Running Head: HEALTH PROMOTION

Health Promotion

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Health Promotion

Summary

Health promotion increases the quality of life of individuals by focusing on prevention. In

New Zealand, breast cancer can be seen more in Maori women in comparison to non-Maori

women. The health program namely “Breast Screen Aotearoa” (BSA) program aims to offer

women within New Zealand with breast screening service suffering from breast cancer aged

between 45 up to 69 years. Furthermore, the aim of this respective health promotion program is

to provide free service to the women that are eligible for it. In accordance with the Ministry of

Health, around 21 percent of the Maori women are expected to diagnose with breast cancer

disease, and 30 percent of the women have fewer chances to develop cancer at an early stage.

Approximately, 72 percent of the Maori women have the chances to suffer breast cancer as

compared to other women. However, Breast cancer can be treated in several ways such as

through hormonal therapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. But the report also

demonstrates some of the risks along with benefits associated with these treatment processes.

Additionally, breast cancer can be avoided through certain preventive measure such as smoking

cessation, limiting the consumption of alcohol, being physically active, breastfeeding and

targeted therapy. But there are certain barriers that restrict a person to obtain these preventive

measures which are discussed in this report. The NSU which is the national coordination unit for

the BSA established a quality framework in the year 2005 which is regarded as a framework for

screening program in the country New Zealand for. The framework includes the improvement of

the quality approach. This approach involves identification of “Treaty of Waitangi’s” principles

which are protection, participation, as well as partnership. Additionally, Tetahawairua and

Rongoā are the cultural norms followed by Maori to prevent from breast cancer. In addition, the
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report further evaluates the statistics of breast cancer among Maori women, the reason for Maori

discrepancy, and the barriers for Maori people to receive health care. The aim of this report is to

discuss health promotion by “Breast Screen Aotearoa” (BSA) for Maori breast cancer women.

Introduction

The chosen program is the “Breast Screen Aotearoa” (BSA) that observe women

suffering from breast cancer aged between 45 up to 69 years and provide them with the services

of breast screening. The women that are eligible obtain a free mammogram every 2 years in

order to check for breast cancer. Mammograms are provided all over New Zealand at mobile

units as well as clinics. This screening program is specifically operated by the National

Screening Unit within the health ministry. One of the key aims of this program is to provide New

Zealand’s women with high quality as well as safety services. This program is run specifically

for New Zealand’s women. The aim of this program is to provide free service to the women that

are eligible for it. They also aim to offer appropriate equipment and specialized staff. They also

aim to offer outcomes associated with the program. In addition, they also aim to offer assessment

services to eligible women. Furthermore, they also aim to continuously remind eligible women

for the mammogram (Lawrenson et al, 2016).

With respect to the diseases of women in, breast cancer can be regarded as the most

prevalent disease in New Zealand. Almost every year, around 2300 women diagnosed with this

cancer form in New Zealand and the mortality rate due to this disease is high such as

approximately 620 women die due to it. According to the report provided by the “Ministry of

health”, increased rates of breast cancer patient have been observed around the world within

New Zealand. In other words, 90 percent of women will not get breast cancer. Both Maori and

other women have an equal chance to encounter breast cancer. In accordance with the Ministry
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of Health, around 21 percent of the Maori women are expected to diagnose with breast cancer

disease, along with 30 percent of the women have fewer chances to develop cancer at an early

stage. Approximately, 72 percent of the Maori women have the chances to suffer breast cancer as

compared to other women. Furthermore, the women of Pacifica women also have higher rates to

develop breast cancer (Cancer, 2019).

Section 1: Breast Cancer Treatment and Prevention

Risks and benefits of breast cancer

There are a number of ways to treat breast cancer. However, there are some risks as well

as benefits of the treatment which are as follow.

The breast cancer can be operated through surgery in which physician cut out cancerous

tissue. The risk of surgery involves increased bleeding and infection of the wound. Secondly

chemotherapy, which involves special medicine in order to shrink out cancerous cells. However,

the risk associated with chemotherapy involves heart attack, stroke as well as blood clots.

Another treatment for breast cancer involves hormonal therapy which hinders the cancer cells to

react to the hormones necessary to grow. The risk involves a heart attack. Biological therapy is

another way for treating breast cancer which works in collaboration with the body’s immune

system that helps to fights these cancer cells. The risk involves rashes, bruise or even nausea.

Another treatment process involves radiation therapy which uses energy rays to kill these cancer

cells. Risk involves skin problems such as rashes etc (Greenlee et al, 2017).

Recommendations for Best Preventive Measures

In order to avoid breast cancer, some preventive measures should be taken. A

preventative measure such as limit the use of alcohol is important since it increases the chances

of developing this form of cancer. Secondly, with respect to the research of Maliniak et al
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(2018), there is an increased association of smoking with breast cancer risk more specifically in

premenopausal women. Controlling the weight is also a preventive measure for the occurrence of

cancer since obesity leads to the development of breast cancer more particular after menopause.

A healthy weight can help in decreasing the risk of breast cancer which can be maintained

through physical activities. Therefore, to \minimize the incidence of this disease, it is important

for women to be physically active. According to the study of Islami et al (2015), the women that

do not breastfeed becomes vulnerable to breast cancer. Therefore, women should breast-feed

their baby to prevent themselves from breast cancer. Minimizing the use of hormonal therapy

can also reduce the chances of breast cancer. In addition, targeted therapy can be used to combat

these changes taking place in cells resulting in cancer. For example, few cells possess too much

of a type of protein which helps them to grow in large number. The drug can restrict the

operation of these proteins. Targeted therapy can also be considered because it comprises of

fewer side effects (Chan, & Hughes, 2015).

