The challenge of assessing the needs of vulnerable populations in public health : promoting an approach grounded in proportionate universalism principles
- Author
- Dr. Kenji Leta (UGent) , Maïté Verloigne (UGent) , Lieve Bradt (UGent) , Shana Sabbe, Babette Demeester (UGent) , Emelien Lauwerier (UGent) and Sara Willems (UGent)
- Organization
- Project
- Abstract
- Aim: Health inequities persist as a pressing public health challenge, often rooted in unequal access to resources, opportunities and privileges that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Proportionate universalism offers a promising approach by advocating for universal health interventions that adjust in scale and intensity to meet varying levels of needs. Despite its potential, implementing proportionate universalism in health promotion remains challenging, particularly when narrowly assessing vulnerability using socioeconomic indicators alone, which can misclassify or stigmatise vulnerable groups and perpetuate inequities. This commentary reflects on these challenges in the context of developing a smoking prevention intervention for adolescents facing societal vulnerability and proposes more nuanced strategies for assessing needs within a proportionate universalism framework. Conclusions: This article highlights the complexity of defining and assessing vulnerability in public health research and practice. By sharing insights from our research process, we advocate for a broader understanding of adolescent vulnerability that moves beyond traditional socioeconomic measures. We hope to inspire more inclusive and equitable health promotion interventions that are responsive to the diverse and intersecting forms of disadvantage individuals may experience.
- Keywords
- Health inequities, health promotion interventions, proportionate universalism, smoking prevention, vulnerability assessment, SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS, ADOLESCENT SMOKING, BEHAVIORS, COUNTRIES, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FAMILY
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-01K38GJWXZA09ATPMKNQ4PFDSM
- MLA
- Leta, Dr. Kenji, et al. “The Challenge of Assessing the Needs of Vulnerable Populations in Public Health : Promoting an Approach Grounded in Proportionate Universalism Principles.” SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, 2025, doi:10.1177/14034948251352643.
- APA
- Leta, Dr. K., Verloigne, M., Bradt, L., Sabbe, S., Demeester, B., Lauwerier, E., & Willems, S. (2025). The challenge of assessing the needs of vulnerable populations in public health : promoting an approach grounded in proportionate universalism principles. https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948251352643
- Chicago author-date
- Leta, Dr. Kenji, Maïté Verloigne, Lieve Bradt, Shana Sabbe, Babette Demeester, Emelien Lauwerier, and Sara Willems. 2025. “The Challenge of Assessing the Needs of Vulnerable Populations in Public Health : Promoting an Approach Grounded in Proportionate Universalism Principles.” SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948251352643.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Leta, Dr. Kenji, Maïté Verloigne, Lieve Bradt, Shana Sabbe, Babette Demeester, Emelien Lauwerier, and Sara Willems. 2025. “The Challenge of Assessing the Needs of Vulnerable Populations in Public Health : Promoting an Approach Grounded in Proportionate Universalism Principles.” SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. doi:10.1177/14034948251352643.
- Vancouver
- 1.Leta DrK, Verloigne M, Bradt L, Sabbe S, Demeester B, Lauwerier E, et al. The challenge of assessing the needs of vulnerable populations in public health : promoting an approach grounded in proportionate universalism principles. SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2025.
- IEEE
- [1]Dr. K. Leta et al., “The challenge of assessing the needs of vulnerable populations in public health : promoting an approach grounded in proportionate universalism principles,” SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2025.
@misc{01K38GJWXZA09ATPMKNQ4PFDSM,
abstract = {{Aim: Health inequities persist as a pressing public health challenge, often rooted in unequal access to resources, opportunities and privileges that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Proportionate universalism offers a promising approach by advocating for universal health interventions that adjust in scale and intensity to meet varying levels of needs. Despite its potential, implementing proportionate universalism in health promotion remains challenging, particularly when narrowly assessing vulnerability using socioeconomic indicators alone, which can misclassify or stigmatise vulnerable groups and perpetuate inequities. This commentary reflects on these challenges in the context of developing a smoking prevention intervention for adolescents facing societal vulnerability and proposes more nuanced strategies for assessing needs within a proportionate universalism framework. Conclusions: This article highlights the complexity of defining and assessing vulnerability in public health research and practice. By sharing insights from our research process, we advocate for a broader understanding of adolescent vulnerability that moves beyond traditional socioeconomic measures. We hope to inspire more inclusive and equitable health promotion interventions that are responsive to the diverse and intersecting forms of disadvantage individuals may experience.}},
author = {{Leta, Dr. Kenji and Verloigne, Maïté and Bradt, Lieve and Sabbe, Shana and Demeester, Babette and Lauwerier, Emelien and Willems, Sara}},
issn = {{1403-4948}},
keywords = {{Health inequities,health promotion interventions,proportionate universalism,smoking prevention,vulnerability assessment,SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS,ADOLESCENT SMOKING,BEHAVIORS,COUNTRIES,ALCOHOL,TOBACCO,FAMILY}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{7}},
series = {{SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH}},
title = {{The challenge of assessing the needs of vulnerable populations in public health : promoting an approach grounded in proportionate universalism principles}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1177/14034948251352643}},
year = {{2025}},
}
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