Introduction to Women’s Health Assignment

Introduction to Women’s Health Essay

• Name and discuss four prevention essential health benefits for women that must be covered under the Affordable Care Act.
• For women in the age range of early adulthood describe:
o The psychosocial development.
o As a Nurse practitioner, what you think would be the most appropriate clinical education and clinical interventions you would do on a patient in that age range. Base your answer on most common normal and pathological situations women face in the mentioned age range.
• Define and give an example of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary prevention on Women’s Health.

• Your initial post should be at least 2 pages, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources.

Women’s Health Assignment Solution – Best Assignment Writers

Essential Health Benefits

The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to provide coverage for preventive health services for women, such as

Mammograms: The ACA requires coverage for breast cancer screening for women aged 40 and above, covering one mammogram every year. Breast cancer screening for women at moderate to high risk helps with early detection during early stages, reducing mortality rates.

Cervical cancer screening covers pap smears and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for women aged 21 and above to prevent cervical cancer from developing. Screening is done every three years for women below 30 years who are at average risk and every five years for those at a higher risk.

Contraceptive services: The ACA requires coverage for all contraceptive methods approved by the FDA and contraceptive care, including screening, education, counseling, and follow-up care. This prevents unintended pregnancies and improves birth outcomes.

Screening for gestational diabetes: Pregnant women are covered for diabetes screening in pregnancy after 24 weeks of gestation to reduce the risk of complications for the mother and child and prevent adverse birth outcomes (Health Resources & Services Administration, 2024).

Psychosocial Development in Early Adulthood

During early adulthood, between the ages of 20 and 40, women undergo a lot of transitions. Erikson describes this stage of psychosocial development as intimacy versus isolation, under which young adults seek intimacy with their romantic partners and friends. The successful ones tend to develop healthy and lasting bonds while the ones who fail to form close bonds are likely to suffer from isolation, loneliness, and depression (Gross, 2020). Women at this age are going to school and getting jobs in order to prepare for a better future and their independence. They have to handle a lot in their personal and professional lives, besides the social pressure that comes with marriage, childbearing, and career demands, thus creating a lot of stress and anxiety.

Clinical Education and Interventions

Appropriate clinical education and interventions for women in early adulthood include:

Sexual and reproductive health: This involves education and counseling on the importance of contraception and choosing appropriate methods depending on their sexual activity and reproductive goals. This should also involve education on practicing safe sex, avoiding risky behaviors, and screening for HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

Mental health resources: Providing mental health screening for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, body image concerns, and other mental health issues that are likely to affect women experiencing the pressures of early adulthood can improve early identification and treatment of their conditions. Educating women about the importance of mental well-being can reduce stigmatization and encourage them to seek help (Arcos-Romero & Calvillo, 2023).

Nutrition education addressing issues related to weight status and making healthy food choices can influence their physical and mental health. Providing resources for nutrition can help them improve dietary habits, manage weight, and engage in fitness.

Categories on Prevention

Prevention strategies for women’s health can be categorized into three stages: primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Primary prevention involves measures to prevent a disease from occurring. It targets healthy individuals who are at risk, limiting their risk exposure or providing immunity against a disease. For example, the HPV vaccine is given to young women to prevent cervical cancer.

Secondary prevention focuses on early detection to prevent the disease from progressing. It targets individuals who have a disease but lack any noticeable symptoms. For example, pap smears are done to detect precancerous lesions in the cervix and prevent them from progressing to cervical cancer.

Tertiary prevention aims to reduce the severity of an illness in symptomatic patients and manage its effects to improve their quality of life (Kisling & Das, 2023). For example, pregnant women with gestational diabetes can make lifestyle changes through diet and exercise and receive insulin to prevent complications for the mother and child.

References

Arcos-Romero, A. I., & Calvillo, C. (2023, November). Sexual Health and Psychological Well-Being of Women: A Systematic Review. In Healthcare (Vol. 11, No. 23, p. 3025). MDPI.

Gross, Y. (2020). Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. The wiley encyclopedia of personality and individual differences: Models and theories, 179-184.

Health Resources & Services Administration (2024, March). Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines. HRSA.

Kisling, L. A., & Das, J. M. (2023). Prevention strategies. In StatPearls [internet]. StatPearls Publishing.