Examine COVID-19 Pandemic Patterns in Daycare Centers: How Access to Screening Matters

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Disparities

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant health disparities in the U.S., with Texas having low healthcare quality.
• This study focuses on COVID-19 in Texas daycare centers, a critical yet understudied population.
• It examines county-level social determinants of health impacting COVID-19 transmission in this setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the relationship between county-level factors and COVID-19 cases in Texas daycare centers.
• To analyze COVID-19 transmission patterns among children and staff within daycare facilities.
• To identify social determinants of health associated with varying COVID-19 case counts.

Main Methods:

• Utilized COVID-19 data (2020-2022) from Texas Health & Human Services and County Health Rankings (2020).
• Analyzed COVID-19 case counts in licensed daycare facilities across 225 Texas counties.
• Classified counties into four transmission patterns and examined associations with county-level determinants.

Main Results:

• Counties with higher daycare COVID-19 cases had more minorities, better primary care access, improved socioeconomic conditions, and greater urbanization.
• Spatial analysis revealed clustered transmission, with southeastern counties having more Native American residents showing higher staff COVID-19 impact.
• Specific findings indicated higher staff COVID-19 rates in counties with a greater proportion of Native American residents.

Conclusions:

• Better screening access influences COVID-19 counts, underscoring the need for robust epidemiological surveillance.
• Addressing economic inequalities and improving healthcare access are crucial for reducing transmission gaps.
• Tailored mitigation strategies are essential for daycare centers to manage varying COVID-19 transmission rates.