Post-Omicron SARS-CoV-2 serostatus in Sierra Leone: A cross-sectional study in a maternity hospital setting in Freetown, November/December 2022.
J Infect Public Health
; 17(9): 102518, 2024 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39142080
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.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
/
Hospitals, Maternity
/
Antibodies, Viral
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
En
Journal:
J Infect Public Health
/
J. infect. public health
/
Journal infection and public health
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
/
SAUDE PUBLICA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Alemania
Country of publication:
Reino Unido