Joy is short-lived in the house of the poor.
22 Apr 2021-Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (BMJ Publishing Group Ltd)-Vol. 75, Iss: 7, pp 608-609
TL;DR: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in huge job losses and closure of small businesses, especially affecting those with manual or low-skilled jobs that must be performed in person.
Abstract: Colombia and other Latin American countries traditionally had some of the largest socioeconomic inequalities in the world. However, inequalities were substantially reduced in Colombia since the beginning of the 21st century thanks to the peace agreements with the guerrillas and some economic prosperity, which resulted in poverty being reduced by more than half in just 20 years. Many people got decent jobs and housing, and their children accessed university education.1 However, as the Spanish saying goes, the joy in the house of the poor was short-lived.
The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to return Colombia and other Latin American countries to the situation of 20 years ago.2 The pandemic has resulted in huge job losses and closure of small businesses, especially affecting those with manual or low-skilled jobs that must be performed in person. Many of these workers and their families have been evicted and have had to move to lower socioeconomic neighbourhoods and even …
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TL;DR: In this paper , the authors investigated the relationship between human overexploitation of natural resources, represented by the Human Appropriation of Net Primary Production Index (HANPP), and the spread of Covid-19 cases during the first pandemic wave in 730 regions of 63 countries worldwide.
Abstract: The linkages between the emergence of zoonotic diseases and ecosystem degradation have been widely acknowledged by the scientific community and policy makers. In this paper we investigate the relationship between human overexploitation of natural resources, represented by the Human Appropriation of Net Primary Production Index (HANPP) and the spread of Covid-19 cases during the first pandemic wave in 730 regions of 63 countries worldwide. Using a Bayesian estimation technique, we highlight the significant role of HANPP as a driver of Covid-19 diffusion, besides confirming the well-known impact of population size and the effects of other socio-economic variables. We believe that these findings could be relevant for policy makers in their effort towards a more sustainable intensive agriculture and responsible urbanisation.
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01 Jan 2020
TL;DR: Globally, as of 10,47am CEST, 28 May 2020, there have been 5,556,679 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 351,866 deaths, reported to WHO.
Abstract: Globally, as of 10:47am CEST, 28 May 2020, there have been 5,556,679 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 351,866 deaths, reported to WHO
2,785 citations
TL;DR: The potential consequences for health inequalities of the lockdown measures implemented internationally as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic are explored, focusing on the likely unequal impacts of the economic crisis.
Abstract: This essay examines the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for health inequalities. It outlines historical and contemporary evidence of inequalities in pandemics-drawing on international research into the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918, the H1N1 outbreak of 2009 and the emerging international estimates of socio-economic, ethnic and geographical inequalities in COVID-19 infection and mortality rates. It then examines how these inequalities in COVID-19 are related to existing inequalities in chronic diseases and the social determinants of health, arguing that we are experiencing a syndemic pandemic It then explores the potential consequences for health inequalities of the lockdown measures implemented internationally as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the likely unequal impacts of the economic crisis. The essay concludes by reflecting on the longer-term public health policy responses needed to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic does not increase health inequalities for future generations.
1,015 citations
TL;DR: This paper reviewed data demonstrating worse risk and outcomes for non-White patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and made policy proposals to mitigate the disparities, including expansion of Medicaid eligibility to expand health care access, multilingual and culturally appropriate communication and outreach, and easing accessibility to social services through health care contacts to address housing, food, legal, and economic stressors.
Abstract: This Viewpoint reviews data demonstrating worse risk and outcomes for non-White patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and makes policy proposals to mitigate the disparities, including expansion of Medicaid eligibility to expand health care access, multilingual and culturally appropriate communication and outreach, and easing accessibility to social services through health care contacts to address housing, food, legal, and economic stressors
353 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used an extended multivariable time-dependent Cox regression model to estimate the HR by age groups, sex, ethnicity, type of health insurance, area of residence and socioeconomic strata.
Abstract: Background After 8 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Latin American countries have some of the highest rates in COVID-19 mortality. Despite being one of the most unequal regions of the world, there is a scarce report of the effect of socioeconomic conditions on COVID-19 mortality in their countries. We aimed to identify the effect of some socioeconomic inequality-related factors on COVID-19 mortality in Colombia. Methods We conducted a survival analysis in a nation-wide retrospective cohort study of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Colombia from 2 March 2020 to 26 October 2020. We calculated the time to death or recovery for each confirmed case in the cohort. We used an extended multivariable time-dependent Cox regression model to estimate the HR by age groups, sex, ethnicity, type of health insurance, area of residence and socioeconomic strata. Results There were 1 033 218 confirmed cases and 30 565 deaths for COVID-19 in Colombia between 2 March and 26 October. The risk of dying for COVID-19 among confirmed cases was higher in males (HR 1.68 95% CI 1.64 to 1.72), in people older than 60 years (HR 296.58 95% CI 199.22 to 441.51), in indigenous people (HR 1.20 95% CI 1.08 to 1.33), in people with subsidised health insurance regime (HR 1.89 95% CI 1.83 to 1.96) and in people living in the very low socioeconomic strata (HR 1.44 95% CI 1.24 to 1.68). Conclusion Our study provides evidence of socioeconomic inequalities in COVID-19 mortality in terms of age groups, sex, ethnicity, type of health insurance regimen and socioeconomic status.
47 citations
TL;DR: The current editorial for the cluster of papers entitled ‘Gender and health inequalities: intersections with other relevant axes of oppression’ includes a final list of twenty accepted papers.
Abstract: The current editorial for the cluster of papers entitled ‘Gender and health inequalities: intersections with other relevant axes of oppression’ includes a final list of twenty accepted papers, conc...
8 citations