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How Do Professionals Regard Vulnerable People in a Portuguese Community Setting? A Qualitative Content Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Carlos Laranjeira

    (School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic University of Leiria, Campus 2, Morro do Lena, Alto do Vieiro, Apartado 4137, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
    Centre for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), Polytechnic University of Leiria, Campus 5, Rua de Santo André—66–68, 2410-541 Leiria, Portugal
    Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), University of Évora, 7000-801 Évora, Portugal)

  • Catarina Coelho

    (School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic University of Leiria, Campus 2, Morro do Lena, Alto do Vieiro, Apartado 4137, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal)

  • Catarina Ferreira

    (School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic University of Leiria, Campus 2, Morro do Lena, Alto do Vieiro, Apartado 4137, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal)

  • Margarida Pereira

    (School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic University of Leiria, Campus 2, Morro do Lena, Alto do Vieiro, Apartado 4137, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal)

  • Maria Inês Ribeiro

    (School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic University of Leiria, Campus 2, Morro do Lena, Alto do Vieiro, Apartado 4137, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal)

  • Lisete Cordeiro

    (InPulsar (Associação para o Desenvolvimento Comunitário), Rua José Gonçalves LT 55—LJ 3 Piso-1, 2410-121 Leiria, Portugal)

  • Ana Querido

    (School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic University of Leiria, Campus 2, Morro do Lena, Alto do Vieiro, Apartado 4137, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
    Centre for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), Polytechnic University of Leiria, Campus 5, Rua de Santo André—66–68, 2410-541 Leiria, Portugal
    Group Innovation & Development in Nursing (NursID), Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS@RISE), 4200-450 Porto, Portugal)

Abstract

The commitment to leave no one behind is at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with special attention given to people in vulnerable situations. The present study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of professionals who have attended to vulnerable people in a community setting. Descriptive qualitative research was conducted using qualitative content analysis of interviews with fifteen Portuguese professionals from one community-based association, who were selected via purposive sampling. Data analysis revealed nine subcategories, which were grouped into three major categories, namely: (1) meanings of human vulnerability; (2) barriers to vulnerability mitigation; and (3) approaches to addressing vulnerability. Vulnerability manifests as a discrepancy between an individual’s needs and the available resources. With the accelerated pace of globalization and the exponential rise in complexity of systems and people’s needs, vulnerability is gaining visibility, but this only emphasizes the urgent need to find customized cultural, political, and institutional responses.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos Laranjeira & Catarina Coelho & Catarina Ferreira & Margarida Pereira & Maria Inês Ribeiro & Lisete Cordeiro & Ana Querido, 2023. "How Do Professionals Regard Vulnerable People in a Portuguese Community Setting? A Qualitative Content Analysis," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:12:y:2023:i:9:p:499-:d:1234334
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. United Nations UN, 2015. "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Working Papers id:7559, eSocialSciences.
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