During pandemics, Indigenous Peoples suffer more than the general population due to social and cultural determinants of health as well as a lack of political power.
Without question, every single person has been affected in some way by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the impact and threat of this disease is greater for Indigenous Peoples worldwide.
Historically, Indigenous Peoples have suffered higher infection rates, more severe symptoms and increased likelihood of death compared to the general population during pandemics.
Their increased vulnerability to non-communicable and infectious diseases stems from entrenched social and health inequities – an enduring legacy of colonisation.
It is factors such as intergenerational and concentrated poverty, poorer physical and mental health, shorter life expectancy, inadequate infrastructure as well as a lack of access to culturally safe care, that places Indigenous communities at greater risk. This means that a one-size-fits-all response to COVID-19 is not enough. A blanket approach ignores the systemic inequities that affect the millions of Indigenous Peoples worldwide.
Even before the pandemic, efforts to reduce the inequalities in social determinants and health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people were inadequate. The pandemic has now exacerbated issues such as food insecurity and family and domestic violence, while also disrupting cultural practices and the normal relational and collective practices of Indigenous Peoples.
Despite this, resourcefulness and resilience in adversity are characteristic of Indigenous Peoples around the world. Indigenous communities have instituted their own measures to manage the spread of COVID-19 and to address the issues related to poverty, housing and food insecurity.
Unfortunately, there is little information related to the rates of COVID-19 in Indigenous Peoples, even though data will be essential to understanding the true impact of the pandemic on these communities.
Collecting accurate ethnicity data and disseminating adequate resources is especially needed right now to help address health disparities among Indigenous Peoples. Without this information, there is risk of exacerbating already existing inequities.
Read the full editorial: COVID‐19 and Indigenous Peoples: An imperative for action [opens external site]