Date of Graduation
Winter 12-12-2020
Document Access
Project/Capstone - Global access
Degree Name
Master of Public Health (MPH)
College/School
School of Nursing and Health Professions
Abstract
Due to the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the 2020 coronavirus disease pandemic uncovered health inequities throughout the United States. This paper explores institutional racism as the reasoning behind these health inequities. A discussion of the United States’ failure to implement preventative precautions once notified initially of the coronavirus is featured. Events that took place after the recognition of the coronavirus, such as the economic impacts and passed legislation, are highlighted as well. An overview of the Trump Administration’s lack of focus towards vulnerable populations, which includes the Black communities, is included. Also, there are highlights on the work being completed at the policy, community and individual levels to combat the coronavirus impacts on the Black populations.
Public health gaps that are discussed within the paper include: the lack of federal support for reallocating funding to underserved communities that would address the racial health disparities amongst the Black population, the lack of focus on health disparities amongst vulnerable populations within an established federal strategy, and the need for amplifying the Black population’s voice throughout the United States after centuries of health inequities. These gaps are focused on within the generated recommendations. These recommendations include the creation of a national coalition, the revision of the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Health Security Strategy, and the development of a community-based participatory workforce within graduate schools near densely populated Black communities. These recommendations enhance the need for closing the inequitable gap amongst the Black population at the policy, community and individual levels. These recommendations not only focus on the 2020 coronavirus disease but are also framed to be transferable during future pandemics.
Recommended Citation
Peterson, Elena, "The COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of its Inequitable Impacts Towards the Black Population with Recommendations to Dismantling Institutional Racism" (2020). Master's Projects and Capstones. 1086.
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/1086
