The Social Determinants of COVID-19: a look at social and health vulnerabilities in Presidente Prudente and Botucatu - São Paulo.

• Grant number: 22/07025-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: March 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Geography - Human Geography
• Principal Investigator: Raul Borges Guimarães
• Grantee: João Pedro Pereira Caetano de Lima
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The present project seeks to carry out a spatial analysis of the risk of infection and death by COVID-19 in the municipalities of Presidente Prudente and Botucatu - SP in the light of the Social Determinants of Health. Given that the disease is already established throughout the State of São Paulo, and the virus will continue to circulate in the community after the pandemic, it is up to Geography to understand the various manifestations of this phenomenon. The choice of such municipalities is justified by the lack of studies and intra-municipal analyzes of intermediate-sized municipalities in the State of São Paulo that are considered directly responsible for the dynamics of spatial diffusion of COVID-19, acting as centers for the spread of the virus within the State. Using data compiled in the epidemiological surveillance centers of these two municipalities, the study will carry out a series of spatial and geostatistical analyses, as well as using descriptive statistics to identify spatio-temporal patterns common to both municipalities, especially in areas of greater social vulnerability. The work can also assist in spatial analysis methodologies through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) not only for understanding COVID-19, but composing a list of tools from the methodological design followed for application in other severe respiratory syndromes. The results obtained at the end of the master's dissertation will comprise a cartography of synthesis of the vulnerabilities of COVID-19 in the cities studied and will also allow the advancement of the debates on Geography, Cartography and Health, especially in the social production of COVID-19 from the Social Determinants of Health, comprising several products that can help health and epidemiological surveillance teams in urban health planning for COVID-19 or other phenomena that can benefit from these spatial analysis methodologies.