Health Management & Social Care Study Notes
Chapter: Contemporary Issues of Vulnerability
Hey everyone! Welcome to your study notes for a really important topic: Contemporary Issues of Vulnerability. This might sound complicated, but it's all about understanding the challenges some people in our society face that make them more at risk of harm, illness, or unfair treatment.
Why is this important? Because a healthy community isn't just about doctors and hospitals; it's about creating a society where everyone, especially the most vulnerable, is supported and respected. Understanding these issues will help you become a more compassionate citizen and will definitely score you points in your exams! Let's dive in.
Issue 1: Addictions - When a Habit Takes Control
So, what exactly is an addiction?
Think of an addiction as a powerful habit that's gone out of control. It’s when a person feels a very strong, often uncontrollable, need to do something or use a substance, even if it's causing them and others harm. They can't just 'stop' easily.
Types of Addictions
The syllabus points out a few common types. You should be able to name and give examples of these:
• Substance Addictions: This is when the body becomes dependent on a chemical.
Examples: Drugs, alcohol, nicotine (from cigarettes).
• Behavioural Addictions: This is an addiction to an activity or behaviour.
Examples: Gambling, playing online computer games compulsively.
Why Do People Become Addicted?
It’s not just about 'bad choices'. There are complex reasons, which we can group into two main areas:
1. Biological Reasons: Sometimes it's about our bodies and brains. Certain substances can change our brain chemistry, making us crave them more and more.
2. Psychosocial Influence: This is a fancy term for things related to our mind (psycho) and our social life (social).
Examples: high levels of stress, peer pressure from friends, difficult family situations, or mental health issues like depression.
The Ripple Effect: Problems Caused by Addiction
An addiction doesn't just affect one person; it creates ripples that spread outwards.
• For the Individual: Serious health problems (like liver damage from alcohol), financial trouble (from gambling), and mental health decline.
• For the Family: Broken relationships, emotional distress, and financial strain.
• For Society: Increased healthcare costs, crime rates, and loss of productivity at work.
Finding a Way Out: Treatments for Addiction
Helping someone with an addiction requires support and professional help. Treatment often involves a mix of approaches:
• Medical Treatment: Using medicine to manage withdrawal symptoms.
• Psychological Therapy: Counselling to understand the root causes of the addiction.
• Support Groups: Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) where people share experiences and support each other.
Key Takeaway: Addiction is a complex health issue caused by both biological and psychosocial factors. It has serious negative impacts on individuals, families, and society, but can be treated with professional help and support.
Issue 2: Our Ageing Population - A "Silver Tsunami"
What's Happening in Hong Kong?
You've probably noticed more and more elderly people in your community. That's because Hong Kong has an ageing population. This means the average age of people is increasing, and there's a larger proportion of older adults compared to younger people. This is happening because people are living longer and having fewer children.
Did you know? Hong Kong has one of the highest life expectancies in the world! This is great news, but it also creates challenges for our society.
Challenges of an Ageing Society
An ageing population puts pressure on the health and social care system:
• More Healthcare Needs: Elderly people often have more chronic illnesses, so they need more medical services, hospital beds, and long-term care (like nursing homes).
• Fewer People Working: With fewer young people in the workforce, there's a smaller base of taxpayers to fund all these services.
• Social Care Needs: There's a higher demand for services like elderly centres, meal delivery, and support for family caregivers.
Thinking Positively: The Idea of "Active Ageing"
Don't worry, it's not all doom and gloom! A key concept to fight these challenges is active ageing. This isn't just about being physically active. It's a whole philosophy promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Active ageing means encouraging older adults to remain:
• Healthy: Through good diet, exercise, and preventative healthcare.
• Participating: By staying involved in the community, volunteering, or even working part-time if they wish.
• Secure: Ensuring they have adequate financial support, housing, and personal safety.
The goal is to improve the quality of life as people age, seeing them as a valuable resource, not a burden.
