Investigating COVID-19 transmission and mortality differences between indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Mexico
Objectives: Indigenous populations have been disproportionately affected during pandemics. We investigated COVID-19 mortality estimates among indigenous and non-indigenous populations at national and sub-national levels in Mexico. Methods: We obtained data from the Ministry of Health, Mexico, on 2,1...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-09-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971222004477 |
| _version_ | 1817995069166190592 |
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| author | Sushma Dahal Svenn-Erik Mamelund Ruiyan Luo Lisa Sattenspiel Shannon Self-Brown Gerardo Chowell |
| author_facet | Sushma Dahal Svenn-Erik Mamelund Ruiyan Luo Lisa Sattenspiel Shannon Self-Brown Gerardo Chowell |
| author_sort | Sushma Dahal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: Indigenous populations have been disproportionately affected during pandemics. We investigated COVID-19 mortality estimates among indigenous and non-indigenous populations at national and sub-national levels in Mexico. Methods: We obtained data from the Ministry of Health, Mexico, on 2,173,036 laboratory-confirmed RT-PCR positive COVID-19 cases and 238,803 deaths. We estimated mortality per 1000 person-weeks, mortality rate ratio (RR) among indigenous vs. non-indigenous groups, and hazard ratio (HR) for COVID-19 deaths across four waves of the pandemic, from February 2020 to March 2022. We also assessed differences in the reproduction number (Rt). Results: The mortality rate among indigenous populations of Mexico was 68% higher than that of non-indigenous groups. Out of 32 federal entities, 23 exhibited higher mortality rates among indigenous groups (P < 0.05 in 13 entities). The fourth wave showed the highest RR (2.40). The crude HR was 1.67 (95% CI: 1.62, 1.72), which decreased to 1.08 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.11) after controlling for other covariates. During the intense fourth wave, the Rt among the two groups was comparable. Conclusion: Indigenous status is a significant risk factor for COVID-19 mortality in Mexico. Our findings may reflect disparities in non-pharmaceutical (e.g., handwashing and using facemasks), and COVID-19 vaccination interventions among indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Mexico. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:00:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-afc632e822df4ae79e322834a072455c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1201-9712 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:00:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-afc632e822df4ae79e322834a072455c2022-12-22T02:18:50ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases1201-97122022-09-01122910920Investigating COVID-19 transmission and mortality differences between indigenous and non-indigenous populations in MexicoSushma Dahal0Svenn-Erik Mamelund1Ruiyan Luo2Lisa Sattenspiel3Shannon Self-Brown4Gerardo Chowell5School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA; Correspondence to: Sushma Dahal, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, Georgia, 30302-3995.Centre for Research on Pandemics & Society, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, NorwaySchool of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USACollege of Arts and Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, USASchool of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USASchool of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USAObjectives: Indigenous populations have been disproportionately affected during pandemics. We investigated COVID-19 mortality estimates among indigenous and non-indigenous populations at national and sub-national levels in Mexico. Methods: We obtained data from the Ministry of Health, Mexico, on 2,173,036 laboratory-confirmed RT-PCR positive COVID-19 cases and 238,803 deaths. We estimated mortality per 1000 person-weeks, mortality rate ratio (RR) among indigenous vs. non-indigenous groups, and hazard ratio (HR) for COVID-19 deaths across four waves of the pandemic, from February 2020 to March 2022. We also assessed differences in the reproduction number (Rt). Results: The mortality rate among indigenous populations of Mexico was 68% higher than that of non-indigenous groups. Out of 32 federal entities, 23 exhibited higher mortality rates among indigenous groups (P < 0.05 in 13 entities). The fourth wave showed the highest RR (2.40). The crude HR was 1.67 (95% CI: 1.62, 1.72), which decreased to 1.08 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.11) after controlling for other covariates. During the intense fourth wave, the Rt among the two groups was comparable. Conclusion: Indigenous status is a significant risk factor for COVID-19 mortality in Mexico. Our findings may reflect disparities in non-pharmaceutical (e.g., handwashing and using facemasks), and COVID-19 vaccination interventions among indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Mexico.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971222004477COVID-19 mortalityIndigenousMexicoDisparityHazard RatioReproduction number |
| spellingShingle | Sushma Dahal Svenn-Erik Mamelund Ruiyan Luo Lisa Sattenspiel Shannon Self-Brown Gerardo Chowell Investigating COVID-19 transmission and mortality differences between indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Mexico International Journal of Infectious Diseases COVID-19 mortality Indigenous Mexico Disparity Hazard Ratio Reproduction number |
| title | Investigating COVID-19 transmission and mortality differences between indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Mexico |
| title_full | Investigating COVID-19 transmission and mortality differences between indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Investigating COVID-19 transmission and mortality differences between indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating COVID-19 transmission and mortality differences between indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Mexico |
| title_short | Investigating COVID-19 transmission and mortality differences between indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Mexico |
| title_sort | investigating covid 19 transmission and mortality differences between indigenous and non indigenous populations in mexico |
| topic | COVID-19 mortality Indigenous Mexico Disparity Hazard Ratio Reproduction number |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971222004477 |
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