Open AccessImpact of COVID-19 and Socioeconomic Status on Delayed Care and Unemployment
Author(s) -
Karina Geranios,
Robert Kagabo,
Jaewhan Kim
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
health equity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.826
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2473-1242
DOI - 10.1089/heq.2021.0115
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , unemployment , demography , covid-19 , logistic regression , odds , medicine , odds ratio , population , gerontology , disease , economics , infectious disease (medical specialty) , sociology , pathology , economic growth
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may disproportionately impact minorities and individuals of low socioeconomic status (SES). This study examined unemployment and delayed care due to COVID-19. Methods: Using the Current Population Survey (CPS) from May through October 2020, two questions, namely unable to work and delayed care due to COVID-19, were examined. Unweighted summary statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 367,950 adult participants 18-64 years old at survey were included. Mean (standard deviation) age was 41 (14) years old, and 36% of the participants had family income ≤$25,000. About 12% reported unable to work and 3% had delayed care. Racial minorities had statistically significant higher likelihood of being unable to work. Individuals with the lowest income, ≤$25,000, had the most serious impact from COVID-19 (odds ratio=1.92, p <0.01). Conclusion: Individuals of racial minority groups and lower SES experienced the worst economic outcomes of employment losses.