Research

Understanding the differential impacts of COVID-19 among hospitalised patients in South Africa for equitable response

N Phaswana-Mafuya, O Shisana, W Jassat, S D Baral, Keletso Makofane, E Phalane, Khangelani Zuma, N Zungu, Martha Chadyiwa

Abstract


Background. There are limited in-depth analyses of COVID-19 differential impacts, especially in resource-limited settings such as South Africa (SA).

Objectives. To explore context-specific sociodemographic heterogeneities in order to understand the differential impacts of COVID-19.

Methods. Descriptive epidemiological COVID-19 hospitalisation and mortality data were drawn from daily hospital surveillance data, National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) update reports (6 March 2020 - 24 January 2021) and the Eastern Cape Daily Epidemiological Report (as of 24 March 2021). We examined hospitalisations and mortality by sociodemographics (age using 10-year age bands, sex and race) using absolute numbers, proportions and ratios. The data are presented using tables received from the NICD, and charts were created to show trends and patterns. Mortality rates (per 100 000 population) were calculated using population estimates as a denominator for standardisation. Associations were determined through relative risks (RRs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and p-values <0.001.

Results. Black African females had a significantly higher rate of hospitalisation (8.7% (95% CI 8.5 - 8.9)) compared with coloureds, Indians and whites (6.7% (95% CI 6.0 - 7.4), 6.3% (95% CI 5.5 - 7.2) and 4% (95% CI 3.5 - 4.5), respectively). Similarly, black African females had the highest hospitalisation rates at a younger age category of 30 - 39 years (16.1%) compared with other race groups. Whites were hospitalised at older ages than other races, with a median age of 63 years. Black Africans were hospitalised at younger ages than other race groups, with a median age of 52 years. Whites were significantly more likely to die at older ages compared with black Africans (RR 1.07; 95% CI 1.06 - 1.08) or coloureds (RR 1.44; 95% CI 1.33 - 1.54); a similar pattern was found between Indians and whites (RR 1.59; 95% CI 1.47 - 1.73). Women died at older ages than men, although they were admitted to hospital at younger ages. Among black Africans and coloureds, females (50.9 deaths per 100 000 and 37 per 100 000, respectively) had a higher COVID-19 death rate than males (41.2 per 100 000 and 41.5 per 100 000, respectively). However, among Indians and whites, males had higher rates of deaths than females. The ratio of deaths to hospitalisations by race and gender increased with increasing age. In each age group, this ratio was highest among black Africans and lowest among whites.

Conclusions. The study revealed the heterogeneous nature of COVID-19 impacts in SA. Existing socioeconomic inequalities appear to shape COVID-19 impacts, with a disproportionate effect on black Africans and marginalised and low socioeconomic groups. These differential impacts call for considered attention to mitigating the health disparities among black Africans.

 


Authors' affiliations

N Phaswana-Mafuya, Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

O Shisana, Evidence Based Solutions, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

W Jassat, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa

S D Baral, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md., USA

Keletso Makofane, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Mass., USA

E Phalane, Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Khangelani Zuma, Human and Social Capabilities Research Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

N Zungu, Human and Social Capabilities Research Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Psychology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Martha Chadyiwa, Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

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Keywords

Coronavirus disease; South Africa; COVID-19 hospitalisation; COVID-19 mortality; Differential impacts

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2021;111(11):1084-1091. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2021.v111i11.15812

Article History

Date submitted: 2021-11-05
Date published: 2021-11-05

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