COVID-19 in the State of Ceará: Impact of the human development index (HDI) on casuistry

Abstract

COVID-19 is caused by an enveloped RNA virus, which causes infection of the lower respiratory tract, mostly accompanied by cough, fever and dyspnoea. The aim of this study is to analyze the correlation of the COVID-19 series with the human development index, showing the scenario of bed occupancy rates in the public and private network of the State of Ceará. This is a descriptive study. The correlation of the number of cases per HDI in the neighborhoods of Fortaleza is 702 (11.3%) very high HDI, 347 (5.6%) high HDI, 419 (6.7%) average HDI, 1,301 (20.9 %) Low HDI and 3,447 (55.5%) very low HDI. Number of deaths by HDI in the neighborhoods of Fortaleza, are 31 (6.2%) very high HDI, 11 (2.2%) high HDI, 104 (20.8%) medium HDI, 99 (19.8%) HDI low and 254 (50.9%) very low HDI. The correlation of the number of cases per HDI of the municipalities in the interior of the State of Ceará is 433 (10.6%) high HDI, 3,371 (82.5%) medium HDI and 284 (6.9%) low HDI. Number of deaths per HDI are, 12 (6.0%) high HDI, 18 (9.0%) medium HDI and 170 (85%) low HDI. It is concluded by the present study that the population most affected by COVID-19 is the one with the lowest HDI, consequently difficulties in the social sphere. The largest number of cases is concentrated in the capital and metropolitan region, but COVID-19 has already reached 92% of the cities in the state. It is considered an initiation of the disease in the interior, and may intensify in the coming weeks. There is also a collapse in the private health sector in Ceará. </>