pattern: governmental assistance programs; and community-based programs.
11. Value-belief pattern: religious groups; and social action programs.
The increase in the incidence of tuberculosis in the United States over the past 15 years has developed into a public health crisis (Eubanks, 1992, p. 60). Simultaneously, tuberculosis has become increasingly drug resistant, causing treatment to be less effective and control to become more difficult (Gebhart, 1992, pp. 37-41). The incidence of tuberculosis is highest in the nation's inner cities (Kindel, 1993, p. 48). In no city is the problem more acute than it is in New York City (Taravella, 1992, p. 16).
The Health Department determined that a health education program focusing on tuberculosis was required. The Health Department is charged with the responsibility for maintaining acceptable levels of public health within the city's population. A health education program that led to a decrease in the incidence of tuberculosis would be consistent with the purpose of the department and would contribute to the fulfillment of the department's mission.
The health education program focusing on tuberculosis is characterized by multiple objectives. First, the program seeks to identify those individuals who have contracted tuberculosis. Second, the program seeks to place those individuals who have contracted tuberculosis into treatment. Third, the program seeks to educate the populace so that the incidence of tuberculosis will be reduced to a dramatic extent. The objectives of the health education program focusing on tuberculosis are consistent with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (Sharp, 1992, pp. 28, 32).
The target population of the health education focusing on tuberculosis consists of the lower socioeconomic groups in the city. As a means of conserving human, financial, and physical resources available to the Health...