Higher COVID-19 mortality in low-income communities in the City of Cape Town - a descriptive ecological study

Hannah Hussey; Nesbert Zinyakatira; Erna Morden; Muzzammil Ismail; Masudah Paleker; Jamy-Lee Bam; Leslie London; Andrew Boulle; Mary-Ann Davies

doi:10.12688/gatesopenres.13288.1

Higher COVID-19 mortality in low-income communities in the City of Cape Town - a descriptive ecological study

Gates Open Res. 2021 Jun 4:5:90. doi: 10.12688/gatesopenres.13288.1. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Hannah Hussey^{1

2}, Nesbert Zinyakatira^{1

2}, Erna Morden¹, Muzzammil Ismail^{1

2}, Masudah Paleker^{1

3}, Jamy-Lee Bam¹, Leslie London², Andrew Boulle^{1

2}, Mary-Ann Davies^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Health Intelligence, Western Cape Government: Health, Cape Town, South Africa.
² School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
³ Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.

Abstract

Background Cape Town, a South African city with high levels of economic inequality, has gone through two COVID-19 waves. There is evidence globally that low-income communities experience higher levels of morbidity and mortality during the pandemic. Methods Age-standardized COVID-19 mortality in the eight sub-districts of Cape Town was compared by economic indicators taken from the most recent Census (unemployment rate, monthly income). Results The overall Standardized Death Rate (SDR) for COVID-19 in Cape Town was 1 640 per million, but there was wide variation across the different sub-districts. A linear relationship was seen between sub-districts with high poverty and high COVID-19 SDRs. Conclusions Low-income communities in Cape Town experienced higher levels of COVID-19 mortality. As we continue to contend with COVID-19, these communities need to be prioritized for access to quality health care.

Keywords: COVID-19; low-income; mortality.

Abstract

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