COVID-19 and Vulnerable Populations: The Need to Support Improved Care for LGBTQ+ Individuals in the United States

During the COVID-19 pandemic, marginalized populations are at a higher risk for health complications. While this virus is capable of infecting anyone, existing health inequities in the United States have resulted in a much larger impact on marginalized communities. It is vital that healthcare provid...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The international journal of community diversity 2021, Vol.21 (1), p.1-9
Main Authors: Pacheco, Danielle, Baldwin, Trent, Soule, Katherine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Crises
Decision making
Fairness
Health care industry
Health disparities
Health services
Inequality
LGBTQ people
Marginality
Medicine
Policy making
Vulnerability
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Summary:During the COVID-19 pandemic, marginalized populations are at a higher risk for health complications. While this virus is capable of infecting anyone, existing health inequities in the United States have resulted in a much larger impact on marginalized communities. It is vital that healthcare providers, policymakers, and other decision makers are aware of the increased risks for vulnerable populations. LGBTQ+ individuals are considered a vulnerable population and have increased risks of severe complications from COVID-19. Currently, there still remains a gap in medical providers’ knowledge of the specific medical challenges that LGBTQ+ individuals face. Scientific data on how LGBTQ+ people are susceptible to more severe complications from a COVID-19 infection will hopefully supplement healthcare provider’s understanding of the challenges this community faces during this health crisis. In turn, these efforts can increase the likelihood that LGBTQ+ individuals receive affirming and competent care. At the same time, the impact of these efforts to increase health equity and healthcare services for LGBTQ+ individuals during the COVID-19 crisis must be evaluated to determine effectiveness and potential for scalability in the United States and across the world.
ISSN:2327-0004
2327-2147
DOI:10.18848/2327-0004/CGP/v21i01/1-9