Structural racism is leading to wide health inequalities among people from certain ethnic backgrounds in London, according to a study by one of Britain’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 to a quarter (26%) of white children.
And the unemployment rate among young black people between the ages of 16 and 24 is more than double that of white people of the same age, the paper said. Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveler youth have the highest percentage, at 40%.
The research, 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 poorer physical and mental health as a direct result. It also says that ethnic inequality in poverty, housing and employment results 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 influence a person’s health outcomes.
Marmot, the director of the IHE and author of a landmark study into health inequalities in Britain in 2010, said that structural racism “is a scar on society” and that public health institutions are failing because of the effects racism has on health of people cannot be tackled directly. .
“Social justice requires that we take the necessary action to deal with it. It is a great injustice if the conditions for good health are unequally distributed depending on ethnicity,” said Marmot. “Especially where that unequal distribution is the result of the evil of racism. Inequalities in the social determinants of health are creating health problems for the future.”
He added: “Focusing on disease and healthcare fails to address the three health consequences of racism. First, how racism directly harms health and well-being. Second, the reasons why some ethnic groups are more likely to live in poverty, experience poor housing, suffer in the education and criminal justice systems, be low paid, and experience racism and poor employment prospects – all of which are detrimental to health. Third, it is not about racism leading to poorer experiences with healthcare and other services and, as a result, poorer outcomes.”
Professor Kevin Fenton, Director of Public Health for London and Chair of the Faculty of Public Health, said: “This new report clearly shows the devastating impact that structural racism continues to have on the health and wellbeing of Londoners in 2024.
“It adds to the growing body of work providing evidence on the persistent, pervasive and harmful effects of structural racism, and why addressing these issues must be raised as an important public health issue.”
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Fenton added: “It is time for us to learn the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd and the recent race riots in the UK – that deep-seated, structural racism continues to plague our society, with direct consequences for the lives of British people, even in a cosmopolitan city like London.
“The data on this racial inequality in London – a multicultural urban center – is stark, and we need to learn lessons for other parts of Britain and make recommendations to protect and improve the health of minority ethnic communities and ensure that all in our society is able to realize their full potential.”
Professor Habib Naqvi, the CEO of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: “We know that racism is a challenge that cuts across borders and boundaries, and while this report is for London, we hope it will have a wider impact across Greater -Britain.
“Racism has deep historical roots. It is ubiquitous and embedded in the fabric of our society. We are at a relevant moment in history; Now is the time to wake up to the extent of inequality, remove the scourge of racism from our society and improve health for all.”