HNA

Health Need Assessment (HNA)

Health Need Assessment (HNA)

Introduction

Health Need Assessment (HNA) is the method used to analyze the health issues in certain population and this method suggests some priorities and changes that must takes place in order to improve health and reduce inequalities. Health need assessment is considered as an effective tool in order to address the health inequalities faced by the people in a certain population. This tool also provides an opportunity to engage with the population and contributes in service planning and allocation of the health related recourses. This also provides an opportunity to interact with cross spectral organizations to suggest some interventions of the health related issues faced by the population. Health is defined as the state of physical and psychological well being of person that is free from any sort of disease. Health of a person can be affected by many factors that may consist of social, economic, cultural, ethnic and environmental factors. Social and economic issues that may affect the health are education, employment issues and financial crisis. Cultural and ethnic issues may consists of racial discrimination, family history etc (Stevens, 1998, p.1448). Environmental factors may include such as housing, water and sanitation and health issues related to pollution etc. Health need assessment have got broad definition of health and it focuses over the social, economic, environmental and cultural factors within the population that effects the health. The matter of the health inequalities is also a major concern in many countries involving the developed countries. The health in equalities exists especially in young people and people belonging to minority ethnic communities (Li, 2009, p.181). The people having better living standard can afford to maintain their health problems as compare to the poor people. There is also health difference due to racism in many countries; the people belonging to lower casts are entertained properly in case of health. The research will be conducted on Mekelle City, Ethiopia regarding the major health concerns among population using health needs assessment and the research will also offer some interventions to get off these problems.

Problem statement

Ethiopia is the densely populated East African Country that is ethnically rich and faces major health concerns. The major health concerns faced by the people of Ethiopia include the child morality issues, HIV prevalence rates, communicable diseases and ill equipped health services. Although the morality rate among the children is reduced but still it is highest in Ethiopia among the developing countries. In order to access the health related issues in Ethiopia we will conduct the assessment among the population of the midsized city named Mekelle situated in Northern Ethiopia. Many people in the nearby villages also approach to this city to avail the health care facilities. Apart from having major health care facilities it is found that health related issues are found among the population of the Mekelle City. This shows that Health Needs Assessment must be carried out to find out that which sectors are facing major health concerns and what steps must ...