With the diverse amount of ethnicities in America, many issues still affect certain groups. One major conflict is health disparities for Black and Latino communities throughout the U.S. With the outbreak of COVID, the two groups faced increasing struggles.
Although both groups make up a relatively small part of the U.S. population, about 30 percent of the COVID-19 cases were made up of black people and 17 percent of Latinos. Despite ongoing efforts to “equalize” the treatment among everyone, it is evident that the two groups still face more hardships when it comes to getting access to healthcare and maintaining their well-being.
Because of the higher chance of having underlying health conditions, people of color often face more serious illnesses when they contract COVID-19. Furthermore, as they are also more prone to being uninsured, they lack access to healthcare and often suffer more deaths due to it. In addition to those obstacles, the groups are more likely to work in service industries, increasing their chances of exposure to COVID-19. They are more likely to live in less spacious housing arrangements leading to higher chances of transmitting the virus. Adding on, data shows that the two groups are also more likely to be homeless, making it hard for them to follow safety procedures and acquire adequate supplies to protect themselves from the virus.
Consequently, many efforts are being made to “squeeze” the gap and provide aid for the prosperity of certain groups. One efficient way of supporting black and Latino communities is through establishing communication channels. Utilizing trustworthy media figures and leaders proves to be a solid way for communities to understand and act on the latest news. Furthermore, the language barrier issue is not present and people will easily understand what is expected and what will benefit them. Another method is by informing and training health workforces to adjust based on the patient. Expanding the health workforce to be more diverse and experienced will allow faster services and higher comfortability for these specific communities.
Work Cited
“Double Jeopardy: COVID-19 and Behavioral Health Disparities for Black and Latino Communities in the U.S. (Submitted by OBHE).” SAMHSA, 12 May 2020, https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/covid19-behavioral-health-disparities-black-latino-communities.pdf. Accessed 25 June 2024.
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