Pandemic Healthcare Inequalities

Introduction:

This zine aims to support blacks and low income neighborhoods. As an urban planner familiar with advocacy planning theory, I focused on health disparities among blacks during the pandemic. Based on studies, the death rate from COVID is 6 folds higher among blacks than it is among whites. Two of the main reasons are the inaccessibility of blacks to medical centers and the quality of their living conditions. African Americans live in low income neighborhoods, based on the evidence and some GIS research. In comparison to white neighborhoods, they do not have access to enough medical centers. Additionally, their homes are in poor condition, which has led to them suffering diseases that cause them to die more than whites during pandemics.

While blacks make up only 30% of the Chicago population, more than 50% of COVID cases and nearly 70% of COVID deaths involve black individuals. Most of these deaths occur in five neighborhoods on the city's South Side. In Michigan, black individuals represent 14% of the population, but 33% of COVID 19 cases and 40% of the deaths have been caused by the virus.

Living conditions of African Americans and their health

There is an association between the contextual characteristics of neighborhoods and the health status of residents, according to recent studies. There has been a lack of studies that directly measure the material characteristics of neighborhoods that may influence health. According to the World Health Organization's report to close the gap in one generation, health equity is achieved through addressing social determinants of health. Poor and unequal living conditions result from structural problems that collectively shape the way societies function weak social policies and programs, unfair economic arrangements, and ineffective policies. Living conditions, access to healthcare, and quality of care are all interconnected factors of health inequality, as are systemic racism, and other forms of discrimination. The extent of pharmacy access in the black neighborhood has also been studied in Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Dallas, Boston, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to the racial/ethnic composition of neighborhoods, they examined availability of pharmacies and their geographic accessibility. Over the period of 2007–15, they found fewer pharmacies in Black and Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods than in White or diverse neighborhoods. Additionally, Black and Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods experienced more pharmacy closures than other neighborhoods. As a result of their findings, policies that ensure equitable pharmacy accessibility across neighborhoods in US cities should be considered when trying to increase access to medications and essential health care services, including in response to COVID 19.

New York, New Square

Front Scott, Kansas Oregon, Coquille Baltimore, Maryland

References:

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