Variation in COVID Mortality with Different Demographic Factors in Districts of India

ABSTRACT

Background: Descriptive data suggests significant disparity in the COVID-19 related deaths across different demographic zones. Several studies have examined these factors at the intra-country or intrastate level. Our study analyzed the data at a District level. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed the association between Socio-demographic factors and COVID19 Mortality at a District level using Univariate and Multivariate linear regression models. Data for sixty randomly selected Districts was collected and compiled from free sources available in the public domain. Linear regression models were built and factors that were found to be significant were used in the model. Results: Univariate analysis revealed that COVID Mortality has a positive correlation with the literacy rate and a negative correlation with the percentage Rural population of the District. No significant relation was found with primary Health Center accessibility, Sex Ratio and the percentage of chronic illness. On Multivariate analysis, it was negatively correlated to only the percentage of the Rural population. Conclusion and Relevance Our study concluded that as the rural population increased in a district, COVID 19 mortality decreased. There was no significant association with other sociodemographic variables.