Sociodemographic Differences in COVID-19 Self-Reported Symptoms by Ethnicity and Older Adults in Bolivia.

Abstract

The effects of COVID-19 revealed the fragility of health systems in the LAC region, with greater risk of death in older people than in younger people, as well as greater vulnerability to infection due to living with people aged 30-59 years, who have a higher prevalence of COVID-19. On the other hand, there is not much information on inequalities in the incidence of COVID-19 in indigenous people, a population with lower immunological resistance. The objectives are: 1) To determine the association between sociodemographic variables with self-reported COVID-19 symptoms. 2) To investigate whether this relationship shows inequalities by ethnicity and age. For that purpose I conducted a cross-sectional analysis using the 2020 Household Survey and investigated the association between sociodemographic variables and self -reported COVID-19 symptoms and explore the contribution of factors such as employment type, household living arrangements, years of education, age, ethnicity, gender, current status of working and residence area. I performed bivariate analysis to establish trends. Subsequently using logistic regressions to establish the risks to self-reported COVID-19 symptoms. A fully interacted model is analysed by ethnicity. I found those who were living alone were less likely than those living in a Couple with/without relatives' household arrangement to self-reported COVID-19 symptoms (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66-0.94, p < .01). Odds of the older persons aged 45-59 (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.27-1.62, p < .05) were relatively more likely than younger people (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.05-1.35, p < .01). Indigenous living in a couple with/without children household arrangement were less likely than non-Indigenous (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.62-0.90, p < .01). Odds of Indigenous people of age 30-44 (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04-1.53, p < .01) were more likely than non-Indigenous. Odds of Indigenous persons of age 45-59 (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.32-1.91, p < .05) were more likely than non-Indigenous (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.12-1.55, p < .01). As conclusions, 45-59 age group shows higher risk factors and those aged 60 + show lower risks. These are increased in people working in managerial, administrative and professional, and technical positions, those living in a household with/without relatives, men, those living in urban areas, and/or non-indigenous people.