A Pandemic on a Pandemic: Racism and COVID-19 in Blacks

Laurencin, Cato T.; Walker, Joanne M.

doi:10.1016/j.cels.2020.07.002

Cited by 109 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(29 reference statements)

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“…Given the emerging link between higher rates of mass incarceration and COVID-19, scholars have also drawn links between the disproportionate rates of incarceration among Black communities and risks of COVID-19 [44][45][46].…”

Section: Defining and Measuring Structural Racismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural Racism and COVID-19 in the USA: a County-Level Empirical Analysis

Tan

deSouza

Raifman

2021

J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

120

107

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Substantial health disparities exist across race/ethnicity in the USA, with Black Americans often most affected. The current COVID-19 pandemic is no different. While there have been ample studies describing racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, relatively few have established an empirical link between these disparities and structural racism. Such empirical analyses are critically important to help defuse "victim-blaming" narratives about why minority communities have been badly hit by COVID-19. In this paper, we explore the empirical link between structural racism and disparities in county-level COVID-19 outcomes by county racial composition. Using negative binomial regression models, we examine how five measures of county-level residential segregation and racial disparities in socioeconomic outcomes as well as incarceration rates are associated with county-level COVID-19 outcomes. We find significant associations between higher levels of measured structural racism and higher rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths, even after adjusting for county-level population sociodemographic characteristics, measures of population health, access to healthcare, population density, and duration of the COVID-19 outbreak. One percentage point more Black residents predicted a 1.1% increase in county case rate. This association decreased to 0.4% when structural racism indicators were included in our model. Similarly, one percentage point more Black residents predicted a 1.8% increase in county death rates, which became non-significant after adjustment for structural racism. Our findings lend empirical support to the hypothesis that structural racism is an important driver of racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, and reinforce existing calls for action to address structural racism as a fundamental cause of health disparities.

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Section: Defining and Measuring Structural Racismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural Racism and COVID-19 in the USA: a County-Level Empirical Analysis

Tan

deSouza

Raifman

2021

J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

120

107

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…For example, COVID-19 illuminates medical mistreatment and mistrust in the African American community. Members of racial and ethnic minority groups tend to receive lower quality of care than Whites, contributing to poorer COVID-19 outcomes among African Americans [ 66 ]. There have been high-profile cases of denied access to COVID-19 testing among African Americans.…”

Section: Racism and Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of the Weathering Framework: Intersection of Racism, Stigma, and COVID-19 as a Stressful Life Event among African Americans

Wakeel

Njoku

2021

Healthcare

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The disproportionate impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on African American communities necessitates an increased focus on the intersectional roles of racism, stigma, and other social determinants of health in influencing disease and mortality risk. The Weathering Framework is applied to demonstrate the dynamic interrelationships between these factors and to conceptualize COVID-19 as a stressful life event that will have profound health implications over the life course for African Americans. Recommendations for population health research, interventions and policies aimed at reducing COVID-19 incidence and mortality, and mitigation of the long-term impacts of the pandemic on communities of color are discussed.

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“…The overall impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) remains uncertain. The USA maintains the most documented cases globally [1], and the ramifications are largely felt in communities of racial/ethnic minorities [2,3]. Black communities are marred with health and economic challenges, and we were among the first to report that these communities are strained further in the time of crisis [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Excess Deaths Among Blacks and Latinx Compared to Whites During Covid-19

Laurencin

McClinton

et al. 2021

J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

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Importance Blacks and Latinx are disproportionately affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and experience higher mortality rates than Whites and Asians in the USA. Such racial disparities, in Covid-19 testing, cases, and mortality are visible in Connecticut too. Recently, excess deaths have become an important consideration in news reports and academic research. However, data on racial differences in excess death is limited. Objective This study examines racial/ethnic differences in excess deaths in the state of Connecticut during the Covid-19 pandemic. Design This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study to estimate excess deaths by racial/ethnic status utilizing mortality data during the peak months of Covid-19 infections from March 1 to June 30, 2020, in Connecticut. The following assumption is applied: expected non-Covid-19 deaths from March 1 to June 30, 2020, are equal to the number of deaths occurring during the period of March 1 to June 30, 2019. Race/ethnicity are defined as Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Black, and Latinx. Descriptive statistics and rates with 95% confidence intervals are presented. Chi-square analyses are performed where applicable. Setting Connecticut Participants All deaths in Connecticut from March 1 to June 30, 2020. Key points Question What are the racial/ethnic differences in excess deaths in Connecticut, CT, a microcosm of our country? Findings In this epidemiological study of 14,226 all-cause deaths from March 1 to June 30, 2020, in Connecticut, there is a 74% increase in mortality in Blacks, 63% increased mortality in Latinx, and 30% increase for Whites when compared to expected deaths. Undetermined deaths increased in 2020 and accounted for 13% of deaths in the Latinx population, 10.8% in the Black population, and 6.2% in the White population. Meaning Black and Latinx populations experienced an increase in mortality and undetermined deaths during the pandemic. These findings suggest that Covid-19 deaths may be underreported by at least 10% in these populations during the peak of the pandemic. We advocate for increasing testing capacity among these groups.

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A Pandemic on a Pandemic: Racism and COVID-19 in Blacks

Cited by 109 publications

References 10 publications

Structural Racism and COVID-19 in the USA: a County-Level Empirical Analysis

Structural Racism and COVID-19 in the USA: a County-Level Empirical Analysis

Application of the Weathering Framework: Intersection of Racism, Stigma, and COVID-19 as a Stressful Life Event among African Americans

Excess Deaths Among Blacks and Latinx Compared to Whites During Covid-19

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