Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

Young-Do Jeung

1 Article

Social and Policy Determinants of COVID-19 Infection Across 23 Countries: An Ecological Study: Kyungsik Kim, Young-Do Jeung, Jeoungbin Choi, Sue K. Park; J Prev Med Public Health. 2022;55(2):144-152. Published online February 10, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.21.396

4,265 View
151 Download
6 Web of Science
5 Crossref

Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Objectives
This study aimed to identify the social and policy determinants of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection across 23 countries.
Methods
COVID-19 indicators (incidence, mortality, and fatality) for each country were calculated by direct and indirect standardization. Multivariable regression analyses were used to identify the social and policy determinants of COVID-19 infection.
Results
A higher number of doctors per population was related to lower incidence, mortality, and fatality rates of COVID-19 in 23 countries (β=-0.672, -0.445, and -0.564, respectively). The number of nurses/midwives per population was associated with lower mortality and fatality rates of COVID-19 in 23 countries (β=-0.215 and -0.372, respectively). Strengthening of policy restriction indicators, such as restrictions of public gatherings, was related to lower COVID-19 incidence (β=-0.423). A national Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccination policy conducted among special groups or in the past was associated with a higher incidence of COVID-19 in 23 countries (β=0.341). The proportion of the elderly population (aged over 70 years) was related to higher mortality and fatality rates (β=0.209 and 0.350, respectively), and income support was associated with mortality and fatality rates (β=-0.362 and -0.449, respectively).
Conclusions
These findings do not imply causality because this was a country-based correlation study. However, COVID-19 transmission can be influenced by social and policy determinants such as integrated health systems and policy responses to COVID-19. Various social and policy determinants should be considered when planning responses to COVID-19.

Summary

Korean summary
본 연구는 23개국의 코로나 19 감염 지표 (발생, 사망, 치명)과 관련있는 사회적, 정책적 요소를 확인하고자 하는생태학적 연구이다. 이는 코로나 19 감염 지표에 대한 인과성을 제시하는 연구가 아니기에 주의 깊은 해석이 필요하며 본 연구에서 제시한 사회적, 정책적 요소를 통해 코로나 19 감염에 대한 국가적인 정책을 고려할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

COVID 19 mortality as a reflection of the quality of health in EU countries
Beáta Stehlíková, Zuzana Vincúrová, Ivan Brezina, Ilona Švihlíková
Economics & Sociology.2023; 16(3): 138. CrossRef
Social and Policy Determinants of COVID-19
Rujittika Mungmunpuntipantip, Viroj Wiwanitkit
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health.2022; 55(3): 307. CrossRef
Social and Policy Determinants of COVID-19 Infection Across 23 Countries: An Ecological Study
Kyungsik Kim, Sue K. Park
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health.2022; 55(3): 308. CrossRef
Country-level and regional COVID-19 burden and determinants across OECD member states and partner countries
Nlandu Roger Ngatu, Kazuto Tayama, Kanae Kanda, Tomohiro Hirao
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine.2022; 27: 41. CrossRef
The association between tobacco or nicotine product use behaviors and non-compliance with mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Korea
Da-eun Lee, Heewon Kang, Sung-il Cho
Epidemiology and Health.2022; 44: e2022087. CrossRef

Author index