Family Health Assessment - Strength, Barriers and, Family System Theory Application

Family Health Assessment
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Family Health Assessment
My interviewee was a young male adult of African ethnicity coming from a humble background. While it was not featured in the questioning, a simple assessment of the individual’s religious background revealed that he was a Christian brought up in a scarcity environment that exposed to them to drugs among other social vices. The individual exposed their moral code of conduct, which made me believe that each society, no matter the perception, has a special code of conduct that it would not like to be broken.
Overall health behaviors of the Family
The family has an average healthcare system since the members understand the significance of basic exercises to their wellbeing. The respondent noted that he often takes leisure walks to improve his aeration. He also notes that the family takes a balanced diet albeit at different times, which further confirms the family’s dedication to a healthy lifestyle.
The family’s current health is not satisfactory because of the individual’s exposure to junk foods and the lack of discipline on what to eat and how to exercise. It appears that the individual’s participation in walks sometimes comes because of lack of travel options. Based on the overall condition that the respondent has provided, there is a need for an intervention to streamline the group’s healthcare system.
Functional Health Pattern Strengths
Two of the notable functional health patterns as developed by Marjory Gordon include the nutritional-metabolic pattern and the elimination pattern. The former focuses on the food patterns and fluid consumption relative to the metabolic need. The pattern assesses the adequacy of the local nutrient supplies and discusses the problems associated with the fluid balance, tissue integrity, and any defense issues that may be present. One of the strengths noted in this pattern is that the respondent is aware of the body’s needs and despite the inability of the family to provide all the necessary types of foods at the same time, there is an effort to establish a balance.
The elimination pattern assesses pattern of excretory functions, which occurs through bowel movements, the bladder, and the skin. The individual reports healthy excretory patterns because the excretion process is regulated by the prevailing circumstances. The strength of this pattern is that it helps the body ensure a balance in the homeostatic processes. The body is supposed to excrete more water through urine when it is cold unlike when it is hot. Similarly, after eating, the body is supposed to release the undigested foods to create more space for the digestion process.
Health Barriers
There are several barriers to access to healthcare in this society. Three of the notable barriers include transportation barriers, low income barriers, and the long wait times in the access to healthcare (Karaca, 2016). Based on the responses, it is evident that the community faces transportation challenges as the members are forced to walk a considerable distance before coming across a healthcare facility.
The low income barrier means that the individuals cannot access certain medical ...