Socio-Economic and Demographic Factors Associated with the Spatial Distribution of COVID-19 in Africa

This study evaluates the geo-statistical distribution of COVID-19 to identify critical areas of Africa using spatial clustering pattern analysis. In addition, the spatial correlation between infected cases and variables such as the unemployment rate, gross domestic product (GDP), population, and vaccination rate is calculated using Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) analysis. The hot-spot map showed a statistically significant cluster of high values in southern and northern Africa. Moreover, the outcome of the GWR analysis revealed the GDP and population had the most significant correlation with the spreading of COVID-19, with Local R2 values of (0.01 –0.99) and (0–0.89), respectively.
Source: Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research