The COVID-19 pandemic and health inequalities

Bambra, Clare; Riordan, Ryan; Ford, John; Matthews, Fiona

Abstract

This essay examines the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for health inequalities. It outlines historical and contemporary evidence of inequalities in pandemics - drawing on international research into the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918, the H1N1 outbreak of 2009 and the emerging international estimates of socio-economic, ethnic and geographical inequalities in COVID-19 infection and mortality rates. It then examines how these inequalities in COVID-19 are related to existing inequalities in chronic diseases and the social determinants of health, arguing that we are experiencing a syndemic pandemic. It then explores the potential consequences for health inequalities of the lockdown measures implemented internationally as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the likely unequal impacts of the economic crisis. The essay concludes by reflecting on the longer-term public health policy responses needed to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic does not increase health inequalities for future generations.

Citation

Bambra, C., Riordan, R., Ford, J., & Matthews, F. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic and health inequalities. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 74(11), 964-968. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2020-214401

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: May 18, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jun 13, 2020
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Sep 5, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 13, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
• Print ISSN: 0143-005X
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 74
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 964-968
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2020-214401
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4451689