Role of Social Determinants of Health in Widening Maternal and Child Health Disparities in the Era of Covid-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Deepa Dongarwar, MS Center of Excellence in Health Equity, Training, and Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
  • Veronica B. Ajewole, PharmD Maternal and Child Health Student Training Program, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX, USA; College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX, USA; Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
  • Emmanuella Oduguw, BSa Center of Excellence in Health Equity, Training, and Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
  • Ahone Ngujede, PhD, MSc, MA College of Business, Columbia Southern University, Orange Beach, AL, USA
  • Kiydra Harris, PharmD Maternal and Child Health Student Training Program, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX, USA; College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX, USA; Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
  • Theresa U. Ofili, RN, PharmD, MPH College of Business, Columbia Southern University, Orange Beach, AL, USA
  • Omonike A. Olaleye, PhD,MPH Maternal and Child Health Student Training Program, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX, USA; College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX, USA
  • Hamisu M. Salihu, MD, PhD Center of Excellence in Health Equity, Training, and Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21106/ijma.398

Keywords:

COVID-19, Maternal and child health disparity, Social determinants of health, Minority women

Abstract

We present a conceptual model that describes the social determinants of health (SDOH) pathways contributing to worse outcomes in minority maternal and child health (MCH) populations due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. We used International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10) codes in the categories Z55-Z65 to identify SDOH that potentially modulate MCH disparities. These SDOH pathways, coupled with pre-existing comorbidities, exert higher-than-expected burden of maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality in minority communities. There is an urgent need for an increased infusion of resources to mitigate the effects of these SDOH and avert permanent truncation in quality and quantity of life among minorities following the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Copyright © 2020 Dongarwar et al. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0.

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Publication History

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 3

Section

Short Research Communication

License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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