Hepatitis A

Introduction

In the area of health, the continuous promotion of health care providers is plagued with several of issues. Patients are the only people who will suffer much because of their own carelessness and lifestyle. It is obvious for the people that once there is an existence of the disease, the cure is the first being sought. Without knowing that it best when they give importance and paid attention on the various to prevent such illness.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis is broadly defined as an illness characterized with inflammation, swelling and tenderness of the liver, most frequently caused by a virus. The most common types are hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In addition, there is an additional discovery of other hepatitis viruses which are less common to people they are called hepatitis D, E and G (Gloriani-Barzaga, et al., 1997). Each form is caused by a different and specific virus. However the focus of the paper is allotted on the Hepatitis A. The hepatitis A (HAV) infection can be contracted by eating food or drinking water that is contaminated by human feces, or even by oral or anal sex, but not through normal heterosexual genital to genital sex. In other countries, particularly in Unites States, there is a great number of people recorded as being infected with the hepa-A. It is considered as an acute disease usually resolves itself within six months and does not develop into a chronic illness (Chua, 1999; Wiersma, 2009).

More likely, a person who has a Hepa-C infection has a big possibility in catching the Hepa-A, and creates the condition very rapid and deadly disease. Most of the hepa-C patients get the attention of the medical interventions and are subject for vaccination against the Hepa-A. The symptoms are described as Hepatitis A characteristically has an abrupt onset. Symptoms can include fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, clay-colored stools and jaundice. Many infections are mild and without jaundice. Infected children, particularly infants and toddlers, are frequently asymptomatic. Illness can last one to two weeks or, rarely, several months. The recorded fatality rate is less than 0.1% (Henderson, 2009).

Prevention

Like the many infections, hepatitis can be also avoided or prevented. There are some habits that a person should change in avoiding the virus. It is promoted that making sure that food and drinks are free from contamination and the food handler is free of hepatitis, washing hands regularly, practicing safe sex, never sharing objects such as nail file, nail clipper, razors, needles, toothbrushes, silverwares, etc. When getting a tattoo, a manicure or body piercing, make sure the instruments are sterile. Those exposed to blood in their work (healthcare or daycare center workers, etc.) or those who live with, or exposed to, infected persons should be vaccinated against Hep-B and Hep-A (Chua, 1999).

Treatment and Medication

Acute hepatitis A is self-limited and often does not require hospitalization and treatment to eliminate the virus. Physicians may prescribe some medications for headache, nausea, or IV fluids to prevent dehydration from not eating and drinking (Chua, 1999). Still, there is no proven specific treatment in the illness and there is an ongoing investigation regarding the Hepa-A infection.

The best guide that a patient can use is to increase the amount of rest and avoiding too much fatigue. There is also a strict rule about the low-fat diet and the availability of vaccination. The said vaccination is recently demonstrated in the Unites States and is being promoted to the international travelers, people with active sexual exercises, illegal drug users, people who have a high risk for infection, and those who have a chronic history of hepatitis. Even the group of organizations is advised to take an anti HAV vaccine and most of the groups are named as the food service workers, sewerage workers, health care workers, and child care centers (Henderson, 2009). The virus reaches peak levels the week or two before onset of symptoms and diminishes rapidly after liver dysfunction or symptoms appear which is concurrent with the appearance of circulating antibodies to HAV. Infants and children, however, may shed virus for up to 6 months following infection (Wiersma, 2009).

Conclusion

The hepa-A becoming more popular in most of the developed countries, like the US, it is because of the openness of the country into various technological opportunities and liberation. There is nothing wrong in the continuous progress but the people should also understand that health should not be far from their aim for development.

