ABSTRACT
We aimed to assess the proportion of the population in 133 Brazilian municipalities who - from March to August 2020 - had a health problem but failed to seek care or failed to attend to a health service for routine appointment or examination. We conducted a household survey from August 24-27 in 133 Brazilian cities by asking the subjects if, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, they had suffered from a health problem but did not seek care or failed to attend to a routine or screening examination. Poisson regression was used for the analyses. We interviewed 33,250 subjects and 11.8% (95%CI: 11.4-12.1) reported that, since March 2020, they failed to seek care despite being ill, 17.3% (95%CI: 16.9-17.7) failed to attend to a routine or screening examination and 23.9% (95%CI: 23.4-24.4) reported one or both outcomes. Health service closure and fear of the COVID-19 infection were the main reasons for not seeking care. Women and the poorest were more likely to not look for a health service, despite having a health problem or a scheduled routine appointment. On the other hand, those subjects who self-identified as white were less likely to not look for a health service. The COVID-19 pandemic is more critical for the indigenous people and the poorest, and these people are also more likely to not seek care for other health conditions during the pandemic.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Ambulatory Care , Brazil/epidemiology , COVID-19/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate socioeconomic and ethnic group inequalities in prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the 27 federative units of Brazil. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, three household surveys were carried out on May 14-21, June 4-7, and June 21-24, 2020 in 133 Brazilian urban areas. Multi-stage sampling was used to select 250 individuals in each city to undergo a rapid antibody test. Subjects answered a questionnaire on household assets, schooling and self-reported skin color/ethnicity using the standard Brazilian classification in five categories: white, black, brown, Asian or indigenous. Principal component analyses of assets was used to classify socioeconomic position into five wealth quintiles. Poisson regression was used for the analyses. RESULTS: 25 025 subjects were tested in the first, 31 165 in the second, and 33 207 in the third wave of the survey, with prevalence of positive results equal to 1.4%, 2.4%, and 2.9% respectively. Individuals in the poorest quintile were 2.16 times (95% confidence interval 1.86; 2.51) more likely to test positive than those in the wealthiest quintile, and those with 12 or more years of schooling had lower prevalence than subjects with less education. Indigenous individuals had 4.71 (3.65; 6.08) times higher prevalence than whites, as did those with black or brown skin color. Adjustment for region of the country reduced the prevalence ratios according to wealth, education and ethnicity, but results remained statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil shows steep class and ethnic gradients, with lowest risks among white, educated and wealthy individuals.
OBJETIVOS: Investigar as desigualdades socioeconômicas e étnicas na prevalência de anticorpos contra SARS-CoV-2 nas 27 unidades federativas do Brasil. MÉTODOS: Neste estudo transversal, três pesquisas domiciliares foram realizadas de 14 a 21 de maio, 4 a 7 de junho, e 21-24 de junho, 2020 em 133 áreas urbanas brasileiras. Amostragem em várias etapas foi utilizada para selecionar 250 indivíduos em cada cidade para se submeter a um teste rápido de anticorpos. Os sujeitos responderam a um questionário sobre bens domésticos, escolaridade e cor da pele/etnicidade (auto-relatada utilizando a classificação padrão brasileira de cinco categorias: branco, preto, pardo, asiático ou indígena). A análise dos componentes principais dos ativos foi utilizada para classificar a posição socioeconómica em cinco quintis de riqueza. A regressão de Poisson foi utilizada para as análises. RESULTADOS: 25 025 indivíduos foram testados na primeira pesquisa, 31 165 na segunda, e 33 207 na terceira, com prevalência de resultados positivos de 1,4%, 2,4% e 2,9%, respectivamente. Indivíduos no quintil mais pobre tinham 2,16 vezes (intervalo de confiança de 95% 1,86; 2,51) mais probabilidade de ter um resultado positivo do que aqueles do quintil mais rico, e aqueles com 12 ou mais anos de escolaridade tinham uma prevalência menor do que aqueles com menos educação. Os indivíduos indígenas tinham 4,71 (3,65; 6,08) vezes mais prevalência do que os brancos, assim como aqueles com cor da pele preta ou parda. O ajuste regional reduziu as taxas de prevalência de acordo com a riqueza, educação e etnia, mas os resultados permaneceram estatisticamente significativos. CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência de anticorpos contra a SARS-CoV-2 no Brasil mostra gradientes relacionados com a posição socioeconómica e a etnia muito acentuados, com os menores riscos entre os indivíduos brancos, educados e ricos.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate socioeconomic and ethnic group inequalities in prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the 27 federative units of Brazil. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, three household surveys were carried out on May 14-21, June 4-7, and June 21-24, 2020 in 133 Brazilian urban areas. Multi-stage sampling was used to select 250 individuals in each city to undergo a rapid antibody test. Subjects answered a questionnaire on household assets, schooling and self-reported skin color/ethnicity using the standard Brazilian classification in five categories: white, black, brown, Asian or indigenous. Principal component analyses of assets was used to classify socioeconomic position into five wealth quintiles. Poisson regression was used for the analyses. RESULTS: 25 025 subjects were tested in the first, 31 165 in the second, and 33 207 in the third wave of the survey, with prevalence of positive results equal to 1.4%, 2.4%, and 2.9% respectively. Individuals in the poorest quintile were 2.16 times (95% confidence interval 1.86; 2.51) more likely to test positive than those in the wealthiest quintile, and those with 12 or more years of schooling had lower prevalence than subjects with less education. Indigenous individuals had 4.71 (3.65; 6.08) times higher prevalence than whites, as did those with black or brown skin color. Adjustment for region of the country reduced the prevalence ratios according to wealth, education and ethnicity, but results remained statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil shows steep class and ethnic gradients, with lowest risks among white, educated and wealthy individuals.