Sociocultural Norms, Health, and Nursing
Topic 2: Stigma Associated with Disease
Some vulnerable populations may have diseases, health impairments, and pregnancy that bring humiliation and predisposed judgment. Unfortunately, these health conditions can cause vulnerable populations to become ostracized by the general public. Stigma Associated with Disease Essay Paper
What ways would you choose to function as an advocate for vulnerable populations?
Discuss the types of assistance you might provide to each of the following clients from a vulnerable population:
A 24-year-old pregnant woman who is currently homeless and unmarried
A 16-year-old girl who has run away from her foster home and who has an IV drug habit
An immigrant worker whose TB skin test just came back positive
An employed, married man who contracted Hepatitis B through a blood transfusion 30 years ago
Stigma Associated with Disease
The most important need to address for the 24-year-old pregnant woman who is currently homeless and unmarried is to ensure she has stable housing and supporting her to transit to independent housing (Krahn et al., 2018). This can be achieved by identifying the available local homelessness services that could provide housing to the woman. There is also a need to link the woman with specialist obstetric providers to provide the necessary prenatal care throughout her pregnancy.
For a 16-year-old girl with an IV drug habit and ran away from a foster home, the first step would be to educate her about the dangers associated with drugs. Secondly, it would be important to enroll the girl in an evidence-based drug treatment and counseling program to address the drug issue and provide her with the necessary therapeutic support (Clark, 2018). The last step would involve reconnecting the girl with her foster home.
BUY A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
For the immigrant worker, it is important to link him with a healthcare organization where he can access tuberculosis treatment. Immigrants have limited access to healthcare due to the low socioeconomic status, cultural barriers, and lack of awareness regarding the functioning of healthcare services (Wild et al., 2017). Once the immigrant starts TB treatment, he should be supported psychologically and monitored closely to ensure he adheres to the treatment. Stigma Associated with Disease Essay Paper
Advocating for the patient is important since individuals with hepatitis C are likely to be discriminated, have their human rights violated, and also experience obstacles when accessing health care (Mera et al., 2019). Therefore, the nurse should maintain the confidentiality of the patient’s status and ensure that she accesses the required care. Lastly, the nurse should educate the patient to enlighten him on the available choices. This will help the patient make informed choices and actions regarding his health. For example, the patient should be educated on the need to have his partner tested for hepatitis C and disclosing each other’s status.
References
Clark, D. M. (2018). Realizing the mass public benefit of evidence-based psychological therapies: the IAPT program. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1(14).
Krahn, J., Caine, V., Chaw-Kant, J., & Singh, A. E. (2018). Housing interventions for homeless, pregnant/parenting women with addictions: a systematic review. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 27(1), 75-88.
Mera, J., Reilley, B., Leston, J., & Stephens, D. (2019). In a Critical State: Ongoing Barriers to Treatment for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). The American journal of medicine, 132(5), 547-549.
Wild, V., Jaff, D., Shah, N. S., & Frick, M. (2017). Tuberculosis, human rights and ethics considerations along the route of a highly vulnerable migrant from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe. The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease: the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 21(10), 1075–1085. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.17.0324
Stigma Associated with Disease Essay Paper