Disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on immigrant communities in the United States

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 14; no. 7; p. e0008484
• Main Authors: Clark, Eva, Fredricks, Karla, Woc-Colburn, Laila, Bottazzi, Maria Elena, Weatherhead, Jill
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 13.07.2020; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Betacoronavirus; Biology and life sciences; Coronavirus Infections - economics; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Demographic aspects; Diabetes mellitus; Emigrants and Immigrants; Epidemics; Female; Food Supply; Health aspects; Health Policy; Health risks; Health Services Accessibility; Healthcare Disparities; Housing; Humans; Hypertension; Immigrants; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine and health sciences; Mental disorders; Mental health; Pandemics; Pandemics - economics; People and places; Pneumonia, Viral - economics; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Post traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Poverty; Psychological stress; Public health; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Social interactions; Social Sciences; Socioeconomic Factors; Trauma; Tropical diseases; Unemployment; United States; United States - epidemiology; Viewpoints; Vulnerable Populations; United States; United States > US; Mexico; Texas
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008484

[...]lack of access to preventive medicine leads to increased risk of underlying health conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes-—comorbidities that have been linked to more severe COVID-19 manifestations [9,12–15]. [...]depending on their mode of entry into the US, many immigrants may be at risk for excessive stress related to poverty, trauma, and poor social support, which leads to mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety [18]. [...]immigrant communities with limited English skills may be less likely to receive and understand public health messages, warnings, and updates. [...]there is much concern that the COVID-19 pandemic will result in particularly high rates of unemployment and financial strain within immigrant communities [26].