Conceptualizing Vulnerability for Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Associated Measures in Utrecht and Zeist: A Concept Map

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated measures have impacted the health of many. Not all population groups are equally vulnerable to such health effects, possibly increasing health inequalities. We performed a group concept mapping procedure to define a common, context-specific understanding of what makes people vulnerable to health effects of the pandemic and the measures. We organized a two-step, blended brainstorming session with locally involved community members, using the brainstorm focus prompt ‘What I think makes people vulnerable for the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures is…’. We asked participants to generate as many statements as possible. Participants then individually structured (sorted and ranked) these statements. The structuring data was analysed using the groupwisdomTM software and then interpreted by the researchers to generate the concept map. Ninety-eight statements were generated by 19 participants. Sixteen participants completed both structuring tasks. The final concept map consisted of 12 clusters of vulnerability factors, indicating a broad conceptualization of vulnerability during the pandemic. It is being used as a basis for future research and local supportive interventions. Concept mapping is an effective method to arrive at a vulnerability assessment in a community in a short time and, moreover, a method that promotes community engagement.

Iniciativas da sociedade e comunidades no apoio social a grupos vulneráveis no território: papel da ESF na pandemia

“…No centro do processo de trabalho de enfrentamento da COVID-19 pelas equipes de saúde é fundamental fortalecer a ação coordenada destas no território, pela conceituação da vulnerabilidade para os efeitos da COVID-19 1 , implementação de ações comunitárias com lideranças, instituições e organizações locais e de ações governamentais, pela articulação das equipes com os setores municipais públicos ou não, no sentido da função social da APS no SUS 23 .…”

“…Atuar no apoio social é ofertar algum tipo de acompanhamento social e psicológico necessários à garantia de proteção social, integral e solidária, sempre com base na identificação dos grupos mais vulneráveis ou de maior risco de adoecimento por suas condições de saúde prévias e correntes à pandemia, que exigem a conceituação da vulnerabilidade e seu mapeamento no território o que incidirá por sua vez no empoderamento da comunidade 1 .…”

Appraising Evidence-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Guidelines—PART II: A Content Analysis with Implications for Disaster Risk Reduction

“…The first focal area can be approached through (rapid) needs assessments, vulnerability assessments, and disaster health research [23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. The growing international epidemiological literature is an invaluable starting point to make an initial estimate of probable mental health needs, problems, and vulnerabilities in different disaster stages of a hypothetical scenario or an actual unfolding event.…”

“…Another defendable assumption is that the dialogue should be shaped along community engagement standards concerning participation, empowerment and ownership, inclusion, two-way communication, adaptability, and localization and building on local capacity [31]. The first focal area can be approached through (rapid) needs assessments, vulnerability assessments, and disaster health research [23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. The growing international epidemiological literature is an invaluable starting point to make an initial estimate of probable mental health needs, problems, and vulnerabilities in different disaster stages of a hypothetical scenario or an actual unfolding event.…”