Introduction
Lead poisoning is a major problem affecting large numbers of toddlers in the country. The teaching plan aims to provide information to the parents regarding this health problem, which can potentially affect toddlers in their families. It includes sections such as the significance of the topic and resources available to parents to deal with this problem.
Parents lack sufficient information concerning the health problem. Community nurses can play an important role in reducing the incidence of lead poisoning among toddlers. They can encourage parents in the neighborhood to act appropriately so that they can safeguard their children from this tribulation. Community nurses can give information to the parents concerning community-based programs that can prevent lead poisoning in the neighborhood.
Summary of the teaching plan
The teaching plan will include various sections. They include information regarding the topic, its significance, available resources, symptoms of the problem, and varied solutions. The audience comprises adults, the parents of toddlers who may become victims of lead poisoning. It will be shown that lead poisoning can take place when lead, by any means, enters into one’s body. Lead poisoning can contribute to illness among toddlers. In the case of the children, it is not easy to know that they are affected by lead poisoning.
A blood test is one method of diagnosing this problem. Parents, who suspect that toddlers are affected by lead poisoning, should consult physicians for appropriate advice. The teaching plan aims to provide information regarding the agencies that can assist concerned parents. There are programs such as Florida’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Services and Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program of Duval County. Apart from these, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has developed programs to assist parents. They provide appropriate information regarding the ailment.
The teaching plan provides appropriate information to the parents concerning lead poisoning. They will be informed concerning the location of lead in the house. For example, lead is found in toys, pottery, canned foods, and old buildings.
The teaching plan will discuss various symptoms of lead poisoning. Toddlers may exhibit symptoms such as irritability, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, inability to concentrate, and seizures. Parents, after discovering lead in the house, need to take varied actions. For example, they can clean the house with water. Parents should not allow toddlers to eat food suspected of lead content.
Utensils, toys, and other items should be analyzed for lead content. Parents can contact local agencies to know regarding lead prevention programs. Toddlers should be allowed to enter the house only after making sure that the house is free of dust and lead. The parents, the audience of community teaching, will be informed regarding the need to check the pots for possible lead infection.
The epidemiological rationale for topic
It is important to provide an epidemiological rationale for the topic. The paper uses demographic data concerning the toddler population that is affected by lead poisoning. The work uses a descriptive study approach to show that this health issue affects particular sections among toddlers. For example, the data concerning various health problems are available with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The data regarding lead poisoning help analyze this issue (Maurer & Smith, 2013).
It is shown that environmental pollution contributes to lead poisoning, which mostly affects the fetus and toddlers. Any type of contamination may affect toddlers. The major sources of lead poisoning are paint, water, food items, lead-based utensils, and pottery. Families living in old houses are likely to be affected by lead poisoning. While renovating old houses, families should ensure that this issue does not affect toddlers. Kids affected by this problem may suffer from physical and mental health issues. In some cases, toddlers can suffer from behavioral problems (Maurer & Smith, 2013).
Community health workers can play an important role in reducing the incidence of lead poisoning in their locality. They can educate parents concerning the ways of protecting toddlers from this problem. In some cases, families are advised to move to new accommodations that are not affected by lead poisoning.
According to the census data belonging to the year 2000, nearly 13 out of 100,000 toddlers in a city suffer from lead poisoning. In some cases, nurses maintain a register of toddlers affected by this problem in their locality. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has introduced various programs to prevent lead poisoning among toddlers (Maurer & Smith, 2013).
Studies have shown that families living in houses built before the 1970s may be affected by lead poisoning. House plumbing technology used before the 1970s contributed to this health issue. Consequently, people living in old houses are affected by this predicament. Today, new technology has been used to prevent lead poisoning.
Low-income groups are particularly vulnerable to this health issue. Toddlers have the habit of consuming painting. They also play with toys. Toddlers play with dust or soil outside their homes. In many cases, parents are not aware that their toddlers may become victims of lead poisoning (Price & Gwin, 2013).
