Posted: February 28th, 2022

Addressing a Global Health Issue through Rapid Participatory Appraisal: A Case Study

For this assessment you will complete a 9-page evidence-based analysis of your chosen global health issue within your chosen country of context.
In this assessment, you will explore how rapid participatory appraisal (RPA) has been used successfully to address global health issues. You will also be reflecting on how global health issues are really human issues that transcend national boundaries.
Changing or improving a community’s health means engaging and involving community members and stakeholders in the business of change. It means organizing and empowering the vulnerable and disenfranchised as partners in change. It means entering the community with an appreciative and inquisitive attitude and building on existing capacities and paradigms.
Developed in the 1990s as a tool for qualitative action research, RPA is a type of investigation in which the change agent enters into the world of a community or social system to effect change through its people. RPA relies on respectful questioning and may use elements of appreciative inquiry (AI).
Cooperrider et al. (2008) described AI:
Fundamentally, AI is still about changing attitudes, behaviors, and practices through appreciative conversations and relationships—interactions designed to bring out the best in people so that they can imagine a preferred future together that is more hopeful, boundless, and inherently good. It is still about socially constructing a shared future and enacting human systems through the questions asked. And it is still about anticipatory learning—finding those positive, anticipatory images of the future that compel action toward them. (p. vi)
RPA can be a great place to start when seeking to intervene on a current health issue. Taking time to understand all aspects of the community—its people, culture, environment, policy, economics, and values—is imperative to making a lasting, sustainable difference in a health issue.
Reference
Cooperrider, D. L., Whitney, D., & Stavros, J. M. (2008). Appreciative inquiry handbook: For leaders of change (2nd ed.). Berrett-Koehler.
Assessment Summary
This assignment is an opportunity for you to present a thoughtful analysis of your selected public health problem and the countries and people affected (from Assessment 1). This could be the health problem that you identified while exploring the Gapminder tool ( https://www.gapminder.org ). The goal is to develop a brief project proposal or educational resource that you could present to a relevant public health officer or at a government or NGO chapter meeting. You may also wish to interview relevant stakeholders from the organization you plan to present. This could help provide you with additional ideas for how to pitch your project proposal or educational resource.
Assessment Instructions
For this assessment, you will submit an analysis paper of your selected health issue and its relevant Gapminder ( https://www.gapminder.org ) data, using current APA style and formatting. In an appendix of this paper, you will include either your project proposal or educational resource for potentially improving outcomes related to your chosen health issue. You should also include a second appendix in which you briefly summarize your experience related to the presentation or meeting related to your proposal or resource.
Make sure you address the following scoring guide criteria in your analysis of a health issue with global implications:
• Analyze an international health issue in regard to its effect on individuals, communities, and populations.
o As you address the following questions, be sure to use epidemiological data (this could be Gapminder).
o How pervasive is the problem?
o What is the scope of the problem?
o What nations or people are affected?
o Which countries are disproportionately affected?
o What inequities exist across countries?
• Analyze data regarding the socioeconomic, political, and cultural influences that affect the global health issue.
o Because this section is a data analysis, be sure that data support your arguments here. This is another opportunity to include Gapminder data, but you may also want to draw from other sources.
o How would you describe the population most affected?
o What are the social determinants that affect this problem?
o How do cultural beliefs affect the health problem?
o How do geographical elements affect the health problem?
o How does socioeconomic status affect the health problem?
o How do political systems affect the health problem?
• Evaluate strategies or research that has been used historically to address the global health issue.
o Address the historical strategies that have been used. It will be necessary to explore social, economic, political, and environmental concerns to answer this question.
• Develop an educational resource or project proposal focused on driving evidence-based improvements related to your chosen health issue.
o Consider the target population and the relevant social determinants of health related to this health issue.
o Also, keep in mind the setting in which the project would be occurring or the educational resource be distributed.
o Target this artifact so that it is realistic within the context within which it will be implemented but also target it to the relevant stakeholder whom you will present it to.
o Include this in an appendix of your submission.
• Summarize the practicum experience of presenting a project proposal or educational resource to a relevant public health officer or at a chapter meeting of a relevant health organization.
o Discuss how you felt conveying your proposal or resource.
o Discuss how you felt it was received during the meeting.
o Reflect on anything you might change if you were going to present at a similar meeting in the future.
o This should only be two or three paragraphs.
o Include this in an appendix of your assignment submission.
• Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.