Barriers

There are various barriers that are associated with preventive measures. One of the key

barriers that are associated with giving up with drinking includes the loss of an enjoyable part of

life. Often the women who drink alcohol feel hard to enjoy socializing if don’t drink. In the

context of smoking, the withdrawal of nicotine is highly challenging. The people who smoke

continuously crave to smoke. Furthermore, lack of self-motivation, exercise incontinence and

lack of time is associated with not being physically active. However, there are certain barriers

that are associated with breastfeeding such as lack of knowledge and information, and problems

related to lactation. Moreover, for some women, financial issues may become the reasons for not

obtaining targeted therapy (DeCensi et al, 2015).

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SECTION 2: Treaty of Waitangi

Treaty of Waitangi Principles and adherence to BSA

There are around three important “treaty of Waitangi’s” principles which contain

partnership, protection as well as participation. One of the principles such as participation

includes working in collaboration with the communities of Maori form certain approaches for the

health gain of Maori and proper disability and health services. The principle of participation

needs the involvement of Maori at all phases of disability and health sector which includes

planning, growth, and proper delivery of health, and decision making. Moreover, another

principle such as Protection includes the work of government to make sure the Maori women

comprise of the same level of health similar to other women and in addition, preservation of the

values, culture, and practices of Maori (Seneviratne, 2015).

The NSU which is the national coordination unit for the BSA established a quality

framework in the year 2005 which is regarded as a framework for screening program in the

country New Zealand. The framework possesses certain principles that are constant with other

national screening program and further includes the improvement of a quality approach. This

approach involves identification of “the Treaty of Waitangi’s” principles which are protection,

participation, and partnership. The framework recognizes eight important quality needs that

support quality management in screening programs depending on these principles (Seneviratne,

2015).

Cultural norms
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1-Te tahawairua: it is the cultural norm of Maori people and is likened to spiritual well-being. It

has been associated with the most vital need for health. In order to prevent from diseases such as

cancer, Maori people often consider this cultural norm (Egan, & Timmins, 2019).

Rongoā: it is placed under the important element of health care to a number of Maori people

regardless of their continuous use of western medicine. It mainly demonstrates the passing on of

history as well as culture. Treatment mainly involved plant remedies arising from native flora

such as Rongoārākau. It helps to cure a number of conditions such as breast pain (Aichele,

2016).

Interpretation of statistics (Maori women)

Within New Zealand, there are 15.5% of the Maori women population. In 1997, the total

of age-standardized mortality rate for increased for Maori women such as 33 per 100, 0000in

comparison to other women. Maori appears to have increased risk of breast cancer in spite of

possessing a more favorable profile in comparison to non-Maori for a number of identified

factors. The risk may be due to fewer chances of Maori women to obtain the services of breast

cancer screening (Tin et al, 2018).

Reason of discrepancy

Disparities taking place in health amid Maori and other people have been marked in the

history of New Zealand. Details regarding these differences include a mixture of elements related

to socioeconomic as well as lifestyle factors as well as access to health care.

It is highly essential to regard the extent to which various lifestyles may be responsible

for variations occurring amid Maoris and non-Maoris. According to the survey of Tin et al.

(2018), the Maori smoke at an increased rate in comparison to non-Maori people that is 53% and

20%.
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Furthermore, another discrepancy takes place during the unavailability of healthcare.

There are fewer chances that Maori women referred to surgical care as well as specialist services.

In addition, they obtain a decreased level of quality care form hospitals compared to non-Maoris.

The study Tin et al (2018) of observed that 38% of Maori women had difficulty in obtaining care

in comparison to 16% of non-Maori.

Section 3

Evaluation of the statistics

The BSA screened around 65% of women in Maori, 75% of pacific women and around

73% of other women aged 50 to 69. Amongst, the women that are aged 50 up to 69, BSA aimed

to screen around 63% of Maori women, and 72% of pacific women. The screening of BSA has

doubled over the last 10 years form 2008 such as 270,000 people have been screened. Maori

appears to have increased rates of breast cancer in spite of possessing a more favourable profile

in comparison to non-Maori for a number of identified factors. In addition, there are fewer

chances of Maori women to obtain the services of breast cancer screening. The data provided by

BSA demonstrates that Maori women participation in breast cancer screening was low around 39

percent in comparison to non-Maori women which is around 59%.The BSA aims to impact these

statistics through enhancing age in the service delivery by Breast Screen Aotearoa. Increasing the

range of age such as to involve women aged 70-74 would result in at least 14.2 percent of the

increase in the number of women screened (Chiang et al, 2019).

Reducing Barriers

One of the barriers is the lack of knowledge and information among women. BSA

reduces this barrier by providing adequate information regarding breast screening. Secondly,

lack of support such as some women feels shy to talk about it. BSA ensures to support women
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that are highly apprehensive and shy. The third barrier involves poverty among these women

which is reduced by providing free off cost screening to the eligible women (Ellison-Loschmann

et al, 2015).

Conclusion

There are greater chance of Maori women to suffer breast cancer since they have less

chances to obtain the services of breast screening. In addition, the lifestyle factors and unviability

to healthcare contribute greatly to the possibility of breast cancer in Maoris. Therefore, the health

promotion program the “Breast Screen Aotearoa” (BSA) whose objective is to provide services

of breast screening for women suffering from breast cancer aged between 45 up to 69 years. The

BSA aims to reduce discrepancy through following approach involving the “Treaty of

Waitangi’s” principles which are protection, partnership and the participation. Thus, “Breast

Screen Aotearoa” (BSA) should be supported since they offer services for women that are

eligible to screen.
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