Impact of Socioeconomic Inequalities on the Spread of COVID-19

Abstract BackgroundTo examine the role of medical, economic and social inequalities affecting the prevalence of COVID-19 in Turkey. MethodsThis paper clarifies the medical and socio-economic factors affecting the prevalence of COVID-19 by using clinical and survey data in a binary probit model (BPM). Socio-economic factors affect the prevalence of COVID-19 to different degrees. Socio-economic variables are associated with risk of infection and can increase exposure to and mortality from COVID-19. ResultsThe factors that increase the probability that a person will get COVID-19 are gender (males have a 9.4% higher probability), income, household work status, interacting with a COVID-19 case (31.4% higher), using public transportation (6.97% higher), and visiting a hospital (35.7% higher probability for individuals who visited a hospital) or a mosque (15.1% higher). The factors that decrease the probability of testing positive are smoking (14.3% lower for smokers), being employed, having a university education compared to no education (24.7% lower), and wearing gloves (15.4% lower). ConclusionIn the case of Turkey, the estimations of the BPM show that economic and social variables are important factors for determining COVID-19 prevalence. Inequalities in socio-economic variables affect the prevalence to different degrees. Disparities in education and poverty are more important than being employed or being a smoker for the spread of COVID-19.