Socioeconomic differences in the reduction of face-to-face contacts in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to physical distancing measures to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Evidence on contact dynamics in different socioeconomic groups is still sparse. This study aimed to investigate the association of socioeconomic status with private and professional...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14811-4 |
| _version_ | 1828086902495903744 |
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| author | Julia Waldhauer Florian Beese Benjamin Wachtler Sebastian Haller Carmen Koschollek Timo-Kolja Pförtner Jens Hoebel |
| author_facet | Julia Waldhauer Florian Beese Benjamin Wachtler Sebastian Haller Carmen Koschollek Timo-Kolja Pförtner Jens Hoebel |
| author_sort | Julia Waldhauer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to physical distancing measures to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Evidence on contact dynamics in different socioeconomic groups is still sparse. This study aimed to investigate the association of socioeconomic status with private and professional contact reductions in the first COVID-19 wave in Germany. Methods Data from two especially affected municipalities were derived from the population-based cross-sectional seroepidemiological CORONA-MONITORING lokal study (data collection May–July 2020). The study sample (n = 3,637) was restricted to working age (18–67 years). We calculated the association of educational and occupational status (low, medium, high) with self-reported private and professional contact reductions with respect to former contact levels in the first wave of the pandemic. Multivariate Poisson regressions were performed to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) adjusted for municipality, age, gender, country of birth, household size, contact levels before physical distancing measures, own infection status, contact to SARS-CoV-2 infected people and working remotely. Results The analyses showed significant differences in the initial level of private and professional contacts by educational and occupational status. Less private contact reductions with lower educational status (PR low vs. high = 0,79 [CI = 0.68–0.91], p = 0.002; PR medium vs. high = 0,93 [CI = 0.89–0.97], p = 0.001) and less professional contact reductions with lower educational status (PR low vs. high = 0,87 [CI = 0.70–1.07], p = 0.179; PR medium vs. high = 0,89 [CI = 0.83–0.95], p = 0.001) and lower occupational status (PR low vs. high = 0,62 [CI = 0.55–0.71], p < 0.001; PR medium vs. high = 0,82 [CI = 0.77–0.88], p < 0.001) were observed. Conclusions Our results indicate disadvantages for groups with lower socioeconomic status in private and professional contact reductions in the first wave of the pandemic. This may be associated with the higher risk of infection among individuals in lower socioeconomic groups. Preventive measures that a) adequately explain the importance of contact restrictions with respect to varying living and working conditions and b) facilitate the implementation of these reductions especially in the occupational setting seem necessary to better protect structurally disadvantaged groups during epidemics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:03:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aee668c086aa4153b24b2c696934b302 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:03:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-aee668c086aa4153b24b2c696934b3022022-12-25T12:32:44ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-12-0122111110.1186/s12889-022-14811-4Socioeconomic differences in the reduction of face-to-face contacts in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in GermanyJulia Waldhauer0Florian Beese1Benjamin Wachtler2Sebastian Haller3Carmen Koschollek4Timo-Kolja Pförtner5Jens Hoebel6Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Division of Social Determinants of Health, Robert Koch InstituteDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Division of Social Determinants of Health, Robert Koch InstituteDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Division of Social Determinants of Health, Robert Koch InstituteDepartment of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Healthcare-Associated Infections, Surveillance of Antibiotic Resistance and Consumption, Robert Koch InstituteDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Division of Social Determinants of Health, Robert Koch InstituteResearch Methods Division, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of CologneDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Division of Social Determinants of Health, Robert Koch InstituteAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to physical distancing measures to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Evidence on contact dynamics in different socioeconomic groups is still sparse. This study aimed to investigate the association of socioeconomic status with private and professional contact reductions in the first COVID-19 wave in Germany. Methods Data from two especially affected municipalities were derived from the population-based cross-sectional seroepidemiological CORONA-MONITORING lokal study (data collection May–July 2020). The study sample (n = 3,637) was restricted to working age (18–67 years). We calculated the association of educational and occupational status (low, medium, high) with self-reported private and professional contact reductions with respect to former contact levels in the first wave of the pandemic. Multivariate Poisson regressions were performed to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) adjusted for municipality, age, gender, country of birth, household size, contact levels before physical distancing measures, own infection status, contact to SARS-CoV-2 infected people and working remotely. Results The analyses showed significant differences in the initial level of private and professional contacts by educational and occupational status. Less private contact reductions with lower educational status (PR low vs. high = 0,79 [CI = 0.68–0.91], p = 0.002; PR medium vs. high = 0,93 [CI = 0.89–0.97], p = 0.001) and less professional contact reductions with lower educational status (PR low vs. high = 0,87 [CI = 0.70–1.07], p = 0.179; PR medium vs. high = 0,89 [CI = 0.83–0.95], p = 0.001) and lower occupational status (PR low vs. high = 0,62 [CI = 0.55–0.71], p < 0.001; PR medium vs. high = 0,82 [CI = 0.77–0.88], p < 0.001) were observed. Conclusions Our results indicate disadvantages for groups with lower socioeconomic status in private and professional contact reductions in the first wave of the pandemic. This may be associated with the higher risk of infection among individuals in lower socioeconomic groups. Preventive measures that a) adequately explain the importance of contact restrictions with respect to varying living and working conditions and b) facilitate the implementation of these reductions especially in the occupational setting seem necessary to better protect structurally disadvantaged groups during epidemics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14811-4COVID-19SARS-CoV-2Educational statusOccupational statusContact reductionSocial epidemiology |
| spellingShingle | Julia Waldhauer Florian Beese Benjamin Wachtler Sebastian Haller Carmen Koschollek Timo-Kolja Pförtner Jens Hoebel Socioeconomic differences in the reduction of face-to-face contacts in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany BMC Public Health COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Educational status Occupational status Contact reduction Social epidemiology |
| title | Socioeconomic differences in the reduction of face-to-face contacts in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany |
| title_full | Socioeconomic differences in the reduction of face-to-face contacts in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Socioeconomic differences in the reduction of face-to-face contacts in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Socioeconomic differences in the reduction of face-to-face contacts in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany |
| title_short | Socioeconomic differences in the reduction of face-to-face contacts in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany |
| title_sort | socioeconomic differences in the reduction of face to face contacts in the first wave of the covid 19 pandemic in germany |
| topic | COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Educational status Occupational status Contact reduction Social epidemiology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14811-4 |
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