Public Health is all health. Public health is comprised of all different types of populations and at the root are the individuals. There are many factors that influence one’s health. Those factors may be individual, environmental, and societal. These factors influence the health of vulnerable and marginalized populations in different ways. The environment in which the populations live in is a factor; whether that’s a warm or cold climate, public housing with the same ventilation or living under one roof with your whole family and only one bedroom due to lack of money. Societal factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, and more can make things difficult for some cultures to access healthcare. All these factors make it difficult for vulnerable and marginalized populations to access the healthcare, the resources, the help that they need. These factors contribute to these populations lack of health. Historical, social, culture, political, and economic forces all influence vulnerability and marginalization. All these factors make up an individual. An individual’s history and their cultures history play a role in their health. An individual’s social status and who they associate with may add to their vulnerability. Their culture and what they practice along with their race affect their vulnerability and marginalization. Political status influences vulnerability. Economic status plays a huge role in marginalization because economics can be a driving factor and lead in decision making in individuals’ everyday lives.

In groups, or individual, maybe with a committee there are many ways to voice change and find ways to resolve health and healthcare disparities in vulnerable and marginalized populations. Some of the strategies for resolving health are finding ways to provide access to health whether that be a clinic two days a week in a marginalized location of a city or a meeting once a week to talk about different ways to promote health like hand hygiene. Another strategy could be providing a phone number that is a direct line to a nurse if an individual needs care but doesn’t know if they would be accepted in a hospital or they can’t find a way to get there. I think it’s important to educate vulnerable populations that their health matters no matter what and that they shouldn’t be afraid to get help. Healthcare individuals can be advocates for vulnerable populations and bring to light disparities and get these vulnerable populations help. The help could be as simple as a car service that can come pick them up and bring them to a healthcare facility. There are many other strategies for resolving health and healthcare disparities among vulnerable and marginalized populations, but these are a few to start. From what I learned, I will apply care in a holistic way and always be an advocate for marginalized populations. All individuals no matter economic, cultural, political, social, societal status does not define them as a person. They deserve to be treated as equals and that means they deserve adequate, safe, and the best healthcare. Public health is all health and it’s about all individuals despite any influencing factors.