Hispanic ethnicity and low-income housing are associated with SARS-COV-2 infection in an Arizona birth cohort

To evaluate socioeconomic risk factors for acquisition of SARS-COV-2 infection among participants in the Arizona Prenatal Infection with SARS-COV-2 and Childhood Health and Immune Outcomes Study (AZ PISTACHIO Study). The AZ PISTACHIO Study is a prospective cohort established June 2020. Women receiving prenatal care and/or delivering at Banner University Medical Center, Tucson (BUMC), AZ were approached for participation regardless of SARS-COV-2 infection or history. Consenting women completed demographic questionnaires at enrollment and released access to medical records for themselves and their children. Pregnancy outcomes and history of SARS-COV-2 infection were abstracted from the medical record. We evaluated associations of demographic characteristics with any known SARS-COV-2 infection during pregnancy using logistic regressions in predictive models, and included mother’s age, race, ethnicity, education, marital status, household size, and low-income housing as covariates. To date, 650 women have been enrolled and delivered. Among enrolled participants, 86/650 (13.1%) had active or prior SARS-COV-2 infection in pregnancy based on RT-PCR. On average, participants were 29 years of age, 69% self-identified as white race and over half were Hispanic (53%) (Table 1). 48% received some form of governmental assistance and approximately half were employed. After adjustment, three characteristics were significantly associated with SARS-COV-2 infection during pregnancy: Hispanic ethnicity (OR= 2.98, 95% CI 1.63, 5.67, p< 0.001), being married/having a partner (OR=2.29, 95%CI 1.25, 4.29, p< 0.01), and Section 8/Low-income housing (OR 3.82, 95% CI 1.07, 12.40, p < 0.05, Table 2). In this Arizona birth cohort, Hispanic ethnicity, marital status, and low-income housing were independently associated with SARS-COV-2 infection during pregnancy. As eviction moratoriums are expiring, the increased risk of SARS-COV-2 infection associated with low-income housing should be considered more carefully in this vulnerable population.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)