Health care products and home-based remedies can cause lead poisoning. One can note that during the summer months, toddlers may be affected by this problem. During this period, they may be affected by dust containing lead, which may have an impact on their health. It is found that Mexican American toddlers can be affected by this tribulation. Mexican American parents follow the practice of giving lead-based orange powder to toddlers, and this substance can harm them. They also follow the tradition of administering folk remedies when their toddlers encounter a few health problems. This has enhanced the problem of lead poisoning among toddlers belonging to Mexican American families (Price & Gwin, 2013).
Evaluation of teaching experience and community response
Another section of the work aims to evaluate teaching experience. This evaluation is based on the community’s response to teaching. The teaching plan concerning lead poisoning has received a positive response from families. The community lacked information regarding the sources and potential impact of lead poisoning. Parents were not aware of the fact that they needed to interact with community nurses to safeguard their children from this health issue.
Parents narrated incidents that took place in their neighborhood leading to the death of toddlers. They could reveal that most of the incidents happened in the houses of low-income groups. Their houses were constructed before the 1970s. Parents were not aware of the fact that paint, toys, utensils, and metal objects caused lead poisoning. They have agreed to interact with community nurses to obtain detailed information concerning the symptoms and solutions for this problem. The teaching plan has been successful in achieving its objectives.
According to a study, many parents ignore warnings given by community nurses concerning the potential impact of lead poisoning on their children. The study shows that only 28 percent of research participants responded to the advice. Such families may be affected by the lead-based infection. The study demonstrates the need for the implementation of individual and community level programs to educate parents concerning lead poisoning.
The research demonstrates the need for interaction between parents and health care professionals. It is suggested that community nurses can create focus groups to interact with them. In this way, it is possible to educate them concerning the negative implications of lead poisoning. Community groups can play an important role in giving appropriate health education to the families in the neighborhood. For example, community groups can conduct blood test camps to find lead levels in toddlers (Ivanov & Blue, 2008).
Areas of strengths and areas of improvement
The positive response of the audience can be considered as a major strength of the teaching plan. They asked various questions and clarifications concerning this topic. For example, they were not aware of the fact that toddlers living in old houses are affected by this health problem. They also needed information regarding the role of local, state, and federal agencies that initiated programs to eradicate this problem.
The website of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control has provided useful information to parents. At the same time, a few weaknesses may be highlighted. Parents needed specific details concerning the type of paint that can affect toddlers. Such details were not available, and this affected the interest of parents in this topic. Many parents show short-term interest, but in the long-term, they fail to sustain their curiosity.
It is also found that parents comprehend the seriousness of the problem only when toddlers are affected by this health problem. Hospitals in the neighborhood lack appropriate health care facilities to provide emergency services. Toddlers, consequently, can be affected by this factor. Parents are also reluctant to comprehend the seriousness of this topic due to cultural factors. For example, Mexican American families are reluctant to abandon the practice of administering folk remedies to their children.
As families depend on traditional medicine, they fail to approach community health care units to obtain appropriate medical advice. Many low-income families were reluctant to leave their old homes. They lack the financial ability to purchase new accommodations. They suggested the need for alternative housing facilities to deal with this problem. The study shows that researchers, teachers, and community nurses face difficulties while disseminating information concerning this problem.
Lead poisoning is a major problem affecting many toddlers in the country. The teaching plan has attempted to provide appropriate information to parents concerning this health problem. An epidemiological rationale for the topic has been provided. Lead is found in toys, metal objects, old buildings, and dust. Toddlers who live in old buildings are likely to be affected by this health issue. Community teaching has provided relevant information to the parents concerning the measures that are needed to protect toddlers from lead poisoning.
Most of the parents who participated in the community-teaching program expressed their desire to obtain additional information concerning this topic. Community nurses can conduct periodic blood tests to protect toddlers from this health problem. A major hindrance to the teaching program is that a few families are reluctant to replace older homes with new ones.
References
Ivanov, L.L., & Blue, C. (2008). Public health nursing: Policy, politics & practice. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.
Maurer, F.A., & Smith, C.M. (2013). Community/public health nursing practice: Health for families and populations. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Saunders.
Price, D.L., & Gwin, J.F. (2013). Pediatric nursing: An introductory text. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Saunders.