Social Exclusion and Health Inequalities in the Time of Covid-19

Abstract

Social exclusion as a process leads to a state of multiple relative deprivations in diverse areas of social life, like employment, education, healthcare, social ties, respect. Individuals or groups may have a worse position in several areas, particularly with other individuals or groups in society. Coronavirus pandemics disproportionately affect poorer communities and socially excluded people. Socially excluded are double victims; due to their position, they are more prone to infection by a coronavirus, further increasing their exclusion. The purpose of this contribution is to provide a conceptual framework for analyzing the relationship between social exclusion and health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to comprehend the causes and consequences of unequal power relationships and offer critical assessments of current policies and measures to reduce health inequalities. Health and social inequalities are a significant constraint to economic revival and a successful fight against pandemics. The extent of the economic and health crisis caused by pandemic shock largely depends on past health and social inequality.

Successes and challenges of health systems governance towards universal health coverage and global health security: a narrative review and synthesis of the literature

“…The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affects poorer communities and socially excluded people. Exclusion from work due to health problems can easily result in economic impoverishment and inequitable healthcare access, which will undoubtedly worsen health status [ 22 ]. The previous body of literature has mainly focused on HSG concerning health services delivery; however, it is still lacking in the systematic mapping of evidence on driving factors in effective HSG that can have implications to achieve UHC and health security.…”

Building a resilient health system for universal health coverage and health security: a systematic review

“…For example, the health service delivery, mainly the lives of many children, was at risk associated with the lack of treatment for common childhood illnesses in Liberia during the Ebola outbreak [ 35 , 36 ]. Exclusion from work due to health problems can easily result in economic impoverishment and inequitable healthcare access, which will undoubtedly worsen health status [ 37 ]. For instance, socially excluded population groups received health services from a dysfunctional publicly provided health system marked by gaps and often invisible barriers in Guatemala and Peru, which undermines the progress towards UHC [ 38 ].…”

Sociodemographic Differences in COVID-19 Self-Reported Symptoms by Ethnicity and Older Adults in Bolivia

“…However, the information coming from self-reporting could be overrepresented, because people who do not have symptoms may report any when asked, could be related to the theory of social exclusion (Leary, 1990 ), so as not to be excluded from access to health services (Bejaković et al, 2021 ; D’cruz & Banerjee, 2020 ) and to lack of social contact and ignorance of behavior in case of being infected by COVID-19 (Aslan & Kant, 2022 ).…”