Global COVID-19 case fatality rates influenced by inequalities in human development and vaccination rates

Abstract

Aim COVID-19 has exerted distress on virtually every aspect of human life with disproportionate mortality burdens on older individuals and those with underlying medical conditions. Variations in COVID-19 incidence and case fatality rates (CFRs) across countries have incited a growing research interest regarding the effect of social factors on COVID-19 case-loads and fatality rates. We investigated the effect of population median age, inequalities in human development, healthcare capacity, and pandemic mitigation indicators on country-specific COVID-19 CFRs across countries and regions. Subject and methods Using population secondary data from multiple sources, we conducted a cross-sectional study and used regional analysis to compare regional differences in COVID-19 CFRs as influenced by the selected indicators. Results The analysis revealed wide variations in COVID-19 CFRs and the selected indicators across countries and regions. Mean CFR was highest for South America at 1.973% (± 0.742) and lowest for Oceania at 0.264% (± 0.107), while the Africa sub-region recorded the lowest scores for pandemic preparedness, vaccination rate, and other indicators. Population Median Age [0.073 (0.033 0.113)], Vaccination Rate [−3.3389 (−5.570.033 −1.208)], and Inequality-Adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) [−0.014 (−0.023 −0.004)] emerged as statistically significant predictors of COVID-19 CFR, with directions indicating increasing Population Median Age, higher inequalities in human development and low vaccination rate are predictive of higher fatalities from COVID-19. Conclusion Regional differences in COVID-19 CFR may be influenced by underlying differences in sociodemographic and pandemic mitigation indicators. Populations with wide social inequalities, increased population Median Age and low vaccination rates are more likely to suffer higher fatalities from COVID-19.

Does education influence COVID-19 vaccination? A global view

“…The decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths can be attributed to vaccination, income and education, as Cengiz et al [ 47 ] revealed; specifically, they inventoried the situation of COVID-19 vaccination in the cities of Turkey and established that, both in the case of women and men who have a secondary education or who have interrupted their studies at a certain moment, there is a reluctance to vaccinate, while among those who followed university studies, there is a positive correlation with this, the per capita income leading to the registration of the same trend [ 47 ]. As a whole, analyzing case fatality rates for COVID-19, Nuhu et al [ 48 ] reported the highest average in South America and the lowest in Oceania; the Africa sub-region has the smallest scores in terms of vaccination, Human Development Index (HDI) and preparedness for countering the pandemic.…”