Exploring the Experiences of Marginalized Communities During the Covid Pandemic

How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the most vulnerable communities, and what are the lasting implications for social justice?

In Exploring the Experiences of Marginalized Communities During the Covid Pandemic, Samson Chama examines the overlooked impacts of COVID-19 on marginalized individuals. While much has been written about the pandemic, this book fills a critical gap by focusing on how those with limited access to healthcare and systemic inequities were uniquely affected. Using narrative case studies, Chama examines the realities faced by these communities, highlighting the widening public health disparities and the urgent need for inclusive, equitable healthcare. The book also emphasizes the importance of optimal health as a fundamental human right, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Ideal for courses in social work, psychology, sociology, and criminal justice, this book is essential reading for public health researchers, academicians, nursing students, healthcare instructors, and community leaders dedicated to advancing social justice.

• Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Abstract
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• 1 How we survived the impacts of COVID-19: Implications for practice and social justice
  • Learning objectives
  • The context
  • Introduction
  • Discussion
    • Impact on African American health and social justice
    • Racism and discrimination
    • Poverty
    • Homelessness
    • Jail and prison system
    • Housing segregation
    • Impact of underlying health conditions
    • Policy implications for practice and social justice
    • Future recommendations
  • Conclusion
  • Discussion questions
  • References
• 2 Disruption in normal functioning of faculty in higher education
  • The context
  • Learning objectives
  • Introduction
  • Discussion
    • Patterns of disruption
    • Case-by-case analysis
  • Implications for practice and social justice
    • 1. Enhanced flexibility and adaptability
    • 2. Mental health and well-being
    • 3. Student-centered approaches
    • 4. Policy and institutional change
    • 5. Equity and social justice
  • Conclusion
  • Limitations of the study
  • References
• 3 Perceived vulnerability and health disparities
  • The context
  • Learning objectives
  • Introduction
    • Individual-level perceptions of vulnerability
    • Risk perception and preventive behavior
    • Health literacy and communication inequality
    • Mental health impacts of perceived vulnerability
  • The relationship between perceived, social, and structural vulnerability
    • 1. Structural vulnerability as the systemic production of risk
    • 2. Social vulnerability as the manifestation of structural inequities
    • 3. Perceived vulnerability as the lived experience of risk
    • 4. Interactions and feedback loops
  • PRISE project: Barriers to covid-19 interventions in marginalized communities
    • 1. Structural barriers to access
    • 2. Mistrust and miscommunication
    • 3. Economic insecurity and psychological stress
  • Case study: perceptions and disparities in Yakima County, Washington
    • Demographic and occupational vulnerabilities
    • Environmental stressors and compounded risk
    • Mental health impacts and institutional response
    • Key lessons and public health implications
  • Conclusion and recommendations
  • References
• 4 Implications for practice and social justice: Access to vaccines and treatment
  • Learning objectives
  • Introduction
  • Conceptual framework: Social determinants of health
  • Addressing equity in global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines
  • Patent protections and the TRIPS waiver
  • Production and manufacturing issues
  • Racial and socioeconomic disparities in vaccine uptake
  • Medical mistrust
  • Access to COVID-19 treatment
  • Implications for social policy and practice
  • Conclusion
  • References
• 5 Survival strategies
  • The context
  • Learning objectives
  • Introduction
  • Individual-level survival strategies: The first line of defense
    • Survival strategies
  • Survival strategies among subgroups
    • Racial and ethnic minorities
    • Migrant workers
    • Older adults
    • International students
    • Essential workers
    • Pregnant women
  • Community-level strategies: Collective resilience in action
    • Mutual aid as a grassroots response to crisis
    • Community health initiatives and trusted outreach
    • Digital inclusion and equitable access to technology
  • Institutional-level strategies: Systemic adaptation and innovation
    • Healthcare system resilience and transformation
    • Higher education and remote learning
    • Correctional facilities and public health
  • Federal government response to COVID-19: Key actions and lessons learned
    • Key actions and achievements
    • Challenges and oversight failures
    • Lessons learned and policy implications
  • Reimagining survival models and embracing human-centric design
    • 1. From reactive to proactive preparedness
    • 2. Human-centric design and equity
    • 3. Integration of digital infrastructure
    • 4. Systems thinking and intersectoral collaboration
  • The United States’ COVID-19 response—A UCSF case study
    • Scope and methodology
    • Key findings and strategic insights
    • Strategic value and global relevance
  • Regional case study: Virginia’s equity-centered approach to COVID-19 response
    • Institutionalizing equity in Virginia’s COVID-19 response
    • Building local capacity for equity in Virginia’s COVID-19 response
    • Key successes and lessons learned in institutionalizing equity
  • Conclusion
  • References
• 6 How we survived the impacts of COVID-19: Implications for practice and social justice
  • The context
  • Learning objectives
  • Introduction
  • Discussion
    • Understanding the social and economic impacts of COVID-19
    • Social impacts
    • Economic impacts
    • Social programs and interventions
  • Through the lens of equity: Unpacking public health disparities and the mental health fallout of COVID-19
    • Milwaukee’s uneven battle with COVID-19
    • When resources are not shared equally
    • Chelsea, Massachusetts: A case of too little, too late
    • Public health policy and its unequal reach
    • When mental health systems fail the marginalized
    • Racism, class, and mental health: An intersectional crisis
    • Rebuilding with justice in mind
    • The role of government and policy in social justice—lessons from COVID-19
    • The CARES Act and economic relief
    • Public health policies and access to care
    • Educational inequities during remote learning
    • Significance of community-based solutions
  • Place-based policy in action—leveraging the California Healthy Places Index (HPI) to advance health equity during COVID-19
  • The emergence of community-based housing solutions in Hong Kong
  • A community-based approach to food access in county X
  • The impact of the digital divide on kinship caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Implications for practice
  • Reflection and lessons learned
  • Conclusion
  • References
• Notes on contributors
• Index

Samson Chama is a full professor of social work at Alabama A&M University, specializing in international social work and social justice. He has collaborated with major organizations like USAID and UNICEF and focuses on research related to social justice and human rights.