Infectious Diseases and Global Health Inequity

Infectious diseases are defined as a group of illnesses requiring the involvement of pathogenic microorganisms including, bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, and protozoa, and can be transmitted from one person to another person via direct or indirect contact. Infectious diseases and health inequity are closely related. They both have significant impact on local and global public health. Infectious diseases like COVID-19, tuberculosis, influenza, polio, malaria, etc. can have a significant influence on health inequity in a society. On the other hand, health inequity can influence the prevalence of many infectious diseases in a society. Health inequity can be defined as disparities in health outcomes or access to healthcare services between different populations or social groups. Apart from infectious diseases, various factors including socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, gender, education, and geographical location can influence these health disparities. Recently, the onset and spread of COVID-19 led to one of the largest pandemics in human history. The disease itself and the preventive measures have influenced health disparities among people from different societies and regions globally. However, there is a huge gap in studies focusing on the impact of COVID-19 on health inequity. This chapter explored the impact of infectious diseases like COVID-19 on health inequity and vice-versa. Reports of COVID-19 pandemics and other infectious diseases concisely documented that inequality, poverty, and socio-economic determinants of health influence the transmission of infectious diseases. International policy-making bodies including WHO to individual countries, must adapt policies on social determinants of health and health inequalities. The integrated approaches must include limiting the transmission of infectious diseases by improving the surveillance system, revising the definition of risk factors for disease, and assessing the impact of alternative policies on prevention. Alternatively, policies should be made to reduce health disparities that can contribute to reduced burden of infectious diseases.