IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i9p4829-d547359.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

COVID-19 Medical Vulnerability Indicators: A Predictive, Local Data Model for Equity in Public Health Decision Making

Author

Listed:
  • Paul M. Ong

    (Department of Urban Planning, UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, UCLA Luskin School of Public Policy, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • Chhandara Pech

    (Department of Urban Planning, UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, UCLA Luskin School of Public Policy, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • Nataly Rios Gutierrez

    (Department of Urban Planning, UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, UCLA Luskin School of Public Policy, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • Vickie M. Mays

    (Departments of Psychology and Health Policy & Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

Abstract

This article reports the outcome of a project to develop and assess a predictive model of vulnerability indicators for COVID-19 infection in Los Angeles County. Multiple data sources were used to construct four indicators for zip code tabulation areas: (1) pre-existing health condition, (2) barriers to accessing health care, (3) built environment risk, and (4) the CDC’s social vulnerability. The assessment of the indicators finds that the most vulnerable neighborhoods are characterized by significant clustering of racial minorities. An overwhelming 73% of Blacks reside in the neighborhoods with the two highest levels of pre-existing health conditions. For the barriers to accessing health care indicator, 40% of Latinx reside in the highest vulnerability places. The built environment indicator finds that selected Asian ethnic groups (63%), Latinx (55%), and Blacks (53%) reside in the neighborhoods designated as high or the highest vulnerability. The social vulnerability indicator finds 42% of Blacks and Latinx and 38% of selected Asian ethnic group residing in neighborhoods of high vulnerability. The vulnerability indicators can be adopted nationally to respond to COVID-19. The metrics can be utilized in data-driven decision making of re-openings or resource distribution such as testing, vaccine distribution and other pandemic-related resources to ensure equity for the most vulnerable.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul M. Ong & Chhandara Pech & Nataly Rios Gutierrez & Vickie M. Mays, 2021. "COVID-19 Medical Vulnerability Indicators: A Predictive, Local Data Model for Equity in Public Health Decision Making," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-23, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4829-:d:547359
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/9/4829/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/9/4829/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bayarmagnai Weinstein & Alan R. da Silva & Dimitrios E. Kouzoukas & Tanima Bose & Gwang Jin Kim & Paola A. Correa & Santhi Pondugula & YoonJung Lee & Jihoo Kim & David O. Carpenter, 2021. "Precision Mapping of COVID-19 Vulnerable Locales by Epidemiological and Socioeconomic Risk Factors, Developed Using South Korean Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
    2. John B. Davis, 2015. "Stratification economics and identity economics," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 39(5), pages 1215-1229.
    3. Daniel Tzu-Hsuan Chen & Yi-Jen Wang, 2021. "Inequality-Related Health and Social Factors and Their Impact on Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a National Survey in the UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-9, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Edward Sondik & Jonathan Fielding, 2021. "Importance of Local Data and Resource Allocation for Effective Successful Public Health Interventions to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission: Commentary on COVID-19 Medical Vulnerability Indicators: A Predic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-2, May.
    2. Keng Yang & Hanying Qi, 2022. "Research on Health Disparities Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Bibliometric Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-25, January.
    3. Marija Jevtic & Vlatka Matkovic & Milica Paut Kusturica & Catherine Bouland, 2022. "Build Healthier: Post-COVID-19 Urban Requirements for Healthy and Sustainable Living," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-21, July.
    4. Muna Shifa & David Gordon & Murray Leibbrandt & Mary Zhang, 2022. "Socioeconomic-Related Inequalities in COVID-19 Vulnerability in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-20, August.
    5. Basim Aljohani & Randolph Hall, 2024. "Optimizing the Selection of Mass Vaccination Sites: Access and Equity Consideration," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(4), pages 1-19, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Frolov, Daniil, 2019. "The manifesto of post-institutionalism: institutional complexity research agenda," MPRA Paper 97662, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Jasper Dhoore & Bram Spruyt & Jessy Siongers, 2024. "Locked Down: The Gendered Impact of Social Support on Children’s Well-Being Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(1), pages 367-394, February.
    3. Frolov, Daniil, 2018. "От Институтов К Экститутам И Далее - К Теории Институциональных Аномалий [From Institutions to Extitutions to the Theory of Institutional Anomalies]," MPRA Paper 90286, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Charles, Aurelie & Vujić, Sunčica, 2018. "From Elitist to Sustainable Earnings: Is there a group legitimacy in financial flows?," GLO Discussion Paper Series 200, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    5. Liliana Cori & Olivia Curzio & Fulvio Adorni & Federica Prinelli & Marianna Noale & Caterina Trevisan & Loredana Fortunato & Andrea Giacomelli & Fabrizio Bianchi, 2021. "Fear of COVID-19 for Individuals and Family Members: Indications from the National Cross-Sectional Study of the EPICOVID19 Web-Based Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-20, March.
    6. Maayan Shacham & Lee Greenblatt-Kimron & Yaira Hamama-Raz & Leslie R. Martin & Oren Peleg & Menachem Ben-Ezra & Eitan Mijiritsky, 2021. "Increased COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy and Health Awareness amid COVID-19 Vaccinations Programs in Israel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, April.
    7. Frolov, Daniil, 2019. "Постинституционализм: Программа Исследований За Пределами Институционального Мейнстрима [Post-institutionalism: research program beyond the institutional mainstream]," MPRA Paper 92328, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Prince Yeboah & Dennis Bomansang Daliri & Ahmad Yaman Abdin & Emmanuel Appiah-Brempong & Werner Pitsch & Anto Berko Panyin & Emmanuel Bentil Asare Adusei & Afraa Razouk & Muhammad Jawad Nasim & Claus , 2021. "Knowledge into the Practice against COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study from Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Toyomu Masaki, 2021. "Franklin Obeng-Odoom, Property, institutions, and social stratification in Africa, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2020," Evolutionary and Institutional Economics Review, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 447-455, September.
    10. Jack I. Richter & Pankaj C. Patel, 2022. "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hours lost by self-employed racial minorities: evidence from Brazil," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 769-805, February.
    11. Bonnie Janzen & Laurie-Ann Hellsten, 2021. "Household Income and Psychological Distress: Exploring Women’s Paid and Unpaid Work as Mediators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-15, June.
    12. John B. Davis, 2022. "A general theory of social economic stratification: stigmatization, exclusion, and capability shortfalls," Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, Springer, vol. 3(3), pages 493-513, October.
    13. Muna Shifa & David Gordon & Murray Leibbrandt & Mary Zhang, 2022. "Socioeconomic-Related Inequalities in COVID-19 Vulnerability in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-20, August.
    14. Luis Monroy‐Gómez‐Franco & Paloma Villagómez‐Ornelas, 2024. "Stratification economics in the land of persistent inequalities," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 83(1), pages 157-175, January.
    15. Frolov, Daniil, 2018. "Постинституционализм: За Пределами Институционального Мейнстрима [Post-institutionalism: Beyond the Institutional Mainstream]," MPRA Paper 90287, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Enza Simeone, 2023. "Inequality in health status during the COVID-19 in the UK: does the impact of the second lockdown policy matter?," Working Papers 661, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    17. Frederick A. J. Simon & Maria Schenk & Denise Palm & Frank Faltraco & Johannes Thome, 2021. "The Collateral Damage of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Mental Health and Psychiatry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-10, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4829-:d:547359. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.