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Review
. 2021 Jul-Aug;27(4):338-344.
doi: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2021.02.002. Epub 2021 Feb 19.

Different disease, same challenges: Social determinants of tuberculosis and COVID-19

R Duarte  1 , A Aguiar  2 , M Pinto  3 , I Furtado  4 , S Tiberi  5 , K Lönnroth  6 , G B Migliori  7
Affiliations
Review

Different disease, same challenges: Social determinants of tuberculosis and COVID-19

R Duarte et al. Pulmonology. 2021 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB) and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) relate to environmental factors, understanding of which is essential to inform policy and practice and tackle them effectively. The review follows the conceptual framework offered by the World Health Organization Commission on Social Determinants of Health (defined as "all those material, psychological and behavioural circumstances linked to health and generically indicated as risk factors' in the conventional epidemiological language"). It describes the social factors behind TB and COVID-19, the commonalities between the two diseases, and what can be learned so far from the published best practices. The social determinants sustaining TB and COVID-19 underline the importance of prioritising health and allocating adequate financial and human resources to achieve universal health coverage and health-related social protection while addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. Rapid and effective measures against poverty and other major social determinants and sources of inequality are urgently needed to develop better health in the post-COVID-19 world.

Keywords: COVID-19; Global health response; Good practices; Social determinants; TB.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Social determinants for TB and COVID-19.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comprehensive action flow for the social determinants of COVID-19.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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