Article by Michelle Lokot and Yeva Avakyan. Vol. 28, Issue 1. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters.
June 5, 2020.
Millions of people have now been infected with COVID-19, with numbers increasing daily. As countries have implemented social distancing, quarantine and other community containment measures to limit the spread of the virus, data show higher infection rates and deaths among particular minorities. In the United States, African Americans have been disproportionately affected by the virus, exposing decades of health and social inequalities, including lower health insurance access, overrepresentation in essential work, greater health risk factors, poor health service coverage in certain geographical areas, and even unconscious bias among health providers. Such findings, similar to data emerging from the United Kingdom, challenge the notion that COVID-19 is “the great equalizer”. Instead, COVID-19 lays bare stark disparities in power. Among the world’s poorest and conflict-affected populations, these power hierarchies persist, albeit in different forms. In refugee camps, social distancing is a luxury made impossible by living in close quarters. In many low-income communities around the world, the poorest lack access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene to protect themselves from the virus.
In development and humanitarian contexts, which already face significant challenges including poverty, forced displacement, conflict and economic instability, low access to sexual and reproductive health may indeed have life and death consequences. In these settings, health services may already be stretched, struggling to provide basic services and information to communities. Without regular health checks, antenatal care and attendance of a skilled birthing attendant, complications during pregnancy and childbirth can lead to morbidity and mortality for mother and child, particularly for adolescent mothers.
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