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. 2022 May 29;22(1):1067.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13388-2.

Socioeconomic and immigration status and COVID-19 testing in Toronto, Ontario: retrospective cross-sectional study

Braden O'Neill  1   2   3 , Sumeet Kalia  4 , Susan Hum  5   6 , Peter Gill  7   8   9 , Michelle Greiver  4   10 , Abirami Kirubarajan  11 , David Eisen  4   10 , Jacob Ferguson  11 , Sheila Dunn  5   6
Affiliations

Socioeconomic and immigration status and COVID-19 testing in Toronto, Ontario: retrospective cross-sectional study

Braden O'Neill et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Preliminary evidence suggests that individuals living in lower income neighbourhoods are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection. The relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 risk warrants further study.

Methods: We explored the association between COVID-19 test positivity and patients' socio-demographic variables, using neighborhood sociodemographic data collected retrospectively from two COVID-19 Assessment Centres in Toronto, ON.

Results: Eighty-three thousand four hundred forty three COVID-19 tests completed between April 5-September 30, 2020, were analyzed. Individuals living in neighbourhoods with the lowest income or highest concentration of immigrants were 3.4 (95% CI: 2.7 to 4.9) and 2.5 (95% CI: 1.8 to 3.7) times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than those in highest income or lowest immigrant neighbourhoods, respectively. Testing was higher among individuals from higher income neighbourhoods, at lowest COVID-19 risk, compared with those from low-income neighbourhoods.

Conclusions: Targeted efforts are needed to improve testing availability in high-risk regions. These same strategies may also ensure equitable COVID-19 vaccine delivery.

Keywords: COVID-19; Diagnostic tests and procedures; Immigration; Primary health care; Social determinants of health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Braden O’Neill is a member of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table. All other authors report no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Odds ratios for positive COVID-19 swab test by income quintile and immigration tercile
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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