Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37611032›Full record

Observational studyPloS one2023

Comparison of socio-economic determinants of COVID-19 testing and positivity in Canada: A multi-provincial analysis.

Lilia Antonova, Chandy Somayaji, Jillian Cameron, Monica Sirski, Maria E Sundaram, James Ted McDonald, Sharmistha Mishra, Jeffrey C Kwong, Alan Katz, Stefan Baral and 4 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Disparities in fine particulate matter (PMEnvironmental research, health : ERH · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Trends in Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Among Healthcare Workers in a Canadian Cohort Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic, June 2020 to November 2023.The Canadian journal of infectious diseases & medical microbiology = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses et de la microbiologie medicale · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
  6. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Lilia AntonovaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-9015-8482
Chandy SomayajiNew Brunswick Institute for Research, Data, and Training, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada.
Jillian CameronNew Brunswick Institute for Research, Data, and Training, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada.
Monica SirskiManitoba Centre for Health Policy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Maria E SundaramCenter for Clinical Epidemiology and Population Health, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield, WI, United States of America.
James Ted McDonaldDepartment of Political Science, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada.
Sharmistha MishraICES, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-8492-5470
Jeffrey C KwongICES, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Alan KatzManitoba Centre for Health Policy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Stefan BaralDepartment of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
Lisa CaulleyDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Andrew CalzavaraICES, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Martin CorstenDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Stephanie Johnson-ObasekiDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been more pronounced for socially disadvantaged populations. We sought to determine how access to SARS-CoV-2 testing and the likelihood of testing positive for COVID-19 were associated with demographic factors, socioeconomic status (SES) and social determinants of health (SDH) in three Canadian provinces.

methodsAn observational population-based cross-sectional study was conducted for the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba and New Brunswick between March 1, 2020 and April 27, 2021, using provincial health administrative data. After excluding residents of long-term care homes, those without current provincial health insurance and those who were tested for COVID-19 out of province, records from provincial healthcare administrative databases were reviewed for 16,900,661 healthcare users. Data was modelled separately for each province in accordance to a prespecified protocol and follow-up consultations among provincial statisticians and collaborators. We employed univariate and multivariate regression models to examine determinants of testing and test results.

resultsAfter adjustment for other variables, female sex and urban residency were positively associated with testing, while female sex was negatively associated with test positivity. In New Brunswick and Ontario, individuals living in higher income areas were more likely to be tested, whereas in Manitoba higher income was negatively associated with both testing and positivity. High ethnocultural composition was associated with lower testing rates. Both high ethnocultural composition and high situational vulnerability increased the odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. DISCUSSION: We observed that multiple demographic, income and SDH factors were associated with SARS-CoV-2 testing and test positivity. Barriers to healthcare access identified in this study specifically relate to COVID-19 testing but may reflect broader inequities for certain at-risk groups.

Indexed as

COVID-19COVID-19 TestingCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansIncomeOntarioPandemicsSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID37611032
PMCPMC10446177

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.