The COVID-19 pandemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: a focus on the most vulnerable

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic permeate various spheres of society. In Brazil, marginalized populations who face chronic difficulties accessing minimum human and social rights have been most impacted. In Rio de Janeiro, socio-spatial inequality influenced the spread of infection in some areas to the detriment of others, laying bare social disparities. Descriptive analyses, calculations, and logistic regression were conducted to assess the tested variables associated with a higher likelihood of COVID-19 hospitalization from January 2020 to January 2021 in Rio de Janeiro. There was a profile of individuals more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection and variables demonstrating associations with worse outcomes. A historical and social context is associated with COVID-19 cases and complications and repercussions.