Do We Collect Data Related to Race and Ethnicity?

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Ecoa: If we're going to be rebuilding our data systems in the way that freedon is describing, it's worth thinking through this question. We all know somebody who was impacted by covid even just anecdotaly, says abigail echo hawk. Even when data was collected, they weren't collecting the race and ethnicity of rian indians and alaska natives - many other people of color. And so what it was as we were invisible, and we were invisible in conversations that policy makers were having, we're invisible when they were allocating resources.

Data is the lifeblood of public health, and has been since the beginning of the field. But essential data gathering for the COVID pandemic was hindered by a couple of of underlying weakness in the US public health apparatus. We have a fractured system where the power lies in US states that don't always coordinate effectively. Also there has been inconsistent funding. When there was an immediate crisis, there would be an infusion of cash. But then, when the crisis passed, the resources would evaporate.

We take a look at data gathering in regards to public health from the 1600s to today and how it might change in the future.

Support for this episode was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation. RWJF is working to build a culture of health that ensures everyone in the United States has a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. If you have a hunch about how changes to the way we live, learn, work and play today are shaping our future, share it here: www.shareyourhunch.org