Irrespective of the diverse efforts deployed to minimize or eradicate healthcare disparities in different parts of the world, major disproportions, such as healthcare access, risk factors, mortality and morbidity, continue among vulnerable populations. For instance, studies reveal that most individuals in poverty have increased chances of experiencing poor health, experiencing disabling conditions, and have minimal chances of utilizing the numerous healthcare forms. Vulnerable populations comprise of ethnic and racial minorities, economically disadvantaged, the elderly, low-income kids, the homeless, people suffering from HIV, and the ones with different chronic health situations, such as mental health. They might also comprise of those residing in rural areas, who usually face hindrances in gaining access to healthcare services. Factors, including ethnicity, race, sex, age, and factors, including insurance coverage, income, and lack of reliable care source enhance the vulnerability of these people. Their healthcare challenges and health interconnect with social forces, such as poverty, housing, and insufficient education (Nickitas, Middaugh, & Aries, 2016) . For the paper, it describes the global issues leading to vulnerable populations and diversity presently, the factors responsible, and the role of healthcare professionals in advocating for the vulnerable individuals worldwide.
Issues Leading to Vulnerable Populations and Responsible Factors
Violence is among the major issues influencing vulnerable populations worldwide. Violent areas do not receive adequate healthcare due to the prevalence of insecurity. For instance, Syria has witnessed numerous attacks directed towards hospitals. The attacks have been calculated and deliberate killing both healthcare workers and patients making them catastrophic to healthcare systems (AJMC, 2019) . According to a Safeguarding Human in Conflict Coalition’s report of 2017, it revealed that the intensity and degree of violence directed toward healthcare workers worldwide was quite high (Nathe, 2018) . The attacks mostly prevailed in around 23 countries involved in conflict with each other. The individuals responsible for the crimes did not take any accountability. In this sense, it is evident that the issue of violence in different countries around the world has affected vulnerable populations significantly (Nathe, 2018) . These add to their already existing conditions of ill health and poor economic standing, which worsen their wellbeing further.
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The migrants and refugees issue also adds to the subjectivity of vulnerable individuals worldwide. Presently, estimates reveal that out of seven persons, one is on the move worldwide. This represents around 1 billion people migrating, hitting a historical record. Refugees together with other migrants encounter differing challenges on matters related to accessing healthcare, such as cultural and language disparities, strangeness of the local health providers, and, usually, the vulnerability that results from being powerless and displaced in a foreign country (Nathe, 2018) . These persons also have differing needs, ranging from migrant individuals working in farms subjected to poisonous pesticides to refugees who have experienced trauma while freeing areas characterized by war. Famine, genocide, and war drive individuals from their homes. While on the move, these people also carry diseases. These issues are usually attributed to the vulnerable populations (AJMC, 2019) . In this sense, the worldwide health implications attributed to the refugee crisis presently is expected to continue growing in the future.
In addition, the issue of growing cases of mental health and wellbeing relates to the vulnerability of vulnerable populations. For instance, in Haiti during 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the area leading to the death of over 200,000 persons. Afterwards, around a quarter of the people who survived developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Nathe, 2018) . Others established major depressive disorder. Problems related to political uncertainty and unrest, trauma resulting from gun violence and natural disasters, and stresses associated with chronic poverty and illnesses outweigh on the global vulnerable population affecting their physical and mental health. In fact, poor health of the mind usually leads to other health issues. Additionally, technology has also affected individuals negatively in certain ways. While it has provided people with a means of remaining connected, they are lonelier than any other time in history (Nickitas, Middaugh, & Aries, 2016) . Within the U.S., for instance, the rate of depression as well as suicide among teenagers commenced skyrocketing with the smartphone ownership surpassing 50 percent (Nathe, 2018) . These issues have led to the worsening of the mental health and wellbeing cases, especially among vulnerable populations worldwide.
Furthermore, the healthcare workforce’s evolution also contributes to the worsening state of vulnerable populations in different parts of the world. Presently, millions of young individuals are entering the job market while they are anticipating for jobs that will accord them better wages in line with realizing a sense of purpose, such as caring for others. A healthcare career can provide the two. The immense generation of young generation presently is changing the healthcare workforce globally, and will continue in the years to come (Nickitas, Middaugh, & Aries, 2016) . However, demographics do not serve as the only change occurring among healthcare works. The skills required in the field are also changing (The Commonwealth Fund, 2018) . Numerous care workers worldwide are presently experiencing challenges, which they lack training. For instance, things, such as wars, earthquakes, and hurricanes present challenges even while delivering routine care. When disasters strike, the victims of trauma usually fill healthcare institutions with inadequate equipment to cater for their needs (Duquesne University, 2019) . In this case, the healthcare workers in the coming years will experience growing challenges, particularly when dealing with issues facing vulnerable populations, since they serve as the ones mostly subject to these conditions.
