Kapilashrami, Anuj and Otis, M and Omodara, D and Nandi, Alita and Vats, A and Adeniyi, O and Speed, Ewen and Potter, JL and Eder, B and Pareek, M and Bhui, K (2022) Ethnic disparities in health & social care workers’ exposure, protection, and clinical management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Critical Public Health, 32 (1). pp. 68-81. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2021.1959020
Kapilashrami, Anuj and Otis, M and Omodara, D and Nandi, Alita and Vats, A and Adeniyi, O and Speed, Ewen and Potter, JL and Eder, B and Pareek, M and Bhui, K (2022) Ethnic disparities in health & social care workers’ exposure, protection, and clinical management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Critical Public Health, 32 (1). pp. 68-81. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2021.1959020
Kapilashrami, Anuj and Otis, M and Omodara, D and Nandi, Alita and Vats, A and Adeniyi, O and Speed, Ewen and Potter, JL and Eder, B and Pareek, M and Bhui, K (2022) Ethnic disparities in health & social care workers’ exposure, protection, and clinical management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Critical Public Health, 32 (1). pp. 68-81. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2021.1959020
Abstract
This paper examines determinants of ethnic disparities in workplace risks of COVID-19 among health and social care workers (HCWs) in the UK. This was undertaken to inform public health policy in the management of COVID-19 relating to health and social care provision. A cross-sectional survey was administered in July–August 2020 (n = 456) to elicit HCWs’ experiences of COVID-19 management in the workplace and their perceptions of exposure, personal protection against infection, involvement in local clinical management, and other workplace hazards. Findings suggest minority ethnic HCWs were twice as likely as White HCWs to be in a patient-facing role (OR = 2.14, 95% CI:1.21; 3.78, P < 0.01) and twice as likely (63% vs 39%) to be caring for COVID-19 positive patients (OR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.77; 4.06, P < 0.01). Those in nursing, were three times as likely to be redeployed to a COVID-19 care setting (OR = 3.33, 95%CI: 1.23; 9.02, P= 0.02). Minority ethnic HCWs within lower- and mid-level roles carried a higher burden of frontline clinical management of COVID-19 positive patients than their White counterparts. This study found evidence of ethnic disparities across several workplace hazards, with increased exposure to and less protection against infection, more responsibility for the clinical management of infection, and evidence of systemic racial bias in the disproportionate redeployment of minority ethnic nursing staff to COVID-19 areas. An NHS-wide review is required to assess procedural fairness, ensure safe practices now, and to avert future crises.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | Intersectionality; healthcare workers; COVID-19; ethnic inequalities; health & social care |
Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Health Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Science and Health > Health and Social Care, School of Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute for Social and Economic Research |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 25 Aug 2021 09:23 |
Last Modified: | 16 May 2024 20:52 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/30955 |
Available files
Filename: 09581596.2021.pdf
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0