References:

Chua, P.S., (1999) “Hepatitis: The Silent Killer”, Heart to Heart Talk, Accessed 17 June 2010, from http://www.feu-nrmf.ph/drchua/pdf/H/Hepatitis.pdf

Gloriani-Barzaga, N., Cabanban, A., Graham, R.R., & Florese, R.H., (1997) “Hepatitis E Virus Infection Diagnosed by Serology: A Report of Cases at the San Lazaro Hospital, Manila”, Accessed 17 June 2010, from http://www.psmid.org.ph/vol26/vol26num4topic6.pdf

Henderson, B., (2009) Hepatitis A (Infectious Hepatitis), Accessed 17 June 2010, from http://www.odh.ohio.gov/pdf/IDCM/hepa.pdf

Wiersma, S.T., (2009) “Chapter 2: The Pre-Travel Consultation Travel-Related Vaccine-Preventable Diseases”, Traveler’s Health –Yellow Book, Accessed 17 June 2010, from http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2010/chapter-2/hepatitis-a.aspx

Finance in Health and Social Care

Introduction

Government and other institutions place a kind of program wherein all the citizens, particularly the working and the people in their advanced age be benefitted. The creation of the health care and social care policy is an introduction of the government in ensuring the quality of health and paying attention to the roles being played by the working class. The program is successfully ongoing although there are many recognized issues and drawbacks regarding the health and social care. Still, people believe that the government actions on the health and social care are other ways of addressing their security.

Background and Problem Statement

Most of the industrial workers suffers from the injuries and worse is death. Due to the high peril of the nature of their work, it is very critical to assess that the environment is safe. But because of the various programs such health and social care, the workers can at least feel secure because they have funds that can assist them no matter what happen on their stay in the organization, In addition, the workers are very open in addressing the health and social concerns which is an advantage for the program to posses other improvements and developments. However, what are the financing issues that surround in the health and social care programs?

Research Objectives

The first objective of the study is to provide the quality answer with regards to the proper financing the health and social care among the people. The second objective is to seek the other contributing issues that might affect the health and social care financing. And the third objective is to draw another thrust on the side of the government in able to provide additional strategy.

Research Questions

The study understands the criticisms that plagued in the health and social care. Therefore, the creation of the several questions can help the study align the comprehensive information and on the process, can meet the settled objectives.

1. What are the purpose of the health and social care?

2. What are the revolving issues about the health and social care?

3. What are the actions being taken by the government to answer the issues in the health and social care?

Literature Review

The sustainability of health and other social programs is the result of the proper financing policies, its allocation and the techniques applied between the government and the other regions. The question of sustainability has been the major concern within the financing departments. For the idea of sustainability, the country can have the advantages and the ability to meet the needs and care among the citizens. Through providing the good science and development, public policy and collective commitment, the resources for the health and social care policies are met. The priority of the financing department is to establish a well and sound program that the citizens can enjoy the benefits that it might bring. Dramatically, in the beginning, the budgets are allocated, monitored, and shifts depending on the needs of the health and social care settings. More likely, the growth of the program and the expenditures are part of the overall plan. Various efforts are given to the health and social care funding that aims in ensuring that the quality health care and social security are administered. Health insurance, social programs, and welfare programs are part of the industrialize countries as part of the universal health insurance that aims in covering the life among the citizens. The unique system developed the interactions between the employers and economic conditions.

Methodology

The proposed method in the study is the use of the secondary information that focuses on answering the health and social care. Through the applied method, the study can gain the advantages such as learning the situation of the health and social care policies in the country. In addition, the method provides the information that can provide comprehensive understanding on sustaining the health and social care programs.

Conclusion

The health and social care is not that strong enough to fulfill the aim of the government in providing the quality programs. However, due to the various problems in financing the problems are now set in two-fold. The only way that the government can do is the constant monitoring and management of all their finances.

Sources:

Budget, 2002. Financing Health Care [Online] Available at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/finance/pdf/budget2002/health.pdf [Accessed 16 March 2010]

UHSO, 2002. Health Careers & Issues [Online] Available at: http://www.ph.ucla.edu/umso/english/hlth_fin.PDF [Accessed 16 March 2010].

Systems/Ecological Approach in Social Case Work

Introduction

Social work is an outreach program where most the participants are voluntary people who are willing to make difference in their community through the public service. The volunteers are considered as selfless people that can also create a great impact on the other people’s lives. Although there are many popular programs that introduced in every government, people always seek for the aid of the social workers because of their action and approach regarding their biggest dilemma. However, there are many approaches that proposed to make a great impact on the social works and their effectiveness in servicing the society.

