Reflections on the COVID-19 mortality among the Black population and racial inequality in Brazil

Abstract

This literature critical analysis reflects on the social, political, and historical background responsible for racial discrepancies in hospital mortality by COVID-19 among the Brazilian population. During the pandemic, the COVID-19 mortality among the Black population gained notoriety. Rather than an isolated fact, this finding has historical roots dating back to Brazil’s foundation and draws on structural racism, which reveals degrading living and health conditions experienced by the Black population before the pandemic. This situation of vulnerability affecting the Black population is a recurring scenario that is treated with the neglect inherent to structural racism. COVID-19 mortality portrays one way in which racism impacts and reproduces itself in the life and death of Black people.

Desigualdade racial na assistência à saúde do adulto internado por COVID-19

“…No contexto pandêmico, a disponibilidade e o acesso a serviços hospitalares, o número de leitos públicos e privados, leitos de UTI e ventiladores mecânicos foram determinantes para o manejo dos casos de maior complexidade e para um desfecho favorável. Entretanto, esses recursos estão mais disponíveis para os estratos sociais mais elevados economicamente, que são ocupados majoritariamente por brancos no Brasil 33 .…”

“…Um estudo ecológico realizado na cidade do Rio de Janeiro apontou que a realização de testes diagnósticos ocorreu nos bairros onde há maior renda per capita e maior incidência de moradores brancos. Em contrapartida, os bairros com maior contingente populacional negro têm menor número de testes e de casos positivos 33 .…”

Racial inequality in health care of adults hospitalized with COVID-19

“…In the pandemic context, the availability of and access to hospital services, the number of public and private beds, ICU beds and mechanical ventilators were decisive for the management of more complex cases and for a favorable outcome. However, these resources are more available to the economically higher social strata, which consist mostly of white individuals in Brazil 33 .…”

“…An ecological study carried out in the city of Rio de Janeiro pointed out that diagnostic tests were carried out in neighborhoods where there is a higher per capita income and a higher incidence of white residents. On the other hand, neighborhoods with a larger black population have fewer tests and positive cases 33 .…”