Blog 14

I can speak from experience it is difficult to find balance in my professional, educational, and personal life. Prioritizing, being flexible, and a good support system is essential. One of my biggest concerns about getting and continuing my education was that I would miss out on special events or moments with my family because my schedule was too demanding. It has been a constant trial and error way of life but I've learned to roll with it and learn to adapt. This has been very difficult and painful at times but I continue to remind myself it will be worth it one day and I am setting an example for my child (soon to be children).
Another important thing to do is always find time for rest and recoup. It will keep you from burning out and giving in altogether.
Most of all I believe I am setting a good example for my daughter on the importance of getting her degree right out of high school in order to have more time with her family later. She is old that she will remember the late nights and weekends mom was up studying or doing homework.
Overall, it is up to us to determine what is most important and live accordingly.

Blog 13

I believe it is a strong sign of strength for a woman to admit she has a problem with alcohol or drugs. It's admitting to making a mistake and needing help. Too many people have too much pride to ever admit to that. I think women carry a heavier burden than men to stay mentally strong due to their responsibilities to families, career and friends. Also, I believe many women feel if they were to admit to any faults would be the same as admitting to being incompetent. Alcohol or drug addiction can take over a person's life and for a woman to feel that and still push herself to stand up and say I need help is the bravest action she can do for herself.
If there was less of a letter "A" attached to a woman's forehead for admitting to a problem many women may be more likely to come forward with their addiction and seek help.

Blog 12

The stigma and shame surrounding mental illness is due to the ignorance of mental illness. People don't know much about mental illness nor how to deal with it. My grandmother had a mental illness and when I was a child she would tell me that men would break into her apartment through her pipes to steal her stun gun, toilet paper, jewelry and other odd things. I was old enough to know something was wrong with her but it intimidated me to be around her because I didn't know what to expect. My mother would tell me grandma is just a little crazy and not to listen to her. Her mental illness created tension and stress among family members because of the shared responsibility to care for her and the drama she created when grandma would tell her neighbors crazy stories about the family. The stigma and shame comes from not knowing what to do and wondering if you could inherit the disease. Also, the lack of support system for families that deal with a family member that has a mental illness. My mother is an only child so she relied on grandma's siblings and nieces for support. The health care system was not helpful at all and many attempts were made to get professional help but all failed.
Awareness programs, educational resources and financial resources would make a tremendous impact on the stigma and shame regarding mental illness.

Blog 11

If everyone lived with our future in mind I think we would only live a little different. It is my opinion that different people have a different perspective of how to make a better future. This goes back to the beginning of creating the foundation for our country. Some thought it would be better to let the states have more control in the decision making and legislation for their own people and others thought the federal government should have more control.
I am not naive to think there are not selfish people out there that ultimately just want to earn another dollar but their ambition does affect others by creating opportunities and challenges.
I think to a degree many people do think about our future. It's the path we all choose for our future that makes a big difference. The path is what holds or lacks knowledge, opportunities, right and wrong decisions, challenges, and many hard lessons learned.
Ultimately, if "everyone" lived with our future in mind there would be a little less selfishness but we would still have the diversity on what our future should contain.

Blog 10

Academic institutions can take a more active role in disease prevention for women by creating more awareness programs. The different departments within the school, especially health sciences and nursing, can create opportunities for students by getting them involved in implementing the programs. Gaining awareness to the female students is essential in preventing diseases. Creating activities specifically for females on campus can create an opportunity to gain insight to perceived needs and actual needs among females within the academic institution. College women may not view themselves as potentially getting a disease unless they are educated with facts about specific diseases and their risk factor for contracting the disease.
Finally, academic institutions should include these programs on their websites in order to reach more students, specifically distance education students.

Blog 9

The biggest challenges I face to regular exercise and a healthy diet is time and a good support system. Including exercise and a healthy diet on a daily basis also requires prioritizing and organizing. I am taking a Health & Fitness class and we are implementing a 7 week program for a target behavior. My target behavior is to increase my exercise activity from 30 minutes 2 days a week to 40 minutes 5 days a week. It has been a challenge. As a mom-and pregnant, wife, full-time employee and a student priorities are constantly shifting. I have learned that it is important to have support from your family and to include them in your exercise routine and healthy eating. Otherwise you are constantly working around them or missing out on time with them. I am fortunate enough to have a supportive family. However, we've had a few obstacles because my husband was not as "gun ho" about it as I was. Many times he would say, "let's just sit on the couch, eat munchies and watch a movie." As tempting as it was it took plenty of will power to tell him no and let's stick to the game plan to go for a jog. We always felt better after making the right decision but it is so easy to falter.
These challenges will definitely change as our kids get older we will have to readjust our priorities. I should definitely be finished with school within the next 5 years so that will provide more time to other areas in our life. My goal is to make exercise and eating healthy a priority for my entire family so we can support each other when the temptations are great.

