CHARACTERISTICS AND COVID-19 INFECTION OUTCOME AMONG RURAL POPULATION IN NEGERI SEMBILAN, MALAYSIA.

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has still affected many countries around the world. While several studies have been published substantially regarding the risk factors of severe COVID-19 infection, less is known about the factors associated with COVID-19 infection among rural populations. This study aims to determine the characteristics and COVID-19 infection outcome in the rural population in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Cross-sectional study was conducted in year 2021 among 3004 Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 cases in rural areas in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The data was collected using proforma from list of COVID-19 cases in district health office and has been analyzed using SPSS version 25. Analysis shows that 884 (29.4%) out of 3004 Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 cases are classified as moderate-severe. The significant characteristics for moderate-severe COVID-19 infections were age (age 60 and above: aOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.474 – 2.715), gender (female: aOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.014-1.430), ethnicity (Chinese: aOR 3.09, 95% CI 1.746-5.454), employment status (employed: aOR 1.40, 95% CI 1.115-1.714), and chronic diseases (having chronic diseases: aOR 1.70, 95% CI 1.350-2.133). Early recognition of these characteristics among COVID-19 patients and prompt management of these cases might help to reduce COVID-19 severity in future.