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Martinez-Beneito MA, Marí-Dell'Olmo M, Sánchez-Valdivia N, Rodríguez-Sanz M, Pérez G, Pasarín MI, Rius C, Artazcoz L, Prieto R, Pérez K, Borrell C. Socioeconomic inequalities in COVID-19 incidence during the first six waves in Barcelona. Int J Epidemiol 2023; 52:1687-1695. [PMID: 37494962 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyad105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 affected urban areas. In Barcelona, six waves of COVID-19 hit the city between March 2020 and March 2022. Inequalities in the incidence of COVID-19 have been described. However, no studies have examined the daily trends of socioeconomic inequalities and how they changed during the different phases of the pandemic. The aim of this study is to analyse the dynamic socioeconomic inequalities in the incidence of COVID-19 during the six waves in Barcelona. METHODS We examined the proportion of daily cases observed in the census tracts in the lower income tercile compared with the proportion of daily cases observed in the sum of the lower and higher income terciles. Daily differences in these proportions were assessed as a function of the epidemic waves, sex, age group, daily incidence and daily change in the incidence. A logistic regression model with an autoregressive term was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS A time-dynamic effect was found for socioeconomic inequalities in the incidence of COVID-19. In fact, belonging to a lower-income area changed from being a risk factor (Waves 1, 2, 4 and 5) to being a protective factor in the sixth wave of the pandemic. Age also had a significant effect on incidence, which also changed over the different waves of the pandemic. Finally, the lower-income areas showed a comparatively lower incidence during the ascending phase of the epidemic waves. CONCLUSION Socioeconomic inequalities in COVID-19 changed by wave, age group and wave phase.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc Marí-Dell'Olmo
- Unit of Data Management and Analysis, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB, SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Maica Rodríguez-Sanz
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB, SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Unit of Research, Training and Communication, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Glòria Pérez
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB, SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Unit of COVID-19, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Isabel Pasarín
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB, SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Direction of Health Promotion, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Rius
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB, SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Service of Epidemiology, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucía Artazcoz
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB, SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Direction of Health Observatory, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Prieto
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB, SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Service of Epidemiology, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Katherine Pérez
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB, SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Service of Health Information Systems, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carme Borrell
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB, SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Executive Director, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
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Mulvey M, O'Sullivan T, Fraser S. Upholding dignity during a pandemic via Twitter. F1000Res 2023; 12:183. [PMID: 38505400 PMCID: PMC10948971 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.129829.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: This article investigates how people invoked the concept of dignity on Twitter during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a secondary focus on mentions of dignity in the context of older adults and ageing. Methods: We report the results of a study that combines text analytic and interpretive methods to analyze word clusters and dignity-based themes in a cross-national sample of 1,946 original messages posted in 2020. Results: The study finds that dignity discourse on Twitter advances five major themes: (a) recognize dignity as a fundamental right, (b) uphold the dignity of essential workers, (c) preserve the dignity of at-risk populations, (d) prevent cascading disasters that exacerbate dignity's decline, and (e) attend to death, dignity, and the sanctity of life. Conclusions: Moreover, messages focusing on older adults lamented the disproportionate death toll, the terrible circumstances in long-term care homes, the added impact of suspended meal delivery services and the status of older people living below the poverty line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Mulvey
- LIFE Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada
- Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Tracey O'Sullivan
- LIFE Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Sarah Fraser
- LIFE Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada
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Esteve-Matalí L, Llorens-Serrano C, Alonso J, Vilagut G, Moncada S, Navarro-Giné A. Mental health inequalities in times of crisis: evolution between 2005 and 2021 among the Spanish salaried population. J Epidemiol Community Health 2022; 77:jech-2022-219523. [PMID: 36344271 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2022-219523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studying the working population's mental health in times of crisis (such as the 2008 recession or the COVID-19 pandemic) is very relevant. This study aims to assess the prevalence of poor mental health among the Spanish salaried population, according to the labour market inequality axes (2005-2021). METHODS Repeated cross-sectional study by comparing different surveys from 2005, 2010, 2016 and 2021 on workers residing in Spain who had been working in a salaried job during the week preceding the survey. n=7197 (2005), n=4985 (2010), n=1807 (2016) and n=18 870 (2021). OUTCOME VARIABLE poor mental health (Mental Health Inventory of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey scale). Explanatory variables: gender, age, occupational class and type of contract. Prevalence of poor mental health was estimated for each year by means of logistic regression models with robust clustered SEs, stratifying by the explanatory variables. Additionally, prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated by means of robust Poisson regression models to assess differences between the explanatory variables' categories. All analyses were weighted to address unrepresentativeness. RESULTS Poor mental health significantly increased in 2021 (55.92%), compared with the previous years of study (15%-17.72%). Additionally, pattern changes were identified on inequality axes in 2021, with better mental health status among older workers (oldest group PR: 0.76; 95% CI 0.71 to 0.8) and permanent workers (PR: 0.9; 95% CI 0.85 to 0.94). CONCLUSION This study shows a steep worsening of mental health among the salaried population in 2021 compared with previous periods. In 2021, health inequalities have apparently narrowed, although not by improving the disadvantaged groups' mental health but by worsening the typically advantaged groups' mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Esteve-Matalí
- Research Group on Psychosocial Risks, Organization of Work and Health (POWAH), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- Biostatistics Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Clara Llorens-Serrano
- Research Group on Psychosocial Risks, Organization of Work and Health (POWAH), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- Instituto Sindical de Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud-Fundación Primero de Mayo (ISTAS-F1M), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Sociology and Political Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Jordi Alonso
