scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 infection is at herd immunity in the majority segment of the population of Qatar

Author(s):  
Mohamed H Al-Thani ◽  
Elmoubasher Farag ◽  
Roberto Bertollini ◽  
Hamad Eid Al Romaihi ◽  
Sami Abdeen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Qatar experienced a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic that disproportionately affected the craft and manual worker (CMW) population who comprise 60% of the total population. This study aimed to assess ever and/or current infection prevalence in this population. Methods A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted during July 26-September 09, 2020 to assess both anti-SARS-CoV-2 positivity through serological testing and current infection positivity through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Associations with antibody and PCR positivity were identified through regression analyses. Results Study included 2,641 participants, 69.3% of whom were <40 years of age. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 55.3% (95% CI: 53.3-57.3%) and was significantly associated with nationality, geographic location, educational attainment, occupation, and previous infection diagnosis. PCR positivity was 11.3% (95% CI: 9.9-12.8%) and was significantly associated with nationality, geographic location, occupation, contact with an infected person, and reporting two or more symptoms. Infection positivity (antibody and/or PCR positive) was 60.6% (95% CI: 58.6-62.5%). The proportion of antibody-positive CMWs that had a prior SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was 9.3% (95% CI: 7.9-11.0%). Only seven infections were ever severe and one was ever critical—an infection severity rate of 0.5% (95% CI: 0.2-1.0%). Conclusions Six in every 10 CMWs have been infected, suggestive of reaching the herd immunity threshold. Infection severity was low with only one in every 200 infections progressing to be severe or critical. Only one in every 10 infections had been previously diagnosed suggestive of mostly asymptomatic or mild infections.

Author(s):  
Mohamed H. Al-Thani ◽  
Elmoubasher Farag ◽  
Roberto Bertollini ◽  
Hamad Eid Al Romaihi ◽  
Sami Abdeen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackgroundQatar experienced a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic that disproportionately affected the craft and manual worker (CMW) population who comprise 60% of the total population. This study aimed to assess the proportions of ever and/or current infection in this population.MethodsA cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted during July 26-September 09, 2020 to assess both anti-SARS-CoV-2 positivity through serological testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity through PCR testing. Associations with antibody and PCR positivity were identified through regression analyses.ResultsStudy included 2,641 participants, 69.3% of whom were <40 years of age. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 positivity was estimated at 55.3% (95% CI: 53.3-57.3%) and was significantly associated with nationality, geographic location, educational attainment, occupation, presence of symptoms in the two weeks preceding the survey, and previous infection diagnosis. PCR positivity was assessed at 11.3% (95% CI: 9.9-12.8%) and was significantly associated with geographic location, contact with an infected person, and reporting two or more symptoms. Infection positivity (antibody and/or PCR positive) was assessed at 60.6% (95% CI: 9.9-12.8%). The proportion of antibody-positive CMWs that had a prior SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was 9.3% (95% CI: 7.9-11.0%). Only seven infections were ever severe and one was ever critical—an infection severity rate of 0.5% (95% CI: 0.2-1.0%).ConclusionsSix in every 10 CMWs have been infected, suggestive of reaching the herd immunity threshold. Infection severity was low with only one in every 200 infections progressing to be severe or critical. Only one in every 10 infections had been previously diagnosed suggestive of mostly asymptomatic or minimally mild infections.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Sergeevich Gordeev ◽  
◽  
Joseph Akuze ◽  
Angela Baschieri ◽  
Sanne M. Thysen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Paradata are (timestamped) records tracking the process of (electronic) data collection. We analysed paradata from a large household survey of questions capturing pregnancy outcomes to assess performance (timing and correction processes). We examined how paradata can be used to inform and improve questionnaire design and survey implementation in nationally representative household surveys, the major source for maternal and newborn health data worldwide. Methods The EN-INDEPTH cross-sectional population-based survey of women of reproductive age in five Health and Demographic Surveillance System sites (in Bangladesh, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Uganda) randomly compared two modules to capture pregnancy outcomes: full pregnancy history (FPH) and the standard DHS-7 full birth history (FBH+). We used paradata related to answers recorded on tablets using the Survey Solutions platform. We evaluated the difference in paradata entries between the two reproductive modules and assessed which question characteristics (type, nature, structure) affect answer correction rates, using regression analyses. We also proposed and tested a new classification of answer correction types. Results We analysed 3.6 million timestamped entries from 65,768 interviews. 83.7% of all interviews had at least one corrected answer to a question. Of 3.3 million analysed questions, 7.5% had at least one correction. Among corrected questions, the median number of corrections was one, regardless of question characteristics. We classified answer corrections into eight types (no correction, impulsive, flat (simple), zigzag, flat zigzag, missing after correction, missing after flat (zigzag) correction, missing/incomplete). 84.6% of all corrections were judged not to be problematic with a flat (simple) mistake correction. Question characteristics were important predictors of probability to make answer corrections, even after adjusting for respondent’s characteristics and location, with interviewer clustering accounted as a fixed effect. Answer correction patterns and types were similar between FPH and FBH+, as well as the overall response duration. Avoiding corrections has the potential to reduce interview duration and reproductive module completion by 0.4 min. Conclusions The use of questionnaire paradata has the potential to improve measurement and the resultant quality of electronic data. Identifying sections or specific questions with multiple corrections sheds light on typically hidden challenges in the survey’s content, process, and administration, allowing for earlier real-time intervention (e.g.,, questionnaire content revision or additional staff training). Given the size and complexity of paradata, additional time, data management, and programming skills are required to realise its potential.


