Social inequalities in Sars-CoV-2 infection in high income countries
Highlighting the need for an intersectional perspective in quantitative research
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22067710 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ritu Rani (0000-0001-6897-3544, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, corresponding author), Nathalie Bajos (0000-0001-8073-9056, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Émilie Counil (0000-0002-8527-4662, National Institute for Demographic Studies) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Pages | 1642407-1642407 |
| Publication date | 2025-07-31 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1642407 |
| PMID | 40823235 |
| OpenAlex | W4412775073 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 75 |
Objective COVID-19 has highlighted significant social disparities in health across the world. The main purpose of this mini review is to synthesize important findings about social inequalities in infection risk and highlight the gaps in current research from an intersectional perspective. Method This mini literature review builds on peer-reviewed quantitative studies conducted in high-income countries, with a particular focus on France. It outlines key findings on inequalities across gender, socioeconomic status and ethnoracial background, summarizes methodological approaches, and locates research gaps. Results Evidence on gender inequalities in infection risk remain mixed. Most studies reported increased risks among marginalized groups, including racialized minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Multivariate regression models were commonly used to estimate infection risk while adjusting for individual and contextual factors in an “all other things equal” perspective. However, no study applied an intersectional framework, limiting comprehensive understanding of the intricate social dynamics of infection disparities. Some studies instead explored intersectional inequalities for outcomes like mortality and mental health during the COVID crisis. For example, a UK study found worse mental health among sexual minorities, females, and younger individuals, and revealed hidden inequalities in social groups combining privilege and disadvantage. Conclusion Studies performed on COVID-19 outcomes other than infection do emphasize the added value of incorporating an intersectional perspective into quantitative approaches. Through the use of this framework, future research may guide the development of more targeted and equitable public health interventions to prevent the spread of similar airborne viruses across populations
Disadvantage · Disadvantaged · Economic growth · Economics · Health equity · Inequality · Intersectionality · Mental health · Political science · Population · Psychological intervention · Public health · Social determinants of health · Social inequality · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · COVID-19 and healthcare impacts · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Demography · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Gender Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology
Social determinants of health and inequalities in Covid-19
Disparities in Covid-19 Outcomes by Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status
Ethnic differences in Sars-CoV-2 infection and Covid-19-related hospitalisation, intensive care unit admission, and death in 17 million adults in England
Ethnic and socioeconomic differences in Sars-CoV-2 infection
Disparities in Covid-19 Testing and Positivity in New York City
A systematic review of racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in Covid-19
Occupation and risk of severe Covid-19
Prevalence of Sars-CoV-2 in Spain (ENE-Covid)
Intersectionality in quantitative research
The gender peak effect
The Association Between Covid-19, Air Pollution, and Climate Change
The Relationship Between Social Vulnerability and Covid-19 Incidence Among Louisiana Census Tracts
Challenges and Strategies for Pakistan in the Third Wave of Covid-19
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Risk factors for Sars-CoV-2 infection during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic
Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex
Writing Narrative Literature Reviews
Higher risk, higher protection
Antibody status and cumulative incidence of Sars-CoV-2 infection among adults in three regions of France following the first lockdown and associated risk factors
The Covid-19 Pandemics
Socioeconomic conditions and children's mental health and quality of life during the Covid-19 pandemic
A call for a gender-responsive, intersectional approach to address Covid-19
Regional Characteristics of the Second Wave of Sars-CoV-2 Infections and Covid-19 Deaths in Germany
Covid-19 Inequalities
Intersectional Disparities Among Hispanic Groups in Covid-19 Outcomes
Socioeconomic disparity and the risk of contracting Covid-19 in South Korea
When lockdown policies amplify social inequalities in Covid-19 infections
Intersectionality of sex and race in Covid-19 mortality and vaccination inequities in Massachusetts
Infection rates from Covid-19 in Great Britain by geographical units
The Covid-19 pandemic and health inequalities
Evolving Intersectionality Within Public Health
Mapping the Margins
The Problem With the Phrase Women and Minorities
Modeling the intersectionality of processes in the social production of health inequalities
Socioeconomic inequalities in the spread of coronavirus-19 in the United States
Social inequalities and the Covid-19 pandemic
Re-Thinking Intersectionality
Gender, socioeconomic status, and Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy in the US
The Complexity of Intersectionality
| Highly cited | No |
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