COVID-19 in Brazil: A Look at Gender in Mortality in 2020 and 2021

In: Sociedade & natureza: revista do Departamento de Geografia da Universidade de Uberlândia

Abstract

COVID-19 is portrayed as a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is extremely contagious and mainly affects the respiratory system. The pandemic has impacted the lives of men and women disproportionately, from the risk of exposure and biological susceptibility to infection to the social and economic impacts. In this sense, this research aims to analyze the relationship between gender and mortality from COVID-19 in the Brazilian Federative Units. This is an applied, exploratory and qualitative-quantitative study. Mortality rates by gender and Federation Unit were calculated based on data obtained from the Civil Registry - Transparency Portal for the years 2020 and 2021. The results show disparities in the number of deaths between men and women in various age groups. In addition, mortality rates among men were considerably higher compared to women, especially in 2021. This discrepancy was notable in men over 60, particularly in the North and Northeast regions. In addition, Roraima stood out with the highest mortality rates for both genders in the two years analyzed. These findings highlight the importance of policies and strategies that are sensitive to gender and the needs of vulnerable groups, in order to mitigate impacts during pandemic periods. Furthermore, approaches that consider gender disparities can contribute significantly to the effectiveness of public health measures and the general well-being of the population.