2006 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 263-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zulma Medeiros ◽  
Ayla Alves ◽  
José Anchieta Brito ◽  
Ladjane Borba ◽  
Zailde Santos ◽  
...  

A cross-sectional population-based survey on the occurrence of lymphatic filariasis was carried out in the municipality of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. 7,650 individuals of both sexes were examined (from 1,416 households) of whom six tested positive for microfilaria according to the thick blood diagnostic test. The age of the individuals examined varied from 0 to 98 (averaging 26.6 years), whilst the age of the microfilaria-positive individuals varied from 11 to 29, averaging 22.5 years. Five of the six positive cases were male. These cases were residents of the following areas: Pista Preta (one case); Ponte dos Carvalhos (four cases); and Pontezinha (one case). This last case from Pontezinha was autochthonous. Of the individuals examined, 109 (1.4%) cited complaints relating to filariasis. These results suggest that filariasis is being transmitted in the municipality of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, a finding that establishes the need to carry out disease control activities, and to collaborate with the planning of the national programme for the elimination of filariasis.


2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 409-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Linos ◽  
Marwan Khawaja ◽  
Mohannad Al-Nsour

The aim of this study is to examine attitudes among married women toward wife beating and to investigate the hypothesis that female individual empowerment is associated with such attitudes within a broader context of societal patriarchy in Jordan. The study uses data from a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of married women (n = 5,390) conducted in 2002. Associations between acceptance of wife beating and several women’s empowerment variables, including decision-making power, as well as other risk factors were assessed, using odds ratios from binary logistic regression models. The key finding is that the vast majority (87.5%) of Jordanian women believe that wife beating is justified in at least one hypothetical scenario, and justification is negatively associated with empowerment variables and some demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic factors.


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12149
Author(s):  
Charles Huamaní ◽  
Lucio Velásquez ◽  
Sonia Montes ◽  
Ana Mayanga-Herrera ◽  
Antonio Bernabé-Ortiz

Background There are several ecological studies, but few studies of the prevalence of SARS-COV-2 at high altitude. We aimed to estimate the population-based seroprevalence of SARS-COV-2 in three settings of Cusco at the end of the first wave among adults. Methods A population-based survey was conducted in September 2020, in three settings in the region of Cusco: (1) Cusco city at 3,300 meters above the sea level (m.a.s.l.), (2) the periphery of Cusco (Santiago, San Jerónimo, San Sebastián, and Wanchaq) at 3,300 m.a.s.l., and (3) Quillabamba city, located at 1,050 m.a.s.l. People aged ≥ 18 years within a family unit were included. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection was based on identifying anti- SARS-CoV-2 total antibodies (IgM and IgG) in serum using the Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 chemiluminescence test. Results We enrolled 1924 participants from 712 families. Of the total, 637 participants were anti-SARS-CoV-2 seropositive. Seroprevalence was 38.8% (95% CI [33.4%–44.9%]) in Cusco city, 34.9% (95% CI [30.4%–40.1%]) in the periphery of Cusco, and 20.3% (95% CI [16.2%–25.6%]) in Quillabamba. In 141 families (19.8%; 95% CI [17.0%–22.8%]) the whole members were positive to the test. Living with more than three persons in the same house, a positive COVID-19 case at home, and a member who died in the last five months were factors associated with SARS-COV-2 seropositivity. Dysgeusia/dysosmia was the symptom most associated with seropositivity (aPR = 2.74, 95% CI [2.41–3.12]); whereas always wearing a face shield (aPR = 0. 73; 95% CI [0.60–0.89]) or a facial mask (aPR = 0.76, 95% CI [0.63–0. 92) reduced that probability. Conclusions A great proportion of Cusco’s city inhabitants presented anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at the end of the first wave, with significant differences between settings. Wearing masks and face shields were associated with lower rate of seropositivity; however, efforts must be made to sustain them over time since there is still a high proportion of susceptible people.


