COVID -19 Morbidity and mortality in tropical countries: The effects of economic, institutional, and climatic variables
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Updated: Sep 6, 2025

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Published on: November 10, 2023
Wisdom Akpalu1, J Atsu Amegashie2, Selma T Karuaihe3
1School of Research and Graduate Studies (SRGS, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), P. O. Box AH 50, Achimota-Accra, Ghana.
Abstract:
Despite the significant and rising human and economic costs of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), our knowledge on its epidemiology remains limited necessitating expedited research to aid public policy. This study contributes to the knowledge gap by focusing on exploring the effects of potential covariates (economic, institutional, and climatic conditions) on COVID-19 in tropical countries. Using an Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression, our results showed a non-linear relationship between temperature and infection-to-test ratio. Specifically, temperatures warmer than 18 °C can favor the spread of the disease. In addition, strikingly, countries with better democratic principles registered more positive cases than their counterparts at high levels of corruption.
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