Preview

Health Care

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
7829 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Health Care
Fam Community Heatth
Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 51-63 © 2005 Uppincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

Health-Promoting Behaviors of Sheltered Homeless Women
Meg Wilson, PhD, RN
To expand the body of knowledge and provide further insight into the complex area of homelessness and health, health practices of sheltered homeless women were investigated using a crosssectional, descriptive, and non-experimental design using Pender 's Health Promotion Model as the theoretical framework. The sample (w = 137) was weU educated, mostly unemployed, primarily single, and homeless due to relationship problems/conflict per self-report. Homeless women were noted to practice health-promoting behaviors in all areas but scored the lowest on physical activity and nutrition. Significantfindingsreflected women 's personal strengths and resources in the areas of spiritual grovrth and interpersonal relations. Keywords: health disparities, health promotion,

hometessness, quantitative research, women 's health

acute and chronic physical disorders and mental health/emotional issues. '" '" Few studies address the positive health practices of this vulnerable population. The ptirpose of this study was to describe sociodemographic and personal characteristics, health practices, and health-promoting behaviors in a population of sheltered homeless women in a specific Midwest geographical region to increase awareness, understanding, and provide further insight into the complex area of homelessness and health. The theoretical framework for this study was based upon Pender 's revised Health Promotion Model." The Health Promotion Model (HPM) provides a framework to examine influences on participation in healthpromoting behaviors and provides direction From the Department of Nursing, School of Health for effective interventions. The HPM illusSciences, University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, trates that each person is a multidimensional Indiana. holistic individual who continually interacts The author


