The Impact of the Social Determinants of Health on Racialized Individuals
Working in healthcare has made me critically reflect on the health and social disparities that people of colour experience.
Across racial and ethnic groups, there are inequalities that merge specifically within structural systems and institutions that are created and based on the impact of colonization and colonialism. Recognizing the impact of the neoliberal state, privatization of the public sector resources, and the shrinking the welfare state are directly related to the inequities people of colour experience. The discourse of privilege and oppression based on race, class, gender, and culture are directly intertwined with the social determinants of health.
The social determinants of health “are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life” (World Health Organization, 2022, p.1).
Research demonstrates that access to secure housing, neighbourhood safety, food, shelter, education, and income level directly impacts health outcomes. Systemic and structural racism is deeply embedded in everyday society, specifically in organizations, institutions, and legislation. Racism is intertwined within institutional policies and unconscious bias based on negative stereotypes. Specifically, unequal resource allocation, unfair practices in everyday society that limit access to quality education, housing, and employment.
Discrimination is evident within the healthcare system, specifically related to stereotypes, biases, and prejudice against people of colour.
Some examples include black women’s pain being ignored, higher mortality rates for black and brown people and Indigenous health. An example would be Brian Sinclair who waited thirty-four hours in a hospital in Canada to seek medical attention. He was discriminated against and ignored and the healthcare staff thought he was “drunk or sleeping” which feeds into the stereotypes of Indigenous communities (Geary, 2017). Recognizing the impact of trauma, assimilation and colonization against racialized communities is integral when working within systems that marginalize individuals. Why is it that racialized communities are not receiving the same quality of healthcare as their white counterparts?
Racialized communities need to be involved in creating change to legislation and policies. Self-awareness and developing a critically lens by critiquing systems are significant to create change. Advocating for political activism, economic resources, and giving a voice to racialized individuals and their experience within the healthcare system is important. Racialized individuals should have leadership roles in healthcare policy and service delivery to enact effective and sustainable change. Although every racialized group is unique, taking collective action and working in solidarity with other marginalized groups can create movement and advocacy.
References
Geary, A. (2017). CBC News. Ignored to Death. Brian Sinclair's death caused by racism, inquest inadequate, group says. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-brian-sinclair-report-1.4295996
Williams D. R., Rucker T. D. (2000) Understanding and addressing racial disparities in health care. 21(4):75-90. PMID: 11481746; PMCID: PMC4194634.
World Health Organization (2022). Social Determinants of Health. Overview. Retrieved from
https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1
