Abstract
The global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted existing social determinants of health (SDH) that have contributed to health disparities and inequities in India. In this study, we aimed to track the SDH during the COVID-19 pandemic in India using close-ended surveys. Our findings suggest that vulnerable populations, such as those with lower income and education levels and poor housing conditions, are at heightened risk of the pandemic infection and poorer mental health outcomes. Access to healthcare is also a concern for vulnerable populations during the pandemic. These findings have important implications for policy and practice, highlighting the need to address SDH and health inequities to ensure equitable health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
Keywords: SDH; Covid-19; India; Survey; Health Outcomes; Food Security; Health Outcomes; Mental Health; Access to Healthcare; Policy
References
- Centre for Equity Studies (CES). Lives and Livelihoods: A Rapid Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 on Workers in the Informal Economy in India (2020).
- Debnath M and Banerjee S. “Social determinants of health and its effects on COVID-19 pandemic in India: a narrative review”. J Educ Health Promot 10 (2021): 61.
- Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). Impact of COVID-19 on Education in Rural India (2020).
- International Labour Organization (ILO). COVID-19 and the World of Work: Impact and Policy Responses (2020).
- Karmakar K., et al. “Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on socioeconomic and environmental determinants of health in India: A systematic review”. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18.6 (2021): 3177.
- Mohanty SK and Mishra SK. “Health inequalities during COVID-19 pandemic: A study of social determinants affecting the urban slum dwellers in India”. Int J Health Plann Manage 36.3 (2021): 862-875.
- Panchal S., et al. “Effect of social determinants of health on COVID-19 incidence in India: A comprehensive study”. Int J Community Med Public Health 7.9 (2020): 3615-3620.
- Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). Disruptions in Routine Healthcare Services during COVID-19 Pandemic in India (2020).
- Samanta S and Biswas T. “Social determinants of COVID-19 and their influence on health disparities in India”. Clin Epidemiol Glob Health 11 (2021): 100749.
- Singh AK., et al. “Diabetes in COVID-19: Prevalence, pathophysiology, prognosis and practical considerations”. Diabetes Metab Syndr 14.4 (2020): 303-310.