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Seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies and associated risk factors during the second wave of infection in a university community in Cameroon.
- Source :
- Influenza & Other Respiratory Viruses; Nov2023, Vol. 17 Issue 11, p1-8, 8p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic has caused a public health emergency in all sectors of society, including universities and other academic institutions in Cameroon. However, little is known concerning the real prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infections among student communities during the second wave of infection in Cameroon. This study aimed to estimate SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies seroprevalence among participants in a university community in Cameroon. Methodology: A cross‐sectional study was conducted from March to April 2021 in 547 students aged ≥18 years during a mass diagnostic campaign at the School of Health Sciences of the Catholic University of Central Africa (ESS/UCAC). The anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody screening was done using the Panbio™ COVID‐19 IgG/IgM Rapid Diagnostic Test. Results: The overall seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies was 27%, of which 89.9% (n = 133) was IgG, 6.7% (n = 10) IgM and 3.4% (n = 5) IgG/IgM positive. The undergraduate students represented 79% (432/547) of the total population and were highly positive with anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies 30% (130/432) as compared with postgraduate students 20% (23/115). The total antibody seropositivity was higher in males (34.4%) than females (24.9%). Several factors were associated with an increased risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 seroprevalence including the male gender (OR: 1.61 [95% confidence interval, CI 1.0–2.4]), specialization to medical laboratory (OR: 2.8 [95% CI 1.1–7.1]) and nursing sciences (OR: 2.6 [95% CI 1.1–6.2]). Conclusion: Our findings point to extensive and underreported circulation of SARS‐CoV‐2 in a university community during the second wave of infection in Cameroon, which likely resulted in artificially low case counts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17502640
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Influenza & Other Respiratory Viruses
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 173925912
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/irv.13222