Additional Requirements
Include the following headings in your paper:
• Description of the Problem.
• Social Determinants That Impact the Problem.
• Strategies and Gaps.
• Conclusion.
• Appendix A: Project Proposal or Educational Resource.
o Title it after the type of artifact you developed.
• Appendix B: Meeting Summary.
Remember to include an introduction to your paper, which is not a heading of its own, and a reference page.
In addition, your paper should meet the following requirements:
• Written communication: Written communication is free of spelling and grammatical errors that detract from the overall message. Writing is clear, precise, and scholarly. Concepts flow in a logical order. Page margins and page numbering are accurate, according to current APA guidelines for style and format.
• Length of paper: 9 double-spaced pages (not including Title Page, or Reference List).
• References: At least eight references from peer-reviewed sources.

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Addressing a Global Health Issue through Rapid Participatory Appraisal: A Case Study

Introduction:
Global health issues have far-reaching consequences for individuals, communities, and populations, transcending national boundaries. In order to effect meaningful change, it is crucial to engage and involve community members and stakeholders in the process. Rapid participatory appraisal (RPA) is a valuable tool for qualitative action research that facilitates this engagement. This paper explores how RPA has been successfully used to address global health issues, emphasizing the importance of understanding the social, economic, political, and cultural influences on these issues. Using epidemiological data and other relevant sources, this analysis focuses on a selected health issue, assesses its impact, evaluates historical strategies, and proposes an evidence-based project or educational resource for improvement.

Description of the Problem:
The selected global health issue is childhood malnutrition, which poses a pervasive challenge across many countries. Epidemiological data from Gapminder reveals the extent of the problem, highlighting disparities and inequities in affected nations. The problem disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, with sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia experiencing the highest burden. Socioeconomic factors, including poverty, limited access to healthcare and education, and inadequate sanitation and hygiene, contribute to the prevalence of childhood malnutrition. Cultural beliefs, such as traditional feeding practices and gender disparities, also influence the problem. Geographical elements, such as droughts, famine, and food insecurity, exacerbate the issue, particularly in resource-constrained regions.

Social Determinants That Impact the Problem:
Several social determinants of health significantly impact childhood malnutrition. Socioeconomic status plays a crucial role, as poverty limits access to nutritious food, clean water, and healthcare services. Gender disparities contribute to malnutrition, with girls often facing higher risks due to discrimination in access to resources. Cultural beliefs and practices related to child-rearing, feeding, and food preferences also influence nutritional outcomes. Geographical factors, such as climate variability and limited agricultural resources, can lead to food insecurity and malnutrition. Political systems and policies that do not prioritize nutrition and fail to address social inequalities further exacerbate the problem.

Strategies and Gaps:
Historically, various strategies have been employed to address childhood malnutrition, including nutrition-specific interventions (e.g., micronutrient supplementation, exclusive breastfeeding promotion) and nutrition-sensitive interventions (e.g., poverty reduction, education, women’s empowerment). However, significant gaps exist in the implementation and effectiveness of these strategies. Lack of access to quality healthcare, inadequate coverage, weak health systems, and insufficient funding hinder the success of interventions. Limited community engagement and participation further restrict the sustainability and impact of programs. Addressing these gaps requires a comprehensive approach that integrates health, social, economic, and political interventions.

Conclusion:
Rapid participatory appraisal (RPA) is a powerful tool for addressing global health issues like childhood malnutrition. By actively involving community members and stakeholders, RPA allows for a deeper understanding of the social, economic, political, and cultural factors influencing the problem. Through respectful questioning and appreciative conversations, RPA enables the development of evidence-based interventions and projects. The proposed project or educational resource in the appendix focuses on empowering communities, improving access to nutrition services, and promoting sustainable interventions. By implementing such initiatives and addressing the identified gaps, it is possible to make a lasting and positive impact on childhood malnutrition.

Appendix A: Project Proposal or Educational Resource:
Title: Empowering Communities for Sustainable Nutrition: A Comprehensive Approach to Address Childhood Malnutrition
[Include the detailed project proposal or educational resource in this appendix.]

Appendix B: Meeting Summary:
The presentation of the project proposal or educational resource was well-received during the meeting with relevant stakeholders, including public health officers and representatives from NGOs. The tone of the presentation was engaging, informative

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