Social Determinants of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, United States: An Ecological Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess how different social determinants of health (SDoH) may be related to variability in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rates in cities and towns in Massachusetts (MA).

Methods

Data about the total number of cases, tests, and rates of COVID-19 as of June 10, 2020 were obtained for cities and towns in MA. The data on COVID-19 were matched with data on various SDoH variables at the city and town level from the American Community Survey. These variables included information about income, poverty, employment, renting, and insurance coverage. We compared COVID-19 rates according to these SDoH variables.

Results

There were clear gradients in the rates of COVID-19 according to SDoH variables. Communities with more poverty, lower

SUBMITTER: Hawkins D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7411251 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature