Demography, inequalities and Global Health Security Index as correlates of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality

Kumru S., YİĞİT P., Hayran O. E.

International Journal of Health Planning and Management, vol.37, no.2, pp.944-962, 2022 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 37 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1002/hpm.3384
  • Journal Name: International Journal of Health Planning and Management
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, ASSIA, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, Geobase, MEDLINE, PAIS International
  • Page Numbers: pp.944-962
  • Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, demography, health policy, socioeconomic factors
  • Istanbul Medipol University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: During a pandemic, the occurrence of infections and case fatality rates are expected to vary from one country to another due to several variables such as poverty, existing comorbidities, population density, access to health care, availability and quality of health system resources, and environmental factors. Objectives: Our aim is to investigate the relationship between various demographic and socioeconomic factors and reported COVID-19 morbidity and mortality indicators in different countries. Also, to determine the position of the countries relative to each other in terms of three indicators including COVID-19 cases, deaths and tests. Methods: Canonical correlation analysis is used to investigate the intercorrelations between independent variables and the COVID-19 cases and deaths for 92 countries. Countries' performances are measured by MULTIMOORA. Results: Human Development Index, smoking habits, percentage of elderly population and test frequency are the most significant variables associated with COVID-19 morbidity and mortality according to our study findings. Singapore, New Zealand and Australia are the best performed countries. Conclusions: Several significant and unexpected associations exist between socioeconomic factors and the COVID-19 cases and deaths. Singapore, New Zealand and Australia are surrounded by water, have been more successful in the pandemic process compared to other countries.