NURS6120 - Violence and Injury Risks for Homeless Individuals Assignment

Assignment Task

Background

Homelessness is a significant social issue in Australia. It affects thousands of individuals and families. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in 2021 more than 122,000 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness across the country (AIHW, 2024). It is to note that the homeless population includes a diverse range of individuals. This includes the ones who sleep rough, stay in the crisis accommodation or live in the temporary housing situations.

The health impacts of homelessness are severe and multifaceted. It is to note that the homeless individuals often suffer from poorer health outcomes compared to the general population. Below are listed the important health issues that they face:

a) Homeless individuals are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. According to a study by Gutwinski et al. (2021), the prevalence of mental illness among the homeless is significantly higher than in the general population.

b) Substance abuse also is both a cause and a consequence of homelessness (Adshead, Norman & Holloway, 2021). Many homeless individuals struggle with addiction to alcohol, drugs or other substances. This increases their health problems and complicates their efforts to secure a stable housing too (de Vargas et al., 2021).

c) Homeless people are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and respiratory conditions as per the studies by Mejia-Lancheros et al. (2020). The lack of access to regular medical care and medications further complicates the management of these conditions.

d) Furthermore, living in crowded and unsanitary conditions increases the risk of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis and HIV (Khandekar & Ghosh, 2022). The transient nature of homelessness also makes it difficult to ensure continuity of care and treatment.

e) Homeless individuals are more vulnerable to violence and physical injuries, often due to unsafe living conditions or assaults. These injuries often go untreated and lead to further health complications.

f) Accessibility to nutritious food is often limited for the homeless. It leads to malnutrition and related health problems (Ravikumar-Grant, Kelly & Gabhainn, 2023). Also, it is to mention that poor nutrition exacerbates other health issues and impedes the recovery.

Discussion

To create an effective health promotion leaflet for the homeless population, high-quality, reliable resources were utilized. These resources include the government publications and statistics, peer-reviewed journals, non-profit organisations and health promotion frameworks (Colbran et al., 2021). The data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics provided crucial insights into the demographics and health status of the homeless population. Also, the government health department reports have offered additional information on health services available to this group. Furthermore, the reports and publications from the organizations like Mission Australia, the Salvation Army and Homelessness Australia provided practical perspectives on supporting the homeless. These organizations’ expertise in direct service delivery have helped in preparing the leaflet with actionable advice and resources.

Key stakeholder consultation

To ensure the health promotion leaflet was effective and culturally appropriate, feedback was sought from a key stakeholder. He was a social worker who regularly works with the homeless population. The social worker appreciated the comprehensive coverage of health issues as well as the simplified terminology that has been used. The overall layout and design were clear, but they recommended using more visuals and infographics to convey information effectively. Furthermore, the leaflet was deemed culturally sensitive. But it was suggested to include information in multiple languages and consider the specific needs of the Indigenous homeless individuals.

The feedback was predominantly positive. It highlighted the leaflet's thoroughness and clarity. The suggested improvements were incorporated such as simplifying the language, adding more visual elements and ensuring cultural sensitivity by including multilingual information.

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