Role of geographic risk factors and social determinants of health in COVID-19 epidemiology: Longitudinal geospatial analysis in a midwest rural region.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Studies examining the role of geographic factors in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) epidemiology among rural populations are lacking.

Methods

Our study is a population-based longitudinal study based on rural residents in four southeast Minnesota counties from March through October 2020. We used a kernel density estimation approach to identify hotspots for COVID-19 cases. Temporal trends of cases and testing were examined by generating a series of hotspot maps during the study period. Household/individual-level socioeconomic status (SES) was measured using the HOUSES index and examined for association between identified hotspots and SES.

Results

During the study period, 24,243 of 90,975 residents (26.6%) were tested for COVID-19 at least once; 1498 (6.2%

SUBMITTER: Wheeler PH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9108006 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature