Health Inequalities and Ethnic Vulnerabilities During COVID-19 in the UK: A Reflection on the PHE Reports

Clare Keys; Gowri Nanayakkara; Chisa Onyejekwe; Rajeeb Kumar Sah; Toni Wright

doi:10.1007/s10691-020-09446-y

Health Inequalities and Ethnic Vulnerabilities During COVID-19 in the UK: A Reflection on the PHE Reports

Fem Leg Stud. 2021;29(1):107-118. doi: 10.1007/s10691-020-09446-y. Epub 2021 Jan 14.

Authors

Clare Keys¹, Gowri Nanayakkara², Chisa Onyejekwe², Rajeeb Kumar Sah³, Toni Wright³

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Education, Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent, UK.
² Faculty of Science, Engineering and Social Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent, UK.
³ Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care, Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent, UK.

Abstract

COVID-19 has uncovered the vulnerabilities, inequalities and fragility present within our social community which has exposed and exacerbated the pre-existing racial and socioeconomic inequalities that disproportionately affect health outcomes for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people. Such disparities are fuelled by complex socioeconomic health determinants and longstanding structural inequalities. This paper aims to explore the inequalities and vulnerabilities of BAME communities laid bare by the Public Health England (PHE) reports published in June 2020, concluding with suggested strategies to address inequalities in a post COVID-19 recovery.

Keywords: BAME; COVID-19; Inequalities; Intersectionality; Vulnerabilities.

Publication types

Editorial