Blog 8 Societal images of menopause

The societal image of menopause is a reflection of the information and hard facts that are available to society regarding menopause. It is human nature to be weary or negative towards things we do not know much about. Thank goodness for the researchers and medical professional who take the time and effort to uncover the unknown.
It is common to see t.v. commercials advertising drugs for women in menopause. However, the advertisements often leave out medical facts pertaining to menopause. The ads main purpose is to sell the drug not educate.
There are many resources for information regarding menopause. For example, National Institute on Aging (NIA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). These websites are great resources for information but the general public does not seek out this information unless they have a specific interest.
A possible aide in educating the public on menopause is for the FDA to require the drug companies that sell and advertise drugs for menopause to include in their advertising medical facts and the most recent research findings pertaining to menopause.
The more accurate information the general public receives regarding menopause the better the opportunity to increase awareness and improve perception.

Blog 7

I definitely don't think STDs equate to immorality, promiscuous behavior or low social class. STDs could fall along the lines of irresponsible but we all have been guilty of doing something irresponsible at least once in our life. It just may not always have to do with sex. A person could be in a monogamous relationship and their partner cheat with someone who had a STD. There are many different scenarios of how someone could contract a STD. It is my opinion that ignorance of STDs contribute to the transmission of the diseases and stereotyping people with a STD. It is absurd to think only poor people get STDs when people in every social class have intercourse. Everyone who has intercourse can be at risk of getting a STD. Married couples who begin the relationship without a STD are only at risk if one of the partners are unfaithful.
Also, many people contract and spread STDs without even knowing it. They may not be sleeping with more than one person at a time but their relationships could be shorted lived and move on to another person shortly thereafter.
Education is key in prevention. Providing facts to people of all ages would aid in better choices regarding sex.

Blog 6

I personally think it is perfectly fine for a woman to decide she does not want to have children or would rather wait until she has reached a certain level in her career. I have a few friends in their 30's who do not have children yet and they are not in a hurry because they have goals they want to accomplish prior to the commitment of children. Also, I have a couple of girlfriends that do not want children at all. One of the girls is married and her husband feels the same about not having children. The other girl is not married but she does not think she will change her mind even if she does eventually marry. Having children is a major responsibility and a life time commitment. If a woman does not want to make that commitment then she shouldn't be forced into a situation that would make her and possibly the child unhappy.
Family members are notorious for putting pressure on the woman to reproduce. Woman have to be strong and stand their ground in order to not be overwhelmed by pressure.
When I was in my mid twenties I was content with the idea that I may never have kids. I was the oldest of a very large family and I was not in any hurry to care for another child. I had an unplanned pregnancy at age 27 and I am very grateful for my little girl but I had some very difficult times, financially and mentally. Waiting or not having children is being responsible for yourself by not getting in a situation that you are not yet prepared.

Blog 5 Contraceptive Decision Making

I believe a person's culture, beliefs and practices absolutely influence contraceptive decision making. In my own personal experience most of my education I received regarding conception was through my school and friends. My faith of Christianity teaches no premarital sex. However, once married it is not looked down upon for using birth control methods. I have several friends that are Catholic and their religion is not for the use of any methods of birth control. I would definitely say my faith influences me the most on my practices and tradition.

I definitely believe that education and knowledge can have a positive influence on beliefs and practices. For example, teaching communities the importance of immunization for children can decrease the morbidity and mortality rates for children.
On the contrast, education and knowledge on specific topics that interfere with a community's deep rooted spiritual belief may be difficult to influence. Davis-Floyd & Georges (as cited in Njororai, n.d.) described the conception beliefs of the Trobriand tribe, where the women becomes pregnant by deceased spirits. This reincarnated spirit is referred to as the 'spirit child.' The 'spirit child' mixes with the blood of the woman's menstrual cycle which produces conception in the woman's womb. This belief eliminates the paternal lineage.
To introduce modern day knowledge about conception to the Trobriand tribe would basically tell them everything they have believed about where they came from, their lineage and their practices regarding conception is untrue.
Cultural sensitivity is essential in reaching out to any community. Cultural diversity is what makes our world so rich. However, it is imperative to share our riches of knowledge to aid everyone in equal opportunity to better health while simultaneously respecting cultural diversity.

