Rethinking vulnerability through Covid‐19

Napier, A. David

doi:10.1111/1467-8322.12571

Cited by 39 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…In other usages, vulnerability refers to socio-economic factors that affect people’s risk of exposure to the virus or of adverse outcomes—a kind of vulnerability often understood to unfold along ethnic and racial lines, or in line with particular occupations, experiences of inequalities, deprivation, everyday living conditions, and access to transport [ 69 ]. However, social scientists have argued that this distinction between biological and social causes of vulnerability is irrelevant, with biological vulnerabilities also often a consequence of the inequitable distribution of resources and privileges within (and between) societies across time [ 70 ]. In particular, some researchers insist on the importance of resisting notions of ‘intrinsic Black vulnerability’ [ 71 ] (p. 1), and instead argue that ‘The conditions of labor and daily life produce ill-health, and social exclusion and discriminatory attitudes discourage access and undermine health care’ [ 72 ] (p. 673) beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, some researchers insist on the importance of resisting notions of ‘intrinsic Black vulnerability’ [ 71 ] (p. 1), and instead argue that ‘The conditions of labor and daily life produce ill-health, and social exclusion and discriminatory attitudes discourage access and undermine health care’ [ 72 ] (p. 673) beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. There is an urgent need for social science research that engages vulnerable communities at the same time as critically evaluating the changing meanings and implications of vulnerability in infectious diseases responses [ 70 , 73 ]. Rather than viewing vulnerable groups as compliant or non-compliant in terms of testing behaviors, further research is needed to understand the specific barriers people in these situations may face—taking their concerns seriously rather than merely seeking to establish behavior change.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Related to COVID-19 Testing: A Rapid Scoping Review

2021

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Testing programs for COVID-19 depend on the voluntary actions of members of the public for their success. Understanding people’s knowledge, attitudes, and behavior related to COVID-19 testing is, therefore, key to the design of effective testing programs worldwide. This paper reports on the findings of a rapid scoping review to map the extent, characteristics, and scope of social science research on COVID-19 testing and identifies key themes from the literature. Main findings include the discoveries that people are largely accepting of testing technologies and guidelines and that a sense of social solidarity is a key motivator of testing uptake. The main barriers to accessing and undertaking testing include uncertainty about eligibility and how to access tests, difficulty interpreting symptoms, logistical issues including transport to and from test sites and the discomfort of sample extraction, and concerns about the consequences of a positive result. The review found that existing research was limited in depth and scope. More research employing longitudinal and qualitative methods based in under-resourced settings and examining intersections between testing and experiences of social, political, and economic vulnerability is needed. Last, the findings of this review suggest that testing should be understood as a social process that is inseparable from processes of contact tracing and isolation and is embedded in people’s everyday routines, livelihoods and relationships.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Related to COVID-19 Testing: A Rapid Scoping Review

2021

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“…In any case, from a prevention perspective, it is important to characterise the most exposed social groups and to try to uncover the social logics that favour this exposure, particularly those referring to living conditions [ 28 , 29 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When lockdown policies amplify social inequalities in COVID-19 infections: evidence from a cross-sectional population-based survey in France

et al. 2021

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Background Significant differences in COVID-19 incidence by gender, class and race/ethnicity are recorded in many countries in the world. Lockdown measures, shown to be effective in reducing the number of new cases, may not have been effective in the same way for all, failing to protect the most vulnerable populations. This survey aims to assess social inequalities in the trends in COVID-19 infections following lockdown. Methods A cross-sectional survey conducted among the general population in France in April 2020, during COVID-19 lockdown. Ten thousand one hundred one participants aged 18–64, from a national cohort who lived in the three metropolitan French regions most affected by the first wave of COVID-19. The main outcome was occurrence of possible COVID-19 symptoms, defined as the occurrence of sudden onset of cough, fever, dyspnea, ageusia and/or anosmia, that lasted more than 3 days in the 15 days before the survey. We used multinomial regression models to identify social and health factors related to possible COVID-19 before and during the lockdown. Results In all, 1304 (13.0%; 95% CI: 12.0–14.0%) reported cases of possible COVID-19. The effect of lockdown on the occurrence of possible COVID-19 was different across social hierarchies. The most privileged class individuals saw a significant decline in possible COVID-19 infections between the period prior to lockdown and during the lockdown (from 8.8 to 4.3%, P = 0.0001) while the decline was less pronounced among working class individuals (6.9% before lockdown and 5.5% during lockdown, P = 0.03). This differential effect of lockdown remained significant after adjusting for other factors including history of chronic disease. The odds of being infected during lockdown as opposed to the prior period increased by 57% among working class individuals (OR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.00–2.48). The same was true for those engaged in in-person professional activities during lockdown (OR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.03–2.29). Conclusions Lockdown was associated with social inequalities in the decline in COVID-19 infections, calling for the adoption of preventive policies to account for living and working conditions. Such adoptions are critical to reduce social inequalities related to COVID-19, as working-class individuals also have the highest COVID-19 related mortality, due to higher prevalence of comorbidities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When lockdown policies amplify social inequalities in COVID-19 infections. Evidence from a cross-sectional population-based survey in France

Bajos

Jusot

Pailhé

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Objectives To assess social inequalities in the trends in COVID-19 infections following lockdown Design A cross-sectional survey conducted among the general population in France in April 2020, during COVID-19 lockdown. Participants 10 401 participants aged 18-64, from a national cohort who lived in the three metropolitan French regions most affected by the first wave of COVID-19. Main outcome The main outcome was occurrence of possible COVID-19 symptoms, defined as the occurrence of sudden onset of cough, fever, dyspnea, ageusia and/or anosmia, that lasted more than three days in the 15 days before the survey. We used multinomial regression models to identify social and health factors related to possible COVID-19 before and during the lockdown. Results In all, 1,304 (13.0%; 95% CI: 12.0%-14.0%) reported cases of possible COVID-19. The effect of lockdown on the occurrence of possible COVID-19 was different across social hierarchies. The most privileged class individuals saw a significant decline in possible COVID-19 infections between the period prior to lockdown and during the lockdown (from 8.8% to 4.3%, P=0.0001) while the decline was less pronounced among working class individuals (6.9% before lockdown and 5.5% during lockdown, P=0.03). This differential effect of lockdown remained significant after adjusting for other factors including history of chronic disease. The odds of being contaminated during lockdown as opposed to the prior period increased by 57% among working class individuals (OR=1.57; 95% CI: 1.0-2.48). The same was true for those engaged in in-person professional activities during lockdown (OR=1.53; 95% CI: 1.03-2.29). Interpretation Lockdown was associated with social inequalities in the decline in COVID-19 infections, calling for the adoption of preventive policies to account for living and working conditions. Such adoptions are critical to reduce social inequalities related to COVID-19, as working-class individuals also have the highest COVID-19 related mortality, due to higher prevalence of comorbidities.

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Rethinking vulnerability through Covid‐19

Abstract: Information for subscribers: Six issues of ANTHROPOLOGY TODAY are mailed free of charge per annum to Fellows and Members of the Royal Anthropological Institute (registered charity no. 246269).

Cited by 39 publications

References 3 publications

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Related to COVID-19 Testing: A Rapid Scoping Review

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Related to COVID-19 Testing: A Rapid Scoping Review

When lockdown policies amplify social inequalities in COVID-19 infections: evidence from a cross-sectional population-based survey in France

When lockdown policies amplify social inequalities in COVID-19 infections. Evidence from a cross-sectional population-based survey in France

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