Ecological/Systems Approaches

The ecological approaches are not entirely taken as theories but rather a combination of ideas from various disciplines which are all focuses on the individuals or groups together with their environment. The collaboration of the disciplines gave birth to the popularity of ecological approach in the social work. Since the social work focuses on the improvement of an individual, the aid of the ecological approach intentionally improves not only the life of an individual but also their environmental condition and situation. The collaborative effects of the two, functions as one and that are to treat the individual alone but in the process of adaptation. The ideas involved in the ecological approach is borrowed from the scientific disciplines such as ecological science, evolutionary biology, ethnology, anthropology, ego psychology, stress theory, gestalt psychology, role theory, humanistic psychology, general systems theory, and the dynamics of power relationships (Godlaski, 2008).

Limitations of Ecological/System Models

Despite of the benefits of the application of ecological approach in the social works, there are still recognized limitations that might create effectiveness in the social work. By focusing on the professionalism and the environmental intervention, the core of the social work and its function might be drawn in a complexity between its interaction between the environment and the individuals. Through the collaboration of the ideas from various principles, the social workers should address the levels of the systematic performance which is being challenges by contemporary social critics. Due to the various disciplines, there are chances that the ideas might clash against the other and weakens the system.

Among the various tests regarding the effectiveness of the ecological approach, the issues of socio-political orientation, environmental domain transaction, and lack of comprehensive critical perspective are emphasized. The individual determinism as characterized in the ecological system which is related to human development can be minimized or completely disregarded. For there is a concept of nature, the original connection of an individual with his family, organization, and society has a possibility to be affected (Besthorn and McMillen, 2002).

Training and Development

Social work must continue the development and its interaction with the concept of ecological approach because the most of the professional responsibilities are flowing from them. In recognizing the current societal issues, the social works are highly recommended to go under the future training and be involved in the practice learning. The training of the social worker plays an important in the development of the individuals that needs their help and therefore, they were expected to provide the highest quality of the social work and services (Duffy, 2006). Most of all, the social work and the use of the ecological approach can lead to the reintroduction regarding the essence of care in which they are compelled to deliver in the society.

Conclusion

The ecological approach focuses on the growth and improves the relationship of the person and his environment. With the help of a professional, through the positive life experiences and that is the social working process empowers and revives the human ethics. Through the life courses encountered by every individual, there should be a feeling of accommodation between the growth of the human being and their environment and this is the center of the ecological approach.

References:

Besthorn, F. H. & McMillen, D. P., 2002. The Oppression of Women and Nature: Ecofeminism as a Framework for a Social Justice Oriented Social Work. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, Vol. 83, No. 3 [Online] Available at: http://www.ecosocialwork.org/papers/ecofem007.pdf [Accessed 19 March 2010].

Duffy, J., 2006. Participating and Learning Citizen Involvement in Social Work Education in Northern Ireland Context, A Good Practice Guide [Online] Available at: http://www.swap.ac.uk/docs/projects/citizenni_rpt.pdf [Accessed 19 March 2010].

Godlaski, T., 2008. Ecological Approaches [Online] Available at: https://www.uky.edu/SocialWork/courses/sw620-401/Ecological-Approaches.pdf [Accessed 19 March 2010].

Caring for Children and Young People

Health and Social Care

Children and young people make up the quarter of population and given such recognizable rights. The legal rights as children and young people and their families are both upheld and respected therefore, there is an involvement of health and social care. Children and young people, who are also referred as youth or teenagers, has different experiences brought great impact in their personal foundation. Most of the people between 10 and 19 range of age spend majority of their time in the community, home and school and most of the care is delivered outside the hospital or clinical settings (Kelly, et al., 2004).

The Challenges

The key issues on primary care are composed of five ideas which are enumerated as: promoting of health and well-being, parental support, quality of service, the phase of growing up or adulthood, and safeguarding and improving the welfare of the children (Kelly, et al., 2004). Usually, the families are the primary caregivers in long-term conditions of care. The agencies that provide services play a role in promoting health, build strength, and prevent problems. An interaction with the healthcare services can have an impact in making decisions and proper management of illness through medical monitoring, dealing with emotional consequences, and adopting in role changing (Callery, 2009).

Despite the widespread of knowledge and collaboration in health and social care for children and young people, still the issue of involvement of the youth in decision making is plagued with challenges that prevent them from participating. The inequality, lack of mutual respect and trust, poor education and training, weak infrastructure, lack of representation, and cost are some of the challenges that the service agencies must defeat to bring back the right of the children towards health and social care (IFRC, 2005). Therefore, there should be health and social care guidelines that will affect the efficiency of overall care for the children and young people (Burton, 2007).

