Question

Name and describe one ‘upstream’ , one 'midstream' and one 'downstream' chronic disease control policy / strategy /initiative for each of the main risk factors about smoking, nutrition, physical activity

Answer 1

Three types of disease control policies or strategies are used in chronic disease control initiative they are upstream, midstream and downstream. These are used to improve the public health. Upstream initiatives include policy approaches that can affect large population. midstream initiatives occur within organizations and downstream interventions are often individual level behavioural approaches for disease management. For every risk factors these three policies can be assigned.

In case of the risk factor smoking,

upstream intervention can be- increasing the tobacco taxes for controlling tobacco related diseases. This will help reducing the number of people who purchase tobacco products inturn reduce smoking.

Midstream intervention- the organizations can ban smoking in their premises. They can come up with sign boards and rules. This will reduce the number of people who smoke.

Downstream intervention- individuals can be given specialised talk sessions and counseling that will help them realise the side effects of smoking. Individual sessions helps with more attention and care to a single person which improve the results as well.

Nutrition upstream intervention- the government can create a committee to monitor the nutritional intake of individuals through timely surveys and analysis.

Midstream- the organizations such as companies, educational institutions and other organizations such as healthcare providers can make sure they include nutritional and quality food in their canteen and make sure the employees, students or the visitors and having access to nutritionally rich food items.

Downstream- a nutritional balance health check up can be added to insurance packages and health packages to make sure the individual is getting personal attention on this regard.

Physical activity upstream intervention- most effective method that can be established regarding maintaining physical activity is to aware people with seminars, workshops and through media about the benefits of physical activity and how it helps reducing the chance of acquiring chronic diseases.

Midstream- organizations , clubs and even residential associations can arrange marathons or outdoor activities that improve physical activity to keep their people in a healthy habit.

Downstream- any person with a habit of morning walks or jogging can bring along a friend of theirs to the park the next day and this way anyone can influence another person's health habit and improve it