References:

Njororai, F., (n.d.) Women's Health. Cultural values about pregnancy and childbirth.
[Summary]. Health Studies. Retrieved from http://online.twu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_25759_1%26url%3D

Blog 4

I am not an advocate for sex education in schools if it involves teaching my child to use a condom or other birth control methods. I don't think every adolescent or teen has sex. I know this from a personal experience. I am an advocate for teaching about the reproduction organs and the processes. Also, I am for teaching about stats on teen pregnancy, STDs, and other infections relating to sex. Resources can be provided for additional information; however, I think it is up to the parents to choose which resources they want to educate their child/children. My family has a very strong Christian faith and that will be our foundation for teaching. My husband and I want to use our own way to teach our children on what we think is acceptable in addition to what may be acceptable to others in society. It is very important to me to teach my own children and not the school.
When I went through menarche it was a very weird but exciting situation. I had just turned 11 years old and my mother didn't believe me when I told her I started my cylce. She was at work when I called and told her. She said I was too young and I probably hurt myself during a physical activity. When she got home that evening she brought me pads and asked if I knew how to use them, which I replied yes and that was the end of our conversation. My girlfriends were very excited for me and it was a HUGE deal.
I have an idea of how I am going to have "The Talk" with my daughter. We love to have picnics or go fishing together so I plan to schedule a day where we can do either or both. It will be a relaxed atmosphere. I plan to start asking questions before the talk to keep abreast on what she knows and what she hears from peers. I will start with a refresher on basic facts. I will share some of my experiences as a teen. I will ask her opinion on sex. I plan on purchasing a few books from a local Christian store and provide her with videos that my husband and I approve for her to watch on the topic of sex and peer pressure. Finally, I will guide her to www.christianitytoday.com for references. It gives many examples of teens and different situations they have encountered on pressures regarding premarital sex.
I want my children to hear from my husband and I first about the sex talk and we want to choose what resource we will use in educating our children about sex.

Preventive Practices

On a scale 1 to 10 I would rate my preventive practices at a 5. I do exercise and try to eat healthy during the week. However, my exercise routine is not always consistent and I tend to eat more than my fair share of junk food on the weekend. I have a healthy marriage and a healthy 5 year old little girl. My family has a strong faith in Christianity and we are involved in our church on a weekly basis. The ways I can improve my health is to nix the junk food on the weekends. We eat pretty healthy during the week and come the weekends I am craving pizza, chips and dip, and something chocolate! I feel like I completely undo everything I did during the week.
The advertisement for all the junk food is everywhere! I think I would be less tempted and my daughter wouldn't ask for it so much if there wasn't an advertisement posted on every other billboard and every other t.v. commercial. Healthy lifestyles should be taught in the schools as well. During the week our children spend more time at school and daycare than in our home so it is important for healthy behavior to be taught while they are away from home. Some parents may need help on creative ideas to include healthy behaviors in the home. Why doesn't the media focus on advertising to the parents about healthy behaviors in the home? If there was more money to gain from healthy behaviors in the home than you would definitely see it everywhere on t.v. and billboards. I am excited to become a health educator in order to improve my lifestyle and influence others.

Blog #2 Economics of Women's health care in U.S.

I was reading several articles from the United Nations Press Release website. I am not amazed at how much of a low priority women's health is especially in underdevelped countries. I am amazed at how long it is taking us (people across the world) to address and correct the issue. Fortunately there are organizations like UNIFEM and UNFPA, that are driven to aid in correcting the health, poverty and violence problems against women and children.
I do believe every human being has a right to healthcare and it is not just a priviledge. Who in their right mind would think they are righteous enough to think they could delegate who should receive healthcare and who should not?
I think the present state of healthcare in the United States is unjust and crooked. In my opinion we have given too much power to the private insurance companies. When the private insurance companies can deny payment of a life saving surgery and the person does ultimately die due to not receiving the surgery there is something wrong with our process. Medicare and Medicaid are an absolute joke when it comes to reimbursement rates for services. If you could interview anyone that has a family member on Medicare and needs skilled services, nursing home or etc. they could verify the nightmare one would endure trying meet those needs.
I believe greed, money and politics are the reasons the healthcare problem has not been resolved.

Health Issues

The health issue that I am most concerned about right now is hormonal changes within a woman's body as she ages. I have noticed since I reached my 30's my body is experiencing many changes which are difficult to understand and cope with. I have tried to discuss and learn about these changes with my OB-GYN. I had to meet with her nurse otherwise I would have had to wait another 2 1/2 months to meet with the actual doctor. I gave her a brief summary of some of the changes and she responded with, "Do you want to take antidepressants?" I explained I'm not depressed I just want to know more about myself and how to take care of myself. In my opinion the healthcare field is more about money than taking more time to keep up with research and giving quality care to patients.
I spoke to three different women about what they thought were major health concerns. The responses were heart disease, obesity and smoking. I think they were considering society as a whole and not themselves personally. The women that I surround myself with are all nurturers and usually consider others before themselves.
In my opinion, I think we need to take care of ourselves in order to assist in taking care of others.