Socio-economic inequalities in all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 period in north-western Tanzania, 2018–2021
Abstract Background Evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated social and demographic inequalities in the communities through pathways of unequal exposure, vulnerability, and susceptibility. In Tanzania, evidence on COVID-19-related mortality is limited to health facility data, wit...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Population Health Metrics |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12963-025-00390-0 |
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| author | Sophia Adam Kagoye Charles Mangya Eveline Konje Jim Todd Chodziwadziwa Kabudula Jean Bashingwa Jacqueline Materu Coleman Kishamawe Ties Boerma Milly Marston Mark Urassa |
| author_facet | Sophia Adam Kagoye Charles Mangya Eveline Konje Jim Todd Chodziwadziwa Kabudula Jean Bashingwa Jacqueline Materu Coleman Kishamawe Ties Boerma Milly Marston Mark Urassa |
| author_sort | Sophia Adam Kagoye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated social and demographic inequalities in the communities through pathways of unequal exposure, vulnerability, and susceptibility. In Tanzania, evidence on COVID-19-related mortality is limited to health facility data, with little to no information on the mortality patterns in the general population. This study assessed sociodemographic inequalities in all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 period in north-western Tanzania. Methods We utilized available longitudinal data from the Magu Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) from January 2018 to December 2021. We compared the crude death rates between subgroups of age, sex, area of residence, and wealth index for a period before (2018/2019) and during (2020/2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. To quantify how mortality risk varies across the subgroups we fitted a Cox proportional hazard model with an interaction of the COVID-19 period. Results Overall mortality declined from 5.9 in 2018/2019 to 5.4 and 5.5 deaths per 1000 person-years in 2020 and 2021, respectively. We observed an increase in differences in crude death rates by age groups, area of residence, and wealth quintiles during the COVID-19 period. In the Cox proportional hazards model, compared to adults aged 15–49, we observed greater mortality risk in children under five (AHR:2.9; 95%CI: 2.2–3.9), older individuals aged 50–64 years (AHR:3.02; 95%CI:2.11–4.33) and 65 + (AHR:18.65; 95%CI:14.28–24.35) during COVID-19 period. Males were also at greater risk of death compared to females (AHR:1.30; 95%CI:1.06–1.59). Conclusion Despite the overall mortality decline during the pandemic, we observed an increased risk of mortality among vulnerable subgroups (aged < 5 years and > 60 years) in the population. This highlights the need to take into account vulnerable subpopulations when addressing major public health issues in communities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eabf4096f4e94b3e993bd07820019079 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1478-7954 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Population Health Metrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-eabf4096f4e94b3e993bd078200190792025-08-20T03:05:13ZengBMCPopulation Health Metrics1478-79542025-07-0123S21810.1186/s12963-025-00390-0Socio-economic inequalities in all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 period in north-western Tanzania, 2018–2021Sophia Adam Kagoye0Charles Mangya1Eveline Konje2Jim Todd3Chodziwadziwa Kabudula4Jean Bashingwa5Jacqueline Materu6Coleman Kishamawe7Ties Boerma8Milly Marston9Mark Urassa10Mwanza Research Centre, National Institute for Medical ResearchMwanza Research Centre, National Institute for Medical ResearchDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Catholic University of Health and Allied SciencesDepartment of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the WitwatersrandMRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the WitwatersrandMwanza Research Centre, National Institute for Medical ResearchMwanza Research Centre, National Institute for Medical ResearchCommunity Health Science, University of ManitobaDepartment of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)Mwanza Research Centre, National Institute for Medical ResearchAbstract Background Evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated social and demographic inequalities in the communities through pathways of unequal exposure, vulnerability, and susceptibility. In Tanzania, evidence on COVID-19-related mortality is limited to health facility data, with little to no information on the mortality patterns in the general population. This study assessed sociodemographic inequalities in all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 period in north-western Tanzania. Methods We utilized available longitudinal data from the Magu Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) from January 2018 to December 2021. We compared the crude death rates between subgroups of age, sex, area of residence, and wealth index for a period before (2018/2019) and during (2020/2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. To quantify how mortality risk varies across the subgroups we fitted a Cox proportional hazard model with an interaction of the COVID-19 period. Results Overall mortality declined from 5.9 in 2018/2019 to 5.4 and 5.5 deaths per 1000 person-years in 2020 and 2021, respectively. We observed an increase in differences in crude death rates by age groups, area of residence, and wealth quintiles during the COVID-19 period. In the Cox proportional hazards model, compared to adults aged 15–49, we observed greater mortality risk in children under five (AHR:2.9; 95%CI: 2.2–3.9), older individuals aged 50–64 years (AHR:3.02; 95%CI:2.11–4.33) and 65 + (AHR:18.65; 95%CI:14.28–24.35) during COVID-19 period. Males were also at greater risk of death compared to females (AHR:1.30; 95%CI:1.06–1.59). Conclusion Despite the overall mortality decline during the pandemic, we observed an increased risk of mortality among vulnerable subgroups (aged < 5 years and > 60 years) in the population. This highlights the need to take into account vulnerable subpopulations when addressing major public health issues in communities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12963-025-00390-0 |
| spellingShingle | Sophia Adam Kagoye Charles Mangya Eveline Konje Jim Todd Chodziwadziwa Kabudula Jean Bashingwa Jacqueline Materu Coleman Kishamawe Ties Boerma Milly Marston Mark Urassa Socio-economic inequalities in all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 period in north-western Tanzania, 2018–2021 Population Health Metrics |
| title | Socio-economic inequalities in all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 period in north-western Tanzania, 2018–2021 |
| title_full | Socio-economic inequalities in all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 period in north-western Tanzania, 2018–2021 |
| title_fullStr | Socio-economic inequalities in all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 period in north-western Tanzania, 2018–2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Socio-economic inequalities in all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 period in north-western Tanzania, 2018–2021 |
| title_short | Socio-economic inequalities in all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 period in north-western Tanzania, 2018–2021 |
| title_sort | socio economic inequalities in all cause mortality during the covid 19 period in north western tanzania 2018 2021 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12963-025-00390-0 |
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