Where Lies the Risk? Research Paper Example

Introduction

Vulnerable and disadvantaged populations are a necessary consideration in the field of obstetrics. While nurses in the field see a variety of patients, individuals that are considered to be members of high risk populations need to be provided with specialized care. In particular, focus is on ensuring that teenage pregnant girls and pregnant patients of low socio-economic status deliver their babies without complications. Furthermore, nurses are concerned with providing these individuals with the education and resources they need to properly care for their children. Many resources are available to support the health of these patients, and nurses play a supportive role by ensuring that their clients are aware of these available support services.

Ultimately, nurses have an ethical and professional responsibility to provide equal care to all patients, which requires an emphasis on the care of vulnerable populations. If nurses and other qualified health care professionals do not take care of these individuals, it is likely that they would suffer from many health problems. Furthermore, this care is necessary to promote the health of the newborn child. The services provided to these individuals are conducted in a manner that allows the mother, regardless of their age or class, to understand what must be done to properly care for their child and what resources are available to them to aid in this process (Maree et al., 2011).

In addition, many health care institutions provide counseling services to these individuals, because for many of them, the birth of a child is a difficult thing to accept mentally and physically (Yonkers et al., 2014). Many members of vulnerable populations report that they are not ready to have children and are therefore frightened when it happens. Health care professionals can help resolve this dilemma by making these patients feel more prepared to take on these responsibilities, which ultimately contributes to a positive effect in society because it allows a greater number of children to be cared for properly.

Identify a High Risk Population from Your Clinical Area at the Microsystem Level

The neighborhood that an individual grows up in can be considered to act at the microsystem level with regards to its ability to promote health. In the field of obstetrics, vulnerable members of the population typically come from low income neighborhoods. In the state, there are many different pockets that can fall under this category and it is important for health care professionals to be aware of when their patients come from these areas, as this will help them gain a greater understanding of their risk. According to researchers, “The neighbourhood is part of the sources of stimulation, care, and nurturance, as well as an embodiment of values and behavioural models for children” (Atilola, 2014). In low income neighborhoods, there is a smaller support system available due to the lack of education and availability that is generally associated with this lifestyle. Many parents spend time working to support their families and are therefore not present to provide their children with important health information. Furthermore, these communities are typically filled with misconceptions related to health due to a lack of formal understanding of these principles, which propagate myths throughout the community.

In terms of the epidemiological triangle, the agent that causes the disease is unprotected sexual intercourse or protected sexual intercourse in which the birth control method has failed. The host is the woman who becomes pregnant, which in this situation, is the individual who is either an adolescent or impoverished individual from a low income neighborhood. Last, the environment is the low income community that is unable to provide these individuals with a support system that encourages prevention.

Adverse Health Outcomes

There are many adverse health outcomes related to pregnancy in this population. A major problem that adolescents experience is that they are not properly educated about safe sex or they do not have the ability to acquire protection (Edwards, 2009). As a consequence, they often engage in sexual intercourse without using protection methods, assuming that the pull-out method is adequate to prevent against pregnancy (Stanger-Hall et al., 2011). This results in high STD and pregnancy rates among members of this population. Furthermore, since there is often a high prevalence of drug use among individuals from low income communities, health care professionals must determine if the pregnant mother has any history of drug use and whether this has the ability to impact the fetal development of the child, in addition to its ability to thrive once born.

Once the delivery of these newborns is deemed successful, it is often necessary to provide the mother with necessary information to help her understand how to support the health of her growing child. This may include nutrition and information regarding vaccinations, in addition to support services. Furthermore, since members of this population are at high risk for becoming pregnant again, prevention methods may also be discussed. It is important for patients to not just receive care related to their current health status, but to also learn information that will help them be able to support the continued health of both them and their child.

Utilization of Epidemiology Principles and Terminology

There are many risk factors related to adolescent pregnancy. Approximately two-thirds of adolescent pregnancies occur in individuals that are between 18 to 19 years of age. Risk factors include having a young age, performing poorly in school, coming from a low income community, having an older male partner, and already being a single or teen parent. As a consequence, health care professionals can help identify those that are at risk for adolescent pregnancy using these standards, which allows them to provide intervention methods that could prevent against unintended pregnancies and help protect them against STDs. Women who become pregnant as teenagers are exposed to greater risks related to their age and lifestyle. These risks include placenta previa, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and premature delivery, among other factors. These conditions have a poor prognosis for the infant and could contribute to severe damage in the mother. Therefore, primary prevention methods are the main accepted manner in which these outcomes could be prevented, although secondary prevention methods, such as abortion, can be recommended depending upon the health situation of the individual. Overall, it is important to consider that the health implications of adolescent pregnancy occur on a case by case basis and it is the responsibility of the health care professional to determine how patient care should be managed.

References

Atilola O. (2014). Where Lies the Risk? An Ecological Approach to Understanding Child Mental Health Risk and Vulnerabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Psychiatry Journal. Retrieved from http://www.hindawi.com/journals/psychiatry/2014/698348/\

Edwards LA. (2009). Teen Parents, Curriculum for Pregnant Teens. Journal of Nutrition, Education and Behavior, 41(1): 74.

Maree JG, Hansen E. (2011). Identifying and Dealing with the Adaptability Needs of an Unwed Pregnant Teenager. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 21(2): 211-219.

Stanger-Hall KF, Hall DW. (2011). Abstinence-Only Education and Teen Pregnancy Rates: Why We Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the U.S. PLOS One, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024658

Yonkers KA, Ramin SM, Rush J, Navarette CA, Carmody T, March D, Hartwell SF, Leveno KJ (2014). Onset and Persistence of Postpartum Depression in an Inner-City Maternal Health      Clinic System. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(11): 1856-1863.