How to write a Windshield survey nursing paper

How to write a Windshield survey nursing paper

Basic Windshield Survey of Newmarket Community

Geographic boundary

The community I am going to conduct the windshield survey is the Newmarket region. Newmarket town is located in the Canadian province of Ontario. The area is part of Greater Toronto in the Golden Horseshoe area of Southern Ontario.  Peel surrounds the area to the west, the city of Toronto to the south, Durham to the East, and Georgina to the north. The regional municipality has nine municipalities.  The local government of the area is organized into a two-tier structure. The Newmarket region is referred to as the heart of the York region. It has various social and community amenities.

History of the Newmarket region

The area is well established. It has relatively new buildings, and residents of the Newmarket region privately own most households. The area was previously owned by Quakers who moved to the area to escape violence during the periods of the American Revolution. During the 18th century, the area had several log and two frame buildings used as residences for the early inhabitants. It was well served with hotels, cloth factories, tanneries, and breweries. The main mode of transportation in the early days was railway transport through the Northern Railway of Canada. The area gradually developed from a village to a town with increased social, economic, and agricultural activities. Industrialization was responsible for the rapid growth of the area.

Demographics

The region has a population of 84224, according to 2016 demographic statistics (Statistics Canada, 2016). The majority of individuals are of Canadian ethnicity. However, most ethnic origins ranging from Filipinos to American individuals reside in the city. In the windshield survey of the Newmarket region, I made several key observations. Among the observations was about the people. The city had many people from diverse backgrounds and with different characteristics. In terms of race/ethnicity, the city had people from varying ethnic groups, including Canadians, English, Scottish, French, Irish, Italian, Asians, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Hawaiians, and mixed races. The proportion was different; the Canadians were the majority representing about 32 percent of the population, followed by English at about 18.34 percent and others at less than five percent each(Statistics Canada, 2016). The Scottish and the French racial groups are the third and the fourth largest in the Newmarket region. In terms of age, there were also people of different ages. 4.91 percent of the population was under five years, while those under 18 years represented 21.7 percent. The elderly (65 years and above) represented 15 percent. In terms of gender mix, there seemed to be equal gender representation in the city, with females representing 49.9 percent of the population. The median population is 40.9 years.  There are a total number of 28670 households.

Values and Beliefs

The area is characterized by diverse religious groups. According to statistics, 39 percent of individuals in the Newmarket area are religious. The predominant religion in the area was catholic. Most of the individuals I interacted with were Catholics. There were also numerous catholic buildings.  Other religions I noted in the area included the Baptist, the Episcopalian, the Lutheran, Pentecostal, Judaism, Islam, and the church of Jesus Christ. Most of the buildings are 19th-century buildings that have been crafted with various architectural designs. Most of the buildings possess a high degree of historical or architectural significance.

Physical Environment

The area has a humid continental climate. Currently, the area is cold with moderate precipitation. The community looks clean, with few areas lacking sanitation. There is a high quality of air in the majority of the area except those with breweries and other industries.  Most of the houses are permanent and privately owned. Few individuals in the area are homeless and rely on temporary housing schemes rolled by the government. There were signs of poverty in some parts of the city, especially filth or trash on the streets. Moreover, there were homeless people and beggars on some of the streets. This was different from other areas that were quite wealthy, as indicated by the decent housing and clean streets. Studies indicate that 12.7% of York live in poverty. This is attributed to the high number of individuals who are 65 years and older. These statistics contain vulnerable women and children in the region.

Economy and Education

I also noted that most individuals in the Newmarket area are skilled, educated, and experienced.  Statistics indicate that over a quarter of the population is university graduates. Additionally, 8 in ten homes are owned, and nearly 6 in 10 residents in the region are married (The Regional Municipality of York, n.d). The growth rate of the region has surpassed the national values. Most of the individuals are employed. The sector that has employed a lot of individuals in the area is management. This is followed by business, sciences, health, education, government, art, and trade.  People engaged in their different activities on the streets, such as construction workers working on buildings, police officers patrolling, children going to school, adults on motorcycles, bicycles, and others walking, and people with disabilities on wheelchairs or walking with walking aids.

Health and Social Services

The area is the home to Southlake Regional Health Centre. This is the main healthcare institution found in the area. It has a dedicated team of doctors, nurses, specialists, social workers, and community workers. The center is well equipped with modern healthcare equipment and provides high-quality healthcare service to patients. Other healthcare institutions I saw in the area include York Central Hospital, North York General Hospital, and Mackenzie health center.

Politics, Government, Communication, and Recreation

The area has a mayor who was elected in 2018 October. The town has seven councilors in each ward.  The current council was elected in 2018. The area had no active political activities. Most individuals in the area communicate via the telephone. Some still use letters. There are numerous recreational activities in the area. Most individuals engage in sports, while others could be seen swimming and curling.

Methods used to collect data.

