A Statistical Comparison between Rates of Coronavirus Infection in Saudi Arabia between Citizens and Residents from Period June to August 2020: A quantitative research

Abstract

Abstract Aim The aim of the study was to examine the occurrence, diagnosis and management of COVID-19 among citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia during the first wave of the pandemic in the country. Background COVID-19, the acute respiratory condition arising due to infection with the novel coronavirus is a pressing concern all over the world. The urgent and rapidly evolving nature of the pandemic means nations all over the world are engaged in a fight to ensure that they develop public health policies and guidelines targeting the condition. This involves efforts to prevent the spread of the infection in their populations while also achieving significant improvements in the diagnosis and management of the condition in affected individuals. These efforts are greatly facilitated by insights into the patterns of occurrence and risk across distinct population groups in the country. This study was therefore focused on the characteristics of citizens and non-citizen residents of Saudi Arabia. Method This exploratory study was carried out by conducting a descriptive analysis of an existing dataset from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health relating to the occurrence of COVID19 in the population. Data analysis sought to examine patterns of prevalence, mortality and testing rates with a particular focus on patterns in relation to these two main groups of the population (Citizens and immigrants). Results Infections occurred relatively equally between citizens and other residents, aligning with the proportions of these groups in the general population. However, there was increased morbidity and mortality in non-Saudi residents than their Saudi counterparts. In addition, males were more affected than women among both Saudi and non-Saudi individuals. It was also noted that death, regardless of the population group occurred more commonly in individuals suffering from one or more comorbid conditions. Conclusion COVID-19 infection rates in Saudi Arabia during the months in question were relatively low compared with those in many other countries of the world. A pattern thought to be due to robust preparations and safeguards put in place before the first documented case was identified as well as the structure of the health system. The higher death rates among non Saudi citizens is thought to occur due to the interactions of several factors including baseline health status and access to health care; as well as level of awareness about the provisions for care during the COVID period. Continued population enlightenment: action on social 5 determinants of health as well as improvements of access to healthcare will work well to improve control of the pandemic in future.