Question 1
Caring for vulnerable populations
Children are among disadvantaged groups in the society. They require special protection due to their delicate state of development. Children are readily vulnerable to abuse and neglect and most of the times do not have the ways to defend themselves from the wrongs against with them.
According to Larkin (2009), children encounter several risks factors that may adversely affect their health. They are victimized, perpetrated, family and community risks factors. Children may undergo through painful experiences such as physical abuse, child defilement, family disorganization that may affect their emotional and physical health. Children from poor families are at the risks of malnutrition that may lead to diseases that affect their health. Some of the diseases associated with malnutrition are anemia, kwashiorkor, and scurvy among other. These disorders affect the physical health of the children.
Community health nurses when they encounter a child that health has been compromised by the risk factors they have faced, it is necessary for them to treat the children. For instance, if the child has been a victim of child defilement the community health nurse should treat the child and repair the damages experienced. Treatment, in this case, includes counseling which will bring mental and emotional healing to the child. The other priority for community health nurses while working with children is to advocate for the change of the environment. Even after the treatment, if the living conditions or the environment that led to the risk factor has not changed, the problem may arise again, and the child may not heal properly (Griffith & Tengnah, 2007, p.176). For instance, if a defiled child goes to the family in which he or she was defiled, the probability of the incident to reoccur is high.
Question 2
Assuring resources for the vulnerable
According to Gregory and Kinge (2011), pregnant women obtain services such as medical examination, health education on lifestyle issues such as breastfeeding, nutrition, safety and exercise. Medical examination helps avoid birth complications. The health education is essential in ensuring continuous child development hence leading to children with good health. They also offer referral of the pregnant women to other agencies. Pregnant women with high-risk conditions get home visiting services, resource mothers, and baby care services. These services are offered by the local welfare and by local health departments.
The Gabriel Project is Catholic Church based program aimed at assisting pregnant women during their pregnancy journey. The church has seen the crisis faced by pregnant women, especially from the poor backgrounds. The families and the community abandon these pregnant women. The church offers free services to these women. They allocate a volunteer near the pregnant who offers help, and the church provides other resources and services. Their services are easily accessible know that there are in the entire nation. They also give a toll-free number that the pregnant women should use to contact them. The church program is available to provide housing, employment, education, emotional support, prenatal care, baby items, adoption and financial assistance to the women during and after their pregnancy. The services offered by the church program are acceptable because they aim at ensuring the reduction in maternal and child mortality rates (Health services insights, 2008, p.30). They aim at providing a healthy society that stems from healthy children.
Pregnant women need support from not only their families but also from the society. Their health is of much concern because it puts two lives at risks if neglected.
References
Gregory, I., & Kinge, S. (2011). Maternity focus: caring for vulnerable pregnant women. Br J Healthcare Assistants, 5(6), 280-281. doi:10.12968/bjha.2011.5.6.280
Griffith, R., & Tengnah, C. (2007). Protecting children: the role of the law 2. Legal powers to safeguard children. Br J Community Nursing, 12(4), 175-180. doi:10.12968/bjcn.2007.12.4.23255
Health services insights. (2008). Auckland, N.Z.: Libertas Academica.
Larkin, M. (2009). Vulnerable groups in health and social care. Los Angeles: SAGE.
