Definition Of Vulnerable Groups In Research

Individuals considered vulnerable may for various reasons have a diminished capacity to anticipate cope with resist and or recover from the impact of a natural or man made hazard.

Definition of vulnerable groups in research. Generally accepted that one of the principle tasks of ethics in research is protecting vulnerable participants from exploitation and other forms of harm vulnerable originated from the latin term vulnerare which means to wound. A vulnerable group includes persons who may be incapable of understanding what it means to participate in research and or who may not understand what constitutes informed consent. Vulnerable groups this term is applied to groups of people children pregnant women elderly people malnourished people prisoners migrants and refugees people who uses drugs and people who are ill or immunocompromized etc who due to factors usually considered outside their control do not have the same opportunities as other more fortunate groups in society. Those who may be susceptible to harm through i diminished capacity weakness or gullibility ii undue influence or iii lack of opportunity to provide consent and therefore unable to represent their own interests.

Vulnerable populations are groups and communities at a higher risk for poor health as a result of the barriers they experience to social economic political and environmental resources as well as limitations due to illness or disability. In the context of human subjects research individuals or groups are vulnerable if they are unable fully and independently to protect their own interests either due to intrinsic characteristics e g age or immaturity or circumstances e g illness incarceration or poverty.