O Mundo da Saúde (Aug 2022)

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Health Inequities in the State of Sergipe

  • João Batista Cavalcante Filho,
  • Roberto Meneses de Oliveira,
  • Rynat Dasaev Oliveira Chagas,
  • Marco Aurélio de Oliveira Góes,
  • Marcus Valerius da Silva Peixoto,
  • Marco Antônio Prado Nunes

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 46
pp. 301 – 310

Abstract

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This study analyzes the association of incidence and mortality rates by COVID-19 in the municipalities of the state of Sergipe, Brazil with indicators of social vulnerability and human development used in the country, as well as with the rate of RT-PCR exams for the diagnosis of the disease performed by each municipality. This is an ecological study of COVID-19 cases and deaths accumulated from March 2020 to March 2021, which occurred in the State of Sergipe by municipality; and its correlation with the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), Municipal Human Development Index (MHDI), and number of RT-PCR tests performed to diagnose the disease, using Spearman's correlation (ρ). Contrary to our hypotheses and the scientific literature, municipalities with higher rates of social vulnerability and lower human development had fewer cases of the disease and deaths per inhabitant, while testing less for the diagnosis of COVID-19. The study points to inequity as a factor to be overcome in the face of the pandemic, as it impairs a proper diagnosis of the scenario closer to reality, compromising the planning and implementation of collective health measures.

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