- 10 Mar, 2021
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Systems thinking approach to a public health problem in NEPAL
Imagine that you are a member of the NEPAL ministry of health.
Choose one major public health problem in NEPAL from the following list: heart disease, cancer, undernutrition, infant mortality, infectious disease morbidity (i.e. malaria, dengue, schistosomiasis, COVID-19, etc.), effects of pollution on human health.
You will need to conduct research to identify the major health issue that you choose (based on the list provided above) affecting the population of NEPAL and then choose an issue/problem that is of interest to you.
Part 1. Create a flowchart or causal loop diagram that comprehensively maps the factors affecting the health problem/situation you identified. (1 page)
Part 2. Describe the health problem (2 pages), available interventions (2 pages), and identify new opportunities for interventions based on the flowchart you created (2 pages).
Assignment Instructions
Background and audience: For this flowchart and presentation you will assume you are a member of a team from the Ministry of Health of NEPAL. Your team will need to gain a deep understanding of a current public health issue you chose that is affecting the population of NEPAL and find ways in which the issue can be improved/prevented. To help your team get started, you have been given the task of creating a flowchart/causal loop diagram for your team members (your audience). Your diagram will provide a visual representation of the problem and the factors affecting it, and your audiovisual presentation will be focusing on the overview of the problem and identifying health system obstacles and opportunities to tackle the problem.
Part 1: The flowchart/causal loop diagram
Using your research, create a comprehensive flowchart or causal loop diagram of the factors affecting the problem you identified. In this flowchart/diagram, you must demonstrate the interconnections of the individual issues/factors and the specific health agencies/organizations working to tackle individual or multiple factors. You will also need to identify organizations that are at the global, country and local levels. These include multilateral, bilateral, and government organizations, as well as community-based organizations. Keep in mind that one issue/factor may have one or multiple organizations working on it, not necessarily together.
IMPORTANT: In this flowchart, you must demonstrate that you have conducted extensive research. This flowchart must provide a comprehensive view of the problem at hand, the 2 multiple factors affecting the problem, and the specific agencies working to tackle the factors affecting the problem (simply saying “health department” is not enough, you must be specific!).
• • You can draw your flowchart/diagram by hand OR create your flowchart using Word or any other software/program you are familiar with. o Creating your flowchart/diagram by hand: you must submit a scanned copy of the chart OR a photo of your chart in either .JPEG, .PNG, .TIFF, or .GIF format. You can also copy and paste your photo on to a Word document for submission. ▪If you are taking a photo of your work, make sure that your work is clear and easily read.
• ▪Note: you should plan your chart carefully. Make sure to create several drafts before putting your final flowchart together. I suggest you use different colors (preferably pen) and avoid using light colored pencils that makes it difficult for your chart to be read and interpreted.
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• o Creating your flowchart/diagram using a computer: Flowcharts/diagrams created using a software other than a Microsoft Office program, will need to be submitted in PDF format to ensure the file can be opened.
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• • This flowchart/diagram should be self-explanatory. It should clearly show the factors that affect the health problem you chose from the list in the country you identified, how these factors are interconnected, and the specific agencies working to solve them.
PART 2. Discussion of health problem (2 pages), available interventions (2 pages), and identification of new opportunities for interventions based on the flowchart you created (2 pages).
• • Problem/situation summary: What are the major factors that affect the health problem/situation you identified?
• • Current interventions and agencies: What are the current interventions AND agencies working on the factors/issues affecting the identified health problem?
• • Health system obstacles: What are major obstacles within the health system of the country you identified that hinder the effectiveness of the interventions currently in place? Be specific by providing examples.
• Health system opportunities: Now that you have a good understanding of the problem and the factors that affect the problem, o What existing interventions that you identified could or would need to be improved to increase their effectiveness in tackling the problem in question? Make sure to provide specific examples.
o Using the flowchart/diagram you created for Part 1 as a guide, what interventions will need to be developed in order to further improve the factors affecting the problem you identified? Also, what agencies/organizations would you envision could work in these new interventions as partners with the Ministry of Health? Be specific!