In this special feature, we investigate the racial impact of COVID-19 on black communities in the United States, using expert opinion and surrounding the available evidence.
Especially for us, racial health disparities are affecting many disadvantaged groups and black communities. COVID-19 has only been useful for inequalities for hundreds of years.
For us, the current climate of social unrest and the support of the Black Lives Matter movement against systemic racism and the thousands of people taking these inequalities more seriously, adds even more political and emotional weight to the chronic problem.
Some articles on the case can start to scratch the surface - but we shouldn’t deal with the complexity of the issue.
A few weeks ago, Medical News Today reported that pigeon-19 affected people of color and minority groups in some way. Given how racial disparities drive the inequalities seen during the epidemic, we are positive. Interviewed by Tiffany Green.
In this special feature, we follow the available scientific evidence of the asymmetric and racial effects of the epidemic, as well as what racial disparities and health-related racial disparities are during COVID-19.
As the epidemic continues and more data becomes available, MNT will continue to address the wider issue and focus on the impact that COVID-19 can have on specific ethnic and ethnic groups.
At the moment, most evidence suggests inconsistent effects on black Americans, so the rest of this article will focus on this group.
Understanding incomplete data
As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, more data on infection rates, mortality, and testing are becoming available, which can impact various socio-social groups.
However, in some countries - and especially in the United States, when a large number of cases and deaths are given - this information becomes available in dribs and dribbles, as relevant government agencies collect and dislike data collected by specific sociologists. Factors.
For example, in mid-April 2020, the country with the largest number of COVID-19 cases in the world, sexually transmitted data was not publicly available in the US.
Similarly, it took the federal government 3 months to detect COVID-19 deaths and infections in nursing homes, and despite the outrage of researchers and public health professionals, efforts have been incomplete.
Race- and ethnicity data are no exception. In mid-April, 3 months after the onset of the epidemic in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found only 35% of their data were broken down by race and ethnicity.
At that time, according to some studies, nationally, 78% of people receiving diagnoses were "unaware" of race or ethnicity, and only half the states reported COVID-19 deaths by race and ethnicity.
According to researchers, "1 in 5 counties nationally is completely black and represents only 35% of the US population [...] approximately half of COVID-19 cases in these counties and 58% of COID-19 deaths."
Inaccurate or incomplete reports of data can paint a misleading picture - it misrepresents public health policies.
A study led by researchers at Yale University in New Haven, CT, has not yet been reviewed - in mid-May "CDC data showed that white patients had a higher number of diagnoses compared to COVID-19 in the general population."
"Data from more specific areas and shows that racial and ethnic black patients of COVID-19 decline die at a much higher rate than their population."
When there is no clear picture at the federal level, scientists, non-traditional research groups and advocacy groups are stepping up to collect more data in a systematic way.
Reports of disparate US states, along with emerging studies, show a disturbing picture: In addition to Latinx communities, blacks are most vulnerable to the epidemic, while local populations and other minority groups are also taking the risk of -19. In some states.
Black Americans are 3 times more likely to die than COVID-19
The study, led by Yale researchers, which appeared to be a seal in mid-May, used recent data to assess its quality and adjust for age in their analyzes.
The main study author, Dr. Carrie Gross and her colleagues found that Black Americans were 3.5 times more likely to die with COVID-19 than white Americans. Additionally, the group found that Latinos were nearly twice as likely to die of the disease than whites.
"We found that the magnitude of these COVID-19 differences varies across states. Although some states do not have antisocial inequalities, [black and Latinx populations in other states] are 5- or 10 times more at risk of death than their white counterparts," the authors say.
Dr. Marcella Nunz-Smith, professor of internal medicine at Yale and senior author of the study, commented, "We need consensus on the high-quality data and metrics we use to resource and treat health disparities." "
Data unseen on its website a few weeks ago show that the CDC is now showing national averages by race. However, it is unclear whether they are in all 50 states or not, and whether Washington, DC. Uses data to reach these averages.
A report released by the Nonpartisan American Public Media (AMP) Research Lab at the end of May found similar results.
"The latest total COVID-19 mortality rate for blacks is 2.4 times higher for whites and 2.2 times higher for Asians and Latinos."
The AMP report calculated these rates based on total mortality as of May 19, during which 89% of those who died with COVID-19 knew about race and ethnicity. The data comes from 40 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
“Although we have an incomplete picture of the toll of COVID-19,” the authors write, “the current data reveals a deep disparity in race-wise, most dramatically for black Americans. "
The death rate of black Americans is more than double their population
For blacks in the US, the COVID-19 mortality rate is much higher than the population share.
Collectively, Black Americans make up 13% of the population, but they account for 25% of all deaths in all US territories that have released COVID-19 death data, as stated in the AMP report.
"In other words, they are dying of viruses, doubling their population's share of all known American deaths by race and ethnicity."
By comparison, "In all 41 reporting jurisdictions, white people are less likely to die from COVID-19, which is part of the population. They represent 61.7% of the total population, but account for 49.7% of deaths in the US."
The EMP report, echoing the Yale study, found huge inequalities in individual states. These disparities are 2.4 times higher in black Americans than in white Americans.
For example, "In Kansas, blacks die 7 times more often than white residents, and in Washington, DC, the rate of blacks is 6 times higher than whites. In Missouri and Wisconsin, it is 5 times higher."
The authors of the AMP report deny the courage of the crisis by the US government, integrating and disseminating data on race.
Andy Egbert, a senior researcher at the APM Research Lab, said, "I don't think I can relate the purpose, but I can't believe the modern economy. We don't have a uniform way to report data."