Key Takeaway: Hong Kong has an ageing population, which challenges our health and social care systems. The concept of active ageing helps us focus on keeping older adults healthy, engaged, and secure, improving their well-being and benefiting society.
Issue 3: Prejudice and Discrimination - More Than Just Unkindness
What's the Difference? A Simple Analogy
These two words are often used together, but they mean different things. It's super important to know the difference!
• Prejudice is a thought or attitude. It’s when you pre-judge someone based on a stereotype, without knowing them.
Analogy: Thinking "All teenagers are lazy" is a prejudice.
• Discrimination is an action or behaviour. It’s when you treat someone unfairly because of your prejudice.
Analogy: Refusing to hire someone for a job just because they are a teenager is discrimination. It’s the action that follows the thought!
Who is Affected?
Discrimination can happen to many different groups, making them vulnerable. The syllabus highlights these five:
Memory Aid! Remember the groups with G.A.D.E.P.
• Gender: Treating someone differently because they are male or female. (e.g., A company paying a woman less than a man for doing the exact same job).
• Age: This is called 'ageism'. It can affect the young or the old. (e.g., An employer thinking an older worker can't learn new technology, or a landlord refusing to rent to a young student).
• Disability: Treating people with physical, mental, or sensory disabilities unfairly. (e.g., A restaurant not having a ramp for wheelchair users, making it inaccessible).
• Ethnic Minorities: Discriminating against someone because of their race, nationality, or skin colour. (e.g., A person being told "we don't rent to South Asians" in Hong Kong).
• Patients: Discriminating against people because they have a certain illness. This is often driven by fear and misunderstanding. (e.g., During SARS or COVID-19, people avoided healthcare workers or their families out of fear. People with mental illnesses also often face stigma).
Key Takeaway: Prejudice is the negative attitude, while discrimination is the unfair action. It affects various groups (Gender, Age, Disability, Ethnic Minorities, Patients), making them vulnerable and denying them equal rights and opportunities.
Issue 4: Infectious Diseases - Battling the Invisible Enemy
What Are They?
An infectious disease is an illness caused by tiny organisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. The key thing is that they can be passed (or transmitted) from one person to another, or from animals to people.
Common Examples You Need to Know
The syllabus lists a few key examples. You should be able to name them!
Quick Review Box
• Flu (Influenza): A common viral infection of the respiratory system. We get seasonal flu shots to protect ourselves.
• AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome): Caused by the HIV virus, which attacks the immune system. It is NOT spread by casual contact.
• Tuberculosis (TB): A bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs. It is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• Hepatitis B: A viral infection that attacks the liver. It is spread through infected blood and body fluids, not through food or water.
Why are they a 'Vulnerability' Issue?
Having an infectious disease makes a person vulnerable in several ways:
1. Health Impact: The disease itself can cause serious illness or even death.
2. Social Stigma: This is a huge one! People with diseases like AIDS or TB can face fear, rejection, and discrimination from their community, friends, and even family (linking back to the previous section on discrimination against patients!).
3. Economic Impact: A person might lose their job due to their illness or because of discrimination. The cost of treatment can also be a heavy financial burden.
Key Takeaway: Infectious diseases like flu, AIDS, TB, and Hepatitis B make people vulnerable not only because of the illness itself, but also due to the social stigma and economic hardship they can cause.
Chapter Summary & Final Encouragement
Great job getting through these tough topics! You've learned about four major contemporary issues that create vulnerability in our society: addictions, our ageing population, prejudice and discrimination, and infectious diseases.
The main goal is to see the connections between them. For example, an elderly person (ageing) might face discrimination (ageism) and be more vulnerable to the flu (infectious disease). Someone with an addiction might lose their job and fall into poverty, making them even more vulnerable.
As you study, always think about the "so what?" factor. Why does this matter for the individual? For society? And what can our health and social care system do to help? Keep asking these questions, and you'll do great!