HOUSING CONDITIONS AS A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH AND IMPACTS ON PANDEMICS: COVID-19 IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF PONTA GROSSA, PARANÁ

Abstract

Social determinants of health take into account much more than just individuals’ biological processes; they encompass the social, economic, and cultural context. Housing conditions are relevant factors in the health-disease process, given that housing inequalities and inequities lead to negative health consequences; thus, habitability is an important social determinant of health. The aim of this article is to compare the spread of COVID-19 in different residential areas in the municipality of Ponta Grossa, Paraná, including Residential Zone 2 and favelas, with an emphasis on the social determinants of health and habitability. The study was quantitative and qualitative in nature, utilizing a literature review and documentary research as methods. For data collection, a semi-structured questionnaire was developed, containing open-ended and closed-ended questions incorporating elements of the social determinants of health and habitability. The results indicated that housing in precarious conditions acts as a vector for the spread of disease.