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. 2020 Dec;7(6):1039-1045.
doi: 10.1007/s40615-020-00879-4. Epub 2020 Oct 6.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Racial Disparities: a Perspective Analysis

James Louis-Jean  1 , Kenney Cenat  2 , Chidinma V Njoku  3 , James Angelo  4 , Debbie Sanon  5
Affiliations

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Racial Disparities: a Perspective Analysis

James Louis-Jean et al. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

Health disparity refers to systematic differences in health outcomes between groups and communities based on socioeconomic isolation. In the USA, health disparities among minority groups, especially African Americans, limit their access to quality medical care and other beneficial resources and services. Presently, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) highlights the extreme healthcare challenges that exist in the African American and other minority communities in the USA. African Americans are dying at a rate nearly four times higher than the national average. With inadequate access to quality healthcare, viable resources, and information, COVID-19 will continue to have a disastrous effect on African American communities. This communication provides a brief overview of the health inequalities resulting in African Americans dying disproportionately during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: African American; Coronavirus; Health disparity; Socioeconomic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Percent of population and percentage of COVID-19 deaths among black Americans in various jurisdictions. Sources in text
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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