SVMC Community Health Needs Assessment 2021 - Catalog - Page 46
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off paying their bills to cover lost wages or salary.50 Similar disparities in the financial impact of COVID-19
can be seen within SVMC’s service area.
Survey Responses: COVID-19 had a Significant
Impact on Income/Household Financial Condition
n=1,575
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
13-34 years
35-64 years
65+ years
Disparities in financial impact due to COVID-19 identified by SVMC’s community health survey:
Black or African American respondents were over three times more likely to report an impact on
financial condition due to COVID-19 compared to White or Caucasian respondents (44% versus 14%).
Those with a high school diploma or equivalent were twice as likely to indicate a COVID-19 related
impact on financial condition versus those with an advanced degree (20% compared to 10%).
Conversely, at the national level, upper-income adults are more likely than other income groups to have
seen an improvement in their finances, with 39% stating that their family’s financial situation has
improved over the past year.50
While SVMC cannot address and remedy the financial impacts that COVID-19 has had on the
surrounding community, having a thorough understanding will assist in developing supports for
individuals who may be struggling. Clarity around the intersection between poverty, employment, and
health will aid in the development of programming that seeks to influence health behaviors in the
context within which people live.
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Community Health Needs Assessment 2021