Vulnerable populations
Vulnerable populations are groups of individuals who face a higher risk of health problems due to a variety of factors, including cultural, economic, ethnic, and geographic influences. This category encompasses diverse groups such as children, the elderly, the homeless, prisoners, low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and those lacking health insurance. Vulnerability is shaped by multiple dimensions such as age, education, health status, and socioeconomic conditions, which can further be exacerbated by life events like abuse or neglect.
Individuals within vulnerable populations may experience various challenges, ranging from physical illnesses to psychological issues and social disadvantages. For instance, this can include chronic health conditions, mental health disorders, or social circumstances like homelessness and lack of education. Stigma and discrimination often affect these groups, impacting their access to healthcare and support services.
Addressing the needs of vulnerable populations is essential, as they can contribute significantly to healthcare costs and economic strain. Initiatives like the Affordable Care Act aim to improve access to health insurance and care for these individuals. Numerous organizations are actively working to enhance the availability of healthcare services and support for vulnerable populations, reflecting a commitment to fostering equity in health outcomes.
Vulnerable populations
Vulnerable populations are groups of people who are at a higher risk of developing health problems because of cultural, economic, ethnic, geographic, or other factors. Examples of vulnerable populations may include children, elderly people, homeless people, prisoners, poor people, racial and ethnic minorities, and uninsured people. Rural residents who have limited access to health care are also considered part of the vulnerable population.
What Is Vulnerability?
The word "vulnerable" means easily harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally. Vulnerable people are at a higher risk of being harmed. Vulnerability is influenced by many factors, including age, education, ethnicity, gender, illness, income, race, and more. It can also be compounded by where people live, their socioeconomic status, and any physical or mental limitations they may have.
In addition, events throughout people's lives can determine whether they become part of a vulnerable population. Studies have shown that people who have difficulties early in their lives—which may include abuse or neglect, lack of education, or even poor nutrition—are more likely to later experience physical and social vulnerabilities, including chronic illnesses, drug and alcohol dependency, homelessness, incarceration, and teenage pregnancy.
Categories
Vulnerable populations are categorized according to physical, psychological (mental), and social issues. People who have multiple health problems may fall into one or more of these categories.
The physical category includes people who have physical illnesses or limitations. People who fall under this category include children, older adults, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and people with chronic illnesses, including arthritis, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, emphysema, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and HIV/AIDS.
The psychological, or mental, category includes people who have alcohol or drug dependency, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, depression, dementia, and schizophrenia. People with developmental disorders, such as autism, or intellectual disabilities are also grouped in this category.
The social category includes people who have been abused, homeless people, incarcerated people and former prisoners, immigrants, refugees, illiterate or uneducated people, and poor people. Racial and ethnic minorities are also included in this group. Other people grouped into this category include those who do not speak or read English and rural residents who do not have access to vital services such as health care.
Some people who fall into vulnerable categories can overcome their difficulties. For example, a person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol can seek rehabilitation treatment and get clean. A person who has not finished high school can return and receive a GED. However, sometimes this is not possible, particularly if the person has a medical or psychological condition for which there is no cure. People who are not included in a vulnerable population may become part of one of these groups at some point in their lives due to an accident, unemployment, or illness.
Effects and Solutions
The top three factors that influence vulnerability are lack of income, health insurance, and health care. Each of these affects the other. For example, a person who does not have a job most likely does not have enough money to afford health insurance, or a person who lives in a rural area may not have access to adequate health care.
In the United States, vulnerable populations—especially people with chronic conditions—put a strain on the economy due to the rising costs of health care. They also cost employers money due to high rates of absenteeism and decreased productivity. Studies have shown that some people attach a stigma to individuals in vulnerable populations. This is especially true in cases where people feel that the vulnerable individuals can control their behaviors, choices, and situations, such as substance abusers, homeless people, illegal immigrants, prisoners, and people with certain chronic illnesses. These groups of people may receive less public funding than other vulnerable groups, such as children, disabled people, or older people. Stigmatizing certain vulnerable populations can prevent individuals from having their health care needs met and may lead to other issues, such as developing other chronic illnesses or mental conditions. This only serves to perpetuate the cycle and increase health care costs.
In addition, people with physical or mental conditions have often had difficulty finding affordable health insurance to cover their conditions. This is because many plans have denied coverage or charged high premiums for people with preexisting conditions. Also, some people, especially people who have low incomes or live in rural areas, lack access to adequate specialty medical care.
The United States has several programs in place to help vulnerable populations receive the care they need. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, enacted by US president Barack Obama in 2010, aimed to reduce some of the barriers to health insurance, including ensuring that people with preexisting conditions can receive affordable coverage. Private foundations like the Commonwealth Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provide grants to fund studies of vulnerable populations as a way to improve health care for these groups. Other organizations such as the Indian Health Service (IHS), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and local medical clinics work to improve health care access and affordability for members of vulnerable populations. Furthermore, other groups—such as those in the medical, social services, and human services fields—continue to organize efforts to help vulnerable populations receive adequate health care.
Bibliography
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"People Who Are Vulnerable to Climate Change." National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 30 Aug. 2022, www.niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/climatechange/health‗impacts/vulnerable‗people. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.
Shi, Leiyu, and Gregory D. Stevens. Vulnerable Populations in the United States. 2nd ed., John Wiley & Sons, 2010. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=346507&site=ehost-live. Accessed 31 Oct. 2016.
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