Vulnerable Populations

Vulnerable Populations
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Vulnerable Populations
Children are a vulnerable population in our society because they are compounded with a myriad of issues ranging from lack of care and abuse by parents, exposure to ill health due to low immunity and health hazards, physical abuse, child labor, physical disability, homelessness among other issues HYPERLINK "/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Bernard+Lo%22&source=gbs_metadata_r&cad=9"  (Lo &  HYPERLINK "/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Mary+Ellen+O%27Connell%22&source=gbs_metadata_r&cad=9"  O'Connell, 2005, p.67). Vulnerable children are exposed to almost similar conditions that other vulnerable populations are exposed but children are more vulnerable as they have no more experience with life more than their ages (UNICEF.org, 2012)
UNICEF highlights that children are vulnerable because they have not matured or are not able to make worthwhile decisions and they have to depend on their parents, guardians and older siblings whom at that point could be the abusers or are in a similar predicament. Some children may not be able to express themselves verbally due to age or disability which tends to increase their chances of vulnerability  HYPERLINK "/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Leiyu+Shi%22&source=gbs_metadata_r&cad=8"  (Shi &  HYPERLINK "/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Gregory+D.+Stevens%22&source=gbs_metadata_r&cad=8" Stevens, 2010, p.9).
Children are vulnerable all over the world especially in poor areas. Their parents due to poverty may have a low understanding on the needs of children and in most cases the children are neglected due to low incomes. Environmental conditions in this poverty stricken areas like slums have poor drainage systems, congestion and lack of clean water, these conditions affect children with water-borne diseases and respiratory problems like asthma.
Vulnerability of children is also heightened by disabilities and rejection by parents. Governments and Non-Governmental Organizations have initiated programs that protect and look into the welfare of vulnerable children. United Nations Children’s Fund that has initiatives around the world that looks into the welfare of children in areas with where vulnerability of children is prevalent (UNICEF.org, 201...