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Identity and COVID-19 in Canada: Gender, ethnicity, and minority status

Author

Listed:
  • Roland Pongou
  • Bright Opoku Ahinkorah
  • Marie Christelle Mabeu
  • Arunika Agarwal
  • Stéphanie Maltais
  • Aissata Boubacar Moumouni
  • Sanni Yaya

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, growing evidence from the United States, the United Kingdom, and China has demonstrated the unequal social and economic burden of this health crisis. Yet, in Canada, studies assessing the socioeconomic and demographic determinants of COVID-19, and how these determinants vary by gender and ethnic minority status, remain scarce. As new strains of COVID-19 emerge, it is important to understand the disparities to be able to initiate policies and interventions that target and prioritise the most at-risk sub-populations. Aim: The objective of this study is to assess the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with COVID-19-related symptoms in Canada, and how these determinants vary by identity factors including gender and visible minority status. Methods: We implemented an online survey and collected a nationally representative sample of 2,829 individual responses. The original data collected via the SurveyMonkey platform were analysed using a cross-sectional study. The outcome variables were COVID-19-related symptoms among respondents and their household members. The exposure variables were socioeconomic and demographic factors including gender and ethnicity as well as age, province, minority status, level of education, total annual income in 2019, and number of household members. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to test the associations. The results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) at p

Suggested Citation

  • Roland Pongou & Bright Opoku Ahinkorah & Marie Christelle Mabeu & Arunika Agarwal & Stéphanie Maltais & Aissata Boubacar Moumouni & Sanni Yaya, 2023. "Identity and COVID-19 in Canada: Gender, ethnicity, and minority status," PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(5), pages 1-21, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pgph00:0001156
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001156
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Roland Pongou, 2015. "Sex Differences in Early-Age Mortality: The Preconception Origins Hypothesis," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 52(6), pages 2053-2056, December.
    2. Roland Pongou, 2013. "Erratum to: Why Is Infant Mortality Higher in Boys Than in Girls? A New Hypothesis Based on Preconception Environment and Evidence From a Large Sample of Twins," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(2), pages 445-446, April.
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