Assignment:
Critical Thinking:
Evolution of Healthcare in KSA
Consider the evolution of healthcare in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Investigate new proposals or policy implementations that have impacted this evolution, as well as current healthcare access and efficiency issues in the Kingdom.
Write a paper that addresses the following:
Introduction
History and evolution of Saudi Arabian healthcare, including the growth of the healthcare system
Policy and/or proposed rulings effecting the healthcare system
Impact of population growth on current Saudi Arabian healthcare access and
efficiency
Conclusion
Requirements:
Your paper should be 4-6 pages in length, not including the title and reference pages.
You must include a minimum of four credible sources for support.
Your paper must follow APA academic writing standards and APA style guidelines, as appropriate.
Case study:
Population health: Childhood Obesity in Saudi Arabia
Introduction
Obesity is becoming a major health concern in public health around the world. However, it is important to approach the issue from a population health issue rather than a public health issue because it will be possible to investigate the problem at its core and propose possible lasting solutions. Taking a population health perspective to interrogate the problem of diabetes which affects the quality of life of an individual through their lifetime has inborn value. Such a perspective will help researchers to understand factors that influence health as well as health outcomes. It will enable the integration of knowledge across diverse settings leading to holistic responses to health. This essay will present a critical analysis of literature on population health with regard to the prevalence of obesity among children in Saudi Arabia.
Overview of the Problem
In their article, Dhaifallah and colleagues (2015) research on the prevalence of childhood obesity in Saudi Arabia, impact of the same and strategies to combat the samein the public health system. Theauthors note that Obesity brings about poor quality of life owing to the many health problems it brings about. Some of the conditions that arise from obesity are chronic meaning that the child will suffer the problems for the rest of their life. For instance, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure are some of the conditions that result from obesity.Hannon et al., (2005) also concur that obesity is the sole cause of the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents. The major problem with obesity is that it presents many challenges during treatment. The article also goes on to argue that childhood obesity may also translate to adulthood obesity. This revelation is important in the discussion of strategies to combat childhood obesity. Besides the deterioration of personal health owing to obesity, the authors also hold that childhood obesity is also to blame for the high spending on healthcare.
The author clearly brings out the grave condition that Obesity puts a population in. It is especially grim for a country because a high prevalence of childhood obesity not only leads to a high mortality rate among children but also an unhealthy population in the future because such children will go into adulthood as obese. According to world health organization, childhood obesity is a leading healthcare challenge with the population under the age of five and suffering from this condition reaching as high as 42 million. This is not only alarming for Saudi Arabia but also for the entire globe. It calls for drastic public health measures to deal with the issue.
The authors have also take a historical perspective on the issue by presenting past statistics on the issue. According to Dhaifallah et al (2015), Saudi Arabia through the National growth Study documented an increased level of Obesity among children between 1988-2005 where children in age group 5-12 years had a prevalence of obesity of 11.0% and 7.8 among males and females respectively. A higher trend was reported among an older age group of 13-18 years with the affected female having 12.1% prevalence and male having a prevalence of 13.8% (Musaiger, 2011). The authors also quoted Arab Teen Life-style study, which was carried out on school going children between the ages of 15-19. The study revealed similar results as above. The study reported that there was a 14% rate of Obesity among female learners and a rate of 24.1% among males (Al-Hazzaa, 2014). These statistics give the authors' claim credibility because the study was conducted by a national agency.
The authors (Dhaifallah et al., 2015) also note that many researchers especially study the prevalence of obesity on school going children. The disparities in the finding such as the difference in prevalence of obesity among genders such as shown above is due to geographical variation meaning that children in one area may not be affected in a similar manner to children in another area. According to research, social determinants namely lifestyle and gender are to blame for the high prevalence of obesity among children in Saudi Arabia. Some of the lifestyle problems identified include poor feed habits and physical inactivity. The authors note that sedentary lifestyle, non-existent physical education in girls schools and bad diets served at schools canteen are to blame for the grim state of health in Saudi Arabia. The authors also note that the high prevalence of Obesity is also the reason why many children are suffering from many chronic illnesses.
To make their deductions, the authors have relied on literature review. However, the Dhaillalah et al (2015) have noted that there lacks enough research on the issue of childhood obesity perhaps this explains why the rate of prevalence is high. Additionally, DhaillalaH and colleagues have noted that although there are numerous published studies explaining the link between socio-economic factors and obesity among adults, it has not been understood how the same can be linked to obesity among children (2015).
This article makes for good research because besides establishing the factors that contribute to obesity, it goes on to discuss strategies that can be applied on children in Saudi Arabia to combat obesity. One of such intervention strategies is health promotion. The author proposes that the health promotion activities aimed at combating obesity must be tailored in relation to Islamic rules such that the promotion can appeal to a conservative Islamic population. This conformity will help to minimize tension between the social cultural rules and the health promotion programs. This has been informed by a World health Organization, which holds that social cultural ideals have a bearing on lifestyle in Saudi Arabia. On the same note, as a high Islamic nation, ardent on maintain Islamic way of life in all spheres, failing to marry health promotion with the Saudi way of life could lead to ineffectiveness of the health promotion strategy.
Besides health promotion, the authors have identified the collaboration of all members of the Saudi society to fight this epidemic lest it cripples the nation. The author notes that such collaboration will need to take place at school and then be carried on at home. The authors quote researchers Kann et al (2006) who believe that health programs introduced to children at school have lifelong impact. Bonhauser et al (2005) also believe that school is an important asset in the fight against obesity. On the same note, the authors call for training of parents on health awareness, which include the involvement of all members of the community. Schools take a strategic position in this dispensation because they have the ability of bring all the involved people together.
Conclusion
The article at hand makes for good research on population health because it identifies the problem and proposes solutions to that problem. The article is informative because it raises a red flag on the high prevalence of obesity in Saudi Arabia. The article follows a systematic approach of identifying the problem and researching what others have said about the issue. This gives credence to the claims in the paper and makes the author's voice authoritative. With this research, it is easy to learn about childhood obesity and its potential ramification. Finally, the article raises a serious issue that is affecting the whole world.
References
Al Dhaifallah, A., Mwanri, L., &Aljoudi, A. (2015). Childhood obesity in Saudi Arabia: opportunities and challenges. Saudi Journal of Obesity, 3(1), 2.
Al-Hazzaa, H. M., Abahussain, N. A., Al-Sobayel, H. I., Qahwaji, D. M., Alsulaiman, N. A., Musaiger, A. O. (2014). Prevalence of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity among Saudi adolescents: Gender and regional variations. J Health PopulNutr; 32:634-45.
Bonhauser, M, Fernandez, G., Puschel, K., Yanez, F., Montero, J., Thompson, B., et al. (2005). Improving physical fitness and emotional well-being in adolescents of low socioeconomic status in Chile: Results of a school-based controlled trial. Health PromotInt;20:113-22.
Hannon, T. S., Rao, G., &Arslanian, S. A. (2005). Childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Pediatrics, 116(2), 473-480.
Kann L, Brener ND, Wechsler H. (2007), Overview and summary: School health policies and programs study 2006. J Sch Health;77:385-97.
Musaiger A. O., (2011). Overweight and obesity in Eastern mediterranean region: Prevalence and possible causes. J Obes; 2011:2-17