Social capital and Covid-19 vaccination coverage: An ecological study among 130 countries

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Research Center for Social Determinants of Health, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran

2 Health Education and Health Promotion Department, School of Health, Medical Education Research Center, Health Management and Safety Promotion Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

3 Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

10.30476/jhmi.2024.103696.1235

Abstract

Introduction: The effect of COVID-19 vaccination coverage on the role of social capital as an essential dimension in disease prevention is undeniable. This study investigated the correlation between Covid-19 vaccination coverage and social capital.
Methods: This ecological study used aggregate data from 130 countries. A fully vaccinated index was used to cover the COVID-19 vaccination. The main variable was the cumulative fully COVID-19 vaccinated population share data, which was retrieved from Our World in Data repository. The data related to social capital was retrieved from the global sustainable competitiveness databases.
Results: Cumulative fully vaccinated population shares related to COVID-19 were 46.83%. The higher rate of cumulative fully vaccinated population shares related to Covid-19 was reported in the United Arab Emirates (90.28%), Portugal (88.98%), and Singapore (87.00%), and also the lower rate of cumulative fully vaccinated population shares related to Covid-19 were reported from Burundi (0.02), Chad (0.48), and Haiti (0.61). There was a positive significant association between cumulative fully vaccinated population shares and social capital (r=0.74, p<0.001). A positive significant association between cumulative fully vaccinated population shares and social capital was found in 39 high-income countries (r=0.33, p=0.03), 36 upper-middle-income countries (r=035, p=0.04), and 36 lower-middle-income countries (r=0.51, p=0.002).
Conclusion: A strong positive association between cumulative fully vaccinated population shares and social capital in the countries was observed. Appropriate interventions are needed to increase the level of social capital and its components in countries to increase access to vaccination and health status in countries in the conditions of a pandemic.

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Main Subjects

References

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Health Management & Information Science
Volume 11, Issue 2
April 2024
Pages 76-84

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