References: 1. Baumohl J. Homelessness in America. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press; 1996. 2. National Coalition for the Homeless. Fact sheet #7: Who is homeless? February 1999. Available at: http://www,nch,ari.net/who.html. Retrieved January, 16, 2002, 3. Cousineau MR. Health status of and access to health services by residents of urban encampments in Los Angeles. Journal of Health Care for the Poor & Underserved. 1997;8:70-82. 4. Craft-Rosenberg M, Powell SR, Culp K, Health status and resources of rural homeless women and childrea Western Journal of Nursing Research. 2000;22:863879. 5. Bassuk EL, Weinreb LF, Buekner JC, Browne A, Salomon A, Bassuk S. The characteristics and needs of sheltered homeless and low-income housed mothevs.JAMA. 1996;276:640-646. 6. Douglass RL, Torres RE, Krinke B, Dale L. Health care needs and services utilization among sheltered and unsheltered Michigan homeless.yoMma/ of Health Carefor the Poor & Underserved. 1996; 10:518, 7. Reichenbach EM, McNamee MJ, Seibel LV, The community health nursing implications of the selfreported health status of a local homeless population. Public Health Nursing. 1998;15:398-405. 8. Sachs-Ericsson N, Wise E, Debrody CP, Paniucki HB, Health problems and service utilization in the homeless,/OKrwo/ of Health Care for the Poor & Underserved. 1999;10:443-454. 9. Schaffer MA, Mather S, Gustafson V Service learning: A strategy for conducting a health needs assessment of the homeless.yoMraa/ of Health care for the Poor & Underserved. 2000; 11:385-399, 10, Wojtusik L, White MC, Health Status, needs, and health care barriers among the homeless. Journal of Health Care for the Poor & Underserved. 1998;9:l40-153, 11. Pender NJ, Murdaugh CL, Parsons MA. Health promotion in nursing practice, 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall; 2002, 12. Phelan JC, Link BG, Who are the "homeless"? Reconsidering the stability and composition of the homeless population. Am Journal of Public Health. 1999;89:1334-1338, 13. Strehlow AJ, Amos-Jones T, The homeless as a vulnerable populatioa Nursing Clinics of North America. 1999;34:26l-274, 14. Toro PA, Warren MG. Homelessness in the United States: Policy considerations./owrwa/ of Community Psychology. 1999;27:119-136. 15. US Conference of Mayors. [Press release]. 2001. Available at: http://usmayors.org/uscm/news/pressreleases/documents/hunger_l 21101 ,Asp. Accessed February 26, 2002, 16. Barrow SM, Herman DB, Cordova P, Struening EL, Mortality among homeless shelter residents in New York City, Am Journal of Public Health. 1999;89:529-534. 17. Weinreb L, Goldberg R, Perloff J. Health characteristics and medical service use patterns of sheltered homeless and low-income housed mothers,/oMraa/ of General Internal Medicine. 1998;13:389-397. 18. Rosengard C, Chambers DB, Tulsky JP, Long HL, Chesney M. Value on health: Health concerns and practices of women w^ho are homeless. Women & Health. 2001;34:29-44. 19. US Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2010. Washington DC: US Government Printing Service; 2000, 20. Gelberg L, Andersen RM, Leake BD, Health care access and utilization. Health Services Research. 2000;3:1273-1302. 21. Clarke PN, Williams CA, Percy MA, Kim YS. Health and life problems of homeless men and women in the Southeast. Journal of Community Health Nursing. 1995;12:101-U0. Health-Promoting Behaviors of Sheltered Homeless Women 22, Kushel MB, Vittinghoff E, HaasJS. Factors associated with the health care utilization of homeless persons. JAMA. 2001;285:200-206. 23, Segal SP, Gomory T, Silverman CJ, Health status of homeless and marginally housed users of mental health self-help agencies. Health & Social Work. 1998;23:445-452, 24, Nyamathi A, Leake B, Gelberg L, Sheltered versus nonsheltered homeless women: Differences in health, behaviors, victimization, and utilization of care. Journal of General Intern Medicine. 2OOO;15:565-572, 25, Alley N, Macnee C, Aurora S, Alley A, Hollifield M, Health promotion lifestyles of women experiencing crises. Journal of Community Health Nursing. 1998;15:91-99, 26, Brady B, Nies, MA, Health-promoting lifestyle and exercise: A comparison of older African American women above and below poverty level. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 1999; 17:197-207, 27, Kemp yi, Hatmaker DD, Health practices and anxiety in low-income, high-and low-risk pregnant womea JOGNN. 1993;22:266-272, 28, Walker SN, Sechrist KR, Pender INJ, The healthpromoting lifestyle profile: development and psychometric characteristics. Nursing Research. 1987:36:76-81, 29, Berger AM, Walker SN, An explanatory model of fatigue in women receiving adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy. Nursing Research. 2001;l:4252, 30, Preski S, Walker LO, Contributions of maternal identity and lifestyle to young children 's adjustment. Research in Nursing & Health. 1997;20:107-117, 31, Lucas JA, Orshan SA, Cook E Determinants of healthpromoting Bebavior among women ages 65 and above living in the community. Scholarly Inquiry of Nursing Practice. 2000;l4:77-100, 32, Bagwell MM, Bush HA, Health conception and health promotion in blue collar workers, AAOHN Journal. 1999;47:512-518, 33, Stuifbergen AK, Becker HA, Health promotion practices in women with multiple sclerosis: Increasing quality and years of healtby life. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2001;12(l):9-22, 34, Martinelli AM, Testing a model of avoiding environmental tobacco smoke in young adults. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship. 1999;31:239-242, 35, Shinn M, Weitzman BC, Stojanovic D, et al. Predictors of homelessness among families in New our City: From shelter request to housing stability. Am Journal of Public Health. 1998;88:l651-l657, 36, US Census Bureau, Homelessness: Programs and the people they serve. Available at: http://www,census, gov/prod/www/nshapc/NSHAPC4a,html, Accessed April 10, 2002, 63 37, Stein JA, Andersen RM, Koegel P Predicting health services utilization among homeless adults: A prospective analysis,/oMrwa/ of Health Care for the Poor & Underserved. 2OOO;ll:212-23O, 38, Carter JH, Cuvar K, McSweeney M, Storey P, Stockman C, Health-seeking behavior as an outcome of a homeless population. Outcomes Management for Nursing Practice. 2001 ;5:140-144, 39, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Primary Prevention Working Group, Primary prevention of Type 2 diabetes by lifestyle intervention: implications for bealth policy. Annuals of Internal Medicine. 2OO4;14O(ll):951-957, 40, Kannel WB, Prevalence and implications of uncontrolled systolic hypertension. Drugs Aging. 2003;20(4):277-286, 41, Levine RS, Black-white inequalities in mortality and life expectancy, 1033-1999: Implications for Healthy People 2010, Public Health Rep. 2001;ll6(5):474483, 42, McMahan DA, Health issues of Allen County. Paper presented at St, Joseph Community Health Foundation Recognition Luncheon, Fort Wayne, Indiana; 2002, 43, Fowler SB, Hope and a health-promoting lifestyle in persons with Parkinson 's Disease,/oMm«/ of Neuroscience Nursing. 2002;29(2):l 11-116, 44, Jefferson VW, Melkus, GD, SpoUett GR, Healthpromotion practice of young black women at risk for diabetes. The Diabetes Educator. 2000;2:295-302, 45, Acton GJ, Malathum P, Basic need status and healthpromoting self-care behavior in adults. Western Journal of Nursing Research. 2000;22:796-8n, 46, Waite PH, Hawks SR, Gast JA, Tbe correlation between spiritual well-being and health behaviors. Am Journal of Health Promotion. 1999;13:159-162, 47, ReimerJB, Van Cleve L, Galbraith, M, Barriers to wellchild care for homeless children under age 13, Public Heath Nursing. 1995;12:6l-66, 48, Boland CS, Social support and spiritual well-being: Empowering older adults to commit to bealthpromoting behaviors,/oMma/ of Multicultural Nursing and Health. 2OOO;6(3): 12-23, 49, Caton CL, Hasin D, Shrout PE, et al. Risk factors for homelessness among indigent urban adults witb no history of psychotic illness: A case-control study. Am Journal of Public Health. 2000;90:258-263, 50, Kar SB, Pascual CA, Chickering KL, Empowerment of women for health promotion: A meta-analysis. Social Science & Medicine. 1999;49:l431-l46O, 51, Morrell-Bellai R, Goering PN, Boydell KM, Becoming and remaining homeless: A qualitative investigation. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 2000;21:581-604, 52, Styron RH, Janoff-Bulman, Davidson L, "Please ask me how I am" experiences of family homelessness in the context of single mothers ' lives. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless. 2000;9:l43-l65,
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    HCS 542 Research Study Proposal-Part IV: Target Population Selection
    • 1171 Words
    • 5 Pages

