Introduction
The community in which a windshield survey was conducted in Little Havana, a neighborhood located in the city of Miami, Florida. It is a community in which a large number of Cuban exiles, as well as immigrants from various parts of South and Central America, live (Fernandez, 2015; Grenier & Moebius, 2015). A vulnerable population in this community includes children and young females. The purpose of this paper is to describe in detail this vulnerable population and identify the available health resources and the existing health problems in the community about the above-mentioned population.
Vulnerable Population Overview
A vulnerable group in the given community is comprised of children and young women, including young pregnant females. According to the results of the windshield survey, children spend much time outside, in direct sunlight, disregard hygiene issues, and are not aware of methods for protecting themselves. Young women, and the pregnant ones, in particular, do not enjoy any benefits about their pregnant state and suffer from an increased risk of adverse health outcomes.
This vulnerable group has been affected by the adverse economic conditions characteristic of this area. This neighborhood is not rich, and many individuals here have a lower than average level of income. As for young females, the pregnant ones, in particular, these also might have experienced the restricted in Florida access to contraception and abortions (The Guttmacher Institute, 2017; Marcotte, 2016), which means that they often cannot fully control their pregnancy, and some of them might have become pregnant regardless of their desire, due to their inability to obtain contraception; their low economic status might prevent them from getting adequate prenatal care.
Strengths, Risk Factors, and Barriers
The potential strengths of the vulnerable populations in question are related to the fact that these populations are commonly viewed as vulnerable, and are not usually faced with discrimination (that some other vulnerable populations, e.g., the homeless, face), which means that they may often gain priority and additional assistance in a variety of situations. Also, some governmental support might be available for children and pregnant women, which could positively impact their health.
A barrier to improving the health of these populations is related to the above-mentioned low levels of income in the area. Although some assistance might be available under such programs as Medicare or Medicaid, these populations may not always be eligible for them.
As for risk factors, the young, non-pregnant females might face the risk of unwanted pregnancy due to the state regulations about birth control and access to contraception (The Guttmacher Institute, 2017; Marcotte, 2016), which might cause negative health outcomes or undesired pregnancies among women who cannot “afford” having a child due to economic reasons. Also, pregnant individuals may not always be able to receive adequate medical care during their pregnancy.
Community Resources
There are several clinics in Little Havana that are available for the vulnerable populations in question. However, an Internet search was able to identify one such clinic – Care Resource. It is a clinic that provides primary care health services for children, adolescents, and young, pregnant women, and accepts individuals of all income levels while scaling the fees according to the income that a patient has (Care Resource, n.d.). The local public health department website also gives reference only to the Care Resource facility when it comes to looking for clinics in Little Havana (Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, n.d.).
On the whole, it might be possible to state that this clinic is not adequate for completely satisfying the needs of the identified community about health care services. Of course, there may also be several for-profit hospitals, but the identified vulnerable populations may find it more difficult to gain health care services in such clinics. Therefore, additional health care facilities that would provide additional benefits for children or young females (especially the pregnant ones) might be needed.
Community Health Problem Diagnosis
A priority community health problem that could be addressed and positively impacted by a community health nurse is the provision of adequate prenatal care for females who are pregnant. This corresponds to the following Healthy People 2020 objective: “MICH-10.2 Increase the proportion of pregnant women who receive early and adequate prenatal care” (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, n.d., para. 10).
Summary
On the whole, it should be stressed that the vulnerable population which was identified during the windshield survey is comprised of children, as well as young females, in particular, of those who are pregnant. The key factors which may affect the health of this group include the overall economic situation in the neighborhood (that is, a lower than average level of income), as well as the particular vulnerability of children (who do not know much about hygiene, the harmfulness of being exposed to the sun for extended periods, and do not know much about protecting themselves) and of young women, particularly the pregnant ones (who are in a condition that requires delicate care and attention, as well as the services of specialists which may not be available in the area). Because of the low availability of prenatal care, it is paramount to take steps aimed at providing young, pregnant women with such care at the early stages of their pregnancy to preserve the health of these females and their future children. To conclude, it should be noted that community health nurses might be able to assist with resolving this problem by advocating for early and adequate prenatal care that would be available for all the women of this community regardless of their economic status.
References
Care Resource. (n.d.). About us. Web.
Fernandez, C.M. (2015). Leaving Little Havana: A memoir of Miami’s Cuban ghetto. Orlando, FL: Beating Windward Press.
Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County. (n.d.). Community health centers. Web.
Grenier, G.J., & Moebius, C.J. (2015). A history of Little Havana. Mount Pleasant, CA: History Press.
The Guttmacher Institute. (2017). State facts about abortion: Florida. Web.
Marcotte, A. (2016). Conservatives vs. contraceptives: In both Florida and in the Supreme Court, right wingers hungry to control women’s sexuality are targeting birth control. Salon.
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Maternal, infant, and child health: Objectives. Web.