Volume 14, Number 5—May 2008
Perspective
Pandemic Influenza Planning in the United States from a Health Disparities Perspective
Philip Blumenshine*1, Arthur Reingold†, Susan Egerter‡
, Robin Mockenhaupt§, Paula Braveman‡, and James Marks§
, Robin Mockenhaupt§, Paula Braveman‡, and James Marks§Table
Factors that could contribute to health disparities among socioeconomic and racial/ethnic groups during an influenza pandemic
| Differences in exposure to influenza virus |
|---|
| Crowding in households, medical facilities, public transportation |
| Occupational factors such as inability to work from home, dependence on childcare outside of the home |
| Differences in susceptibility to influenza disease, once exposed to the virus |
| Host factors, including preexisting immunity, age, other underlying diseases or conditions, smoking, nutritional status, stress |
| Vaccination status, reflecting differences in vaccine seeking and acceptance and in vaccine availability |
| Differences in timely effective treatment, once influenza disease has developed |
| Access to outpatient and inpatient medical care |
| Care-seeking attitudes and behavior |
| Financial obstacles, including lack of adequate insurance coverage |
| Logistic obstacles, including transportation, language |
| Quality of care |
| Availability of antiviral treatments |
| Appropriate inpatient treatment |
