RUNNING HEAD: Malarias Impact on Malawi 1

Malarias Impact on Malawi and the Relationship between Poverty and Healthcare

Emily Page

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

November 5th, 2015

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Vulnerable Populations and Poor Health Status

Vulnerable populations are often overlooked by society and do not include just one

particular demographic. As defined by the United States National Library of Medicine,

vulnerable populations are defined as, those at greater risk for poor health status and health care

access. Individuals who have low socioeconomic status have a greater risk of developing a

poor health status because of the lack of access to adequate nutrition to have a well-nourished

body to fight things like bacteria, fungus or viruses. This makes them more susceptible to

developing diseases and after acquiring these diseases, they will go untreated because of limited

access to healthcare. Malawi, a country in Africa, is considered one of the poorest countries in

the world with poverty level being $450.00 a year or at $1.25 per day. This country is especially

susceptible to the disease called Malaria which according to the World Health Organization

(WHO) is, a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through

bites of infected female mosquitoes (Malaria, October 2015). Children, pregnant women,

homeless and the elderly are most vulnerable to developing this disease in Malawi and without

awareness; mortality from this awful disease will continue to rise. This disease is preventable

and treatable, but being a vulnerable population makes things much harder to prevent.

Social Determinants of Health

Vulnerable Populations are not only limited to lack of resources, they are also living with

an environment where they cannot thrive day to day. The conditions in which we are born, live,

grow, work and age are social determinants of health. Social determinants of health include the

following, but are not limited to access to healthcare services, education, language and literacy,

and exposure to crime, violence and social disorder. Other things that effect our physical
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environment in which live and grow in are considered physical determinants of health. Some

examples of physical determinants of health are unsanitary living conditions, hazardous road

conditions with no means for brake lights, headlights, turn signals within unsafe amounts of

people in the car and exposure to disease or other physical hazards. Relating this back to the

country of Malawi, some physical hazards specific to this country include lack of mosquito nets,

windows in houses or the simple fact that many people are without a home. According to a

journal about Malaria, Socio-economic status and education are important factors that influence

Malaria control and the holistic approach is useful and will help in improving Malaria control

(Chitunhu & Musenge, 2012). This essentially means that there has to be interventions at every

angle possible to prevent it from spreading and to keep it from coming back.

Evidence-Based Interventions addressing Health Needs

Interventions to improve the spread of Malaria are needed to improve the life expectancy

of the poor. These interventions also need to be evidence based, meaning that there needs to be

proven research and clinical practice behind them to be considered effective. As stated by an

article on Womens Health from BioMed Central, it has become clear there is a wide gap

between socioeconomic status of the poor rich and in the end this means that the poor is getting

compromised (Adebowale, Adedini, Ibisomi & Palamuleni, 2014.) Some key evidence-based

interventions from the CDC concerning Malaria include, Increased global understanding and

capacity to prevent death and illness from Malaria, Defining the impact of an antimalarial drug

resistance and ways to prevent its spread, insecticide-treated bed nets, rapid diagnostic tests and

treatment with effective high quality drugs, Treatment to pregnant women and their newborn

children, and Indoor spraying of homes to protect people from mosquitoes (CDC and

Malaria, 2014). According to an article entitled, Potential Barriers to Healthcare in Malawi,

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reducing child mortality is a big goal of this poverty-stricken country and the gap must be closed

between health and healthcare equity in Malawi (Ustrup, Ngwira, Stockman & Nyasula 2014.)

This aspect is related to two Millennium Development Goals that deal with reducing child

mortality and combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases.

Global Approach in Addressing Health for All. Even though Malawi is a sub-

Saharan country in Africa, there is a lot that can be achieved to prevent the spread of Malaria in

Malawi by using Healthy People 2020 as our main focus. Healthy People 2020 is a United

States initiative that is essentially a set of goals and objective to improve the lifespan and health

of all Americans (Social Determinants,2015.) There are many different global approaches to

eradicating health barriers, but there are two main ones that would help Malawi immensely

which include eradicating low health literacy and providing health care access to every stage of

life regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, or other factors. Another way of saying

eradicating low health literacy is simply saying improving the understanding of basic medical

instructions because education is associated with longer life-expectancy, improved health and

quality of life, and health promoting behaviors (Social Determinants, 2015.) The second global

approach of eradicating health barriers is promoting health care access across the board. If

everyone in the world was able to receive healthcare, including those in Malawi, Malaria

prevention education could be taught and detection and treatment could be given prior to it

taking a fatal turn. With all of this said, research efforts should be evaluated for evidence based

effective to continue to reduce the health burden of Malaria.