    HCS 542 Research Study Proposal-Part IV: Target Population Selection

    Target population is a critical element in any research study or proposal. Health care for the Homeless is key to the rapidly increasing problem that has plagued this country for decades. The inability of health care agencies to effectively reach and treat this population due to inaccessibility and sporadic visits by the individuals themselves has created a wide array of health problems resulting in complications to continuity of care and treatment plans as well as exacerbating any current medical conditions this particular population may have.…

    • 1171 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Windshield Survey
    • 4049 Words
    • 17 Pages

    Windshield Survey

    Community Health Nursing Diagnoses 1 Risk of spread of infections disease like Hepatitis, among the homeless community, related to the large homeless people population being drug users and sharing needles and not having the ability to obtain clean needles. Saint Louis has a large population of people with some form of hepatitis. Community Health Nursing Diagnoses 2 Risk for malnutrition, among the homeless community, related to the large population of homeless population seen getting food out of the local restaurants trash cans, as well as digging out of the trash cans on almost every corner. There are several homeless shelters, however the overwhelming homeless population in my community makes it difficult for the shelters to adequately feed everyone. Reference Module 3 (Week 3) Part Three Community Health Nursing Intervention Directions Please complete the following information on this template. Make sure you are using the template that has your coachs feedback from Weeks 1 and 2 otherwise 10 points will be taken off from this assignment. You may increase…

    • 4049 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Triangulating Perspectives Summary
    • 556 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Triangulating Perspectives Summary

    Dr. Jill E. Stefaniak, Dr. Misa Mi, and Dr. Nelia Afonso (2015), through their article Triangulating Perspectives: A Needs Assessment to Develop and Outreach Program for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations, demonstrate high quality and effective methodology for conducting a needs assessment. The interest of these researchers lies within the social science realm and focuses in on an underserved population, the homeless. The aim of their needs assessment is to channel the gap between this vulnerable population and multiple resources to healthcare information. This subject is of importance because of the growth in the homeless population and concern from policymakers on how to deal with this national growth (Stefaniak, Mi, & Afonso, 2015).…

    • 556 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Homelessness
    • 1666 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of Homelessness

    Only a concerted effort to ensure jobs that pay a living wage, adequate support for those who cannot work, affordable housing, and access to health care will bring an end to homelessness” (“Multiple Factors”). "One in three Americans, or 86.7 million people, is uninsured. Of those uninsured, 30.7% are under eighteen” (“Multiple Factors”). People should take a stand together to be able to offer these services to the ones who need them. Helping others in their journey to end their current lifestyle and start off fresh and new in a home is something that everyone should want to…

    • 1666 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Homeless People As A Vulnerable Population Research Paper
    • 2022 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Homeless People As A Vulnerable Population Research Paper

    Homeless people are a part of a vulnerable population who face a very real risk of developing health issues at a rate higher than the rest of the population due to certain disadvantages and co-morbidities. The homeless population is often exposed to the harsh elements of the weather and lack access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and medication. Housing in shelters and transitional homes are not constant and reliable, leaving the homeless population no choice but to spend their days and nights out in the streets. A vulnerable population is defined as those who are at a higher risk than others of developing health issues due to their social status, personal finances, lack of access to resources, or personal characteristics such as age,…

    • 2022 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Homelessness In Kalamazoo
    • 1652 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Homelessness In Kalamazoo

    Homelessness is a part of life many are aware of and may even have witnessed or observed an individual experiencing homelessness. Homelessness crosses many social classifications including race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, location, health, social status, and family status (Mizrahi & Davis, 2008). There are homeless individuals in every city across the United States. This paper will focus on the homeless population within the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan.…

    • 1652 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Homelessness Alliance Analysis
    • 1583 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Homelessness Alliance Analysis

    The access of health care to this vulnerable population has been known to be a major issue. The negative impact of homelessness on an individual’s physical health is well known and well documented. Studies have demonstrated that there are consistently higher rates of HIV, tuberculosis, hypertension, and respiratory illnesses in the homeless population (Zlotnick, Zerger, & Wolfe, 2013). Poverty and homelessness represent great obstacles towards health and well-being. Most homeless people lack health insurance (Zlotnick, Zerger, & Wolfe, 2013). The Affordable Care Act (ACA) should help fix this unbalance of access to care. The Affordable Care Act should help 30 million uninsured Americans have access to health care.…

    • 1583 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    War Veterans Research Paper
    • 1406 Words
    • 6 Pages

    War Veterans Research Paper

    “On any given night, there are over 600,000 homeless people in the U.S.” (Quigley, 2014). Most find themselves sleeping in homeless shelters, short-term transitional housing or someplace uninhabitable. While there are many circumstances that can create homelessness, the major causes are high poverty rates, racial disparities, single parenting, domestic violence, lack of affordable housing, mental illness, and other traumatic experiences. In cases where the homeless person is single, lack of affordable housing, poverty, and unemployment were the leading causes. In cases where families are homeless, substance abuse, lack of affordable housing and mental illness were the top cause. In this research paper, I will try to unveil the factors that…

