Caring For Vulnerable Populations

In addition to income level and educational attainment, other indicators might be used to further identify vulnerable populations such as access to healthcare services and resources, language proficiency, age (especially for children), disability status, housing condition/crowding levels and access/utilization of community support services such as food banks or shelters. A more comprehensive view into these different factors can help public health practitioners better understand and target interventions for vulnerable populations who may otherwise not have access or resources needed for adequate health care .

Sample Solution

After researching the demographics and determinants of health in my selected location, which is San Diego County, I was surprised to find that Mexican immigrants make up 12% of all residents. This was surprising to me because it is higher than the percentage of all residents in California as a whole (10.5%). Additionally, most Mexican immigrants living in San Diego County are living in poverty. This too was somewhat surprising considering the relatively high cost of living in this area compared to other parts of the state or country.