Organizations

1.0 Primary Care Organization (PCO) - the brief executive summary of PCO (Hall and Elliman, 2003)

1. The health care together with its promotions are created based on the responsive approach to the needs of families, children and young people and are working with other agencies to ensure the goal for health and wellness of the young society as well as being aligned with the government policies and initiatives.
2. They invest in different community development sectors and support networks and ensuring the allocation of resources in different areas of needs.
3. They consider the holistic approach in terms of medicinal attention and health promotion as part the organization’s universal or core program.
4. They accurately monitoring the development in the health promotion they create and increase the activity involved to establish an idea of prevention of infectious diseases and other health risks. And as evidence, there are a growing number of illnesses, disorders and health conditions are identified through their routine of preventive care programs.
5. There is a respect on duties on the child health and protection. In addition, the development of health promoting policies in collaboration with education professionals, parents and staffs that are working with their time and expertise.

2.0 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) - IFRC is a humanitarian organization with a unique worldwide network and improving the situation of vulnerable people by providing assistance without discrimination and promoting humanitarian values (IFRC, 2005).

1. The support in advocacy campaigns of existing social policies ensures the structure and opportunities for children and young people’s participation in decision-making process with the concern on their rights.
2. The promotion of good governance in public institutions and civil society organization ensures the provisions and principles of participatory rights which are monitored and at the same time, there is an existence of systematic training for the children and young people.
3. The mobilization of the education and information imposed by the organization will helps the effective development of the participation of young people and at the same time, ensuring the safe and protective learning environments.
4. The opportunities for volunteers, including governments and businesses are in a partnership and collaboration for the service on health and social care for children and young children and the involvement of the mobilizing of financial and human resources.
5. The strengthening relationship with the media is an advantage in implementing the program that cares about the children and the young people.

Skills in the Organization

The possible skills that every organization or agency should have are the teamwork, communication and consultation skills, management of different illness or problems, and integration of psychosocial and biological aspects of health and illness in the family and community (Callery, 2009 & Kelly, et al., 2004). As organizations or agencies, they play an important role in delivering the care for the children and young people and create a positive outcome in their health and/or social relations. They respond to the needs through referrals and joint working.

Ill children and young people are under the holistic approach with an account on stage on development, long-term conditions, acute and minor illnesses in which the needed care are given to the children in different ways such as self-management (Callery, 2009). It is expected that every child and young person will gain influences in their future attitudes simply through the help of the health and/or social care services. If every country will prioritized the health of children and young people then, the government and other institutions should improve the framework of the service in many departments if possible. In addition, the development of the partnership between the health and social care are linked to the education, housing, and leisure are provided by the government sectors, organizations, and parents all for the children and young people (Kelly, et al., 2004).

References:

Burton, A., 2007. Caring for Children Amidst Chaos: Guideline to Maintain Health. Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 114, No. 10. [Online] Available at: www.questia.com. [Accessed 13 Jan 2010].

Callery, P., 2009. Self Care for Children and Young People With Long Term Conditions. [Online] Available at: http://www.impnc2009.org/upresimler/Peter_Callery_Selfcare_children_youngpeople_longterm_conditions.pdf. [Accessed 13 Jan 2010].

Hall, D., & Elliman, D., 2003. Health for All Children (4th Ed.) Oxford: Oxford University Press. URL www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/04/15161325/13404 Also Available at: http://www.rcgp-curriculum.org.uk/PDF/curr_8_Care_of_Children_and_Young_People.pdf. [Accessed 13 Jan 2010].

IFRC, 2005. Children & Young People: Participating in Decision-Making, A Call for Action. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies [Online] Available at: http://www.ifrc.org/docs/pubs/youth/children-and-young-people-participating-in-decision-making-english.pdf. [Accessed 13 Jan 2010].

Kelly, S., Bastable, R., Deighan, M., Field, S., & Rughani, A., 2004. Care of Children and Young People. Royal College of General Practitioners, Curriculum Statement. [Online] Available at: http://www.rcgp-curriculum.org.uk/PDF/curr_8_Care_of_Children_and_Young_People.pdf. [Accessed 13 Jan 2010].