The COVID-19 pandemic and containment responses have exposed existing social, economic, gender, ethnic and health inequities and are rapidly exacerbating these. The higher risks of infection and mortality recorded for specific population groups can be traced to a legacy of cumulative inequities in the social determinants of health (SDH). Additionally, the necessary COVID-19 response measures applied, while helping to reduce infection and mortality, have placed a disproportionate burden on more disadvantaged populations, widening health inequities.
A WHO webinar on COVID-19 health inequities and the social determinants of health was held on 4 November 2020. The webinar aimed to call attention to increased threats to health for disadvantaged groups, and the urgent need to mitigate health inequities arising from COVID-19. The objectives of the session were to:
- discuss global evidence on COVID-19 health inequities and the explanatory SDH factors; and
- explore ways to mitigate the inequitable impact of the pandemic.
Participants from over 40 countries joined the webinar, including policy advisors, researchers, scientists, public health practitioners and WHO staff.
Related documents
Presentations
The panel presentations were preceded by a short commentary from Professor Sir Michael Marmot.
- Overview - COVID-19 impacts1 (Nicole Valentine)
- National to local - Improving health equity for a pandemic and beyond (Kwame McKenzie)
- High poverty, NCD and HIV burden settings (Vera Scott)
- Health inequalities and COVID-19 - The situation in France (Michelle Kelly-Irving)
1This presentation drew from interim findings of an ongoing rapid systematic review of the evidence. The review is being conducted by WHO with the Institute of Health Equity, University College London, and other collaborators.