HOSA EMagazine WINTER 2021

The Impact of Social Determinants of Health on the COVID-19 Pandemic

In just outlining these five determinants of health, we can begin to see how disparities within each of these categories are linked together and manifest as health inequalities especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic. This includes poor environmental conditions in urban cities and homeless shelters increasing levels of transmission as well as income instability increasing the financial burden of families exacerbating mental health. We continue to see how co-morbidities have a large impact in the COVID-19 outcome from chronic issues such as obesity and asthma. However, what becomes more important is looking at the interplay of these determinants and the role it plays on health. One specific case that The Lancet dissects further is the disproportionately high number of hospitalizations among non-hispanic black individuals with asthma. In this case study they were able to show how this population experiences high rates of asthma morbidity, smoke exposure, and poorer asthma control. These preexisting conditions are compounded when issues like disruption from stable school lunches and financial income. These issues only further perpetuate health inequalities that are already present. Though data and statistics paint a bleak picture, when we begin to analyze the health disparities we are able to create better measure to process us towards greater health equity. We already see policies like this emerging from the push for data disaggregation to allow for us to better analyze why communities of color are being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, expanding coverage for insurances to include telehealth as a viable and affordable alternative to in-person care, and even creating resources to help other navigate state and federal stimulus opportunities despite your English proficiency. It is with policies like these that we can make the greatest impact on the global health community.

As of the start of February 2021, the United States has hit a staggering high of 3.38 million cases and reaching 2.29 million deaths globally. However, each of these individuals are not merely a number, a statistic, each with their own story and impact on the people around them and the world. But as we reflect back on our year in the pandemic and look forward towards the hope of more treatments and vaccines, we have to understand that just looking at the total number of cases and deaths do not provide an accurate enough snapshot of the health of the United States or even the world. For that we need to take a deeper look at the Social Determinants of Health. According to Healthy People 2020, healthy disparities are “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with economic, social, or environmental disadvantage.” These differences can span multiple dimensions from age, race, disability status, geographic location, mental health, and more. Broadly the five social determinants of health are as follows: Neighborhood and Built Environment: his includes your community’s access to safe water and healthy foods as well as environmental conditions and quality of housing Health and Healthcare: access to and affordability of healthcare and cultural health literacy Social and Community Context: systemic racism and discrimination, incarceration status, as well as strength and resilience within a community Economic Stability: employment stability, food insecurity, and poverty level Education: early childhood education and development, enrollment in high education, and language and literacy 1 2 3 4 5

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