CHAPTER VI

PRIORITIZATION OF HEALTH PROBLEMS

This chapter serves as tool called scale for ranking health conditions and

problems according to priorities. It determines the nature of condition or problem

presented the modifiability of the condition, preventive potential, and salience. It will

show the rate of the family health problems according to each criterion. The

computations to determine the highest priority and the lowest are also shown in this

chapter.

I. Presence of Health Threat

a. Improper Drainage System

Criteria Computation Actual Justification

Score
Nature of the 2/3 x 1 0.67 It is a health will provide bigger
Problem space if they organize their things.
Threat that does not demand
immediate action.
Modifiability of the 2/2 x 2 2 The problem is easily modifiable
Problem since there are available resources
in the family. Interventions can also
be made to solve the problem.
Preventive Potential 3/3 x 1 1 The possibility of breeding sites of
vectors could be prevented by
proper drainage system.
Salience 1/2 x 1 0.5 The family does not perceive it as a
problem needing immediate
attention to ensure that there is no
disease cause by vectors.
Total: 4.17
b. Presence of Breeding or Resting Sites of Vector Diseases

Criteria Computation Actual Justification

Score
Nature of the 2/3 x 1 0.67 It is a health treat because it will
Problem help increase the insects that carry a
disease such as mosquitoes.
Modifiability of the 2/2 x 2 2 It is easily modifiable because there
Problem is enough resources available in the
community and interventions are
available.
Preventive Potential 3/3 x 1 1 It has a high preventive potential
since disease cause by vector
organism is prevented.
Salience 2/2 x 1 1 The problem needs an immediate
attention and the family recognize
this as a problem.
Total: 4.67

c. Cigarette Smoking

Criteria Computation Actual Justification

Score
Nature of the 2/3 x 1 0.67 It is a health threat because this
Problem habit causes respiratory illness both
to the active smoker and passive
smoker.
Modifiability of the 1/2 x 2 1 The problem is partially modifiable. It
Problem requires a longer time of health
teaching and self-actualization to the
smoker.
Preventive Potential 3/3 x 1 1 Respiratory disease could be
prevented if the smoker will stop
smoking.
Salience 1/2 x 1 0.5 The family does not recognize this
as a problem needing an immediate
 attention.
Total: 3.17

II. Presence of Health Deficit

a. Hypertension

Criteria Computation Actual Justification

Score
Nature of the 3/3 x 1 1 It is a health deficit. It also requires
Problem an immediate intervention and
medical attention.
Modifiability of the 1/2 x 2 1 The problem is partially modifiable
Problem and the family does not have an
adequate resource to solve the
problem but there are possible
interventions for this problem.
Preventive 3/3 x 1 1 It will prevent signs of hypertension
Potential and it will prevent the worsening of
the disease.
Salience 2/2 x 1 1 The family recognize this as a
problem needing immediate
attention because the mother had
once experience high blood
pressure.
Total: 4

b. Kidney Disorder

Criteria Computation Actual Justification

Score
Nature of the 3/3 x 1 1 It is a health deficit. It also requires
Problem an immediate intervention and
medical attention.
Modifiability of the 2/2 x 2 1 The problem is highly modifiable and
Problem the family does not have an
 adequate resource to solve the
problem but there are possible
interventions for this problem.
Preventive 3/3 x 1 1 It will control the condition and
Potential prevents any complications to occur.
Salience 2/2 x 1 1 The family recognize this as a
problem needing immediate
attention because the mother is still
visiting her doctor for consultation.
Total: 4
 Chapter VII

Problem List and Ranking

The List of health condition or problem according to priorities is presented:

Problems Ranking

 Presence of breeding sites of Vector Diseases as Health Threat 4.67

 Improper Drainage System as Health Threat 4.17

 Cigarette Smoking as Health Threat 4.17

 Hypertension as Health Deficit 4

 Kidney disorder as Health Deficit 4

The prioritization above shows that Presence of breeding sites of Vector

Diseases as Health Threat are the first priority problems that are going to be

addressed to in the family nursing care plan which be developed in the later chapter.