Do Socio-Economic Indicators Associate with Covid-2019 Cases? Findings from a Philippine Study

Alipio, Mark and Lantajo, Grace Meroflor (2021): Do Socio-Economic Indicators Associate with Covid-2019 Cases? Findings from a Philippine Study. Published in: IMCC Journal of Science , Vol. 1, No. 2 (14 December 2021): pp. 102-107.

Abstract

In this study, seven socio-economic indicators were associated with Covid-2019 cases across 17 regions in the Philippines. The number of Covid-2019 cases as of April 7, 2020, was considered for the analysis. Descriptive statistics, Kendall rank correlation, and stepwise regression were used to determine if the seven socio-economic indicators were associated with Covid-2019 cases. No significant associations were noted in both magnitudes of poor families and subsistence poor population, and savings to Covid-2019 cases. However, high income and low subsistence incidence were associated with significant reductions in Covid-2019 cases across the 17 regions of the Philippines. The result of the study provides additional knowledge to policy makers and health officials in formulating targeted strategies to regions that could potentially record high number of Covid-2019 cases in the future. Given the seasonal and recurring nature of Covid-2019 with respect to previous outbreaks, it is essential for the Philippine government to create directed policies and innovate programs that would decrease subsistence and increase income. Concerted multi-region efforts should be made to prepare for possible infection outbreaks in the future.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Covid-2019; income; poverty; socio-economic; subsistence
• Subjects: H - Public Economics > H7 - State and Local Government ; Intergovernmental Relations > H75 - State and Local Government: Health ; Education ; Welfare ; Public Pensions; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I12 - Health Behavior; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I15 - Health and Economic Development; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I18 - Government Policy ; Regulation ; Public Health; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I28 - Government Policy

References

Patel, U.; Malik, P.; Mehta, D.; Shah, D.; Kelkar, R.; Pinto, C.; Suprun, M.; Dhamoon, M.; Hennig, N.; Sacks, H. Early epidemiological indicators, outcomes, and interventions of COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. J Glob Health 2020, 10.

Buja, A.; Paganini, M.; Cocchio, S.; Scioni, M.; Rebba, V.; Baldo, V. Demographic and socio-economic factors, and healthcare resource indicators associated with the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Northern Italy: An ecological study. PLoS One 2020, 15.

Bashir, M.F.; Ma, B.; Komal, B.; Bashir, M.A.; Tan, D.; Bashir, M. Correlation between climate indicators and COVID-19 pandemic in New York, USA. Sci Total Environ 2020, 728.

Shi, Q.; Zhang, X.; Jiang, F.; Zhang, X.; Hu, N.; Bimu, C.; Feng, J.; Yan, S.; Guan, Y.; Xu, D.; He, G. Clinical characteristics and risk factors for mortality of COVID-19 patients with diabetes in Wuhan, China: A two-center, retrospective study. Diabetes Care 2020, 43, 1382-1391.

Sajadi, M.M.; Habibzadeh, P.; Vintzileos, A.; Shokouhi, S.; Miralles-Wilhelm, F.; Amoroso, A. Temperature, humidity, and latitude analysis to estimate potential spread and seasonality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). JAMA Netw Open 2020, 3.

Haw, N.J.; Uy, J.; Sy, K.T.; Abrigo, M.R. Epidemiological profile and transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in the Philippines. Epidemiol Infect 2020, 148.

Proportion of Poor Filipinos was Estimated at 16.6 Percent in 2018. Available online: https://psa.gov.ph/poverty-press-releases/nid/144752 (accessed 5 May 2020).

Hosseinpoor, A.R.; Bergen, N.; Mendis, S.; Harper, S.; Verdes, E.; Kunst, A.; Chatterji, S. Socioeconomic inequality in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in low-and middle-income countries: Results from the World Health Survey. BMC Public Health 2012, 12, 1-3.

Goyal, A.; Bhatt, D.L.; Steg, P.G.; Gersh, B.J.; Alberts, M.J.; Ohman, E.M.; Corbalán, R.; Eagle K.A.; Gaxiola, E.; Gao, R.; Goto, S. Attained educational level and incident atherothrombotic events in low-and middle-income compared with high-income countries. Circulation 2010, 122, 1167-1175.

Darapaneni, N.; Reddy, D.; Paduri, A.R.; Acharya, P.; Nithin, H.S. Forecasting of COVID-19 in India using ARIMA model. IEEE 2020.

Rouen, A.; Adda, J.; Roy, O.; Rogers, E.; Lévy, P. COVID-19: Relationship between atmospheric temperature and daily new cases growth rate. Epidemiol Infect 2020, 148.