    • 1406 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Homeless Veterans Research Paper
    • 663 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Homeless Veterans Research Paper

    “Homelessness is the condition of people without a permanent dwelling, such as a house or apartment.” In the United States over 500,000 people, almost a quarter of them children, were homeless this year. That’s over half a million-people living on streets, cars and or homeless shelters. 49,933 people, veterans to be specific, were identified across the United States as homeless, 51% of these homeless veterans have disabilities, 50% have serious mental issues, 70% have a substance abuse problem. Nearly one-quarter, 23% of the homeless are children under the age of 18. 10% are between the ages of 18 and 24, and 66% are over the age of 25.…

    • 663 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Homeless Health Promotion
    • 825 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Homeless Health Promotion

    Homelessness and lack of health care are positively related and having no health insurance at all can itself alone cause homelessness. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless (2009), half of all personal bankruptcies in the United States in 2008 were due to health related problems. The most important fact to remember when promotion health to this community is that they have little to no money, experience embarrassment, nervousness and/or may become offended and may not appear as if they need help but may or may not be mentally ill. These three things are not only considered barriers to the community when trying to receive health care but they are also barriers to the medical professionals who are not properly educated on how to show discretion and privacy for each homeless individual. Other relevant barriers include the lack of knowledge about where to get treated, lack of transportation and health care…

    • 825 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Violence In A Homeless Family
    • 1022 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Violence In A Homeless Family

    The problem of homelessness in America is escalating day by day. Homelessness doesn’t discriminate between races or skin color, although some may be a bit more prevalent. Homeless people range from former veterans, to immigrants, to families struggling to find a solid paying job and a stable lifestyle. Also, although most people relate a homeless person to an underdressed, rugged man, the homeless population now leans towards families. There are more and more homeless families on the streets every day. Homeless families can be an effect of discrimination because of race, a result of violence in a family, or an effect of a physical disability or mental illness.…

    • 1022 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Homelessness in America
    • 460 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Homelessness in America

    References: Cynthia J. Bogard, J. Jeff McConnell, Naomi Gerstel, Michael Schwartz. (Mar., 1999), Homeless Mothers and Depression: Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Vol. 40, No. 1 pp. 46-62 Retrieved August 20, 2010, from the American Sociological Association.…

    • 460 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Homelessness Prevention Plan
    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Homelessness Prevention Plan

    By bringing awareness to the individual’s strengths and limitation, they will be able to visibly see what areas they need to work on to better their lives and no longer face the struggles of homelessness. Decreasing social stressors is the next step to help the homeless (Gladding & Newsome, 2003). Stressors are going to seem magnified for the homeless because they are may not have the recourses to decrease their stressors. Enhancing the homeless individuals environmental resources is the last part of the prevention plan (Gladding & Newsome, 2003). Providing the homeless with shelter or permanent housing is the critical aspect in the prevention…

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Social Injustices of Homelessness
    • 809 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Social Injustices of Homelessness

    Homelessness is a growing social injustice in the United States. The degradation that these people face every day is terrifying. It is a crisis that we too often ignore, hoping it will restore itself. That assumption delivers a widespread lack of understanding about the facts that lead to homelessness. Homelessness exists as a problem that we should acknowledge and treat.…

    • 809 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Synthesis Essay On Homelessness
    • 790 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Synthesis Essay On Homelessness

    Homelessness is a pressing issue throughout the entire world. It affects people of all ages, genders, and races. The official definition from Google of homeless is “(of a person) without a home, and therefore typically living on the streets.” People who are homeless usually do not choose their homelessness. In fact, many people are pushed into this status due to many different reasons, such as gentrification or just difficulty finding a job. Walking down the Market Street of San Francisco, a bustling city, one would find many homeless begging, walking, or chatting with other homeless. They each have their own story behind their homelessness, and their own hardships. Women, in particular, have different needs and sufferings; they are more prone…

    • 790 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics