Social Determinants Of Health Cause COVID-19 Health Disparities

According to a study by Rutgers University researchers, social determinants of health play a significant role in who is impacted by COVID-19, creating health disparities.

The study published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities examines whether health disparities in populations most impacted by COVID-19 resulted from higher exposure rates to the virus or social determinants of health that are known to impact wellbeing and quality of life.

Previous morbidity and mortality data has suggested that Black and Latinx populations have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the cause of the health disparities remains largely understudied.  

“Identifying when and why individuals are most at risk for contracting COVID-19 enables public health officials and health care workers to properly educate the public and take necessary actions to decrease the mortality rates through education, policy, and intervention efforts,” study author and associate professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health, Henry F. Raymond, said in a press release.

The research team collected data and tested 924 individuals from Essex County, New Jersey, for COVID-19 antibodies at local grocery stores. The team discovered that the antibody prevalence was higher than rates reported from hospitals and schools, suggesting significant cases of asymptomatic spread.

According to the New York Times, there are have been over 779,000 deaths due to COVID-19 in the United States. In New Jersey alone, the rated deaths are greater than 28,000.

“Higher antibody prevalence, with no notable difference in presence by race/ethnicity or frequency of leaving the home, indicates an individual’s health outcome may be dependent upon underlying conditions rather than increased exposure,” Raymond said.

According to researchers, those with chronic conditions or lack access to health care face significant challenges regarding health disparities and COVID-19.

“Our findings also support the idea that other factors, including hesitancy to get tested or hesitancy to seek care due to concerns about health care costs and mistrust in medical professionals, significantly contribute to the disparities in health outcomes for these populations,” study co-author and dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health, Perry N. Halkitis, said

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made health care access and care issues visible and calls for health care professionals to prioritize health equity initiatives.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the best ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 are getting vaccinated, wearing masks in indoor and crowded places, and staying home if you’re experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath.