The Impact of Health Policies and Sociodemographic Factors on Doubling Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
; 18(5)2021 02 28.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1121211
ABSTRACT
Background. The doubling time is the best indicator of the course of the current COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the present investigation was to determine the impact of policies and several sociodemographic factors on the COVID-19 doubling time in Mexico. Methods. A retrospective longitudinal study was carried out across March-August, 2020. Policies issued by each of the 32 Mexican states during each week of this period were classified according to the University of Oxford Coronavirus Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT), and the doubling time of COVID-19 cases was calculated. Additionally, variables such as population size and density, poverty and mobility were included. A panel data model was applied to measure the effect of these variables on doubling time. Results. States with larger population sizes issued a larger number of policies. Delay in the issuance of policies was associated with accelerated propagation. The policy index (coefficient 0.60, p < 0.01) and the income per capita (coefficient 3.36, p < 0.01) had a positive effect on doubling time; by contrast, the population density (coefficient -0.012, p < 0.05), the mobility in parks (coefficient -1.10, p < 0.01) and the residential mobility (coefficient -4.14, p < 0.01) had a negative effect. Conclusions. Health policies had an effect on slowing the pandemic's propagation, but population density and mobility played a fundamental role. Therefore, it is necessary to implement policies that consider these variables.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Socioeconomic Factors
/
Pandemics
/
COVID-19
/
Health Policy
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Mexico
Language:
English
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ijerph18052354
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