Global Health Care Issues and Trends was by far one of my favorite classes in the BSN program. This course has given me the information to not only enhance my cultural competence, but it has also helped me to realize the very real and blatant disparities in health care equality both locally in my own community as well as the world community at large. By diversifying my worldview, I now have a greater awareness of the variability in health needs of differing cultures, genders, and socioeconomic statuses. I have grown as a person and professional by incorporating this awareness into my nursing identity, judgment, daily practice, and consciousness.

            No matter what field of nursing one works in, cultural diversity can be found in every assignment and patient load. By developing a more refined global understanding of health issues, I am able to be a better nurse for my organization, community, and most importantly for my patients. Viewing my patients as unique individuals with unique cultural needs helps create a patient-nurse relationship that is conducive to rapport building, self-disclosure, and meeting the needs of the patients. Moreover, this course have provided me with a better understanding of the obstacles that some patients may have had to overcome in their lives or are currently facing due to their biopsychosociocultural or religious and spiritual background which means being able to provide individualized client-centered care through inquiry and research into their particular needs. More importantly, the knowledge gained throughout this course has given me the ability to be a better educator to my patients and expand their understanding of both local and global health issues. By educating patients on global health issues, nurses provide knowledge to the people who are living the health issues of today which then can be passed on to their children of tomorrow. Working with my group to present a powerpoint on Clostridium Dificile really brought to light the deficit in knowledge on this potentially fatal illness for both healthcare worker and layperson alike. People need to know of its prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and prevention. As nurses, we have a special position of trust, esteem, and respect that allows us to educate our patients, community members, and associates in way that many other professional do not. People need to be educated on the global health issues that are affecting the community and world; their lives could depend on it. 

          One salient point that will forever be etched in my mind is the sheer difference in major causes of death between developed and developing countries. The World Health Organization is a remarkable source of information on the health care problems, trends, and issues facing the world’s peoples. According to the WHO(2012), most developed or high-incomes countries greatest number of deaths, 7 out of every 10, are among people ages 70 years or older related to noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, dementia, chronic obstructive lung disease or diabetes. Only 1 in every 100 deaths is among children under the age of 15. On the other hand, in developing or low-income countries, nearly 4 in every 10 deaths are among children under 15 and 2 in every 10 deaths is among people older than 70. People in low income countries predominantly die of infectious or communicable diseases: lower respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS, diarrheal diseases, malaria and tuberculosis. Mother and fetal mortality are extremely high due to complications of childbirth related to prematurity, birth asphyxia, birth trauma, and inadequate prenatal care.

        Developed cultures take for granted the luxuries associated with their cultures of modernity. From potable water, electricity, adequate sewage, to immunizations, readily available medical services and medications, Americans and other developed nations are truly fortunate to not face the struggles that many poverty stricken people in developing countries face. Imagine fighting everyday to survive in a community that has no running water, no electricity, poor sanitation, communal latrines, and rampant disease and death. To struggle with the basic necessities of life and fight the battle against water-borne and insect related illnesses such as Malaria and diarrheal diseases, it is no wonder why there are such high rates of mother, infant, and child mortality rates in these countries. Researching Nigeria’s global health issues, leading causes of death, cultural beliefs and health care trends was an exploration of history, culture, gender issues, and political atmosphere. Understanding a country or culture’s health care issues is not mutually exclusive from their history, economy, politics, geography, religion, or global interface. This comprehensive analysis of Nigeria revealed great health care disparities between the American and Nigerian cultures. The fact that the 2012 average life expectancy of men and women in Nigeria is only 53 and 55 respectively highlights the disparity in health care its implications on longevity.

          Global Health Care Issues and Trends was truly an eye opening educational experience. Hearing the presentations from my peers and learning about the many different issues facing various countries has made me more educated on global health care issues and truly appreciate the life and culture that I am from. It is so easy to get caught up in the little bubble that we call our lives and forget about the world at large. However, the world at large has greater implications on the integrity of our little bubble when an endemic disease isolated to a particular region turns epidemic and then pandemic. Being proactive as a culturally competent nurse and educator is integral to providing prevention to both local and global patients.

References

World Health Organization (2015). The top 10 causes of death. Accessed from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs310/en/index2.html

World Health Organization (2015).  http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.country.country-NGA?lang=en