PLoS Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. e1003086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara E. Casey ◽  
Meghan C. Gallagher ◽  
Jessica Kakesa ◽  
Anushka Kalyanpur ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Muselemu ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 227 ◽  
pp. 48-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn M. Audet ◽  
Milton L. Wainberg ◽  
Maria A. Oquendo ◽  
Qiongru Yu ◽  
Meridith Blevins Peratikos ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenwen Xue ◽  
Lina Lu ◽  
Jianfeng Zhu ◽  
Xiangui He ◽  
Jiangnan He ◽  
...  

We investigated the prevalence of clinical trachoma in 154,265 children aged 6 to 16 years in 206 Shanghai migrant schools. Clean water availability in school, each child’s facial cleanliness, eyelids, corneas, and the presenting distance visual acuities were examined. Trachoma was clinically diagnosed in accordance with the World Health Organization simplified classification. Eyes diagnosed with trachoma were swabbed to test for ocularChlamydia trachomatisinfections (OCTI) with a rapid latex immunochromatographic test. Among 153,977 students, no blindness was found related to trachoma. Trachoma was diagnosed in 8029 children (5.2%). In 87 schools clinical trachoma prevalence was higher than 5%. OCTI was confirmed in 2073 of 6823 trachoma diagnosed children (30.4%). Clinical trachoma prevalence was higher among females than males (p<0.001), but gender comparison showed no statistical difference in the prevalence of OCTI (p=0.077). Age and clinical trachoma (r=-0.014;p<0.001) or OCTI (r=-0.026;p=0.031) prevalence were negatively correlated. Clinical trachoma was different in different districts and counties (p<0.001). Trachoma warrants close attention in Shanghai migrant children because the condition remains endemic in some schools.


1997 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren McLsaac ◽  
Vivek Goel ◽  
David Naylor

Objectives: To examine the association between socio-economic status, need for medical care and visits to physicians in a universal health insurance system. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of the 1990 Ontario Health Survey, a population-based survey utilizing a multistage, randomized cluster sample. The analysis considered only those respondents who were 16 years of age or older from the province of Ontario, Canada: 21 272 males and 24 738 females. Results: There was no difference by education or income in persons having made at least one visit to a general practitioner in the previous year. High income persons were less likely to have made six or more visits to a general practitioner — odds ratio (OR) = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.52, 0.87 for men; OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.58, 0.75 for women — but more likely to have made at least one visit to a specialist — OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.76 for men; OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.07, 1.45 for women. A person's need for medical care was the most important determinant of a physician visit. Conclusions: Self-reported visits to general practitioners in Canada are strongly influenced by a person's need for medical care and are appropriately related to socio-economic status. However, there is a residual association between higher socio-economic levels and greater use of specialist services.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Somdutta Barua ◽  
Nandita Saikia ◽  
Rayhan Sk

Abstract The diabetes epidemic is expanding rapidly in India, with 69.2 million people living with diabetes in 2015. This study assessed the spatial pattern and determinants of diagnosed diabetes prevalence in the districts of six states and one union territory (UT) in southern India – a region that has a high prevalence of diabetes. Using cross-sectional population-based survey data from the 2012–13 District Level Household and Facility Survey-4, the prevalence and magnitude of diagnosed diabetes at district level for the population aged 18 years and above were computed. Moran’s I was calculated to explore the spatial clustering of diagnosed diabetes prevalence. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and Spatial Lag (SL) regression models were carried out to investigate the spatial determinants of diagnosed diabetes prevalence. The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes was found to be substantially higher than that of self-reported diabetes in southern India (7.64% vs 2.38%). Diagnosed diabetes prevalence in the study area varied from 10.52% in Goa to 4.89% in Telangana. The Moran’s I values signified positive moderate autocorrelation. Southern India had 14.15 million individuals with diagnosed diabetes in 2012–13. Bangalore had the highest number of persons with diagnosed diabetes, and Palakkad had the smallest number. In the OLS and SL models, the proportion of people with secondary education and above, wealthy and Christian populations were found to be significant determinants of diagnosed diabetes prevalence. In addition, in the OLS model, the proportion of Scheduled Tribe population showed a negative relationship with diagnosed diabetes prevalence. In order to prevent or postpone the onset age for diabetes, there is a need to raise awareness about diabetes in India.


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