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Understanding COVID-19 risks and vulnerabilities among black communities in America: the lethal force of syndemics.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Poteat, T; Millett, GA; Nelson, LE; Beyrer, C
Published in: Ann Epidemiol
July 2020

Black communities in the United States are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic and the underlying conditions that exacerbate its negative consequences. Syndemic theory provides a useful framework for understanding how such interacting epidemics develop under conditions of health and social disparity. Multiple historical and present-day factors have created the syndemic conditions within which black Americans experience the lethal force of COVID-19. These factors include racism and its manifestations (e.g., chattel slavery, mortgage redlining, political gerrymandering, lack of Medicaid expansion, employment discrimination, and health care provider bias). Improving racial disparities in COVID-19 will require that we implement policies that address structural racism at the root of these disparities.

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Published In

Ann Epidemiol

DOI

EISSN

1873-2585

Publication Date

July 2020

Volume

47

Start / End Page

1 / 3

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Syndemic
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Racism
  • Pneumonia, Viral
  • Pandemics
  • Humans
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Health Status Disparities
 

Citation

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Poteat, T., Millett, G. A., Nelson, L. E., & Beyrer, C. (2020). Understanding COVID-19 risks and vulnerabilities among black communities in America: the lethal force of syndemics. Ann Epidemiol, 47, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2020.05.004
Poteat, Tonia, Gregorio A. Millett, LaRon E. Nelson, and Chris Beyrer. “Understanding COVID-19 risks and vulnerabilities among black communities in America: the lethal force of syndemics.Ann Epidemiol 47 (July 2020): 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2020.05.004.
Poteat T, Millett GA, Nelson LE, Beyrer C. Understanding COVID-19 risks and vulnerabilities among black communities in America: the lethal force of syndemics. Ann Epidemiol. 2020 Jul;47:1–3.
Poteat, Tonia, et al. “Understanding COVID-19 risks and vulnerabilities among black communities in America: the lethal force of syndemics.Ann Epidemiol, vol. 47, July 2020, pp. 1–3. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2020.05.004.
Poteat T, Millett GA, Nelson LE, Beyrer C. Understanding COVID-19 risks and vulnerabilities among black communities in America: the lethal force of syndemics. Ann Epidemiol. 2020 Jul;47:1–3.
Journal cover image

Published In

Ann Epidemiol

DOI

EISSN

1873-2585

Publication Date

July 2020

Volume

47

Start / End Page

1 / 3

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Syndemic
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Racism
  • Pneumonia, Viral
  • Pandemics
  • Humans
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Health Status Disparities