Policy Brief: Tuberculosis in Children and Adolescents
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that affects the lungs. It is caused by a bacterium known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria mainly affect the lungs but can also spread to the brain, the spine, and kidneys. Tuberculosis spreads when the infected person cough or sneezes.
Most people who are affected by the bacteria do not show the symptoms. However, the presenting symptoms include a blood-tinged cough, fever, night sweating, and weight loss (CDC.gov, n.d.). Patients who present active tuberculosis symptoms require a series of treatments, including antibiotics.
This essay presents a policy brief on tuberculosis with a special focus on children and adolescents. The health issue, the problem statement, suggestions for addressing the issue, and its impact on the healthcare delivery system will be explored.
Policy Health Issue
Tuberculosis is a major health concern globally and in the US. It is mainly felt at all levels; local, state, and national. The most affected population is the adult population aged 65 and above. However, tuberculosis significantly affects children and adolescents. TB is a challenging condition to diagnose, treat, manage and prevent. The condition can affect anyone, but certain groups and populations have a higher risk of contracting TB.
Environmental risk factors significantly contribute to tuberculosis transmission, its severity, treatment, and death rates. The factors include malnutrition, indoor air pollution, overcrowded living conditions, and tobacco smoke. Policy provisions should also protect children and adolescents, especially children who face health disparities from TB infection.
Health disparities in the condition also exist. According to the centers for disease control and prevention (n.d.), the highest number of TB cases in children and adolescents are diagnosed in children younger than five years and adolescents older than ten.
Tuberculosis in children and adolescents is also called pediatric tuberculosis. It is a major public health issue since children and adolescents are more likely than adults to develop life-threatening tuberculosis forms such as TB meningitis and disseminated TB. In addition, children and adolescents living with parents with tuberculosis are more likely to get infected.
The federal government has developed a public health policy (TB control Policy) to control, manage and prevent tuberculosis among different health populations. The policy mainly focuses on reducing the TB incidence among citizens, preventing TB infection in high-risk populations, and developing strategies to respond to the health issue.
The strategies include public health interventions encompassing testing, surveillance, prevention, and control. The existing policies, laws, and regulations on tuberculosis control and prevention play a huge role in protecting the selected population from infection and offering the necessary treatment to children and adolescents with TB since they are a high-risk population.
The centers for disease control and prevention and its partners have used the tuberculosis control policy for more than a century, and its relevance is still felt. It also funds local, state, and federal departments to enhance TB care provision using directly observed therapy (CDC.gov, n.d.) The policy stops TB transmission and prevents drug resistance, thus reducing the incidence and prevalence, especially among children and adolescents.
Problem Statement
Tuberculosis is a significant public health issue, especially among children and adolescents. It is estimated that about 1.8 million children and adolescents develop tuberculosis every year. According to snow et al. (2020), about a quarter of the total population comprises adolescents, who are a significant proportion of tuberculosis patients.
Despite the alarming numbers, this population, especially adolescents, has not been identified as a distinct population regarding tuberculosis policies and TB treatment services (Snow et al., 2020). Cowger, Wortham & Burton (2019) note that TB in adolescents and children is epidemiologically and clinically heterogeneous, making care provision and prevention challenging.
Ideally, the incidence of tuberculosis among children and adolescents should be decreased, and a solution developed to ensure minimal incidence, mortality and reduce disparities in TB in these populations. There is a need to have the existing policies paying special focus on the population of children and adolescents to address the issue.
Suggestions for Addressing Tuberculosis in Children and Adolescents Caused by The Current Policy
Since the incidence of TB among children and adolescents is still high, it is imperative to have policy changes implemented to address the health issue. Among the changes that can be implemented in the existing TB control policies is having policy provisions specifically focusing on children and adolescents, thus including their needs in research and clinical practice.
Since tuberculosis is most prevalent among adults above 65 years, it is easier to focus on them and forget populations such as children and adolescents, who are also at considerable risk. As mentioned earlier, children are more likely to develop life-threatening tuberculosis forms, including disseminated TB and TB meningitis.
Furthermore, the TB control policy should have provisions for protecting the children and adolescents who live in polluted and overcrowded areas, exposing them to a higher risk of tuberculosis infection. A study by Li et al. (2019) maintains that there is a significant association between air pollution and the development of TB, whereby children and adolescents are more vulnerable.
The policy should therefore ensure these populations are protected from such environmental risk factors. The policy change should also focus on enhancing better reporting of tuberculosis cases among children and adolescents.
The steps required to initiate policy change include collecting data involving the health issue and developing a proposed solution, gathering support from the relevant stakeholders, negotiating/communicating with the legislatures, and finally implementing the policy change (Eden, Merill & Luthy, 2021). All the relevant stakeholders should be involved in the process.
The necessary stakeholders in tuberculosis control policy change include the healthcare providers, the community, policymakers, funders, and TB patients and survivors. Budget and funding are important factors that should be considered when implementing policy change. It is essential to galvanize the available funds and ensure they are utilized efficiently. In this case, the potential funders include the government and other organizations.
Impact of Tuberculosis on the Healthcare Delivery System
The WHO report (2018) shows that the tuberculosis issue already overburdens the healthcare system. TB is a very demanding condition that requires attention from the entire interprofessional team. More so, treatment may require isolation, and contact tracing, giving more work for the care providers. In addition, tuberculosis is expensive to treat and manage, thus exerting considerable pressure on the healthcare delivery system.
