|
1
|
Freeman T, Baum F, Musolino C, Flavel J, McKee M, Chi C, Giugliani C, Falcão MZ, De Ceukelaire W, Howden-Chapman P, Nguyen TH, Serag H, Kim S, Carlos AD, Gesesew HA, London L, Popay J, Paremoer L, Tangcharoensathien V, Sundararaman T, Nandi S, Villar E. Illustrating the impact of commercial determinants of health on the global COVID-19 pandemic: Thematic analysis of 16 country case studies. Health Policy 2023; 134:104860. [PMID: 37385156 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2023.104860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Previous research on commercial determinants of health has primarily focused on their impact on non-communicable diseases. However, they also impact on infectious diseases and on the broader preconditions for health. We describe, through case studies in 16 countries, how commercial determinants of health were visible during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they may have influenced national responses and health outcomes. We use a comparative qualitative case study design in selected low- middle- and high-income countries that performed differently in COVID-19 health outcomes, and for which we had country experts to lead local analysis. We created a data collection framework and developed detailed case studies, including extensive grey and peer-reviewed literature. Themes were identified and explored using iterative rapid literature reviews. We found evidence of the influence of commercial determinants of health in the spread of COVID-19. This occurred through working conditions that exacerbated spread, including precarious, low-paid employment, use of migrant workers, procurement practices that limited the availability of protective goods and services such as personal protective equipment, and commercial actors lobbying against public health measures. Commercial determinants also influenced health outcomes by influencing vaccine availability and the health system response to COVID-19. Our findings contribute to determining the appropriate role of governments in governing for health, wellbeing, and equity, and regulating and addressing negative commercial determinants of health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Toby Freeman
- Stretton Health Equity, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005 Australia.
| | - Fran Baum
- Stretton Health Equity, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005 Australia
| | - Connie Musolino
- Stretton Health Equity, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005 Australia
| | - Joanne Flavel
- Stretton Health Equity, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005 Australia
| | - Martin McKee
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, United Kingdom
| | - Chunhuei Chi
- Center for Global Health, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 7331, USA
| | - Camila Giugliani
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcellos, 2400 CEP 90035-003, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Matheus Zuliane Falcão
- University of São Paulo, Brazil, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715 - 211 - Cerqueira César, São Paulo - SP, 01246-904, Brazil
| | | | | | - Thanh Huong Nguyen
- Faculty of Social Science and Behavior, Hanoi University of Public Health, 1A Duc Thang Road, Duc Thang Ward, North Tu Liem District, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Hani Serag
- University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), 301 University Blvd., Galveston, Texas, 77555, USA
| | - Sun Kim
- People's Health Institute, 36 Sadang-ro 13-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 07004, South Korea
| | - Alvarez Dardet Carlos
- CIBERESP, Center for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Alicante, 03560 Spain
| | - Hailay Abrha Gesesew
- Research Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000 AUSTRALIA & College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, 231 Ethiopia
| | - Leslie London
- School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jennie Popay
- Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YW, United Kingdom
| | - Lauren Paremoer
- Political Studies, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | | | | | - Eugenio Villar
- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredio, San Martín de Porres 15102, Peru
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Kang SJ, Hyung JA, Han HR. Health literacy and health care experiences of migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2053. [PMID: 36352418 PMCID: PMC9645310 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14487-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Migrant workers are among the most vulnerable populations in society. This study explored the health-literacy experiences of migrant workers in South Korea and how the workers’daily lives have been affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods We conducted a series of semi-structured individual and focus-group interviews with 23 migrant workers (eight Cambodians, six Nepalese, four Sri Lankans, three Bangladeshis, and two Pakistanis) residing in the Daegu and Busan metropolitan areas of South Korea. All interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed using content analysis. Results Migrant workers had difficulty accessing and using health care services due, in large part, to linguistic barriers and a lack of an adequate support system. Four main themes were identified: difficulty understanding and using medical services, obtaining necessary health and safety information, the impact of COVID-19, and protecting oneself from becoming infected with COVID-19. Most workers depended on information from social networking services (SNS) and co-workers. Conclusions Migrant workers’ difficulty with health care access was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings suggest the necessity of enhancing migrant workers' health literacy, along with the use of SNS as a viable pathway for sharing health information and resources.
Collapse
|