- Health Services Research Unit, IMIM - Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Vilagut
- Health Services Research Unit, IMIM - Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvador Moncada
- Instituto Sindical de Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud-Fundación Primero de Mayo (ISTAS-F1M), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Navarro-Giné
- Research Group on Psychosocial Risks, Organization of Work and Health (POWAH), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- Biostatistics Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- Institute for Labour Studies (IET), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
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Vinueza-Cabezas A, Osejo-Taco G, Unda-López A, Paz C, Hidalgo-Andrade P. A Comparison of Working Conditions and Workers' Perceptions among On-Site, Telework, and Hybrid Workers in Ecuador during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14337. [PMID: 36361220 PMCID: PMC9657088 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies to adopt different work modalities to ensure their operation during this period. In this study, we described and compared working conditions and perceptions among face-to-face workers, teleworkers, and hybrid workers in Ecuador. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 542 participants, using a self-report survey to assess sociodemographic data, working conditions, and workers' perceptions. Variables were described and then compared by the Chi-square test, ANOVA, and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The results indicated a higher proportion of on-site workers without higher education and in the public sector compared to the other modalities. At the same time, there was evidence of increased perceived productivity. People in the hybrid modality tended to have more than one job, earning a higher monthly salary, perceiving a decrease in productivity, an increase in daily working hours, and a lower capacity for time management. In addition, most teleworkers reported fair working conditions, a dedicated workspace, and easy adaptation to this work mode. This study builds a more in-depth understanding of how workers perceived their working conditions among work modalities for organizational decision-making because the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic is modifying the ways of working permanently.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriel Osejo-Taco
- Escuela de Psicología y Educación, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170124, Ecuador
| | - Alejandro Unda-López
- Escuela de Psicología y Educación, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170124, Ecuador
| | - Clara Paz
- Escuela de Psicología y Educación, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170124, Ecuador
| | - Paula Hidalgo-Andrade
- Escuela de Psicología y Educación, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170124, Ecuador
- Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica
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Sant Fruchtman C, Fischer FB, Monzón Llamas L, Tavakkoli M, Cobos Muñoz D, Antillon M. Did COVID-19 Policies Have the Same Effect on COVID-19 Incidence Among Women and Men? Evidence From Spain and Switzerland. Int J Public Health 2022; 67:1604994. [PMID: 36204009 PMCID: PMC9530041 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate how COVID-19 prevention policies influenced the COVID-19 incidence in men and women. Methods: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study using the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health and the Spanish Ministry of Health surveillance data for February 2020–June 2021 to explore sex and age differences in COVID-19 cases and testing. The female-male incidence rate ratios (IRR) were estimated for each week of the pandemic. We complemented our analysis with qualitative information on relevant containment measures in each country. Results: In Switzerland and in Spain, there was an excess of cases in women of 20–59 years old and 80+. This excess of cases was significant during the waves of the pandemic in both countries. In Switzerland, the biggest difference was observed for the age group 20–29, reaching an excess of 94% of cases compared to men during the first wave of COVID-19 (March–May 2020). The excess of cases in women was greater in Spain than in Switzerland, where it reached 159% for women aged 20–29 during the first wave (March–June 2020). In both countries, the age groups 60–79 had a significant excess of cases in men during the pandemic. Conclusion: COVID-19 public health policies affect men and women in different ways. Our findings highlight the importance of gender-sensitive responses to address a public health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Sant Fruchtman
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Carmen Sant Fruchtman, ; Marina Antillon,
| | - Fabienne Beatrice Fischer
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Maryam Tavakkoli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Cobos Muñoz
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marina Antillon
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Carmen Sant Fruchtman, ; Marina Antillon,
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Schippers MC, Ioannidis JPA, Joffe AR. Aggressive measures, rising inequalities, and mass formation during the COVID-19 crisis: An overview and proposed way forward. Front Public Health 2022; 10:950965. [PMID: 36159300 PMCID: PMC9491114 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.950965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
A series of aggressive restrictive measures were adopted around the world in 2020-2022 to attempt to prevent SARS-CoV-2 from spreading. However, it has become increasingly clear the most aggressive (lockdown) response strategies may involve negative side-effects such as a steep increase in poverty, hunger, and inequalities. Several economic, educational, and health repercussions have fallen disproportionately on children, students, young workers, and especially on groups with pre-existing inequalities such as low-income families, ethnic minorities, and women. This has led to a vicious cycle of rising inequalities and health issues. For example, educational and financial security decreased along with rising unemployment and loss of life purpose. Domestic violence surged due to dysfunctional families being forced to spend more time with each other. In the current narrative and scoping review, we describe macro-dynamics that are taking place because of aggressive public health policies and psychological tactics to influence public behavior, such as mass formation and crowd behavior. Coupled with the effect of inequalities, we describe how these factors can interact toward aggravating ripple effects. In light of evidence regarding the health, economic and social costs, that likely far outweigh potential benefits, the authors suggest that, first, where applicable, aggressive lockdown policies should be reversed and their re-adoption in the future should be avoided. If measures are needed, these should be non-disruptive. Second, it is important to assess dispassionately the damage done by aggressive measures and offer ways to alleviate the burden and long-term effects. Third, the structures in place that have led to counterproductive policies should be assessed and ways should be sought to optimize decision-making, such as counteracting groupthink and increasing the level of reflexivity. Finally, a package of scalable positive psychology interventions is suggested to counteract the damage done and improve humanity's prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaéla C. Schippers
- Department of Technology and Operations Management, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Michaéla C. Schippers
| | - John P. A. Ioannidis
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States,Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States,Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States,Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States,Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Ari R. Joffe
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stollery Children's Hospital, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada,John Dossetor Health Ethics Center, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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