I collected additional information about the new market region via the websites and thoroughly analyzed evidence-based articles online. The websites used include https://www.newmarket.ca/ and the local municipality of York city websites from reputable sources. The evidence-based articles were obtained from Google scholar. The evidence-based articles involve those studies conducted in the Newmarket regions. Most of the articles analyzed involved health-related articles. The other articles include those analyzing various social determinants of health in the Newmarket region. On the websites, I obtained the majority of the information from policy documents, census statistics, epidemiological data, and other statistics.

Analysis of the data/ findings

From the observation and analysis of the data, most individuals in York have a problem of obesity or being overweight. Almost one in 4 Canadian adults I saw was either obese or overweight. Statistics of the region also revealed that 25% of the population is either overweight or obese (Nardocci et al., 2019). The problem appeared to be more common among women. While other racial/ethnic groups also had some people with the same problem, it was more prevalent among English and the Scottish. My observation is not unique, as evidenced by previous research studies showing that obesity and overweight are common health issues among this target population. For example, studies have shown that the prevalence of obesity is twice as high among members of the Newmarket. A significant proportion of adults and children are obese; thus, they are disproportionately affected by the obesity problem.

While obesity was initially perceived as a unique health concern for wealthy countries and people, this notion has changed. Today, obesity is a global pandemic affecting people from all levels of wealth, race/ethnicity, ages, and gender. However, efforts to address the problem have often been met with barriers such as cultural beliefs and norms where larger body sizes are preferable to smaller or thinner ones (Wolfenden et al., 2019). This type of cultural perception is common among Canadians. This probably explains the high prevalence rates of obesity and overweight. Obesity is also associated with other risk factors common in the population. These include physical inactivity, unhealthy eating habits, tobacco use, and substance misuse.  The high number of older individuals in the region

The importance of addressing obesity in the target population is in line with the nutrition and weight status objective of Healthy People 2020. Under this objective, there is a desire to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and promote healthy by maintaining healthy body weights and consuming healthy diets (HealthyPeople.gov, 2021). In this regard, the high prevalence of obesity and overweight problem among Canadian is a major health concern. It should be addressed appropriately. For example, the population must be educated and sensitized on this health issue and informed about why they should view it as a health problem and what measures to take to address it.

Reflection

Most of my personal objectives were met upon completion of the activity. First, I have always wanted to develop proficiency in conducting a community assessment. One of the activities involved a practical windshield survey. I was involved in the survey process. I was able to learn trends and conditions that affect individuals in a community. I learned that the main problem facing individuals in the Newmarket region is obesity. This is related to t the lifestyle choices and the eating habits of most individuals in the location. Most of the individuals in the Newmarket region are physically inactive. Additionally, substance abuse and alcohol intake is another health issue that needs to be addressed in the region.

A high number of individuals who are older than 65 years old have chronic conditions. Most of these individuals live in an impoverished state in the region. Upon completion of the community assessment, I have learned various issues and determinants of the community’s health. The nature of the jobs and the level of income is commonly associated with the health and the wellbeing of the region.  After the activity, I was able to develop a knowledgeable plan for the community in focus. This was possible due to my ability to identify the gaps and the specific needs of most individuals in a community. I feel I can be involved in implementing community-based initiatives. This is because I understand the health status and the gaps that exist in the Newmarket region.

As a community health nurse, the assignment will help me in implementing community-based interventions in the community. I understand the vulnerable populations and those individuals at risk in the area. My good relationship with individuals will probably increase the success of interventions that require behavior change.

 

References

HealthyPeople.gov. (2021). Nutrition and Weight Status. (2021). https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/nutrition-and-weight-status.

Nardocci, M., Leclerc, B. S., Louzada, M. L., Monteiro, C. A., Batal, M., & Moubarac, J. C. (2019). Consumption of ultra-processed foods and obesity in Canada. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 110(1), 4-14.

Statistics Canada (2016) Census Profile, 2-016 Census. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3519048&Geo2=PR&Code2=01&Data=Count&SearchText=York&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All.

The Regional Municipality of York (n.d) Health statistics and reports. https://www.york.ca/wps/portal/yorkhome/health/yr/healthprofessionals/healthstatisticsandreports/!ut/p/z0/fY3BDoIwEES_xYNHs5UYxWNDjIAhXKEX0mChFWyhXY38vZWEg4nxsrMz2Z0HDApgmj9Vy1EZzXvvS7avEnpO4vhC0nwXRoSSnKbBISSn4xZSYP8PfENgsyhrgQ0c5UbpxkAhBe9RDtY0wrkZ5ZbQoYc7VLXj-mrFYCy6T4u6jSOjwGqjUbwQislW865xTSZjO2_8Gz7mQJq78HNuXPQLt4Q_cUPHytDR1Rt4GhUy/.

Wolfenden, L., Ezzati, M., Larijani, B., & Dietz, W. (2019). The challenge for global health systems in preventing and managing obesity. Obesity Reviews, 20, 185-193. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12872

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