Mitigating Social Impacts on Marginalized Women and Children: An NP’s Role and Policy Considerations

QUESTION

1. Identify and describe three actions you can take as an NP to mitigate the social impacts on marginalized women and/or children.
2. Discuss the role of federal, state, and local health policy in the marginalization of women, children, and childbearing families.
3. Identify one policy that impacts marginalized groups (include whether the policy is at the federal, state, or local level).
4. Discuss how the selected policy impacts marginalized groups either positively or negatively.
5. Cite a scholarly source that is within 5 years to support the discussion.

ANSWER

Mitigating Social Impacts on Marginalized Women and Children: An NP’s Role and Policy Considerations

Introduction

As a Nurse Practitioner (NP), it is crucial to address the social impacts experienced by marginalized women and children. This essay explores three actions an NP can take to mitigate these impacts and examines the role of federal, state, and local health policies in the marginalization of women, children, and childbearing families. Additionally, it identifies a specific policy that affects marginalized groups and discusses its impact, supported by a scholarly source within the last five years.

Mitigating Social Impacts on Marginalized Women and Children

Enhance Access to Care

As an NP, one action to mitigate social impacts on marginalized women and children is to enhance access to healthcare services. This can be achieved by:
Collaborating with community organizations to establish outreach programs, providing healthcare services and education in underserved areas.
Advocating for policies that support the expansion of affordable healthcare options, including Medicaid and CHIP, to ensure access to essential care for marginalized populations.
Utilizing telehealth technologies to bridge geographical and logistical barriers, improving access to healthcare services for women and children in remote or underserved areas.

Promote Health Education and Empowerment

NPs can play a vital role in promoting health education and empowerment among marginalized women and children by:
Providing culturally sensitive and age-appropriate health education materials and resources that address their unique needs.
Conducting group sessions or individual counseling to enhance health literacy, empowering women and children to make informed decisions about their health.
Collaborating with community leaders and organizations to develop programs that address social determinants of health, such as education, poverty, and access to resources, to promote overall well-being.

Advocate for Policy Changes

NPs can actively engage in policy advocacy to address the social impacts on marginalized women and children by:
Joining professional organizations and participating in legislative advocacy efforts to influence policies that affect access to healthcare, social services, and support systems for marginalized populations.
Providing expert input and research evidence to policymakers, highlighting the needs and experiences of marginalized women and children.
Working collaboratively with interprofessional teams to identify gaps in current policies and propose amendments or new policies to ensure equity and inclusivity in healthcare and social services.

The Role of Health Policy in Marginalization

Federal, state, and local health policies play a significant role in the marginalization of women, children, and childbearing families. These policies can either perpetuate or alleviate health disparities and social inequities. For instance:

Federal Level: The Title X Family Planning Program is a federal policy that impacts marginalized groups. It provides access to family planning services, preventive screenings, and reproductive healthcare for low-income individuals. However, recent policy changes have limited access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare, disproportionately affecting marginalized women and children (Frost et al., 2019).

State and Local Levels: Policies related to Medicaid expansion vary across states and localities, resulting in disparities in access to healthcare services for marginalized populations. States that have expanded Medicaid eligibility have shown improvements in access to care, health outcomes, and reductions in health disparities among women and children (Ku & Bruen, 2019).

Impact of the Selected Policy on Marginalized Groups

The changes in the Title X Family Planning Program negatively impact marginalized groups, particularly low-income women and children. Restricted access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare and family planning services limits their ability to make informed choices about their reproductive health and exacerbates existing health disparities. This policy change further marginalizes vulnerable populations, hindering their access to essential preventive care and exacerbating social and health inequities.

Scholarly Source
Frost, J. J., Sonfield, A., Zolna, M. R., & Finer, L. B. (2019). Publicly funded contraception: Key findings from the 2019 Title X network survey. Guttmacher Institute. Retrieved from [Provide Reference]

Conclusion

As an NP, taking actions to enhance access to care, promote health education and empowerment, and advocate for policy changes can help mitigate the social impacts on marginalized women and children. However, federal, state, and local health policies also play a significant role in either perpetuating or addressing the marginalization of these groups. The selected policy, such as the recent changes to the Title X Family Planning Program, negatively impacts marginalized populations by limiting their access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare. It is crucial for NPs to stay informed, engage in policy advocacy, and collaborate with stakeholders to advocate for policies that promote equity, inclusivity, and improved health outcomes for marginalized women, children, and childbearing families.