A Vulnerable Population

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A Vulnerable Population A vulnerable population is one in which you experience a greater than average risk of developing health problems (Aday, 2001; Sebastian, 1996) by virtue of their marginalized socio-cultural status, their limited access to economic resources, or personal characteristics such as age and gender. A vulnerable population may be one in which the group doesn’t receive adequate family or social support, they may not have enough food to eat a balanced diet, or may be a singe parent household. A vulnerable population may be one in which the individual doesn’t have adequate shelter. A good way to assess for a vulnerable population is to use Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Assess the individual to determine physiological well-being, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. In the Riley Household you have an underage single parent. An underage single parent may face many adversities from childcare, unemployment, health issues, education, and lack of a support system. Jessica Riley is a seventeen year old single mother of a 1-month old infant. The father ended the relationship with Jessica when she was four months pregnant. As for a support system not only does she not have a partner her and her mother can’t get along and she has moved in to an apartment. She looks to family to help care for her and her child. The baby’s grandmother and many others provide care, putting the baby and mother at risk for lack of love and belonging. The baby has a diagnosis of Colic, spits up frequently, and cries constantly. This is causing a problem in the physiological needs on the baby in Maslow’s hierarchy. There have been several visits to the emergency department. Jessica can’t breast feed, she is not getting enough sleep and feels frazzled. She is at risk for social isolation because she misses going out with friends. She is all

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