Wk.5 L4 - Human Health and disease: Vulnerable populations Flashcards
LO
Understand that:
- Health is shaped by biological, social, economic, and environmental factors.
- Vulnerability spans from infancy to old age, affecting health access and outcomes.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Define a vulnerable population with respect to health and identify factors that may impact health and well-being.
2. Describe additional risk factors that may affect low socio-economic and remote populations.
3. Outline the concept of Indigenous health and how this may impact participation in the routine Australian health setting.
Vulnerable populations
refer to individuals at risk of poor access to health care, receiving poor-quality or inadequate care, or who experience poor outcomes
Health literacy
implies the achievement of a level of knowledge, personal skills and confidence to take action to improve personal and community health by changing personal lifestyles and living conditions
Perinatal and early development
Early development is where mental health, nutrition and environement exposure shape long term health
- Brain development from 0-3 is
rapid, approximately 25% to 90% of the adult size
Influnced by nutrition, caregiving and healthcare access
Smoking and early life vulnerabilities
Smoking during pregnanacy leads to low birthweight and prenatal exposure, prenatal smoking
- Exposure to smoking mothers affects nerve fiber development in the eye, increasing later disease risk
Family and community influence health behaviors such as smoking
Vaccine and immunisation
- Protects via direct reduction of the risk
- Reduces spread in community
Higher risk in low vaccinated areas, such as first nations people
Adolescence and middle-age related factors
Access to primary health services:
- Physical access
- Approachability
- Appropriateness
- Affordability
- Cultural Aceeptability
- Socioeconomics
Access to Medical and Specialist care:
Screening programs to catch disease early
- First nations people have lower cancer screening rates
- Inequalities in people with disability
Old age
Social exclusion & Cognitive health:
- Loss of friends and family
- Elder abuse (online scams)
- Poor health
First nations and health
Relates to Physical, social, environmental and cultural wellbeing of the whole community
Key Differences in Indigenous vs. Non-Indigenous Health
Life Expectancy: First Nations people live significantly shorter lives, with disparities worse in remote areas
Chronic Disease: Higher rates of CVD, kidney disease, and diabetes.
Policies and progress
Improvements in education, housing, employment, but variable impact on health outcomes
Cultural Safety & Access:
- Indigenous-led services are preferred, but many communities lack
Understanding the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations
Barriers to access:
30% of First Nations people did not see a healthcare provider in a 12-month period due to distance, cost, and anxiety
- Issue greater in remote and very remote
areas
Addressing vulnerability through initiatives
Data-Driven Policy Changes:
- Study linking liquor store density to increased adolescent alcohol use, driving local policy change.
Telehealth & Accessibility:
- improving access for vulnerable groups
Community-Driven Health Initiatives:
- Elderly & Social Inclusion
- Rural Mobile Health Clinics & Screening Programs
Human lifespan and health
- Health vulnerabilities exist across all life stages.
- Numerous contributing risk factors & often inter-related
- Early interventions like vaccination and screening reduce disparities.
- Innovative policies and local initiatives improve healthcare access
