Influence of Social Determinants of Health on COVID-19 Infection in Socially Vulnerable Groups

Wladimir Morante-García, Rosa María Zapata-Boluda, Jessica García-González, Pedro Campuzano-Cuadrado, Cristobal Calvillo and Raquel Alarcón-Rodríguez
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Wladimir Morante-García: Doctors of the World, 04001 Almería, Spain
Rosa María Zapata-Boluda: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, 04120 Almería, Spain
Jessica García-González: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, 04120 Almería, Spain
Pedro Campuzano-Cuadrado: Doctors of the World, 28028 Madrid, Spain
Cristobal Calvillo: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, 04120 Almería, Spain
Raquel Alarcón-Rodríguez: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, 04120 Almería, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-10

Abstract: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on the economy and health, especially for the most vulnerable social groups. The social determinants of health are one of the most relevant risks for becoming infected with COVID-19, due to the health consequences for those who are exposed to it. The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of social determinants in health on COVID-19 infection in vulnerable social groups. A transversal epidemiological study was carried out on 746 individuals in vulnerable situations living in conditions of extreme poverty in disadvantaged areas in the province of Almeria (southeast of Spain). Social determinants of health such access to drinking water ( p < 0.001) and economic income ( p = 0.04) influenced the infection of COVID-19. A binary logistic regression model showed that the significant predictors of COVID-19 infection were the lack of economic income and inaccessible drinking water. The government and social health services must be aware of this problem in order to play an active role in searching for solutions and implementing public health prevention measures to eliminate social inequalities in health.

Keywords: coronavirus; epidemiology; healthcare disparities; poverty areas; public health; socioeconomic factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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