COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND COVID
Prior to the pandemic, people of color already faced issues in regards to their health at a disproportional rate due to historical and modern inequities. These inequities included areas such as access to care, economic stability, emotional stress, and others. When the pandemic hit, these disparities did not disappear, and data show that minorities are affected disproportionately by COVID-19 (Stokes et al.) (Killerby et al.). We will examine some areas in which inequities can contribute to this disproportionality in COVID-19 cases.
DIRECT DISCRIMINATION
Along with systemic inequalities, people of color are subject to direct discrimination on a person-to-person level. This can create continuous stress, which is associated with heart disease and early mortality (Cooper et al.). We also know that for those with underlying conditions, hospitalizations were six times higher and deaths 12 times higher (Stokes et al.). This stress leading to an underlying condition has the potential to create an increased mortality among minorities.
“Patient In Pain.” Wix.
While healthcare workers are key to helping guide us out of the pandemic, they are not perfect and can also discriminate against individuals. Medical students have been shown to endorse false beliefs and rate Black individuals as experiencing less pain than white individuals in the same pain scenario. They were also less likely to recommend accurate treatment for the Black individuals. (Hoffman et al.)
COMMUNICATION AND TRUST
Even when patients are able to see a doctor, the communication between patient and physician is not always clear. One out of four Asian Americans (27%) reported communication problems with their doctor. These problems include not understanding the doctor, not feeling the doctor listened to them, or that they had questions for the doctor but did not ask. This compares to 16% of whites, 23% of African Americans, and 33% of Hispanics. (“Minority Americans Lag behind whites on Nearly Every Measure of Health Care Quality | Commonwealth Fund”)
“Couple Holding Hands.” Wix.
Along with difficulties in communication, there is not always a sense of trust between a doctor and their patient. 6 out of 10 Black adults say they trust their doctor to do what's right most of the time, compared to 8 out of 10 white adults (Washington). This distrust is rooted in historical unethical treatment of Black Americans, one common example being the Tuskegee Study. This experiment occurred from 1932-1972 and was an observational study of Black men with syphilis. The program was deemed unethical due to the fact that the participants only given placebo treatment of the disease, despite penicillin becoming standard treatment in 1947. This led to the participants dying, going blind, or experiencing other severe health consequences, as scientists watched. (Nix) This example of historical mistreatment of Black Americans by the medical field understandably has created a disconnect between the communities. This mistrust also has the potential to lessen the number of Black Americans who decide to get the vaccine, further worsening case disparities.
EMPLOYMENT
In many of the newly labeled 'essential worker' jobs, minorities are overrepresented (“Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity, 2018 : BLS Reports: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics”). Some jobs within this category may lead to an increased likelihood of exposure to Coronavirus, due to frequent interactions with other coworkers or the general public.
“Loading Groceries.” Wix.
Additionally, job losses and pay cuts have been more significant among minorities. While 29% of white Americans report that they or someone in their household took a pay cut due to the pandemic, that number is up to 44% with Hispanics , an increase of 15%. These paycuts further the economic disparities between whites and minorities, and push more minimum wage workers towards poverty.
Location plays a large role in an individual developing an underlying condition, which greatly increases the likelihood of hospitalization (6x) and death (12x) (Stokes et al.). Minorities are more likely to live in areas with worse air pollution (Lambert), which can lead to the development of conditions such as asthma. Location can also determine health through local access to things such as green spaces, or healthy affordable food. Minorities
LOCATION/HOUSING
“Neighborhood Homes.” Wix.
are more likely to live in 'food deserts', or areas in which there is a lack of diverse food options, instead mainly consisting of smaller stores selling junk food. (Johns Hopkins University) Without access to affordable healthy options, people are more likely to develop obesity, another underlying condition.