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Socioeconomic-Related Inequalities in COVID-19 Vulnerability in South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Muna Shifa

    (Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa)

  • David Gordon

    (School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK)

  • Murray Leibbrandt

    (Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa)

  • Mary Zhang

    (Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6LH, UK)

Abstract

Individuals’ vulnerability to the risk of COVID-19 infection varies due to their health, socioeconomic, and living circumstances, which also affect the effectiveness of implementing non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs). In this study, we analysed socioeconomic-related inequalities in COVID-19 vulnerability using data from the nationally representative South African General Household Survey 2019. We developed a COVID-19 vulnerability index, which includes health and social risk factors for COVID-19 exposure and susceptibility. The concentration curve and concentration index were used to measure socioeconomic-related inequalities in COVID-19 vulnerability. Recentred influence function regression was then utilised to decompose factors that explain the socioeconomic-related inequalities in COVID-19 vulnerability. The concentration index estimates were all negative and highly significant ( p < 0.01), indicating that vulnerability to COVID-19 was more concentrated among the poor. According to the decomposition analysis, higher income and education significantly ( p < 0.01) positively impacted lowering socioeconomic-related COVID-19 vulnerability. Living in an urban region, being Black, and old all had significant ( p < 0.01) positive impacts on increasing socioeconomic-related COVID-19 vulnerability. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of socially defined COVID-19-vulnerable populations in South Africa and the implications for future pandemic preparedness plans.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:10480-:d:895183
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