Association of Sociodemographic Factors with the Evolution of COVID 19 Infections: Ecuadorian Case Study

Armijos-Toro, L. M.; Castillo-Páez, Sergio; Medina-Vásquez, Paúl

This study addresses the relationship between different levels of COVID 19 infection in the provinces of Ecuador, with their sociodemographic characteristics. For this purpose, a panel data model is used to identify the individual fixed effects of each province with respect to the total number of reported infections. These fixed effects are then related, by using a multiple linear regression model with provincial dummy variables derived from a principal component analysis. For the latter one, we used different provincial information related to the distribution of its population by income, economic activity, access to basic services, education, among other factors. The results obtained show an important relationship between the total number of people infected with these variables, especially with those provinces where the level of infection is higher.