Background
In the event of an epidemic, different individuals suffer differently. The prevalence and mortality rates between races have proved that some factors other than access to healthcare are involved. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the huge disparity in the African American community. While everyone is prone to the disease, medical journals have recorded that African Americans, particularly those in poor economic states, suffer more than other groups. This paper analyzes health care disparity focusing on recently published medical journals with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the African American community.
Health Disparity Evidenced by the COVID-19 Pandemic Data
While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected every facet of life from social to economic well-being, many African Americans seem to be paying a higher price than other races. Although access to healthcare, pre-existing conditions, and age have been cited as some contributing factors, it turns out that social determinants of health play a significant role. According to an article published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), healthcare disparity has more to do with disproportionate differences in health care variables than the variation in health care outcomes (Yancy, 2020).
This implies that racism has affected African Americans’ social and economic well-being placing them at a higher risk of COVID-19 related complications. Yancy (2020) further reveals that in Chicago, African Americans have recorded more cases of infection and mortality, averaging 50% infection and almost 70% of all recorded deaths. These figures are disturbing noting that African Americans constitute at most 30% of Chicago’s population.
The high mortality rates in minorities, and this case, African Americans reveal that race is one of the crucial factors impacting health care. In other states within the U.S., the data reveals an even worse situation. According to Yancy (2020), Michigan consists of only 14% African Americans but has recorded 40% deaths of blacks and 33% cases of infections. Similarly, Louisiana has recorded 70.5% deaths involving Blacks who are a mere 32% of the population (Yancy, 2020). These medical results are crucial as they inform relevant medical measures to curb the health disparity.
Commentary
Medical data has, for many years, been the basis of reforms. The study on health disparity among African Americans with a focus on COVID-19 contributes to the debate on the relationship between racism, governance, and healthcare. As indicated by Rubin (2021), the National Institute of Health (NIH) has embarked on a mission to curb the health disparity by allocating $29 million for this course. The article by Yancy (2020) is therefore relevant to the subject of health disparity as it provides the data needed for health reforms. It also indicates the importance of research in addressing health care issues among minorities. This is also reflected in Rubin’s (2021) article which shows that $14 million of the amount allocated by NIH will facilitate research in various academic centers dealing with medical issues.
Another issue highlighted in the article by Rubin (2021) is the importance of involving local medical practitioners to deal with the African American’s mistrust of the medical officers. This aligns with Yancy’s (2020) comment on the social determinants of health affecting African Americans. Essentially, the medical data and information provided by Yancy (2020) are crucial for health care reforms and social interventions.
For instance, the fact that many African Americans have no trust in the healthcare institution, most prefer self-medicating. The best intervention in this case would be using local leaders to reach the African Americans and educate them on the need for medical care. Discriminatory activities should also be minimized at all levels. While the world may be associating COVID-19 prevalence to access to medical care, the articles described herein have shown that much effort is needed to deal with social, economic, and legal factors involved.
References
Rubin, R. (2021). NIH Addresses COVID-19 Disparities. JAMA, 325(24), 2426. Web.
Yancy, C. (2020). COVID-19 and African Americans. JAMA, 323(19), 1891. Web.