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. 2024 Mar;44(3):112-125.
doi: 10.24095/hpcdp.44.3.05.

COVID-19 among Black people in Canada: a scoping review

[Article in English, French]
Adedoyin Olanlesi-Aliu  1 , Janet Kemei  1 , Dominic Alaazi  2 , Modupe Tunde-Byass  3   4 , Andre Renzaho  5 , Ato Sekyi-Out  6 , Delores V Mullings  7 , Kannin Osei-Tutu  8 , Bukola Salami  1   2   9
Affiliations

COVID-19 among Black people in Canada: a scoping review

[Article in English, French]
Adedoyin Olanlesi-Aliu et al. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2024 Mar.

Abstract
in English, French

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated health inequities worldwide. Research conducted in Canada shows that Black populations were disproportionately exposed to COVID-19 and more likely than other ethnoracial groups to be infected and hospitalized. This scoping review sought to map out the nature and extent of current research on COVID-19 among Black people in Canada.

Methods: Following a five-stage methodological framework for conducting scoping reviews, studies exploring the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black people in Canada, published up to May 2023, were retrieved through a systematic search of seven databases. Of 457 identified records, 124 duplicates and 279 additional records were excluded after title and abstract screening. Of the remaining 54 articles, 39 were excluded after full-text screening; 2 articles were manually picked from the reference lists of the included articles. In total, 17 articles were included in this review.

Results: Our review found higher rates of COVID-19 infections and lower rates of COVID-19 screening and vaccine uptake among Black Canadians due to pre-COVID-19 experiences of institutional and structural racism, health inequities and a mistrust of health care professionals that further impeded access to health care. Misinformation about COVID-19 exacerbated mental health issues among Black Canadians.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest the need to address social inequities experienced by Black Canadians, particularly those related to unequal access to employment and health care. Collecting race-based data on COVID-19 could inform policy formulation to address racial discrimination in access to health care, quality housing and employment, resolve inequities and improve the health and well-being of Black people in Canada.

Introduction: La pandémie de COVID-19 a exacerbé les iniquités partout dans le monde. Selon les travaux de recherche menés au Canada, les populations noires ont été démesurément exposées à la COVID-19 et ont donc risqué davantage que les autres groupes ethnoraciaux d’être infectées et hospitalisées. L’examen de la portée dont fait état cet article visait à établir la nature et l’envergure des travaux de recherche récents sur la COVID-19 chez les personnes noires au Canada.

Méthodologie: Suivant un cadre méthodologique d’examen de la portée en cinq étapes, nous avons effectué une exploration systématique de sept bases de données et en avons extrait les études portant sur les effets de la pandémie de COVID-19 sur les personnes noires au Canada publiées jusqu’en mai 2023. Des 457 articles relevés, 124 doublons et 279 publications additionnelles ont été exclus à la suite de l’analyse des titres et des résumés. Des 54 articles restants, 39 ont été exclus à la suite de l’analyse de leur contenu et 2 articles ont été ajoutés à partir des références fournies dans les articles inclus. Au total, 17 articles ont donc fait l’objet de notre examen de la portée.

Résultats: Les taux d’infection par le virus de la COVID-19 ont été plus élevés et les taux de dépistage et de vaccination plus faibles au sein de la population canadienne noire que dans les autres groupes de population, en raison d’expériences antérieures à la COVID-19 en matière de racisme institutionnel et structurel, d’iniquités en santé et d’une méfiance à l’égard des professionnels de la santé, qui ont accentué les problèmes d’accès aux soins. La désinformation à propos de la COVID-19 a aussi exacerbé les problèmes de santé mentale au sein de la population noire du Canada.

Conclusion: Selon nos constatations, il serait nécessaire de corriger les iniquités sociales que vit la population canadienne noire, en particulier celles liées aux inégalités d’accès à l’emploi et aux soins de santé. La collecte de données raciales en ce qui concerne la COVID-19 pourrait contribuer à la formulation de politiques de lutte contre la discrimination raciale en matière d’accès aux soins de santé, de logement de qualité et d’emploi ainsi qu’en matière de correction des iniquités et d’amélioration de la santé et du bienêtre des personnes noires au Canada.

Keywords: inequity; racial discrimination; racialized populations; vaccine hesitancy.

Plain language summary

Black Canadians are overrepresented in frontline jobs, which increases their risk of contracting COVID-19. Low uptake of COVID-19 screening and vaccine hesitancy may be attributed to mistrust of the health care system in Canada. Existing structural racism within the Canadian health care system has created inequities in accessing COVID-19–related health care services among Black Canadians. There is a need to collect race-based data with a focus on resolving inequities and improving the health and well-being of Black people in Canada.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. PRISMA 2020 flow diagram depicting identification of studies via databases on COVID-19 among Black people in Canada
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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