The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the United States

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority groups, with high rates of death in African American, Native American, and LatinX communities. While the mechanisms of these disparities are being investigated, they can be conceived as arising from biomedical factors as well as social determinants of health. Minority groups are disproportionately affected by chronic medical conditions and lower access to healthcare that may portend worse COVID-19 outcomes. Furthermore, minority communities are more likely to experience living and working conditions that predispose them to worse outcomes. Underpinning these disparities are long-standing structural and societal factors that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed. Clinicians can partner with patients and communities to reduce the short-term impact of COVID-19 disparities while advocating for structural change.

Dermatologic manifestations of COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children

“…31 An apparent predilection for Hispanic and Black populations exists in MIS-C, 6 , 7 , 31 whereas Asians typically have the highest rates of KD. 54 This may be a reflection of the generally higher COVID-19 infection rates in these populations in the United States 55 ; however, reports of MIS-C are nearly absent in Asia. 12 , 14 …”

The Asia Pacific Disaster Mental Health Network: Setting a Mental Health Agenda for the Region

“…Large-scale climate disasters, severe wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic have drawn renewed global attention to disaster response this year. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the structural injustices of race, faith, gender, age, migration and economic inequality within and across societies, with significant implications for mental health (e.g., [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]). Addressing structural disadvantage and inequality is vital, and without attention to these issues, many mental health difficulties during and after disasters may not be amenable to psychological treatment.…”

Behavioral strategies for reducing disease transmission in the workplace

“…A recent report observed that low wage and parttime workers, who are disproportionately women and people of color, are less likely to have access to paid sick leave (Gould & Schieder, 2017). Furthermore, people of color are more likely to work in jobs with higher exposure risks (Bambino et al, 2020;Hawkins, 2020). A few days of lost wages can total the amount of money needed to purchase gas to commute to work or buy groceries, creating a negative reinforcement contingency that encourages attending work while sick.…”