Spatial Analysis: A Socioeconomic View on the Incidence of the New Coronavirus in Paraná-Brazil

Abstract

This paper presents a spatial analysis of the incidence rate of COVID-19 cases in the state of Paraná, Brazil, from June to December 2020, and a study of the incidence rate of COVID-19 cases associated with socioeconomic variables, such as the Gini index, Theil-L index, and municipal human development index (MHDI). The data were provided from the Paraná State Health Department and Paraná Institute for Economic and Social Development. For the study of spatial autocorrelation, the univariate global Moran index (I), local univariate Moran (LISA), global Geary (c), and univariate local Geary (ci) were calculated. For the analysis of the spatial correlation, the global bivariate Moran index (Ixy), the local multivariate Geary indices (CiM), and the bivariate Lee index (Lxy) were calculated. There is significant positive spatial autocorrelation between the incidence rate of COVID-19 cases and correlations between the incidence rate of COVID-19 cases and the Gini index, Theil-L index, and MHDI in the regions under study. The highest risk areas were concentrated in the macro-regions: east and west. Understanding the spatial distribution of COVID-19, combined with economic and social factors, can contribute to greater efficiency in preventive actions and the control of new viral epidemics.

Keywords

• risk areas
• virus spread
• correlation indexes
• preventive measures
• decision making