Part 1

 ″Unnatural Causes Place Matters ″ Dr. David Williams argues that health campaigns focused solely on changing individual behavior are naïve because “the choices of individuals are often limited by the environments in which they live.”

            The community that I reside in has greatly influenced my health choices through various pathways, such as communal stressors, neighborhood resources, and structural factors. A large percentage of my neighbors always stresses on the significance of keeping our buildings and surround yards clean at the time. What this means is that we should ensure that no random trashes should be scattered everywhere. To ensure that those guidelines are adhered to, I always remind my roommates and neighbors about the importance of living in a clean environment free of diseases and other environmental hazards. The main state policies that are implemented within my community include Smart Growth policies and eradication of poverty. Even though my neighborhood makes or formulates better healthy choices, one of the things I would like them to consider is to ensure that they have used water appropriately to avoid wastage. Since each leaver their sprinkler running at least the whole day, it is a clear indication that they are wasting such a precious natural resource. By engaging in a conversation with them, I believe they will change their perspectives regarding the importance of living in a clean environment.   

Part 2

How do you make an unhealthy neighborhood healthy?

            The general availability of opportunities and resources is one of the primary means for transforming an unhealthy neighborhood into a healthy one. Therefore, to ensure that that has been achieved it will be important to ensure that the entire communities have partnered with county government so that structural facilities, such as better houses, schools, hospitals, clean drinking water, dustbins, and so on are available (Hofrichter et al., 2010). Health education should also be provided to educate people about the significance of healthy living standards.

What makes a neighborhood unhealthy to begin with?

            Poor neighborhoods the lack of equitable access to quality healthcare services, well-maintained recreational facilities, and other related infrastructure contribute greatly to making a neighborhood to be unhealthy. When a neighborhood is disadvantaged, its residents are exposed to pollutants, dilapidated housing, and other sources of stress for instance overcrowding, violence, and crime (O'Campo & Dunn, 2012). All of that can be attributed to the formulation and implementation better developmental policies together with community integration.

 What are the challenges involved in trying to improve neighborhood conditions?

            One of the main challenges that are involved when trying to improve neighborhood conditions is the formulation and implementation of poor development policies. As a result of that, policymakers and the community ends up failing to effectively address the problems of the neighborhood distresses (Holsinger & Holsinger, 2012). This is coupled with the lack of wide portfolio for community conscious strategies and programs that can improve neighborhoods simultaneously.

 

 

References

Hofrichter, R., & National Association of County & City Health Officials (United States). (2010). Tackling health inequities through public health practice: Theory to action. Oxford University Press

Holsinger, J. W. J., & Holsinger, J. W. (2012). Contemporary Public Health: Principles, Practice, and Policy. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky.

O'Campo, P., & Dunn, J. R. (2012). Rethinking social epidemiology: Towards a science of change. Dordrecht: Springer Science+Business Media B.V.