This is the second in a four -part series on the prevention of armed violence in Philadelphia. The series was created to recognize the national awareness of armed violence, which promotes education and action to end armed violence. First part, Stopping armed violence in Philadelphiawas published on June 6.
Armed violence is a public health problem
The division of the Department of Health for the Prevention of Chronic Diseases and Wounds (CDIP), as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)understands that armed violence is a public health problem. We know it because violence:
- Negative impact on physical, mental, emotional and social well-being long after an act of violence
- Has an impact on individuals, communities and entire cities
- Is the result of individual, community, social and political factors
- More importantly, can be avoided by adopting a public health approach
Our approach to armed violence
The public health approach to the prevention of armed violence is rooted in science and methods based on evidence. Our approach explores the problems that shape the health of the public and the world around us.
THE The public health approach has 4 stages.
- First of all, we define the problem with the community and the data.
- Then, we identify the risk factors, the factors that increase the chances of armed violence and the protective factors, the factors that reduce the probability of armed violence.
- Then we develop and test prevention strategies that solve the problem.
- Finally, we promote the strategies that work.
Let’s do it
When we talk about prevention in public health, we break it into three layers: primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.
- Primary prevention focuses on proactive measures or measures that can be taken in advance to prevent diseases from occurring.
- Secondary prevention highlights the importance of identifying diseases in their early stages, before the symptoms appear.
- Tertiary prevention, the third layer, aims to improve the quality of life of people living in chronic conditions while minimizing the impact of diseases.
Regarding armed violence, we believe that prevention efforts should include primary prevention, acting before violence occurs. We take preventive measures using data to monitor trends and identify risk factors and protective factors, and implement strategies to combat social determinants or factors that have an impact on health and violence.
Primary prevention is a powerful strategy for prevention of violence because it addresses the deep causes of violence. For example, a main preventive measure is to repair an old dilapidated park. The renewal of the park can create a safer environment for social rallies, take a walk and other physical activities. It becomes a place to meet the social, emotional and physical needs of people. For more information on the impact of primary prevention measures, consult the safe states IVP mapping – working upstream.
Social factors may have an impact on your health
In public health, we often talk about social determinants of health. What we are talking about when we talk about social determinants are daily social factors that may have an impact on someone’s health. The CDC defines Social determinants as the conditions under which people are born, grow, work, live and age. They also include wider strengths and systems that shape our daily life and our living conditions. The five main social determinants of health are:
- Education
- Health care
- Quartier and built environment, which includes buildings, streets, parks, transport systems and other elements that make up the places where we live and work
- Social and community context, which refers to the social, cultural and physical environment where people live, work and interact with each other
- Economic stability
In public health, we promote equity in health by improving the social determinants of health.
What are the social determinants of violence?
Social determinants can be appointed for specific public health subjects, such as armed violence. Social determinants of violence are conditions that can help reduce the risk of armed violence. They include neighborhood security and good quality housing, employment possibilities and trauma -based resources that help people and organizations to recognize, assess and resolve trauma in various contexts, including health care, schools and communities. Understanding the determinants of violence can help to shed light on policies and social norms to reduce armed violence.
Public health problems are affected by many factors
To understand how health is assigned to different levels, take a look at a socio-ecological model. In this model, the most internal level is the individual. From there, it extends to relationships, our personal interactions. Beyond that, we have the level of community, which includes our neighborhood environments. The last level is societal, which includes cultural policies and norms.
The socio-ecological model helps us to see how violence and other public health problems are not only individual but are affected by many factors. Here is an example of the CDC socio-ecological model on the prevention of violence for young people:
The CDIP uses a variety of strategies and practices to reach as many people as possible so that we can prevent violence in our communities. By using group methods, data and partnerships to discover and target the deep causes of violence, our work promotes the health and well-being of all Philadelphians.
Be sure to join us on Friday June 20 for the third part of our four-part series on the prevention of armed violence in Philadelphia. The third part will focus on urban planning and the environment, and the link with armed violence, education and health.
In the meantime, join us next week when we recognize the national awareness month of armed violence during these events:
Tuesday, June 17, Reclaiming Love: Self, Fraternity and Community
- 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friging Arts, 140 N. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Friday June 20, Heal Kensington violence barbecue, fill the gap: a barbecue for awareness of armed violence
- 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tusculum Gateway Garden, 2715 Kensington Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19134, 240-936-9542