This year marks 3 years since the beginning of COVID…

This year marks 3 years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the world is still grappling with its effects ,which potentially may take years for us to recover from mentally, physically, financially and emotionally. The difference in disease incidence and mortality elucidated the starkness of already pre-existing health inequalities both in the UK and globally. In the UK black females have been found to be at higher risk of contracting COVID and are 4.3 times more likely to die from a COVID related death than their white counterparts. Additionally black women had a higher risk, alongside other ethnic minority groups, of requiring hospitalisation due to COVID during their pregnancy (56% of all pregnant women admitted to hospital with COVID-19). The reasons for these disparities from COVID mirror the other risk factors explain the inequalities related to other health outcomes. For example, the living and working conditions of black groups is significant, with a greater risk of living in urban, densely populated homes and areas, where disease transmission is higher. Differences in occupation and socio economic status resulted in high numbers of ethnic minorities being key workers requiring commutes to work, and contact with larger numbers or people. 

Covid caused a greater number of ethnic women to experience financial instability and to worry about increased debts and their ability to feed their families. As the cost of living crisis takes a hold the fears have undoubtedly not been alleviated and potentially worsened with government support dwindling. Financial stress is a known catalyst for poor mental and physical health as stress affects individuals both behaviourally and biologically. The stress faced by black women during and after Covid is high and with a reduced capacity to employ positive coping strategies ( due to insufficient time), the opportunities for stress relief are sparse. The high number of deaths comparatively in the black groups will have affected whole communities which are often used as a support system for those within it and the social support that is often relied upon for black women and mothers. Another aspect to consider is the connection that many first generation immigrants  have to their birth country and the support and benefits this provides to mental well being. Although communication could still occur through video calls and similar means, the embargo during COVID on travel will undoubtedly have affected this and the comfort that can often be experienced through face to face communication and physical contact. Loneliness can result in increased premature mortality , depression, poor coping mechanisms and poor health behaviours. 

The high black mortality rate will have resulted in more black women experiencing the loss of family members and loved ones. Grief and bereavement are complex, but what is known is social support and researchers have expressed concerns over the possibility of prolonged grief disorder due to the isolation experienced by the pandemic.  Seeing the high rate of death in their local communities within a short period of time will have caused shock and distress to many black women. It also will have reinforced the fears already felt at the beginning of the pandemic. 

The responsibility of child care and home management during COVID was even more disproportionately carried out by mothers. Home schooling became a necessity for many during COVID and having this time to supervise and help their children with remote learning will have presented challenges for many black women already facing several other mounting pressures. Some with multiple children struggled due to lack of devices and space.  Those for whom English is not their or their child’s first language will have faced increased difficulty.

Black women, alongside other ethnic groups are more like to be victims of domestic violence at the hands of their partners or other family members. The social isolation during lockdown as well as the economic problems caused by the pandemic left these groups particularly vulnerable. Obtaining universal credit became more difficult for women victim to both domestic and sexual violence. Domestic violence and abuse practitioners reported finding it harder to reach victims of abuse during the pandemic and many highlighted that both the prevalence and the intensity of domestic violence increased during this time. 

The impact that covid and the subsequent lockdowns have had on how we live and the daily societal norms of the 21st century is still yet to be fully understood.  However what is clear is that many lives were irreversibly changed in many ways and for black women in the UK this could not be more true.