Structural racism leading to stark health inequalities in London, report shows

Structural racism is leading to stark health inequalities among people from some ethnic backgrounds in London, according to a review by one of the UK’s top public health experts.

More than half (52%) of black children and almost three-quarters (70%) of Bangladeshi and Pakistani children are growing up in relative poverty after housing costs in London, compared with a quarter (26%) of white children.

And unemployment among young black people aged between 16 and 24 is more than double that of white people the same age, the paper states. Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller young people have the highest rate, at 40%.

The review, conducted by the UCL Institute of Health Equity (IHE) led by Prof Sir Michael Marmot, found that people who are repeatedly exposed to structural racism during their daily lives experience worse physical and mental health as a direct consequence. It also says the ethnic inequalities in poverty, housing and employment result in poorer health outcomes for these ethnic groups.

It concluded that these economic inequalities, which can be attributed to structural racism, lead to poorer health outcomes for minority groups in London, as they are less likely to have access to decent housing, nutritious meals and other factors that affect a person’s health outcomes.

Marmot, the director of the IHE and author of a seminal review into health inequalities in the UK in 2010, said structural racism “is a scar on society” and public health institutions are failing by not directly addressing the effects racism has on a person’s health.

He added: “Focusing on disease and healthcare services fails to address three impacts of racism on health. First, how racism directly damages health and wellbeing. Second, the reasons why some ethnic groups are more likely to be in poverty, experience poor housing, suffer in the educational and criminal justice system, be low paid and experience racism and poor employment prospects – all of which harm health. Third, it does not deal with racism that leads to worse experiences of healthcare and other services and worse outcomes as a result.”

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Source: The Guardian, 1 October 2024