Healthcare: Social Vulnerability to Disease Health care has as its immediate concern the welfare of clients and patients. However this pressing concern is often influenced by multiple factors many of which have a distinct social dimension. Consequently, care of individuals and the delivery of quality care is not only a medical problem but also a social problem. Vulnerable populations generally require direct external interventions to assist in the reduction of the levels of risk the group experiences.

There is a fundamental difference between at risk groups and vulnerable populations. The difference is as a result of the role of political, environmental and other social factors in amplifying an already existing risk. At risk groups are populations for whom the relative risk of acquiring a disease is increased beyond that of the general population. There are groups who have a higher probability of contracting malaria and dying from this disease. An at risk group in the United States might be persons who are obese. These individuals would be at risk for cardio vascular disease (CVD). It would be the role of the health care professional...

These factors may include poverty, gender, and age. The World Health Organization defines a vulnerability as "vulnerability is the degree to which a population, individual or organization is unable to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impacts of disasters" (WHO 2002). This definition focuses on the inherent capacity for self-determination in the face of disaster and disease. It is generally agreed that poverty is a critical aspect of the problem of vulnerability. Poverty is often increased by global forces that are beyond the control and at time the thoughts of the individuals who are directly affected. Vulnerable populations in particular to HIV and AIDS would be sub-Saharan Africa or inner city poor individuals (Weiss, Quigley, Hayes 2000). The concern for vulnerability is the effect of structural forces on individual ability to resist and move beyond disease. While risk is a…