The vulnerable populations that are subject of the article, Epidemiology of Eating Disorders: Incidence, Prevalence and Mortality Rates , by Smink, van Hoeken and Hoek are young women. The researchers investigate the prevalence of eating disorders among women that are aged between 15 and 19 years (Smink, van Hoeken & Hoek, 2012). Subjects that are below 18 years old in a research are considered vulnerable because they have not attained adulthood. The subjects are exposed to minimal risk because the research involves identifying whether they have eating disorders or not. The research does not expose the participants to levels of harm or discomfort than those that they encounter in their daily life.
The level of risk in the research can be lowered by observing the advocated norms and monitoring standards that are prescribed by ethical review boards and government agencies. Ethical review boards provide guidelines on protection of rights of the subjects as well as their privacy and confidentiality (Shivayogi, 2013). The researchers can reduce the risk exposed to the subjects by getting informed consent from the parents of the young women. Getting informed consent involves explaining to the participants what the research entails, the procedures that will be used and the benefits of the research to the community. The researchers also need to place measures that will help in maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of the participants.
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The researchers used a methodology that further helps in minimizing the risks that are exposed to the subjects. The methodology of the research involved examining incidences of eating disorders amongst populations of different age groups. The vulnerable participants are thus accommodated in their own age group to protect them from the risks of research.
References
Shivayogi, P. (2013). Vulnerable population and methods for their safeguard. Perspectives in clinical research , 4 (1), 53.
Smink, F. R., Van Hoeken, D., & Hoek, H. W. (2012). Epidemiology of eating disorders: incidence, prevalence and mortality rates. Current psychiatry reports , 14 (4), 406-414.
