COVID-19 and Health Equity: Lessons Learned from the Pandemic

Authors

Sumaya Ali, Boise State UniversityFollow
LaKell Archer, Boise State UniversityFollow
Erica L. JensenFollow

Keywords

health equity, pandemic, COVID-19, mpox, global health, healthcare

Abstract

Health inequities refer to avoidable, unjust differences in health outcomes caused by systemic disadvantages rooted in social, economic, and environmental contexts (Braveman, 2014). Health disparities refer to differences in health outcomes between groups, often measured by prevalence, morbidity, or mortality (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020). Health inequalities are measurable differences in health status that may arise from biological, social, or environmental factors (World Health Organization [WHO], 2019). Health inequities, however, are specifically preventable and unjust differences.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted these inequities, intensifying pre-existing structural disparities within healthcare and societal systems. The pandemic underscored the urgency of addressing these issues by revealing how systemic factors lead to disparate impacts across various populations (Egede & Walker, 2020). Marginalized groups, particularly racial and ethnic minorities and low-income individuals in predominantly white communities have been significantly affected due to insufficient healthcare access and poor living conditions (Bennett et al., 2021). The pandemic has deepened health inequities globally, highlighting the urgent need to address these issues.

Recommended Citation

Ali, Sumaya; Archer, LaKell; and Jensen, Erica L. (2024) "COVID-19 and Health Equity: Lessons Learned from the Pandemic," Journal of Nonprofit Innovation: Vol. 4: Iss. 3, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/joni/vol4/iss3/3