Effects of Social Determinants of Health on COVID-19 Mortality among Adults in the Brasília Metropolitan Area

Valéria Maria Rodrigues Fechine, University of Brasilia (Unb)
Marcelo Pereira de Souza Fleury, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG)
Ana Maria Nogales Vasconcelos, Universidade de Brasilia
Rebeca Carmo de Souza Cruz, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)

The COVID-19 pandemic hit Brazil amid an ongoing economic and social crisis, further deepening socioeconomic inequalities and limiting access to healthcare. Vulnerable populations, exposed to social, occupational, and environmental risk factors, faced heightened challenges in adhering to social distancing measures, thereby increasing their risk of infection. This cross-sectional ecological study examines the relationship between social determinants of health and COVID-19 mortality among adults in the Brasília Metropolitan Area. The strong correlations among indicators across various dimensions reveal the overlapping inequalities within the metropolitan area, converging into a single factor of social vulnerability. This convergence illustrates how different forms of inequality intersect, resulting in unique patterns of mortality. These results underscore the importance of an intersectional approach in shaping public policies aimed at reducing health disparities and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services.

Keywords: Population and Development, Structural equation modelling , Population, Shocks and Pandemics, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination

See extended abstract.