"We are in the midst of this huge crisis and data is the best way to know who is suffering and how."
- Andy Egbert
Dr. Uche Blackstock, CEO of Advancing Health Equity, criticized the US federal response to racial inequality.
"The disparities are reflected in the data, although we do not have full guidance from the federal government on how to reduce these sectors.
Explains the odds? And how does racism play into it?
Evidence reveals huge inequalities and bitter realities: COVID-19 is negatively affecting black people in America, and COVID-19 is killing blacks at an alarming rate. But what are the reasons behind the number? What explains these huge disparities?
Experts have been saying for years that we need to deal with systemic racism and toll that rely on the health of color communities.
David R. Williams, president of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard, T.H. Chan is Professor of African and African American Studies and Sociology at the School of Public Health and Harvard University.
In Teleconference hosted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, NJ, Proc. A public health charity based in Williams explains: "There are racial disparities not only for COVID-19 but for almost every disease."
The new coronavirus only serves as a "magnifying glass to help us see a decrease in health over the centuries".
"For over 100 years, research has shown that blacks and Native Americans in America are sick and younger than the average American."
- Pro. David R. Williams
The Impact of Wealth and Income Inequalities
"What are the reasons for this?" The researcher keeps asking. "There is a low socioeconomic status." Gaps in income and wealth distribution are major causes.
"For example, according to U.S. national data in 2015, whites receive every dollar of household income, 59 cents in black families, 79 cents in Latin households, and 60 cents in Native American households." Professor Williams said it was received.
"The surprising thing for African Americans at 59 cents is that it's equal to the racial [black-and-white] income difference in 1978. Don't get me wrong, you heard me right - 1978, the economic peak of the 1960s and 1970s was a year for black families as a result of the poverty war and civil rights policies Will gain. "
- Pro. David R. Williams
In addition, the professor said, "According to the 2016 Federal Reserve Board data, the dollar for every dollar in U.S. dollars is in white houses, which is 10 paise in black houses and 12 paise in Latin houses."
According to Professor Williams, the financial position is “deeper” to reduce the risk of new coronaviruses because a lower socioeconomic status means that a person is more likely to leave home for work.
Pro. Tiffany Green echoed in the interview that she gave it to MNT.
"For example, non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanic Americans end up in businesses that have new" essentials "including, but not limited to, retail work (eg, grocery stores), sanitation, agriculture, meatpacking plants. These occupations are important in allowing each to remain at home and to 'balance the curve.'
- Tiffany Green Pro
Similar sentiment doctor. The camera was echoed by Felice Jones, an epidemiologist and fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. “We are more vulnerable because we are more vulnerable,” she said.
In addition, poverty and housing problems increase the risk of spreading the virus. “[Physical] distances are not a viable option when living in poor neighborhoods, high density, often multi-generational housing units,” says Pro Williams.
Effect of Comradeships
To explain why COVID-19 cases and deaths are so high in the US, despite only 5% of the world's population, Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services, said, "Unfortunately, the US population is very diverse [population]."
He cites “more risky profiles” of black communities and minority groups, suggesting that African Americans have underlying illnesses that contribute significantly to higher mortality.
His comments attracted considerable criticism and blamed the victim.
If capabilities are an undeniable risk factor for the severity of COVID-19, then it is important to ask why those associates were in the first place.
Pro. Williams stated in his speech that black people are at increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes - conditions that increase the severity of COVID-19.
In fact, research shows that black Americans and minority populations develop these diseases at a higher rate than white Americans, and they develop at a younger age.
Why this is happening, stress and racism are a big part of the answer. "Minorities experience higher levels of stress [...] and greater clustering of stress," Proc. Williams said in his webinar.
The impact of systematic racism in health care
Most importantly, these negative health effects stem from racial discrimination among individuals - even when health Americans join the health care system.
Pro. Williams and da. Lisa A. Cooper, an epidemiologist and professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Md., Reports on a report from the National Academy of Medicine in the 2019 study.
"Along with almost every type of medical intervention in the U.S., from high-technology approaches to basic forms of diagnosis and treatment interventions, there are fewer policies and lower quality treatment for whites and other minorities than for whites."
“Access to care is an issue [and] access to testing is an issue,” says Pro Williams.
Dr. Jones, who is also a former president of the American Public Health Association, expressed similar sentiment.
Speaking about racism and its effects on the COVID-19 response in health care, she said that "our country has a responsibility to do such and such questions."
"Racism is a root cause of racial disparities in health by creating unequal access to resources and opportunities."
- Pro. David R. Williams and Dr. Lisa A. Cooper
In an interview with MNT, Professor Green highlighted the serious risks of racism in health care.
She highlighted some of the ways in which this bias can be seen, including the use of face masks to criminalize blacks, disparities in Medicaid policies, and gaps in the Affordable Care Act.
Pro. Green spoke on the importance of enforcing civil rights laws. Her interview can be read here.
Pro. Williams noted that COVID-19 serves as a magnifying glass to help us see racial disparities in health. Some people who are not targeted by racism on a regular basis may seem to see these inequalities for the first time, though there have been centuries of inequality.
It can be argued that the current protests and the Black Lives Matter movement play a similar role - awakening many who have had the right to ignore the injustice that has existed for hundreds of years.
It is important and imperative to use this big scene as an opportunity to correct injustice - in health care and in other areas of our lives. Therefore it is accepted that many of us are blind when it comes to these issues.
0 Comments