Conclusion
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In conclusion, it is clear that there is a distinct relationship between low-

socioeconomic status, social determinants of health and its effect on access to healthcare.

Malawi is considered one of the poorest countries in the world and it is unfortunate that a disease

that is preventable and treatable is taking lives each day. Malawis focus to eradicate this disease

must focus on prevention education because as stated before, education improves life-

expectancy, health behaviors and improved quality of life. It is important to recognize that

vulnerable populations are overlooked by society and these are the communities that need the

most help. Evidence-based interventions have been shown to decrease the incidence of Malaria

in countries, but it is still a major public health problem that should not be forgotten about.

References
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Adebowale, S., Adedini, S., Ibisomi, L., & Palamuleni, M. (2014). Differential effect of wealth

quintile on modern contraceptive use and fertility: Evidence from Malawian

women. BMC Women's Health BMC Womens Health, 40-40. Retrieved November 4,

2015, from http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6874/14/40

CDC and Malaria. (2014, April 1). Retrieved November 4, 2015, from

http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/resources/pdf/fsp/cdc_malaria_program.pdf

Chitunhu, S., & Musenge, E. (2015). Direct and indirect determinants of childhood malaria

morbidity in Malawi: A survey cross-sectional analysis based on malaria indicator survey

data for 2012. Malaria Journal. doi:10.1186/s12936-015-0777-1

Malaria. (2015, October 1). Retrieved November 5, 2015, from

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/

Social Determinants. (2015). Retrieved November 5, 2015, from

http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/leading-health-indicators/2020-lhi-topics/Social-

Determinants

Ustrup, M., Ngwira, B., Stockman, L., Deming, M., Nyasulu, P., Bowie, C., . . . Fischer, T.

(2014). Potential Barriers to Healthcare in Malawi for Under-five Children with Cough

and Fever: A National Household Survey. Retrieved November 1, 2015.

Criteria

Section 1 15 10

Introduction The introduction is captivating as it The introduction lacks The introdu

reflects on the meaning of captivation but clearly states the meaning o
vulnerable population. meaning of vulnerable population
Identifies a vulnerable population population. identificatio
and states the reason for the Identifies a vulnerable population
choice. population but lacks reason for
choice.

The conclusion is recognizable

The conclusion is clearly defined and attempts to summarize the
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summarizing the key factors key factors influencing the No conclus

influencing the health status of the health status of the identified presented.
identified vulnerable population. vulnerable population.

Conclusion

Section 2 30 20

Social Determinants The writer Identifies and reflects The writer identifies the social The writer
of Health on the social determinants of determinants of health. determinan
health as depicted in the literature. The writer provides minimal discussing
The writer discusses in detail the discussion relating health health outc
relationship between social health determinants to health identified v
determinants and health outcomes outcomes and fails to link it to population
for the identified vulnerable the identified vulnerable
population. population.
Section 3 30 20

Evidence-based The writer identifies evidence- The writer identifies evidence- The writer
Interventions based interventions addressing based interventions addressing based inte
the health needs of the identified health needs in general. linking them
addressing Health
vulnerable population. The writer speaks to MDGs vulnerable
Needs The writer states and relates the with no relation to the identified depicts a la
significance of meeting the related vulnerable population. regarding M
MDGs in improving health
outcomes for the identified
vulnerable population.
Section 4 15 10

Global Approach in The writer identifies and reflects The writer mentions but The writer
Addressing Health on two global approaches in provides minimal reflection on reflection o
eradicating barriers to health. one or two global approaches in approach i
for All
The writer relates the significance eradicating barriers and barriers an
of eradicating the chosen health promoting health for all. for all.
barriers in promoting optimal
health for all.

Section 5 10 5

Writing and The paper is without grammatical A few spelling and/or The paper
Presentation and spelling errors. APA format is grammatical errors noted. Writer evidence o
evident. makes an attempt at APA has numer
format. no evidenc
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**Assignments turned in late will be graded as above and then have point deduction
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