assessment details
The Singapore Health Board has now requested  that you develop a strategic plan,
focusing on ONE (1) population health issue related to your selected district in
Singapore.  Using a socioecological approach, consider the risk factors for your chosen
population health issue, how and why they are problematic in this community, and
explore nursing strategies in the community health management of this issue.
Note:  Assignment 1B is linked to assignment 1A, but specifically, you are required to
focus on a population health issue (from the list below). You may draw on the
information from assessment 1A to inform arguments in assignment 1B, however,
you must paraphrase any information from assignment 1A and not copy directly.
Assessment 1B will include the following:
Introduction
1. From the list below, choose one population health issue to discuss:
 Type 2 Diabetes
 Cardiovascular disease
 Mental health illness
 Your choice- (discuss with Unit Coordinator)
2. Describe the population health issue, including:
2.1    the aetiology, epidemiology and social context
2.2    Compare your community data to national and international data, and discuss
2.3    Consider the impact of this at a population level.
3. Analyse the relationship between levels of community health literacy of
this health issue and the data you have collected in your community
profile, including:

3.1     barriers to access to healthcare
3.2     key risk factors for this population health issue, and how the population in the
chosen geographical location may be affected
4. Using Primary Health Care principles (PHC), discuss the role of community
health nursing in relation to:

4.1     primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of this health issue
4.2     health promotion.
Conclusion
Exemplar Assignment
Below is an example assignment. It shows how the assignment can be approached. You
are allowed to present your work in a different way as long as it meets the learning
outcomes.
Please note that this assignment MUST NOT be copied in part or in its entirety. This
includes the reference list. Any copying of the exemplar assignment will be treated as
plagiarism and relevant penalties applied.

Examplar
Exerts from 1B essay using a public health problem of hypertension
Low et al. (2019) reported a correlation between age and multimorbidity; more than half of
the population have at least one chronic illness by 50 years old, and multiple chronic illnesses
by the age of 60 years old. Similarly, elderlies aged 75-84 years have greater risk to develop
for hypertension as compared to those aged 60-74 years (Seow et al., 2015). Additionally,
Liew et al. (2019) mentioned that three-quarters of the study participants diagnosed with
hypertension are more than 60 years old. This demonstrates the significance of elderlies aged
60 years and above, where old age is the major risk factor for development of hypertension.
Correspondingly, around 40% of residents in Geylang are more than 50 years old, with 22%
of residents 60 years old and above (Department of Statistics, 2015). Thus, as a large
proportion of these residents are at risk for development of hypertension, greater attention is
required for these elderlies in prevention and management of the illness.
Influenced by a wide variety of factors, various ethnicities predispose to different risks for
hypertension. For instance, Malay participants among other ethnic groups preferred diet with
high salt content, with an average sodium intake which surpassed by 70% (Naidu et al.,
2019). Besides, Malays are associated with higher incidence of diabetes and Body Mass
Index (BMI), as compared to other ethnic groups (Malhotra, Chan, Malhotra, and Ostbye,
2010). Furthermore, Chan et al. (2020) highlighted that Malays have the greatest risk among
other ethnic groups to develop hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and stroke. With 13.1% of
Malay residents in Geylang (Department of Statistics, 2015), hypertension may be prevalent
in these residents. This illustrates the need to raise awareness in prevention of hypertension,
for earlier detection and management.
With reference to gender, males are at higher risk for development of hypertension as
compared to females (Liew et al., 2019). Higher prevalence for hypertension in males is more
likely contributed by lifestyle factors, as compared to females (Bruno et al., 2016). This was
evident in the report by MOH (2019), which reported 18.4% of males and 3.2% of females
were smokers in Singapore. Nonetheless, smokers and second-hand smokers are both at risk
for development of chronic illnesses such as hypertension and cancer (Wu et al., 2017).
Furthermore, Wu et al. (2017) concluded that greater incidences of females with hypertension
were second-hand smokers, due to longer time exposure to second-hand smoke, as compared
to smokers. Additionally, smoking in the public contributes to environmental smoke. With

reference to Department of Statistics (2015), 50.3% of residents in Geylang are females,
which shows a greater proportion of people at risk for second-hand smoking in the
community. Hence, although males have a higher risk for developing hypertension due to
smoking, as second-hand smokers are mainly females, females are also posed at greater risk
of developing hypertension.
Education influences the risk of developing hypertension, as individuals that are highly
educated have lower incidences of developing hypertension, and vice versa (Liew et al.,
2019; Seow et al., 2015). Individuals with higher education display greater health awareness
of hypertension in prevention and management, and are more compliant to medications (Liew
et al., 2019). This was evident in a study where those with secondary qualification and above
are associated with lower incidences of hypertension (Malhotra et al., 2010). Furthermore,
individuals with higher income status have better hypertension management, and are
anticipated to go for regular health screenings (Wee et al., 2013). Individuals with lower
income have higher incidences of hypertension, due to costs, lack of understanding and
unawareness of complications of the chronic condition (Wee et al., 2013). About 69% of
residents in Geylang, have attained at least secondary school qualification, and 31.2 % of
residents have a monthly household income of $4999 and below (Department of Statistics,
2015). Thus, residents with higher education levels, are more likely to have better control in
their blood pressure and access to healthcare services. Whereas residents with lower income
are more likely at risk due to financial difficulties, and are associated with lower levels of
education.