Privatizing sanitation concessions and the incidence of COVID-19 in slums in Rio de Janeiro

ABSTRACT

This assessment aimed to evaluate the putative spatial relationship between sanitation indicators (access to water and sewage) considering the Rio de Janeiro State Water and Sewage Company (CEDAE) parameters and the COVID-19 incidence among districts with and without slum areas. The data of confirmed COVID-19 cases analyzed were obtained from the Rio de Janeiro Health Panel. We considered the division of the municipality into four regional blocks. The mean COVID-19 incidence was 9.78 cases/1,000 inhabitants in the 163 city districts. The lowest COVID-19 incidence rate was most reported in slum regions, with lower per capita income and sanitation coverage, suggesting a significant gap in testing and case underreporting. Reducing inequality and structural racism should be a priority. The COVID-19 syndemic strongly contributed to significant socioeconomic and public health losses. Our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 agenda of the United Nations is pivotal in a backdrop of reconstruction.

KEYWORDS
Incidence rate; COVID-19; Water supply; Sewage coverage; Poverty areas