Name
Chamberlain University
NR-586: Population Health and Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing Practice
Prof. Name
Date
The chosen geographic region is the United States of America (USA), a high-income nation with advanced healthcare infrastructure, diverse population demographics, and a mixture of urban and rural health disparities. Its robust disease surveillance systems, such as those run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), allow for the accurate reporting of infectious and chronic disease trends. Despite having widespread access to healthcare services, the country still faces challenges with chronic illness prevalence, vaccine hesitancy, and public health emergencies such as pandemics.
The most significant infectious diseases currently observed in the U.S. are COVID-19, Dengue, and Measles. Chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer also remain highly prevalent, adding to the nation’s healthcare burden. These conditions often intersect with infectious diseases, as individuals with chronic illnesses are at higher risk of severe outcomes when exposed to infections like COVID-19.
The comparison region chosen is Africa, where infectious diseases are influenced by socioeconomic disparities, weaker healthcare infrastructure, and higher exposure to vector-borne illnesses.
The following table outlines the comparative analysis:
| Disease | United States (Cases / Rates) | Africa (Cases / Rates) | Similarities | Differences |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 | 104,500,000 total cases | 12,216,748 total cases (Africa CDC, 2021) | Both use preventive methods: handwashing, mask-wearing, isolation, and vaccination campaigns. | U.S. had early and widespread vaccine access (2020), while Africa received limited supplies in 2021, highlighting vaccine inequity. |
| Dengue | 1,495 confirmed new cases (CDC) | 7,554 confirmed new cases (WHO Africa) | Dengvaxia is the only available vaccine in both regions. | In the U.S., most cases are from travelers; in Africa, cases are endemic due to environmental exposure. |
| Measles | 139 current cases, 93.1% MMR vaccine rate | 4,701 current cases, 86% MMR vaccine rate | No curative treatment; both rely on MMR vaccination and supportive care. | U.S. outbreaks largely stem from unvaccinated international travelers, while Africa’s cases result from overcrowding, low vaccine coverage, and poor healthcare access. |
The similarities between the U.S. and Africa exist because many infectious disease control measures follow global protocols established by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO). For instance, COVID-19 prevention—hand hygiene, mask use, social distancing, and vaccination—is universal. Similarly, measles prevention through the MMR vaccine is standard worldwide. Dengue prevention also relies on the same vaccine, as Dengvaxia is the sole approved option.
The differences, however, stem from social determinants of health and systemic disparities. Africa experiences higher burdens due to living conditions, limited healthcare access, weak infrastructure, and vaccine inequality. Climate and geography also play a role: dengue thrives in tropical regions of Africa, while in the U.S. it is primarily associated with travelers. For COVID-19, the U.S. had early access to vaccines, while Africa faced delayed and insufficient distribution, worsened by supply chain limitations and vaccine hesitancy (Kunyenje et al., 2023).
The selected disease is COVID-19, an infectious illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets and close contact, but airborne transmission is also possible in enclosed settings. While most individuals experience mild to moderate respiratory symptoms and recover with supportive care, vulnerable groups such as the elderly, immunocompromised, and those with chronic conditions are at higher risk of severe illness requiring hospitalization (World Health Organization, n.d.).
COVID-19 outcomes are shaped by both physical and social determinants of health.
Social determinants include poverty, housing conditions, overcrowding, limited access to healthcare, and food insecurity. These factors contribute to higher transmission and poor disease outcomes, particularly in marginalized populations (Abrams & Szefler, 2020).
Physical determinants include age, underlying health conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease), smoking history, and vaccination status, all of which influence disease severity and mortality risk.
The Epidemiological Triangle model is applied to COVID-19. It consists of:
Agent: The causative pathogen (SARS-CoV-2 virus).
Host: The human population, whose susceptibility depends on immunity and health status.
Environment: External factors such as living conditions, sanitation, healthcare systems, and exposure settings (Caron, 2022).
| Component | COVID-19 Application |
|---|---|
| Agent | SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for infection and transmission. |
| Host | Humans; susceptibility influenced by immunity, age, chronic illness, and vaccination. |
| Environment | Transmission facilitated by respiratory droplets, contaminated surfaces, and crowded or poorly ventilated environments. |
If one element of the triangle is disrupted (e.g., reducing exposure through vaccination or mask-wearing), the spread of COVID-19 is significantly reduced.
Prevention is categorized into primary, secondary, and tertiary levels (Kisling & Das, 2023).
Primary prevention prevents disease before onset (e.g., vaccines, hand hygiene).
Secondary prevention detects and manages disease early (e.g., diagnostic testing).
Tertiary prevention reduces complications and long-term harm (e.g., treatment and rehabilitation).
One primary prevention for COVID-19 is hand hygiene through regular washing or sanitization. Additional strategies include mask use and avoiding crowded places.
PCR and Antigen testing serve as secondary prevention strategies by detecting infection early, allowing isolation to reduce transmission.
Hospitalization and antiviral treatment help prevent mortality and severe complications in high-risk patients. Ongoing monitoring of long-COVID symptoms also falls under tertiary prevention.
Advanced practice nurses (APNs) can monitor prevention strategies through data collection, patient surveys, and follow-up evaluations. By asking patients about adherence to hand hygiene and social distancing, APNs can assess behavioral changes. Tracking infection rates in the community over time also provides measurable outcomes (Rural Health Information Hub, 2024).
In practice, prevention strategies can be applied as follows:
Primary prevention: Patient education on hygiene and safe practices.
Secondary prevention: Ensuring timely COVID-19 testing or referrals.
Tertiary prevention: Providing antiviral treatment and referring critically ill patients to hospital care.
This assignment highlights how geography, healthcare access, and socioeconomic conditions create global disparities in disease prevalence. While the U.S. benefits from advanced infrastructure, other regions like Africa struggle with limited resources, making infections harder to control. As an APN, I recognize the importance of advocacy, education, and equitable healthcare delivery to ensure improved patient outcomes worldwide.
Abrams, E. M., & Szefler, S. J. (2020). COVID-19 and the impact of social determinants of health. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 8(7), 659–661. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30234-4
Africa CDC. (2021, November 2). Covid-19 daily updates. https://africacdc.org/covid-19/
Caron, R. M. (2022). Population health, epidemiology, and public health: Management skills for creating healthy communities (2nd ed.). Health Administration Press.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-b). Current year data (2024). https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/data-research/facts-stats/current-data.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-c). Dengue. https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/index.html
Kisling, L., & Das, J. (2023). Prevention strategies. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537222/
Kunyenje, C. A., Chirwa, G. C., Mboma, S. M., Ng’ambi, W., Mnjowe, E., Nkhoma, D., Ngwira, L. G., Chawani, M. S., Chilima, B., Mitambo, C., Crampin, A., & Mfutso-Bengo, J. (2023). COVID-19 vaccine inequity in African low-income countries. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1087662. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1087662
Rural Health Information Hub. (2024, January 17). Evaluation measures for health promotion and disease prevention programs. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/toolkits/health-promotion/5/measures-for-evaluating
World Health Organization Africa. (n.d.). Dengue. https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/dengue
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Coronavirus. https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
