Post-Omicron SARS-CoV-2 serostatus in Sierra Leone: A cross-sectional study in a maternity hospital setting in Freetown, November/December 2022

IF 4.7 3区医学 Q1 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Journal of Infection and Public Health Pub Date : 2024-08-12 DOI:10.1016/j.jiph.2024.102518

Sebastian Ruf , Doris Harding , Samuel Sorie , Foday Musa Janneh , Stefanie Theuring

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Sub-Saharan African countries has been poorly investigated, especially in the later pandemic stages. We aimed to assess the post-Omicron situation in Sierra Leone in November/December 2022 considering SARS-CoV-2 serostatus, vaccinations, and behavioral factors.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study conducted in a maternity hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, both patients and staff provided dried blood spot samples for analysis of anti-S and anti-N IgG prevalence using Anti-SARS-CoV-2-ELISA. Additionally, we collected sociodemographic and infection-related information through questionnaires. Outcome parameters included seropositivity, infection-related seroprevalence, and self-reported vaccination status. We used logistic regression to identify associations with prior infection and with vaccination status.

Results

Out of 791 participants (389 patients, 402 staff), 670 (84.7 %) displayed a positive SARS-CoV-2 serostatus resulting from either infection or vaccination. Among a sub-sample of 514 participants within which determination of prior natural infection was possible, 441individuals (85.8 %) were affected. Prior infection was associated with female sex and tertiary education level. Overall, 60.3 % reported having been vaccinated. Staff as opposed to patients, and individuals with higher socioeconomic status were more likely to report vaccination. Individuals who assessed their risk of COVID-19 as either higher or lower compared to a medium-level risk were more likely to have contracted the virus and less likely to have received vaccination.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that since the Omicron wave in 2022, the Sierra Leonean population has almost universally been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. While this is encouraging in the light of relatively low excess mortality in the country, future investigations on the long-term effect of high viral exposure on epidemic resilience and public health impact will be crucial.

查看原文本刊更多论文

塞拉利昂的 SARS-CoV-2 后血清状态：弗里敦一家妇产医院的横断面研究，2022 年 11 月/12 月

背景SARS-CoV-2在撒哈拉以南非洲国家的传播尚未得到充分调查，尤其是在大流行后期。在塞拉利昂弗里敦一家妇产医院进行的一项横断面研究中，患者和工作人员都提供了干血斑样本，以便使用 Anti-SARS-CoV-2-ELISA 分析抗 S 和抗 N IgG 的流行率。此外，我们还通过问卷调查收集了社会人口学和感染相关信息。结果参数包括血清阳性率、感染相关血清流行率和自我报告的疫苗接种情况。结果在 791 名参与者（389 名患者，402 名工作人员）中，有 670 人（84.7%）的 SARS-CoV-2 血清阳性反应是由感染或接种疫苗引起的。在 514 人的子样本中，有 441 人（85.8%）可能曾自然感染过非典。先前感染与女性性别和高等教育水平有关。总体而言，60.3%的人表示已接种疫苗。与病人相比，工作人员和社会经济地位较高的人更有可能报告接种过疫苗。与中度风险相比，将自己感染 COVID-19 的风险评估为较高或较低的人感染病毒的可能性更大，而接受疫苗接种的可能性较小。结论我们的研究结果表明，自 2022 年 Omicron 疫潮以来，塞拉利昂人口几乎普遍感染了 SARS-CoV-2 。鉴于该国过高的死亡率相对较低，这种情况令人鼓舞，但未来关于病毒高暴露率对流行病恢复能力和公共卫生影响的长期影响的调查将至关重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Infection and Public Health PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH -INFECTIOUS DISEASES

CiteScore

13.10

自引率

1.50%

发文量

203

审稿时长

96 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Infection and Public Health, first official journal of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and the Saudi Association for Public Health, aims to be the foremost scientific, peer-reviewed journal encompassing infection prevention and control, microbiology, infectious diseases, public health and the application of healthcare epidemiology to the evaluation of health outcomes. The point of view of the journal is that infection and public health are closely intertwined and that advances in one area will have positive consequences on the other. The journal will be useful to all health professionals who are partners in the management of patients with communicable diseases, keeping them up to date. The journal is proud to have an international and diverse editorial board that will assist and facilitate the publication of articles that reflect a global view on infection control and public health, as well as emphasizing our focus on supporting the needs of public health practitioners. It is our aim to improve healthcare by reducing risk of infection and related adverse outcomes by critical review, selection, and dissemination of new and relevant information in the field of infection control, public health and infectious diseases in all healthcare settings and the community.