Obstacles to the chances to live a healthy life may be unjustly focused among certain populations, such as minorities, low-income populations and the less educated. The influences of socioeconomic factors on health patterns and outcomes are often intertwined and manifested in the result of health disparities. These influences also place people in certain populations at “risk” or “vulnerable” to health disparities. A at risk group tend to be those who are identified with common risk factors or exposure that presents as a threat to health. For example, the town I recently move to would be considered a high risk group for cardiovascular disease. A good portion of the society are overweight and hypertensive. Their diets are consumed with high fat, fried food and many of them are smokers. All populations have some risk, but risks for multiple illness conditions and premature death are much higher for specific populations (Maurer and Smith, 2013). However, not everyone in a high risk group will succumb to the risk.  

  According to content.healthaffairs.org (2017) Vulnerability is “the susceptibility to harm, results from an interaction between the resources available to individuals and communities and the life challenges they face.”  A vulnerable population would be one that may not necessarily have a disease, but have social or personal conditions that lowers their ability to deal with a disease. They have difficulty accessing health care to address health concerns, and are more likely to experience poor outcome. For example, a person living below the poverty line and homeless is considered “vulnerable” if this person becomes ill he has no resources to buy medications or a place to recover once discharged from the hospital.

Explain why members of these groups cannot advocate for themselves or why advocating for these groups would be beneficial. What would you advocate for?

The people in these groups are unable to advocate for themselves because of many reasons. Some of these reasons are low economic resources, time and knowledge.  Typically, these groups have decrease knowledge in regards to options, treatments, and available resources or lack thereof. The community health nurse can advocate on their behalf by addressing organizations, governments, and community leaders concerning the issues and the needs of these groups. The nurse advocating for these groups is beneficial to society as a whole.  Advocacy can narrow the gap between fair treatments of these group in the health care setting and decrease health disparities. By doing so the nurse would strengthen the community as a whole. I would advocate for fair treatments amongst minorities and immigrants in the healthcare setting. I notice in these population groups treatments are not explained in full detail in comparison to other highly educated groups.  Patients sign consent without full understanding. I have notice lack of use in translation phones by doctors and nurses which would have help patients understand more.  

Content Health Affairs (2017) Vulnerable People, Groups, and Populations: Societal View Retrieved from

http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/26/5/1220.full#sec-2

Maurer, Frances & Claudia Smith (2013). Communicable Diseases. In Maurer, Frances & Claudia Smith Community/Public Health Nursing Practice, 5th Edition. (pp.399). Retrieved from Saunders, 102012. VitalBook file

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