Open AccessProtection of Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations During an Influenza Pandemic
Author(s) -
Sonja S. Hutchins,
Kevin Fiscella,
Robert S. Levine,
Danielle C. Ompad,
Marian McDonald
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2009.161505
Subject(s) - ethnic group , psychological intervention , pandemic , public health , socioeconomic status , health equity , environmental health , medicine , health care , social distance , preparedness , gerontology , population , political science , nursing , disease , covid-19 , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , law
Racial/ethnic minority populations experience worse health outcomes than do other groups during and after disasters. Evidence for a differential impact from pandemic influenza includes both higher rates of underlying health conditions in minority populations, increasing their risk of influenza-related complications, and larger socioeconomic (e.g., access to health care), cultural, educational, and linguistic barriers to adoption of pandemic interventions. Implementation of pandemic interventions could be optimized by (1) culturally competent preparedness and response that address specific needs of racial/ethnic minority populations, (2) improvements in public health and community health safety net systems, (3) social policies that minimize economic burdens and improve compliance with isolation and quarantine, and (4) relevant, practical, and culturally and linguistically tailored communications.