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Spatial inequality in accessibility to ICU beds in Brazilian municipalities in the Covid-19 pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Paulo Ricardo Ricco Uranga

    (Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS))

  • Natássia Molina Bayer

    (Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS))

  • Adelar Fochezatto

    (Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS))

Abstract

Due to the emergence of Covid-19, healthcare systems around the world have come under severe pressure. This highly contagious new virus causes severe breathing problems that require quick admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). Thus, good accessibility to ICU beds is essential to minimize the number of deaths. This study analyzes the inequality of access to ICU beds among Brazilian municipalities. For this, the spatial Gini index is calculated, considering the age and gender of the population, the number and location of beds and the distance separating the population from these beds. The findings show that there are regional differences in accessibility, being more limited in the North and Northeast regions. These regions are relatively poorer, and the North region is also characterized by having municipalities with a large territorial area and low population density. This is the first study on this topic for the Brazilian case.

Suggested Citation

  • Paulo Ricardo Ricco Uranga & Natássia Molina Bayer & Adelar Fochezatto, 2023. "Spatial inequality in accessibility to ICU beds in Brazilian municipalities in the Covid-19 pandemic," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 43(1), pages 537-549.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-22-00793
    as

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    File URL: http://www.accessecon.com/Pubs/EB/2023/Volume43/EB-23-V43-I1-P44.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pereira, Rafael H.M. & Braga, Carlos Kauê Vieira & Servo, Luciana Mendes & Serra, Bernardo & Amaral, Pedro & Gouveia, Nelson & Paez, Antonio, 2021. "Geographic access to COVID-19 healthcare in Brazil using a balanced float catchment area approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    2. Kim, Kyusik & Ghorbanzadeh, Mahyar & Horner, Mark W. & Ozguven, Eren Erman, 2021. "Identifying areas of potential critical healthcare shortages: A case study of spatial accessibility to ICU beds during the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 478-486.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Distance; Accessibility to hospital beds; Public policies; Covid-19; Inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H4 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods
    • H7 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations

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