The Covid-19 pandemic impacted the world significantly with its strict lockdown measures, shortages, and most importantly its effect on individual’s health, more specifically, minorities health. Working in the healthcare field, especially during the pandemic, has shown how minority groups are treated across the world and how health inequalities are still present in Canada today. With the influence of social determinants, minority groups were remarkably disproportioned compared to their counterparts and were unfortunately marginalized.
Social determinants of health are non-medical factors that contribute to and influence one’s overall health (WHO, 2021). Factors such as were individuals are born, work, live, and access their resources such as money and nutrition all contribute to the health of all individuals. Health inequalities can be seen with minority groups such as people of colour especially during the Covid-19 pandemic across the world. Minority groups such as poorer populations and individuals of colour have shown higher hospital admission rates requiring intensive care and higher mortality rates (WHO, 2021). Not only were these minority groups experiencing harsher outcomes from the Covid-19 pandemic, many of these individuals were at an even greater disadvantage due to the lack of access to healthcare and resources available to them. To be specific, locations such as those which are highly populated and close together often did not and were not able to practice safe social distancing measures nor were they as accessible to work, healthcare, and housing compared to those who were white or lived in the city (Pecoraro, 2021). Many of these individuals do not have access to resources such as water, food, housing or healthcare which has disadvantaged them greatly when it came to the pandemic and its harsh effects. Lack of access to transportation to receive healthcare is one of the main factors that notably impacted minority populations (Pecoraro, 2021). Additionally, those living in migrant population affected by emergencies were often displaced and at higher risk for Covid-19 due to their living conditions (WHO, 2021).
Countless reports across the healthcare systems in the world have shown the marginalization of these minority groups during the pandemic. Many of the issues steam from the factors of social determinants to their health that have led these individuals to be at a disadvantage. Poverty, deprivation, and the conditions individuals, mostly those of colour, live and work in are one of the main causes of health inequalities (Pecoraro, 2021). The increased need to ensure these individuals have resources they need that are both attainable and affordable is the first step needed to be taken to help get started in the right direction for improved health.
According to the World Health Organization, 2021, there are ten main social determinants of health which influence health equality, both positively and negatively. The list below highlights some of the detremaints of health that are not covered in the blog post but still important. To learn more about social determaints of health and how they influence health outcomes click on the link below!
https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1
Income and social protection
Education
Unemployment and job insecurity
Working life conditions
Food insecurity
Housing, basic amenities and the environment
Early childhood development
Social inclusion and non-discrimination
Structural conflict
Access to affordable health services of decent quality.
To conclude, there are many social determinants of health that have created health inequalities that specifically targeted minority groups during the Covid-19 pandemic. The lack of employment benefits leading individuals to go to work sick or risk losing their job is yet another factor contributing to the health of minority groups (Pecoraro, 2021). Access to and the quality of healthcare provided, the conditions people live and work in, the lack of basic necessities and resources such as clean water and food, and the absence of transportation to and from work all are social determinants of health and impact minority groups especially during the worldwide pandemic. It is especially important as a global unit to come together to address these issues to ensure healthcare is accessible and affordable to all, and that individuals are treated with respect and equally.
References:
Pecoraro, K. A. (2021). How social determinants of health affect covid-19-related morbidity and mortality. Nursing, 51(5), 24–32. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nurse.0000742408.10859.a7
World Health Organization. (2021). Covid-19 and the social determinants of Health and Health Equity: Evidence Brief. World Health Organization. Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240038387
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