Socioeconomic disadvantages and vulnerability to the pandemic among children and youth: A macro-level investigation of American counties. (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yuan, Bocong; Huang, Xinting; Li, Jiannan; He, Longtao
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 136(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: Children and youth -- Pandemic -- Socioeconomic disadvantages -- Health risk; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Social work with youth -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Child Welfare -- Periodicals; Social Work -- Periodicals; Service social aux enfants -- Périodiques; Service social à la jeunesse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106429
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Highlights: The percentage of single parent families is positively associated with the infection risk in an area. The percentage of low birth weight positively predicts the infection risk. The percentage of families with severe housing problems positively affects the infection risk. Socioeconomic disadvantages contribute to the disproportionate risk in the pandemic. Abstract: This study intends to reveal the underlying structural inequity in vulnerability to infection of the novel coronavirus disease pandemic among children and youth. Using multi-source data from New York Times novel coronavirus disease tracking project and County Health Rankings & Roadmap Program, this study shows that children and youth in socioeconomically disadvantaged status are faced with disproportionate risk of infection in this pandemic. On the county level, socioeconomic disadvantages (i.e., single parent family, low birthweight, severe housing problems) contribute to the confirmed cases and death cases of the novel coronavirus disease. Policymakers should pay more attention to this vulnerable group to implement more targeted and effective epidemic prevention and control.