Social inequities and the COVID-19 in the Peruvian population

Abstract

Introduction: due to its rapid spread and effects on health, coping with the COVID-19 pandemic is a global priority that poses social, political and economic changes.

Objective: to determine the relationship between socioeconomic stratification, mother tongue, medical services, and geographic region with the COVID-19 disease in Peru.

Methods: 113 315 patients interviewed with the National Household Survey who tested positive for COVID-19 during the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2020 were analyzed. Using logistic regression models, the odds ratios were estimated for the variables sex, place of consultation, mother tongue, poverty, unsatisfied basic needs, geographic area, natural region, and suffering from some disease or chronic discomfort.

Results: residents of the coast, mountains and jungle had a higher risk of hospitalization, compared to residents of Metropolitan Lima (OR=1,736; 1,203; and 1,899, respectively). A higher risk was observed in residents of rural areas (OR=2,372). People with a native mother tongue had a lower risk of hospitalization (OR=0,633), as did patients treated in private services (OR=0,559). This risk was higher in those who went to EsSalud (OR=1,140), Ministry of Health, the Armed Forces or the National Police hospitals (OR=1,214; 4,45); while it was lower among poor people (OR=0,594) or with an unsatisfied basic need (OR=0,653). Chronically ill patients presented a higher risk (OR=1,837).

Conclusions: the spread of COVID-19 in Peru is also due to the social characteristics of the country.