NRSE 4540 OU Nursing The Ecosocial Epidemiology Paradigm Discussion

Review the concepts of epidemiology in disease control and prevention (p. 70-78).

Apply ecosocial epidemiology paradigm (macro-level) to one of your chosen diagnosis from module 1 written assignment (p.72).

Post a thoughtful response to at least two (2) other colleagues’ initial postings. 

peer response 1

In this discussion we will cover the concepts of epidemiology in disease control and prevention and apply an ecosocial epidemiology paradigm to the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. When it comes to cardiovascular disease, we can use an ecosocial approach to see how bigger social, economic, and environmental factors affect the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease.

Ecosocial epidemiology challenges the conventional approach of focusing primarily on individual risk factors to understand the origins of diseases (Nies & McEwen, 2024). In other words, it looks at the big picture, considering not just individual factors but how society and the environment play a role in health. When diagnosing cardiovascular disease, it’s larger than personal risks. We should also look at things like income, education, and access to healthcare, as they all play a role.

Our social surroundings, like the environment we live in, types of diet consumed, and income affect our heart health (Powell-Wiley et al., 2022). When we talk about diagnosing cardiovascular disease, this means looking at how social and economic policies influence our access to healthcare, preventive measures, and other social determinants of health.

In summary, when we use an ecosocial approach to understand the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, we’re considering more than just the individual. We’re looking at how social, economic, and environmental factors all come together to impact heart health. 

peer response 2

Epidemiology is the study of all the factors that determine the presence or absence of infection or disease in a specific population. It involves figuring out how disease processes occur, the things that affect why they happen, and how a host responds to the factors. This data is then used to hopefully prevent and control the disease or infection. (Evans 2009) Epidemiology involves studying how an agent, host, and environment interact with each other. It can involve studying the characteristics and genetics of the host, characteristics of the environment, and or social or economic factors and how they relate to the spread or decline of a disease. Many methods have been created to research this study such as the wheel method, the triangle method, and ecosocial epidemiology.

Ecosocial epidemiology is a newer idea in epidemiology that looks at disease from a community level, not just in one patient. It looks at genetics, socioeconomic status, health trends, and how well social determinants of health are met in a community. (Nies &McEwen 2023) These findings can then be used to find ways to educate and prevent diseases. Below I will use the ecosocial epidemiology paradigm to discuss the diagnosis of increased infant mortality rate in infants < 1 year old in minority women in Franklin County.

Franklin County has an increased average of infant mortality rate of 6.7 per 1000 births than the U.S. average of 5.60 (CDC). When looking at infant mortality rates closer in Franklin County, there is a much higher rate of infant mortality in minorities with Blacks at 15.4 per 1000 and Hispanics at 7.8 per 1000. (CDC). Factors that have been found to place minorities at a higher are living at or below the poverty line, which can limit access to health care, and medications, and receiving education on how to care for mother and infant. Another factor can be a lack of education, which limits how much a mother can take care of herself or limits access to programs that could help with nutrition, immunizations, breastfeeding, and screenings. Finally, another risk factor is genetics, minorities can be predisposed to certain diseases that affect pregnancy and infant health such as diabetes and hypertension. These diseases can have effects on the mother such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.

Knowing these areas of risk and concern, a community health nurse can put together a plan that seeks to educate minority mothers about programs such as WIC and free healthcare. They can also work to create screenings for diabetes and hypertension for the community. This shows how using the ecosocial paradigm method gathers information from the community and then uses it to help decrease risk and harm.