Ogueji Ifeanyichukwu Anthony, Demoko Ceccaldi Benie McDenisa, Okoloba Maia Makeda, Maloba May, Adejumo Adebayo O, Ogunsola Olabanjo O
Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria.
Department of Psychology, The University of Buckingham, Yeomanry House, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18 1EG UK.
J Afr Am Stud (New Brunsw). 2022;26(3):297-313. doi: 10.1007/s12111-022-09591-5. Epub 2022 Oct 11.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented global health emergency. As a novel condition, there is no known definitive treatment for the condition, except for the use of vaccines as a control measure. In the literature, the issue of inequalities in healthcare systems has been documented as a hindrance to COVID-19 vaccination; however, the specific inequalities in healthcare systems that hinder COVID-19 vaccination are poorly understood. Guided by the fundamental cause theory (FCT), this study aims to address this gap among Black people, a minority group vulnerable to inequalities in healthcare systems. Thirty-five Black people (age range = 21-58 years) residing in either the United States of America (USA) or the United Kingdom (UK) participated in this study. Qualitative data were collected and analyzed using thematic analysis. Most USA participants and a few UK participants narrated that no inequalities in healthcare systems hinder them from receiving COVID-19 vaccines. Contrarily, most UK participants and a few USA participants narrated inequalities in healthcare systems that hinder them from receiving COVID-19 vaccines. These are mistrust of the healthcare system, health policies regarding COVID-19 vaccination, historical factors (such as historical abuse of Black bodies by health professionals), residential location, and dissatisfaction with health services. In terms of what governments must do to correct these inequalities, participants recommended the need for acknowledgment and community engagement. This is the first international collaboration to examine this problem. Important implications for theory, healthcare systems, and COVID-19 vaccination program planning are highlighted. Finally, there are members of other minority groups and vulnerable communities who are not Black people. Such groups could face unique inequalities that hinder COVID-19 vaccination. Therefore, future studies should include such groups.
2019年冠状病毒病(COVID-19)大流行是一场前所未有的全球卫生紧急事件。作为一种新型疾病,除了使用疫苗作为控制措施外,目前尚无已知的针对该疾病的确切治疗方法。在文献中,医疗保健系统中的不平等问题已被记录为阻碍COVID-19疫苗接种的因素;然而,人们对医疗保健系统中阻碍COVID-19疫苗接种的具体不平等现象了解甚少。在根本原因理论(FCT)的指导下,本研究旨在解决黑人这一易受医疗保健系统不平等影响的少数群体中的这一差距。35名居住在美国或英国的黑人(年龄范围=21-58岁)参与了本研究。使用主题分析法收集和分析定性数据。大多数美国参与者和少数英国参与者表示,医疗保健系统中不存在不平等现象阻碍他们接种COVID-19疫苗。相反,大多数英国参与者和少数美国参与者表示,医疗保健系统中的不平等现象阻碍他们接种COVID-19疫苗。这些不平等现象包括对医疗保健系统的不信任、关于COVID-19疫苗接种的卫生政策、历史因素(如医疗专业人员对黑人身体的历史虐待)、居住地点以及对医疗服务的不满。关于政府为纠正这些不平等现象必须采取的措施,参与者建议需要得到认可和社区参与。这是首次研究这一问题的国际合作。强调了对理论、医疗保健系统和COVID-19疫苗接种计划规划的重要影响。最后,还有其他少数群体和弱势群体的成员不是黑人。这类群体可能面临阻碍COVID-19疫苗接种的独特不平等现象。因此,未来的研究应纳入这类群体。