Choose any three current challenges in public health. The challenges can be local, global, or a combination of any of these. Create a brief one to two page report as an overview on the topics you choose. Include a reference page, and use . format for citations and references.
PowerPoint: Create a 5 page PowerPoint with key talking points that you would use if you were presenting the topics to other health professionals. Include the following:
The community public health issue you chose with a description of it
Factors that contribute to the issue
Available data
Possible interventions that can be made by community health workers
Sample Answer
This report focuses on three critical, current public health challenges: the Global Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), the Local/National Crisis of the Opioid Epidemic, and the Global Challenge of Climate Change-Related Health Impacts.
Public Health Overview Report
1. Global Challenge: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
ShutterstockAntimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global public health crisis that occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death (WHO, 2021). AMR is primarily driven by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in human medicine, livestock, and agriculture, as well as poor sanitation and infection control practices (CDC, 2019). The economic cost is staggering, potentially pushing 24 million people into extreme poverty by 2030 due to prolonged illness and treatment failure (World Bank, 2017).
Local/National Challenge: The Opioid Epidemic
The Opioid Epidemic, particularly pronounced in North America, is characterized by a rapid increase in the use of prescription and illicit opioids, leading to widespread addiction, overdoses, and deaths. The crisis began with aggressive marketing of prescription opioids, followed by shifts to cheaper, illicit synthetic opioids like fentanyl (NIDA, 2022). This issue is driven by factors including socio-economic despair, inadequate pain management training, and a lack of accessible mental health and addiction treatment services (HHS, 2023). It fundamentally impacts community health through increased rates of infectious diseases (e.g., HIV, HCV from shared needles), overwhelmed emergency services, and fractured families.
3. Global Challenge: Climate Change-Related Health Impacts
Climate change acts as a "threat multiplier" for public health, affecting health determinants globally. Key health impacts include increased frequency and intensity of heat-related illnesses and mortality; altered patterns of vector-borne diseases (e.g., malaria, dengue) as warming expands their geographic range; and health consequences from extreme weather events (e.g., injuries, displacement, and mental health distress from floods or wildfires) (Lancet Countdown, 2023). Contributing factors are high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and inadequate public health infrastructure to cope with climate-related emergencies. Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, and low-income communities, bear the brunt of these impacts.