COVID-19 in children in the state of Pernambuco: Spatial analysis of confirmed severe cases and the Human Development Index

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Amanda Priscila de Santana Cabral Silva, Eliane Rolim de Holanda, Paula Daniella de Abreu, Marcelo Victor de Arruda Freitas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2021
• Subjects: Pandemic; Coronavirus infections; Child health; Spatial analysis; Surveillance; Public health; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0782-2020; https://doaj.org/article/ecadb614ccf547ef8cacc2ea0107578f

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Health planning is required for the control and prevention of severe cases of COVID-19 in children. METHODS: Spatial analysis of severe COVID-19 cases in children of Pernambuco in the first six months of the pandemic and its autocorrelation with the Human Development Index was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 551 severe cases (39.4 cases/100,000 inhabitants) was initially concentrated in the metropolitan area, with later interiorization. The spatial autocorrelation of cases was identified. The bivariate analysis revealed alert regions in less developed municipalities (I=0.341; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the local particularities can assist in directing the priorities for decision making.