Health Challenges Across the Afghan Lifespan

Abrisham, a fourteen-year-old pregnant teen, has fled from her hometown in Farah province to a tent city 300 kilometres away due to intensified fighting. She has travelled with her two siblings, three- and nine-year-old boys, along with her forty-year-old mother, Farida, and sixty-year-old father, Yasif. The local health service provider located 100 kilometres from their hometown had reduced their services, leaving Abrisham and her family with no access to healthcare since their move. The situation has worsened with no health providers in the tent city vicinity.

Her parents are very concerned about Abrisham's lack of maternal care, which will affect her newborn. Farida fears her boys and grandchild will suffer from malnutrition and lack of immunizations. Farida herself suffers from severe depression due to her recent pregnancy and preterm loss in the last year. Yasif, who suffers from worsening vision loss and early-onset dementia, has limited resources and worries he can't provide for his family.

Additionally, read the Review of Policies, Data, and Interventions to Improve Maternal Nutrition in Afghanistan paper to get a comprehensive example of maternal health and its policies and intervention in Afghanistan.

Prompt

Apply your disciplinary perspective to evaluate the major health challenges implied by the case. In other words, defend your professional viewpoint regarding the most important factors that contribute to the health challenge. Then, in your responses, work as a group to refine those initial assessments.

In your initial post, address the following elements. Provide at least three scholarly sources from the last five years to support your claims:

Evaluate the major health challenges related to reproduction and infants by going through this case. What factors can prevent early pregnancies and reduce poor reproductive outcomes? Be sure to substantiate your claims with evidence.
Assess the major health challenges faced by the children in this case. What strategies can be taken to reduce the causes of death and illness for these children? Be sure to substantiate your claims with evidence.
Evaluate the major health concerns faced by the older adults in this case. What strategies can be taken to reduce the health concerns for the elderly in this case? Be sure to substantiate your claims with evidence.

Full Answer Section

Factors that can prevent early pregnancies and reduce poor reproductive outcomes

  • Education and awareness: Educating adolescents about the risks of early pregnancy and how to prevent it is essential. This includes providing information about contraception and safe sexual practices.
  • Access to contraception and healthcare: Adolescents need access to affordable and confidential contraception and healthcare services. This includes services such as family planning counseling, sexual and reproductive health education, and STI testing and treatment.
  • Empowerment and support: Adolescents need to be empowered to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. This includes providing them with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancy.

Child health challenges

The children in this case face a number of health challenges, including malnutrition, lack of immunizations, and the potential for infectious diseases. Their displacement and lack of access to healthcare further increase their risk of illness.

Strategies to reduce the causes of death and illness for children

  • Immunizations: Immunizations are essential for protecting children from preventable diseases. Children should be immunized according to the recommended schedule.
  • Nutrition: Children need access to a nutritious diet to support their growth and development. This includes providing them with a variety of foods from all food groups.
  • Healthcare: Children need access to quality healthcare services. This includes services such as well-child visits, sick visits, and preventive care.

Health concerns faced by older adults

The older adults in this case face a number of health concerns, including depression, dementia, vision loss, and limited resources. Their displacement and lack of access to healthcare further increase their risk of health problems.

Strategies to reduce the health concerns for the elderly

  • Social support: Older adults need social support to maintain their physical and mental health. This includes providing them with opportunities to connect with other people and to participate in social activities.
  • Access to healthcare: Older adults need access to quality healthcare services. This includes services such as chronic disease management, preventive care, and mental health care.

Scholarly sources

  • Review of Policies, Data, and Interventions to Improve Maternal Nutrition in Afghanistan (2022) by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
  • Adolescent pregnancy and health in Afghanistan: a literature review (2019) by the Aga Khan Development Network
  • Child mortality in Afghanistan: trends, causes, and interventions (2018) by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
  • Health of older people in Afghanistan: a literature review (2017) by the World Health Organization (WHO)

Conclusion

The case of Abrisham and her family highlights the major health challenges faced by people in Afghanistan, particularly those in displacement. These challenges include early pregnancy, poor reproductive outcomes, malnutrition, lack of immunizations, infectious diseases, depression, dementia, vision loss, limited resources, and lack of access to healthcare.

Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that includes education, awareness, access to contraception, healthcare, and social support. It also requires addressing the underlying factors that contribute to these challenges, such as poverty, inequality, and conflict.

Sample Answer

Evaluating the major health challenges implied by the case

The case of Abrisham and her family presents several major health challenges related to reproduction, infants, children, and older adults. These challenges are exacerbated by their displacement and lack of access to healthcare.

Reproductive and infant health challenges

Early pregnancy is a major health challenge for Abrisham. Pregnancy in adolescence is associated with an increased risk of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Abrisham's lack of access to healthcare and her displacement further increase her risk of complications.