Reference no: EM132899183

According to Shi & Singh (2019), underserved population groups in the United States either face greater barriers than the general population in accessing timely and needed health care services or have special health-related issues that may go unaddressed (p.251). Examples of vulnerable and underserved population include persons living in rural areas and women.

• Poverty is not the only challenge faced by rural residents in accessing health care, they also suffer from lack of public health infrastructure and poor access to health as compared urban dwellers. Rural residents have limited access to care due to geographic maldistribution of health care professionals. Only 10% of all practicing physicians are based in rural areas (p.260). The shortage of healthcare professionals in rural areas makes it difficult to have access to timely and adequate care. Rural communities experience an increased burden of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, mental health disorder, tobacco use, and substance abuse (p.260).
• "Even though the 1990s have been marked by rapid expansion in the absolute and relative number of practicing physicians, substantial rural shortages have persisted" (Rosenblatt & Hart. 2000).
• Although the life expectancy of women in the United States is almost five years longer than men's, women suffer poorer health outcomes and greater morbidity compared to men. Women have a higher prevalence of certain health problems than men over the course of
• their lifetime (Shin & Singh, 2019, p.258). According to Gay (2018), two out of three women around the world presently suffer from the most debilitating disease known to humanity (p.4). women develop more acute and chronic illness, resulting in a greater number of short- and long-term disabilities, mental illness such as anxiety disorders and major depression are also more pronounced in women.
• The racial/ethnic minority categories in the United states are black or African American, Hispanic, or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and other unidentified races. Minorities have poor access to health services, they receive poorer quality of care, and experience worse health outcomes (Shi & Singh, 2019, p. 254). The minority population experience higher rates of illness, mortality, and morbidity due to lack of adequate health services.
• Philippians 2:4 " let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others"

Question 1: Choose 2 different vulnerable and underserved populations. Describe their health needs, and summarize the major challenges they face.