Health Disparities and Covid-19 Among Rural American Youth

This paper examines the perpetuation of health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact among rural youth in the United States. Agreeably several health, economic, and socio-cultural factors are associated with the unprecedented interruption caused by the global pandemic. In the same vein, several challenges and societal concerns have resulted in relation to the overall academic and personal/social experiences and outcomes of school-aged children. Many societal concerns remain about the overall preparation of this generation, to meet the leadership and employment demands of a global society. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted preexisting chronic issues related to health disparities which include intergenerational health, environmental and socioeconomic disparities, and educational inequities. This is particularly the case with African American (AA) youth who live in rural communities, which is characterized by persistent poverty for those who live along the margins of society. Food and housing insecurities, social isolation, and lack of access to adequate physical and mental health resources are just a few among many issues faced by these youth and other individuals who belong to these often tightknit, rural communities. These issues, along with scarce or lack of availability of medical and mental health care services, reflect larger systemic issues which speak to cultural determinism and social justice.