Ethical Dilemma (1)
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102
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Health Science
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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4
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Anaid Perez
Ethics Class
26 January 2023
Maternal Health Inequalities During Covid-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised serious concerns about maternal inequality
because the virus has disproportionately harmed women, especially those from underserved
communities. The pandemic has brought attention to already-existing inequities in access to
maternal healthcare and the necessity of measures to address these disparities.Because it draws
attention to societal injustices and discrimination, maternal disparity during the COVID-19
epidemic is an ethical concern. The pandemic has made clear how some people, especially those
from disadvantaged backgrounds, are disproportionately afflicted by the virus and cannot access
basic medical care.
In the article (The Lancet Digital Health, 2022), Maternal inequity during the
COVID-19 pandemic may be governed by a number of ethical theories and norms.
Consequentialism, a theory that contends that an action's moral worth is based on its repercussions,
is one that may be pertinent. According to this idea, acts that result in a decrease in mother
disparity would be viewed as morally right in the context of the pandemic's maternal
inequality.Another ethical theory is Deontology, which maintains that certain behaviors are
morally right or wrong regardless of their results, is another ethical theory that may be relevant.
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This idea would imply that women who experienced parental disparity during the pandemic
neglected their own needs.
There are several issues of inequality and inequity related to maternal
inequality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these include Disproportionate which impact
marginalized communities. Women from marginalized communities, such as low-income, Black,
Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic
and have less access to healthcare services. According to (The Lancet Digital Health,
2022),“Likewise in the USA, data from 2014 to 2017 showed that Black, American Indian, and
Alaska Native women were more likely to die during or within 1 year after pregnancy than women
of other racial and ethnic groups.”(paras.2), this shows how people of color are more likely to die
due to the lack of maternal health access. Although the data was before the pandemic we still are
not seeing a change whether it may be before or after the pandemic where women are not supposed
to die because of the lack of maternal health care.
One way that an international healthcare model (including the United States)
could address issues of maternal inequality during the pandemic is by increasing access to
telehealth services. This would allow expectant mothers in underserved communities to receive
prenatal care and education remotely, reducing their risk of exposure to COVID-19. Additionally,
providing financial assistance to low-income families to help cover the costs of pregnancy and
childbirth, as well as providing support for maternal mental health, could also help to address
issues of maternal inequality. Another way is to focus on increasing the number of minority or
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bilingual healthcare providers to better serve communities of color and immigrant populations
.
For
example, Canada follows the National health care insurance Model in which residents receive care
with funds from the government. Which should already be appointed since many Americans pay
taxes which usually go to the large funded military or taxes are never paid by multi-billionaire
companies. So, the US should follow this model or at least provide an easier budget friendly for
healthcare in order for patients to get the care they deserve.
In my response, reading this case study about maternal inequality during the
pandemic had a number of effects on me.It raised awareness about the ways in which mothers,
particularly those from marginalized communities, are disproportionately affected by the
pandemic, and the additional challenges they may face in terms of accessing healthcare, childcare,
and other resources. It also led me to have feelings of empathy, and inspire a desire to take action
to address these inequalities. Additionally, it led me to reflect on other people's own experiences
and biases in order for me to better understand the complexities of maternal inequality.
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The 4 types of healthcare system designs and structures - goodrx. (n.d.). Retrieved January 30,
2023, from
https://www.goodrx.com/hcp/providers/healthcare-system-designs
The Lancet Digital Health. (2022). Pregnancy in a pandemic: Inequalities in maternal health. The
Lancet Digital Health, 4(2).
https://doi.org/10.1016/s2589-7500(22)00005-x