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. 2021;5(3):799-810.
doi: 10.1007/s41748-021-00234-5. Epub 2021 Jun 14.

A Geographical Analysis of the African COVID-19 Paradox: Putting the Poverty-as-a-Vaccine Hypothesis to the Test

Tolulope Osayomi  1 , Richard Adeleke  1 , Lawrence Enejeta Akpoterai  1 , Opeyemi Caleb Fatayo  1 , Joy Temitope Ayanda  1 , Judah Moyin-Jesu  1 , Abdullahi Isioye  1 , Ayobami Abayomi Popoola  2
Affiliations

A Geographical Analysis of the African COVID-19 Paradox: Putting the Poverty-as-a-Vaccine Hypothesis to the Test

Tolulope Osayomi et al. Earth Syst Environ. 2021.

Abstract

The poverty-as-a-vaccine hypothesis came to light following the wide circulation of the controversial British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service post on the internet and social media. It was a theoretical response to what this paper has termed as "the African COVID-19 paradox" or what some have characterised as the "African COVID-19 anomaly" whose thesis is though Africa is the poorest continent in the world, yet it has some of the lowest COVID-19 infection and mortality rates globally. This paradoxical profile apparently contradicts earlier and grim projections by several international bodies on the fate of Africa in this global health crisis. Given this background, we specifically tested the validity of the hypothesis from a geographic perspective within the spatial framework of Africa. Data came from secondary sources. Evidence truly points out a significant negative relationship between COVID-19 and poverty in Africa and thus statistically supports the poverty-as-a-vaccine hypothesis. However, this does not confirm that poverty confers immunity against COVID-19 but it implicitly shows there are complex factors responsible for the anomaly. The main conclusion of the paper is that poverty has no protective immunity against COVID-19 in Africa and is therefore not tenable.

Keywords: Africa; African COVID-19 paradox; Air traffic; COVID-19; Poverty.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestNo conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Geographical distribution of COVID-19 morbidity in Africa (August 3, 2020 9.00AM EAT)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Geographical distribution of COVID-19 mortality in Africa (August 3, 2020 9. EAT)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
COVID-19 morbidity hotspots
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
COVID-19 mortality hotspots
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
The relationship between COVID-19 and poverty incidence
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Relationship between COVID-19 morbidity and Human Poverty Index
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Relationship between COVID-19 mortality and poverty incidence
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Relationship between COVID-19 mortality and Human Poverty Index
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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