Managing the Health of Populations-Washington D.C
Managing the health of populations remains an essential government, community, and individual priority. Understanding population health provides a customizable framework for all healthcare agencies to connect in community health improvements. The 3-4-50- model is a theoretical postulation that provides a framework for community health improvement. Washington, D.C., is mainly an urban community that ranks well in population health rankings. As per the 3-4-50 model, the three behaviors that impact four diseases in the vast Washington DC include alcohol use, smoking, and physical inactivity. These behaviors have been linked with chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes Mellitus, heart disease, cancer, and stroke (Mazzucca et al., 2021). These diseases account for significant morbidity and mortality in the area.
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, stroke, and heart disease are leading causes of mortality in Washington. The state ranks fifth in diabetic prevalence and sixth in diabetic mortality rate, with a mortality rate of 24.6/100/000. Stroke is another common cause of mortality in the state, with a mortality rate of 37.3 per 100,000. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the state, with a mortality rate of 165.5/100,000 (CDC, 2019). Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the state. It has a mortality rate of 155.8/100,0000. These four diseases combined account for the majority of deaths in Washington. CDC findings reveal that heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are among the leading causes of death in the state. They rank first, second, fourth, and fifth, respectively (CDC, 2019). These diseases account for over 60% of all reported mortalities in the state.
Alcohol use, smoking, and physical inactivity have been linked to several chronic disorders. The underlying social determinants of health that impact these behaviors include social inequality, community traits, access to public green spaces, and discrimination. Social inequality is a common problem in Washington and the United States. Social inequalities such as income and education inequality may affect an individual’s physical activity. Sedentary behavior remains common among individuals with higher social status and income. Community traits may also affect physical activity and behaviors such as alcohol use and smoking. Traits such as individual cohesion within their communities, perceived benefits of anti-smoking, anti-alcohol, and physical activity, and individuals’ attitudes may affect how they indulge in these behaviors and the measures they take to improve their health. Access to public areas where individuals can exercise remains a challenge in low-income neighborhoods of Washington, DC, and may impact individuals’ ability to exercise.
Several health disparities are apparent in Washington, DC and America in its entirety. These include the burden of disease, mortality rates, and poor access to care. Decades of residential segregation in Washington have been implicated in some of these disparities. The burden of infectious and non-infectious diseases and mortality rates in the state are higher among low-income earners. Additionally, low-income earners suffer from the lack of access to quality care due to the high cost of healthcare in the area.
Physical activity remains a determinant of various diseases. Washington, DC, is a walker’s paradise. With a walkability score of 98%, residents in the vast area can run their errands walking. This is due to the availability of walkways and bike lanes. This data supports, in part, the data related to health conditions impacted by physical activity. Washington ranks 44 in obesity, with a rate of 28.8%. This is way below the national average of 42%.
With a population health score of 82%, Washington performs fairly well in various aspects of healthcare. There is, however, room for improvement. Expansion of public green areas in low-income neighborhoods, increasing walkways and sidewalks, and enhancing awareness on disease prevention across Washington DC neighborhoods may be necessitated to further increase the population health score of the state.
References
CDC. (2019, April 13). Stats of the District of Columbia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/states/dc/dc.htm
Mazzucca, S., Arredondo, E. M., Hoelscher, D. M., Haire-Joshu, D., Tabak, R. G., Kumanyika, S. K., & Brownson, R. C. (2021). Expanding implementation research to prevent chronic diseases in community settings. Annual Review of Public Health, 42(1), 135–158. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-090419-102547
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Question 
Description
Primary Discussion Responses are due by Thursday (11:59:59pm Central), and Peer Responses are due by Saturday (11:59:59pm Central).
Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 400–600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions with your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.
Peruse the following Web sites:
County Health Rankings
Community Commons
HealthyPeople.gov
San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency
Data.gov Data Catalog
The concept behind the 3-4-50 model is that there are three unhealthy behaviors that influence four chronic diseases, which lead to 50% of all deaths. The percentage of deaths can vary by community or place. For example, in some communities, this can be 3-4-63 or 3-4-45.
As you peruse the Websites above, respond to the following questions:
How do the three behaviors in the 3-4-50 model impact the 4 diseases in your community?
Can you find the mortality of these 4 diseases in your community?
If you can, what is the percentage of deaths caused by these 4 diseases in your community?
What are the underlying social determinants of health that impact the three behaviors in the 3-4-50 model?
What are the health disparities observed from the data in your community (city or county)?
Physical activity, or lack thereof, is 1 of the three behaviors that impact the four diseases. What is the walkability index for your neighborhood (area)?
Does this support the data as they relate to health conditions that are impacted by physical activity?
From the data and the information you gathered, what recommendations might you have for your community?