ABSTRACT

COVID-19 can affect the entire population, but it poses an increased risk for particular population groups. Socioeconomic and demographic factors, as well as long-term health conditions, can make populations vulnerable to adverse health outcomes and mortality related to COVID-19. This study uses geospatial methods to visualise metrics of vulnerability to COVID-19 in New Zealand. Based on Ministry of Health guidelines, nationwide data on risk factors included age, ethnicity, population density, socioeconomic deprivation, smoking, long-term health conditions (cancer, cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, renal conditions, and respiratory illnesses), and health service awareness. Data were sourced from the Census (2018), the New Zealand Deprivation Index (NZDep2018), and the National Minimum Dataset (2011–2016). Factor analysis and bivariate mapping were used to identify areas of high vulnerability. Results demonstrate the unequal social and spatial vulnerabilities to COVID-19 across New Zealand. While some major cities were highlighted many areas also occurred outside of the major cities in smaller communities, which also typically have less access to healthcare and fewer resources. This study has generated data that may help mitigate potential inequality in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, or indeed for future pandemics.

摘要

COVID-19可以影响整个人群，但对特定人群而言却构成了更大的风险。社会经济和人口因素以及长期的健康状况会使人口容易受到不利健康结果和与COVID-19相关的死亡率的影响。这项研究使用地理空间方法来可视化新西兰对COVID-19的脆弱性指标。根据卫生部的指导原则，全国范围内有关危险因素的数据包括年龄，种族，人口密度，社会经济剥夺，吸烟，长期健康状况（癌症，心血管疾病，糖尿病，肾病和呼吸道疾病）以及对卫生服务的意识。数据来自人口普查（2018），新西兰贫困指数（NZDep2018）和国家最低数据集（2011-2016）。因子分析和双变量映射被用来识别高脆弱性区域。结果表明，整个新西兰对COVID-19的社会和空间脆弱性均不相同。虽然突出了一些主要城市，但许多地区也出现在较小社区的主要城市之外，这些地区通常也很少获得医疗保健和资源。这项研究产生的数据可能有助于减轻我们对COVID-19大流行甚至未来大流行的反应中潜在的不平等现象。这通常也减少了获得医疗保健和资源的机会。这项研究产生的数据可能有助于减轻我们对COVID-19大流行甚至未来大流行的反应中潜在的不平等现象。这通常也减少了获得医疗保健和资源的机会。这项研究产生的数据可能有助于减轻我们对COVID-19大流行甚至未来大流行的反应中潜在的不平等现象。