Community Health Ed

How would you summarize the health profile of the 2 cohorts(adolescents and young adults, and adults) presented in this chapter?

Adolescents and Young Adults: The health profile of young people in America is characterized by mortality and morbidity from specific diseases, and health behaviors and lifestyle choices. Much of the physical threats to young adults stems from their behavior rather than disease. 3/4 of all mortality can be contributed to unintentional injury, homicide, and suicide. STDS, such as HIV, HPV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, majorly cause diseases that cause considerable morbidity in young adults. Adults: The health profile of this age group of adults is characterized primarily by mortality from chronic diseases stemming from poor health behavior and poor lifestyle choices made during the earlier years of life. Even though for 25-34 year olds unintentional injuries are still a predominant in mortallity, the majority of adults' mortality is based on non communicable diseases. Heart disease, cancer, and cardiovascular disease are some of the preventable diseases that adults deal with because of poor lifestyle and behavior choices throughout their life

What are the leading causes of death for adolescents and young adults, and for adults?

Unintentional injuries are the leading causes of death for young people making up 46.5% of the age group. The most common is motor vehicle crashes, and in more than half of all fatal crashes, alcohol was involved. For adults 25-24 unintentional injury is the leading cause of death; same as 35-44 years old. For 45-54 year olds and 55-64 year olds, noncommunicable diseases with heart disease are the leading causes of death.

What are the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and what type of data do they generate?

In 1990, the CDC initiated the YRBSS to better track selected health behaviors among young people. It includes a national school based survey, as well as state, territorial, tribal, and district surveys. In 1991, there was the first school based survey. This survey was conducted biennially during odd numbered years among national probability samples of 9th to 12th grade students from private and public highs schools. As with other age groups the National Center for health Statistics collects self-reported behavior risk data on adults via the BRFSS. One limitation from this system in that they are collected, and usually reported on all adults older than 18 years of age; the data is not broken down into age groups.

Why is it important for Community Health workers to be aware of the significant health problems of the various age groups in the US?

Viewing age group profiles enables public health workers to detect the sources of diseases, injury, and death for specific priority populations and to propose programs to reduce those sources. Effective programs aimed at specific population age groups can reduce the risk factors that contribute to disease, injury, and death.

What are the behaviors that put each of these cohorts-adolescents, college students, and adults-at greatest risks?

- Adolescents: The use of tobacco products represents one of the most high widepsread, high risk health behaviors for this group. In 2009, approximately 1/5 of high schools students were current smokers. This leads to greater risk of disease later in life. -College Students: Alcohol consumption, especially binge drinking is the riskiest behaviors college students participate in. Surveys show that 69% of college students drank alcohol in the 30 days preceding this survey. -Adults: The behavior that puts adults most at risk is chronic disease stemming from poor health behavior and poor lifestyle choices made form earlier years of life. Smoking, lack of exercise, cancers, stroke, and diabetes.

Why are the # of adolescents and young adults, living arrangements, and employment status such key demographic characteristics of young people concerning community health? Briefly summarize the data available on these characteristics.

-# of adolescents- the number of young people in the US has remained constant since it's peak in 1979. It is important because it will continue to rise in the future and as it rises it will become more diverse. This is important because of the health disparities already present need to be addressed for a racial diverse future. 60% white non hispanic will decrease 44% by 2050. -Living Arrangments: Due to the increasing divorce rate, the number of children and adolescents living in a single-parent household has dramatically increased in the past couple decades. This is important because it does not only affect children emotionally, but also economically. Single parent households experience more severe economic disadvantages that can adversely affect health. 1/3 of children live in single parent families as oppose to 1/10 in 1970. -Employment Status: This is important because employment is directly related to health insurance and health care. Theyouth makes up 14% of the workforce.

What ages are included in the following two groups: adolescents and young adults, and adults?

adolescents and young adults: 15-24 Adults: 25-44 45-64