Access to Healthcare for Vulnerable Populations

Access to primary healthcare is an issue that has been a struggle for vulnerable populations everywhere. Although some of the evidence is inconsistent, there are many things pointing towards vulnerable populations and their ability to receive adequate healthcare. Every user of a healthcare facility can potentially have vulnerabilities related to their access, but for some these vulnerabilities can be greater due to factors such as age, ethnicity, or social status.

While these vulnerable people may have access in theory, there are other factors involved. First of all, there is a variety of quality among healthcare providers. Some people living in poorer regions for example, may not have the most reliable access to top healthcare professionals. Location can put some people at a greater disadvantage. People in poverty therefore are stuck with whatever resources they have around them, because they are less likely to be able to afford to travel to receive care at a different location.

There is also evidence that some groups of people feel uncomfortable at certain healthcare facilities, which makes them less likely to utilize them. Due to reasons such as being treated insensitively or being stereotyped, many people of black or minority groups may feel alienated when trying to use these services. This in turn often times leads to people of vulnerable groups seeing ill health as “normal” and not seeking care for their needs.

Access to healthcare is a huge variable and is influenced by the services themselves and how they interact with vulnerable populations.

Read more on this topic at:
http://www.netscc.ac.uk/hsdr/files/project/SDO_BP_08-1210-025_V01.pdf
https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12939-016-0351-7