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Determinants of differences in RT-PCR testing rates among Southeast Asian countries during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Van Haute
  • Alexandra Agagon
  • Franz Froilan Gumapac
  • Marie Abigail Anticuando
  • Dianne Nicole Coronel
  • Mary Coleen David
  • Dan Ardie Davocol
  • Eunice Jairah Din
  • Carlos Alfonso Grey
  • Young Hee Lee
  • Marvin Bryan Muyot
  • Charissma Leiah Ragasa
  • Genesis Shao
  • Cailin Adrienne Tamaña
  • Trixia Scholastica Uy
  • Jeriel De Silos

Abstract

A positive correlation has been demonstrated between gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and COVID-19 tests per 1000 people. Although frequently used as an indicator of economic performance, GDP per capita does not directly reflect income distribution inequalities and imposed health costs. In this longitudinal ecological study, we aimed to determine if, besides GDP per capita, indicators relating to governance, public health measures enforcement, and health and research investment explain differences in RT-PCR testing rates among countries in Southeast Asia (SEA) during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using open-access COVID-19 panel data, we estimated the effect of various indicators (GDP per capita, health expenditure per capita, number of researchers per one million population, corruption perceptions index, stringency index, regional authority index) on daily COVID-19 testing by performing fixed-effects negative binomial regression. After accounting for all indicators, the number of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases, and population density, the model provided a 2019 GDP per capita coefficient of 0.0046330 (95% CI: 0.0040171, 0.0052488; p

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Van Haute & Alexandra Agagon & Franz Froilan Gumapac & Marie Abigail Anticuando & Dianne Nicole Coronel & Mary Coleen David & Dan Ardie Davocol & Eunice Jairah Din & Carlos Alfonso Grey & Youn, 2023. "Determinants of differences in RT-PCR testing rates among Southeast Asian countries during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic," PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(11), pages 1-22, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pgph00:0002593
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002593
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