Most funds dedicated to tuberculosis are directed to tuberculosis prevention programs. However, it is worth noting that TB diagnosis, treatment, and care delivery are also demanding. Treatment of drug-resistant TB is complex and requires management or constant consultation from TB specialists. Individuals with multi-drug resistance TB require special attention, which may need hospitalization. Thus, the TB health issue considerably impacts the healthcare delivery system.
Conclusion
Tuberculosis is the leading cause of mortality globally, claiming about 1.8 million deaths annually. It is a public health environmental issue, with its spread mainly perpetrated by pollution and overcrowded living conditions. Children and adolescents are heavily affected by this health issue.
TB control policies have been developed to protect individuals from infection and promote treatment. However, policy changes should be made to ensure that the policies give special attention to children and adolescents. TB impacts the healthcare delivery system, as discussed above.
References
Cowger, T. L., Wortham, J. M., & Burton, D. C. (2019). Epidemiology of tuberculosis among children and adolescents in the USA, 2007–17: an analysis of national surveillance data. The Lancet Public Health, 4(10), e506-e516. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(19)30134-3
Eden, L. M., Merrill, H., & Luthy, K. E. (2021). Empowering nurse practitioners to make health policy CHANGE: Steps to successful passage of legislation in Utah. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 33(12), 1254-1260. https://doi.org/10.1097/JXX.0000000000000561
Lin, Y. J., Lin, H. C., Yang, Y. F., Chen, C. Y., Ling, M. P., Chen, S. C., Chen, W. Y., You, S. H., Lu, T. H., & Liao, C. M. (2019). Association Between Ambient Air Pollution and Elevated Risk of Tuberculosis Development. Infection and Drug Resistance, 12, 3835–3847. https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S227823
Snow, K. J., Cruz, A. T., Seddon, J. A., Ferrand, R. A., Chiang, S. S., Hughes, J. A., Kampmann, B., Graham, S. M., Dodd, P. J., Houben, R. M., Denholm, J. T., Sawyer, S. M., & Kranzer, K. (2020). Adolescent tuberculosis. The Lancet. Child & Adolescent Health, 4(1), 68–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(19)30337-2
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Tuberculosis basic facts, and TB in specific populations. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm
World Health Organization. (2018). Roadmap towards ending TB in children and adolescents. Retrieved from https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/275422/9789241514798-eng.pdf
428 Week 4 Benchmark – Policy Brief
TOPIC
TUBERCULOSIS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.
Benchmark
Requires Lopeswrite
Assessment Description TOPIC IS TUBERCULOSIS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENDS.
Research public health issues on the “Climate Change” or “Topics and Issues” pages of the American Public Health Association (APHA) website. Investigate a public health issue related to an environmental issue within the U.S. health care delivery system and examine its effect on a specific population.
Write a 750-1,000-word policy brief that summarizes the issue, explains the effect on the population, and proposes a solution to the issue. TOPIC IS TUBERCULOSIS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENDS.
Follow this outline when writing the policy brief:
- Describe the policy health issue. Include the following information: (a) what population is affected, (b) at what level does it occur (local, state, or national), and (c) evidence about the issues supported by resources.
- Create a problem statement.
- Provide suggestions for addressing the health issue caused by the current policy. Describe what steps are required to initiate policy change. Include necessary stakeholders (government officials, administrator) and budget or funding considerations, if applicable.
- Discuss the impact on the health care delivery system.
Include three peer-reviewed sources and two other sources to support the policy brief.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Course Resources if you need assistance.
Benchmark Information
Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The benchmark assesses the following competencies:
1.4 Participate in health care policy development to influence nursing practice and health care.
RUBRIC
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Benchmark – Policy Brief – Rubric
Rubric Criteria
Description of Policy Health Issue
- Excellent
A detailed description of the policy issue is presented. The origin of the policy is described and a strong correlation between the policy and the health issue for the population selected is established. The level at which this occurs is discussed. Strong rationale and evidence are offered for support. Insight into the policy health issue is demonstrated.
Problem Statement
Criteria Description
Problem Statement
- Excellent
Suggestions for Addressing the Policy Health Issue (B)
Criteria Description
Suggestions for Addressing the Policy Health Issue (C1.4)
- Excellent
Suggestions for addressing the issue are thoroughly developed with supporting details. All assignment criteria are met and well-supported. The suggestions are well-supported and offer clear steps for initiating policy change.
Impact on Health Care Delivery System
Criteria Description
Impact on Health Care Delivery System
- Excellent
A discussion on the impact on the health care delivery system is thoroughly developed with supporting details.
Thesis Development and Purpose
Criteria Description
Thesis Development and Purpose
- Excellent
Thesis is comprehensive and contains the essence of the paper. Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear.
Argument Logic and Construction
Criteria Description
Argument Logic and Construction
- Excellent
6 points
Clear and convincing argument presents a persuasive claim in a distinctive and compelling manner. All sources are authoritative.
Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use)
Criteria Description
Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use)
- Excellent
Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English.
Paper Format (use of appropriate style for the major and assignment)
Criteria Description
Paper Format (use of appropriate style for the major and assignment)
- Excellent
Documentation of Source
Criteria Description
Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and style)
- Excellent
REFERENCES MUST BE BETWEEN 2018-2022