COVID-19 and Health Disparities

Opportunities for Public Health Curriculum Enhancement

Authors

  • Anuli Njoku

Abstract

COVID-19, the pandemic of highly contagious respiratory disease, presents a global public health emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased awareness of the role of public health and its professionals in responding to the pandemic. Racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States are more likely to contract and die from COVID-19 versus Whites, highlighting health disparities. Higher education schools and programs in public health can help prepare students to address this global pandemic through expanded curriculum on social determinants of health disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, teachings on implicit bias and anti-racism, interprofessional education, and practice-based learning. Moreover, eliminating health disparities is a leading public health priority in the United States and can help attain the World Health Organization goal of achieving health equity. This chapter highlights the need for public health curriculum that outlines strategies to address racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 to prepare and motivate a future healthcare workforce.

How to cite this chapter:

Njoku, A. (2022). COVID-19 and health disparities opportunities for public health curriculum enhancement. In  R. Ammigan, R. Y. Chan, & K. Bista, (eds), COVID-19 and higher education in the global context: Exploring contemporary issues and challenges (pp. 139-153). STAR Scholars. https://starscholars.org/product/covid-19-and-higed/

Author Biography

  • Anuli Njoku

    Anuli Njoku, DrPH, MPH, is an Associate Professor of Health Equity/ Health Promotion in the Department of Public Health at Southern Connecticut State University. Her research and teaching specialties include cultural competency in higher education, health disparities, health promotion and education, health equity, environmental health, rural health, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Email: njokua3@southernct.edu

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Published

2021-09-26

How to Cite

COVID-19 and Health Disparities: Opportunities for Public Health Curriculum Enhancement. (2021). Comparative & International Education Series, 139-153. https://ojed.org/cies/article/view/2835