THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has indicated that the COVID-19 is hitting men harder as compared to women in Zimbabwe.
By Michael Gwarisa
According to the MoHCC Daily Sitrep of August 11, 2020, at least 54.96% of COVID-19 recorded in the country to date have been picked amongst males.
More males have been affected when compared to females. Most Covid-19 cases are in the 20 – 40 years age groups. There are more females affected as age rises. 1 055 000 cases have been recorded amongst males against 1 027 000 if females,” said the report.
Zimbabwe currently has cumulatively recorded 4818 Cases and 104 Deaths. However, no death was recorded in the country over the past 24 hours. Recoveries currently stand at 1544.
A recent audit of Parirenyatwa Hospital also confirms the gender disparities in terms of COVID-19 infections amidst indications that the virus has also claimed more male lives than females in the country. According to the Parirenyatwa audit report, 38% males died from COVID-19 between the period July 1 to 31 compared to 27% females.
Several studies have shown that more men are dying from COVID-19 than women. Experts say part of the reason is women tend to have stronger immune systems than men.They add that men also tend to engage in more risky behavior such as ignoring physical distancing, and they don’t take symptoms as seriously.
According to the studies, more men are dying from COVID-19 worldwide than women, and the potential reasons run the gamut from biology to bad habits. A study published last month in Frontiers in Public Health reported that men and women were equally likely to contract the novel coronavirus.
However, the researchers also reported that men are significantly more likely to suffer severe effects of the disease.
The Chinese researchers said that in one large subset of COVID-19 patients, more than 70 percent of those who died were men.
They said they found similar results when they examined research from the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The study was backed up by other figures released since the COVID-19 pandemic began.