Health vulnerability model: Conceptual clarifi cation from social subjects' perspective

Abstract

Objective: To clarify health vulnerability from the proposition of a conceptual model. Methods: Concept clarifi cation was applied according to Meleis' proposal, supported by review and critical refl ection. 101 articles were selected in fi ve databases using the search equation "vulnerability" AND "health", whose fi ndings were submitted to category and similar analysis. This was processed in the software Iramuteq to identify the essential element, concepts and subconcepts of vulnerability in health - and later construction of a model. Results: From the review and later stages, health vulnerability was redefi ned and a model was constructed based on the relationship of three components: 1) The social subject, with its concepts and subconcepts; 2) The condition of precariousness and agency; 3) Processes of potentiation or weakening of vulnerability in health. The phenomenon was described, the social subject was identifi ed as an essential element, and the main attributes were known with constitutive and operational defi nitions, making it possible to identify the presence of vulnerability in health. Conclusion: The concept was clarifi ed through the construction of a model, providing support for the elaboration of research in the health area and future development of medium or long-range theories of the phenomenon of interest.