COVID-19 mortality in Brazil: socioeconomic determinants across age groups
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5712/rbmfc21(48)4981Keywords:
COVID-19, Mortality, Health Inequalities, Primary Health Care, Social Determinants of HealthAbstract
Introduction: COVID-19 mortality is known to be higher among older populations, but determinants across different age groups remain poorly understood in countries with significant social inequalities. Objective: To evaluate the association between socioeconomic inequalities, primary healthcare availability, and COVID-19 mortality across age groups in Brazil during 2020. Methods: A population-based ecological study was conducted using data from the Ministry of Health and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística – IBGE. COVID-19 mortality rates were analyzed in three age groups (<30, 30–59, and ≥60 years) across 26 states and the Federal District. Negative Binomial Regression models adjusted for population size were fitted. Results: Mortality varied significantly by state and age group. Higher income inequality (Gini Index) was consistently associated with increased mortality (p<0.05), while greater availability of primary healthcare teams was linked to lower mortality (p<0.05). Conclusions: Social inequalities were associated with higher COVID-19 mortality in Brazil, underscoring the need for equitable public health policies and stronger primary healthcare systems.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Tatiana Lorena da Luz Kaestner, Luka David Lechinewski, Lucas Henrique Olandoski Erbano, Daiane Cristina Pazin, Maria Helena Gaya Pitz, Bruna Erbano, Thyago Proença de Moraes, Milton Severo, Marcia Olandoski, Jose Faria-Neto
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