More Than Checking Boxes: Why Data Collection Systems Must Prioritize Equity
As many individuals of MENA descent, like me, continue to be required to tick the “White” or “Other” checkboxes on forms, including on medical forms, the lack of racial or ethnic identifiers has limited the ability to collect accurate health data and has made it difficult to measure the impact of the pandemic on MENA communities. Can we truly determine how many people who self-identify as Middle Eastern or North African have been affected by COVID-19 without accurate data?