Covid-19 vulnerability among Brazilian sexual and gender minorities

A Cross-Sectional Study

Bibliographic Data

ID5166175
AuthorsAvelar Oliveira Macedo Neto (0000-0003-2819-468X, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Sheila Alice Gomes Da Silva (0000-0001-6382-2448, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Graça Penha Gonçalves (0000-0001-7586-7782, Prefeitura Municipal de Belo Horizonte), J L Torres (0000-0002-3687-897X, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais)
Year2022
Volume38
Issue8
Pagese00234421-e00234421
Publication date2022-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCadernos de Saude Publica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0102-311X • E-ISSN: 1678-4464
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/0102-311xen234421
PMID35946615
OpenAlexW4290716463
SCIELO_PIDS0102-311X2022000805002
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited25

Minority groups are more prone to worsen their personal and social vulnerabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the highest COVID-19 vulnerability in the Brazilian sexual and gender minorities. This is a cross-sectional study based on 826 respondents of the Brazilian LGBT+ Health Survey, conducted online from August to November 2020. The COVID-19 vulnerability was based on a previous vulnerability index created by an LGBT+ institution, which comprises three dimensions (income, COVID-19 exposure, and health). The outcome was the highest score quartile. Statistical analysis was based on logistic regression models. The COVID-19 vulnerability was higher in heterosexual and other scarce sexual orientations (OR = 2.34; 95%CI: 1.01-9.20, vs. homosexual), cisgender men (OR = 3.52; 95%CI: 1.35-4.44, vs. cisgender women), and those aged ≥ 50 years (OR = 3.74; 95%CI: 1.24-11.25, vs. 18-29 years old). A negative association was found with complete graduate education (OR = 0.06; 95%CI: 0.02-0.22, vs. complete high school), being white (OR = 0.44; 95%CI: 0.23-0.83), and proper facemask use (OR = 0.31; 95%CI: 0.13-0.76). Except for proper facemask use, factors associated with higher COVID-19 vulnerability are structural determinate and suggest overlapping vulnerabilities, as described by the syndemic model. It guides strategies to deal with the pandemic, which includes a joint approach to the common epidemic that affects sexual and gender minorities, broadening the intersectoral approach to decrease inequalities

Confidence interval · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · Cross-sectional study · Environmental health · Logistic regression · Pandemic · Public health · Quartile · Sexual minority · Sexual orientation · Sociology · Syndemic · Vulnerability (computing) · Demography · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Internal Medicine · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Social Psychology · Gerontology