LATEBREAKER
COVID-19 Pandemic
Examining the Effects of Physical Environment and Social Structural Factors on Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Mortality Suresh Nath Neupane* Suresh Nath Neupane
Exploring the relationship between urban environments and population health from an urban health perspective offers a comprehensive understanding, recognizing that both are linked to urban living. This study uses several datasets, including CDC’s COVID-19 mortality data and EPA’s environmental justice tool, EJSCREEN, to examine the influence of physical and social environments on racial disparities in urban COVID-19 mortality across the U.S. from January 1, 2020, to April 15, 2021. Focusing on urban and suburban areas, hierarchical logistic regression models reveal the complex interplay between demographic factors, environmental exposures, and social determinants of health.
The study shows that racial disparities in COVID-19 mortality cannot be understood without considering the socio-economic and environmental context that individuals live in. Key findings include the impact of air pollution, such as particulate matter (PM2.5) levels and hazardous air pollutants (HAP), and proximity to traffic and hazardous waste facilities on increasing COVID-19 mortality risk. The study also underscores the role of social vulnerability and housing problems in exacerbating health disparities.
This study highlights that Black and Hispanic populations face lower mortality odds compared to Whites when environmental and social factors are accounted for, suggesting that addressing COVID-19 health disparities requires a multifaceted public health strategy. It calls for comprehensive interventions targeting healthcare access, environmental justice, and the improvement of living conditions to mitigate the unequal impact of COVID-19 on different racial and ethnic groups. In conclusion, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how physical and social environments shape racial disparities in COVID-19 mortality, advocating for policy responses that address the root causes of these disparities.