Scenario One:
Eleven-year-old Bobby is white and lives with his dad and nine-year-old brother in a rural area outside of a small town. There is one small discount store that carries everything from groceries to toys to bath towels. Bobby's mom recently died from breast cancer. The medical bills created financial difficulties for the family. Bobby's dad began working the night shift at the local turkey processing plant to obtain the shift premium, which paid $5 more per hour. Bobby and his brother often skip breakfast if their dad doesn’t get home in time to make breakfast before the boys get on the bus. Bobby is a picky eater and frequently skips lunch. On the way home from the bus stop, Bobby may purchase nachos or a hot dog at the gas station convenience store.
Scenario Two:
Twelve-year-old Annie is African American and lives with her two moms in a downtown condo is in an affluent area overlooking the lake. Their condo is close to Annie’s school and the restaurants where the women work. One is a chef; the other is a server. To be able to afford rising rent, the women work long hours, often late into the night. For dinner, Annie usually eats meals that her moms bring home from the restaurant. Annie gets coffee and a sweet treat at the convenience store on her way to school. A. Describe three applicable SDOH for Bobby (Scenario One).
B. Describe three applicable SDOH for Annie (Scenario Two).
C. Explain how one of the SDOH affects Bobby and Annie similarly, using specific examples from the scenarios.
D. Explain how one of the SDOH affects Bobby and Annie differently, using specific examples from the scenarios.
Economic Stability: Bobby's family is experiencing financial difficulties due to his mother's death and the associated medical bills. His father works a night shift at a turkey processing plant to earn a higher wage, indicating that the family is struggling to make ends meet.
Food Security: Bobby often skips breakfast and lunch, indicating a lack of consistent access to nutritious food. His picky eating habits and reliance on convenience store snacks like nachos and hot dogs suggest that he may not be receiving a balanced diet.
Social and Community Context: Bobby lives in a rural area with limited access to resources and support systems. The small-town environment may lack community programs that could provide assistance to families in need, such as food banks or after-school programs.
Economic Stability: Although Annie lives in an affluent area, her family’s financial stability is challenged by the rising cost of living. Both of her moms work long hours in the restaurant industry, which may indicate that they are working hard to maintain their lifestyle and afford their condo.
Access to Healthcare: Living in an affluent area may provide Annie with better access to healthcare services, but the long hours her moms work could limit their ability to prioritize regular health check-ups or preventive care for Annie.
Education: Annie attends school in a well-resourced area, which likely provides her with access to quality education and extracurricular activities. The proximity of her home to her school may also facilitate her educational experience.
Economic Stability: Both Bobby and Annie's families are affected by economic stability, albeit in different ways. Bobby's family struggles financially due to medical bills and his father's low-wage job, leading to food insecurity and inconsistent meals. Similarly, Annie's family works long hours to afford their living situation, which may limit the time they can spend with her and ensure she has regular meals. In both cases, the economic pressures on their families impact their daily lives, including their access to food and overall well-being.
Food Security: Bobby experiences food insecurity more acutely than Annie. He often skips meals and relies on unhealthy snacks from a convenience store, indicating a lack of access to nutritious food. In contrast, Annie's food situation is more stable; she typically eats meals brought home from her moms' restaurant jobs, which may provide her with a variety of food options. While both children may have irregular eating patterns due to their parents' work schedules, Bobby's situation is characterized by a lack of access to food, whereas Annie has access to meals, albeit irregularly due to her moms' work hours.