Date of Presentation
5-4-2023 12:00 AM
College
School of Osteopathic Medicine
Poster Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of millions of Americans; however, minority communities have been hit the hardest as infection rates continue to sky rocket and new variants arise. As of October 5, 2021, the CDC reports that African Americans make up a similar share of cases relative to the overall population, at about 12%, but have a significantly higher rate of deaths compared to the population, at approximately14%. African American communities are being disproportionately affected because of higher incidence of chronic diseases, inadequate access to health care, and poorer living and working conditions, which increases their vulnerability to infection.
Purpose: This aim of this research project is to understand the factors that play a role in increased COVID-19 related hospitalizations, positive tests, admission to ICUs, and death from COVID-19 in African American communities in NJ. The goal is to promote urgency on issues that influence health and move conversations towards the plight of African American communities.
Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, JAMA, SCOPUS, NJ COVID-19 Data Dashboard, KFF, and Web of Science. Keywords used in searches included COVID-19, New Jersey, minority communities, health disparities, African American, chronic disease, poverty, malnutrition, housing insecurity, and obesity. Exclusion criteria included any studies where the population of focus was not African American or studies that did not show the race variable as a social determinant.
Results: While work is ongoing, preliminary results suggest that there is significantly higher risk of mortality due to COVID-19 amongst African American communities. Established factors based on review of literature include chronic medical conditions posing as comorbidities, obesity, housing density, and uninsured rates. Circumstantial risk factors included detrimental behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and lack of physical activity. Nationwide COVID-19 data can be used to complement local or state data and allow those in positions of power to think about populations that are most at risk. This, in turn, can inform public health departments and their partners on how they should proceed in the future, by equitably distributing resources to all people, and improving health conditions for all, especially minority communities.
Conclusions: The goal of this literature review was to identify the risk factors specific to minority communities, specifically African Americans in NJ. The historical context within which African American communities are disproportionately affected as well as the social and economic dimensions of the current pandemic were examined. Research is needed to find evidence of possible strategies that may be utilized to inform policies and practices in order to build a strong culture of health in minority communities, provide guidance, and share stories to uplift these communities that are affected so deeply. With this information, health care providers, community organizers, and elected officials can work collaboratively to mitigate health care inequities and improve health outcomes for underserved communities.
Keywords
Ethnic and Racial Minorities, Black or African American, New Jersey, COVID-19, Healthcare Disparities, Health Services Administration, Social Determinants of Health
Disciplines
Health and Medical Administration | Health Policy | Health Services Research | Medicine and Health | Medicine and Health Sciences | Public Health | Race and Ethnicity | Virus Diseases
Document Type
Poster
Included in
Health and Medical Administration Commons, Health Policy Commons, Health Services Research Commons, Medicine and Health Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Virus Diseases Commons
Breaking Down Barriers: Investigating Structural and Systemic Factors that Contribute to COVID-19 Disparities in African American Communities in New Jersey
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of millions of Americans; however, minority communities have been hit the hardest as infection rates continue to sky rocket and new variants arise. As of October 5, 2021, the CDC reports that African Americans make up a similar share of cases relative to the overall population, at about 12%, but have a significantly higher rate of deaths compared to the population, at approximately14%. African American communities are being disproportionately affected because of higher incidence of chronic diseases, inadequate access to health care, and poorer living and working conditions, which increases their vulnerability to infection.
Purpose: This aim of this research project is to understand the factors that play a role in increased COVID-19 related hospitalizations, positive tests, admission to ICUs, and death from COVID-19 in African American communities in NJ. The goal is to promote urgency on issues that influence health and move conversations towards the plight of African American communities.
Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, JAMA, SCOPUS, NJ COVID-19 Data Dashboard, KFF, and Web of Science. Keywords used in searches included COVID-19, New Jersey, minority communities, health disparities, African American, chronic disease, poverty, malnutrition, housing insecurity, and obesity. Exclusion criteria included any studies where the population of focus was not African American or studies that did not show the race variable as a social determinant.
Results: While work is ongoing, preliminary results suggest that there is significantly higher risk of mortality due to COVID-19 amongst African American communities. Established factors based on review of literature include chronic medical conditions posing as comorbidities, obesity, housing density, and uninsured rates. Circumstantial risk factors included detrimental behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and lack of physical activity. Nationwide COVID-19 data can be used to complement local or state data and allow those in positions of power to think about populations that are most at risk. This, in turn, can inform public health departments and their partners on how they should proceed in the future, by equitably distributing resources to all people, and improving health conditions for all, especially minority communities.
Conclusions: The goal of this literature review was to identify the risk factors specific to minority communities, specifically African Americans in NJ. The historical context within which African American communities are disproportionately affected as well as the social and economic dimensions of the current pandemic were examined. Research is needed to find evidence of possible strategies that may be utilized to inform policies and practices in order to build a strong culture of health in minority communities, provide guidance, and share stories to uplift these communities that are affected so deeply. With this information, health care providers, community organizers, and elected officials can work collaboratively to mitigate health care inequities and improve health outcomes for underserved communities.