Why bias is key to stopping institutional and structural racism in healthcare and research: The way we engage with marginalised communities, our research and our colleagues has to be reassessed

Let me get straight to the point. Systemic and institutional racism is affecting the lives of black and brown people right now, across the world in adverse ways. In the healthcare sector it not only damages our health, it can kill, and it does. The need to address and have important, sometimes uncomfortable, conversations on how we can tackle systemic and institutional racism in healthcare has become a topical issue heightened by the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police. His cries of: 'I can't breathe!' reverberated around the world leading to the largest protests in history, and the global Black Lives Matter movement, which saw between 15-26 million people worldwide protest inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Nurse Researcher is the property of RNCi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Addressing inequities in maternal health among women living in communities of social disadvantage and ethnic diversity.

The response to the coronavirus outbreak and how the disease and its societal consequences pose risks to already vulnerable groups such those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and ethnic minority groups. Researchers and community groups analysed how the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated persisting vulnerabilities, socio-economic and structural disadvantage and discrimination faced by many communities of social disadvantage and ethnic diversity, and discussed future strategies on how best to engage and involve local groups in research to improve outcomes for childbearing women experiencing mental illness and those living in areas of social disadvantage and ethnic diversity. Discussions centred around: access, engagement and quality of care; racism, discrimination and trust; the need for engagement with community stakeholders; and the impact of wider social and economic inequalities. Addressing biomedical factors alone is not sufficient, and integrative and holistic long-term public health strategies that address societal and structural racism and overall disadvantage in society are urgently needed to improve health disparities and can only be implemented in partnership with local communities.