Mapping health vulnerabilities: exploring territorial profiles to support health policies

Abstract

Vulnerability processes and effects, albeit of great importance to cohesion and territorial policies, are nonetheless still underexplored and narrowly operationalized in scientific research. In particular, most assessments rely on economic indicators and a limited territorial scale, which do not have the same analytic potential of a broader view at a national level with regional/municipal similarities, specificities, and inter-connections. This gap also applies to health-related vulnerabilities, which, stemming from a lack of socioeconomic and environmental resources, has increased during and after the economic crisis of the past decade. This paper aims to analyze the health vulnerability phenomena in Portugal from a spatial perspective. Following a Multiple Correspondence Analysis, different territorial profiles of social vulnerability associated with the population health condition and access to and use of "health services" are identified. We conclude by outlining the importance of adding the spatial context to health policies addressing vulnerabilities and suggest avenues for future research.