The world is also witnessing a rise in various illnesses, which are adding to the already known ones. The vulnerable individuals are mostly at risk since they lack means of safeguarding themselves from them. The rising temperatures worldwide have posed additional threats to the world, while mostly attributed to West Nile virus, malaria, chikungunya, Zika virus, and dengue fever among others (Nickitas, Middaugh, & Aries, 2016) . When it comes to mosquitoes together with other pests that carry diseases and destroy crops, they are thriving since the world is warming. The outcome is the increase in illnesses both common and unknown. From the long-standing bubonic plague to new influenza strains, the re-emerging and emerging illnesses are among the key issues that healthcare workers are encountering (The Commonwealth Fund, 2018) . The healthcare workers need to consider sounding the alarm and reducing the outbreaks prior to them becoming pandemics, especially among vulnerable individuals.
Role of Healthcare Professionals
With the numerous global issues and factors contributing to vulnerable populations and disparities, healthcare professionals have a role to play in advocating for the vulnerable people worldwide. It is common that a large number of healthcare professionals do not remain healthy in the event that the healthcare needs of the patients are not met adequately, irrespective of the quality of care delivered. Many care providers lack awareness of how to assist vulnerable individuals who face numerous health and other issues in their lives. In this sense, they should consider devising ways that can permit them to cope with the worsening issue. One way of doing so entails working with nonprofit organizations to develop a road map that would guide providers while working to identify the social requirements of the patients and link them to helpful resources (The Commonwealth Fund, 2018) . These efforts should focus on identifying ways healthcare professionals can address the social needs of the patients in a financially sustainable manner, such as searching for jobs to ensure that these individuals are able to support themselves in various aspects of life.
The healthcare professionals also need to focus on ways of improving social determinants in a manner that facilitates healthy living. Healthy living is dependent on forces influencing persons in their entire lives. They most typical social challenges related to health comprise of lacking employment, illiteracy, insecurity in housing and food, and inadequate social support. Here, the care providers should emphasize on dealing with the social health determinates of health via several steps, comprising of screening patients and availing proactive services (Duquesne University, 2019) . For example, they can use an all-encompassing healthcare system, which would ensure that the government determines the overall amount that medical institutions receive over a given period hence regulating spending in healthcare.
Availing virtual healthcare would provide instant and 24/7 access to medical treatment and advice. The providers would have the opportunity of investigating and diagnosing patients while performing monitoring using high-tech. Virtual healthcare would facilitate in managing chronic illnesses, supporting access to primary care, treat minor diseases, and ensure that individuals receive referrals to specialists ensuring that the care they receive is effective. Furthermore, care providers need to ensure that they match the needs for hospitalization with the neighboring communities. With the growing commonness of the outpatient medical services, it would be crucial that medical facilities devise means of minimizing bed capacity for inpatients. Reduced hospital beds would reduce the costs of medical care to local communities. Additionally, supporting healthcare appropriate to the vulnerable populations would help. For instance, health services in frontier areas, clinics in rural areas, and partnerships with key healthcare institutions would provide the needed medical help (Duquesne University, 2019) . These initiatives would play a critical role in ensuring that healthcare professionals advocate for the vulnerable people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, various efforts have been deployed to end health disparities worldwide although major disproportions prevail. Regarding the global issues and factors leading to vulnerable populations, they comprise of growing violence in various parts of the word, the migrants and refugees’ problem, rising mental health and wellbeing cases, the evolution of healthcare workforce, and rising number of illnesses. With these issues, healthcare professionals can play a critical role in contributing advocating for vulnerable populations, they can do so by linking with non-profit organizations, improve social determinants, provide virtual healthcare, and adopting healthcare services appropriate to vulnerable populations. Overall, the issues facing vulnerable populations need addressing on a global scale, which would contribute toward improving the overall health of the world.
References
AJMC. (2019). Vulnerable populations: Who are they? Retrieved from https://www.ajmc.com/journals/supplement/2006/2006-11-vol12-n13suppl/nov06-2390ps348-s352?p=1
Duquesne University. (2019). Safeguarding vulnerable populations. Retrieved from https://onlinenursing.duq.edu/blog/safeguarding-vulnerable-populations/
Nathe, M. (2018). 10 global health issues to watch in 2018. Retrieved from https://www.intrahealth.org/vital/10-global-health-issues-watch-2018
Nickitas, D. M., Middaugh, D. J., & Aries, N. (2016). Policy and politics for nurses and other health proffessions. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
The Commonwealth Fund. (2018). Making health care work better for vulnerable patients. Retrieved from https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2018/making-health-care-work-better-vulnerable-patients
