Excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic: a geospatial and statistical analysis in Mogadishu, Somalia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been well documented in high-income countries, less is known about the health effects in Somalia, where health systems are weak and vital registration is underdeveloped.

Methods

We used remote sensing and geospatial analysis to quantify burial numbers from January 2017 to September 2020 in Mogadishu. We imputed missing grave counts using surface area data. Simple interpolation and a generalised additive mixed growth model were used to predict actual and counterfactual burial rates by cemetery and across Mogadishu during the most likely period of COVID-19 excess mortality and to compute excess burials. We undertook a qualitative survey of key informants to determine the drivers of COVID-19 excess mortality.

Results</

SUBMITTER: Warsame A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8572680 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature