The term "special population" is used in public health, epidemiology, and statistics to refer to any group of people who are considered vulnerable in some way. The most obvious examples are children, pregnant women, the elderly, and the chronically ill. There are many ways that persons with these special characteristics can be at risk or have an increased likelihood of developing certain diseases. This blog will explore what it means to be a special population in terms of public health.

Defining a Special Population

There are many ways that individuals can be considered special populations. These are defined by statistics, causes of death, or other criteria. But even more important than statistics is the way in which these populations are defined by the population and those within it. There is the responsibility to consider the needs of all individuals, not just the most vulnerable. Types of Special Population There are different types of special populations: Low income populations: These are people who have very low incomes and receive a disproportionate amount of their income from government assistance programs, such as social security disability benefits. They may also be unable to work due to physical disabilities, mental health issues, or substance abuse.

The Human Cost of the Healthcare System

Patients, whether healthy or sick, have a right to choice in the medical system and should not be made to feel ashamed about seeking treatment. Park, Director of Civil Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union As you probably know by now, it is estimated that 28% of hospital admissions in the U.S. are for mental health issues. However, we've recently learned that 1 in 4 people in the U.S. will be affected by mental illness in their lifetime. These figures are likely underreported because many people with mental illness avoid seeking the help they need. Treatment is very costly, and it's extremely difficult to treat mental illnesses without medications. Few of these individuals have the means to pay for their own care, and this can be quite isolating.

Challenges for Pregnant Women

Pregnancy is one of the leading risk factors for the onset of several disorders and diseases. In general, the risk is highest in a woman who is overweight or has multiple risk factors, such as being female, having a personal history of gestational diabetes, being of maternal age or older, or a recent history of smoking. Other high risk groups include: Women who smoke during pregnancy: About 10 percent of women who smoke during pregnancy give birth to a child with ADHD Women who are obese during pregnancy: up to 40 percent of obese pregnant women have a child with ADHD Women who are overweight or are obese before pregnancy: 30 percent to 40 percent of women who are overweight or obese before conception and 15 percent of women who are normal weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.

How We can Meet the Needs of our Special Populations

Faced with the challenges of meeting the needs of the medically complex population, there are many obstacles to meeting that need. We hope that this blog will highlight some of those obstacles and offer solutions to the challenges the medical community and our community of medical professionals faces in meeting the needs of medically complex individuals. Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle Medical professionals have a responsibility to keep medically complex patients safe in their own homes, and take care of those who are hospitalized. At The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, we are fortunate to have an established community of caregivers that has dedicated its time and effort to assist our medically complex patients.

Conclusion

1. Universal health coverage can be an engine of social inclusion and health equity.

FAQs

What is an example of a special population?

Examples of special populations might include children, the elderly, people who share the same race or ethnicity, people who all have a particular medical condition, prisoners, people who all work for the same company, people who all use the same product, and the list goes on.

What are the characteristics of special population?

Special populations can be defined as those students who share a common background, a cultural orientation, physical capabilities, and/or a developmental or psychological status; a commonality that teachers can take into account fruitfully when planning instruction.