Sero-prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

AbstractBackgroundAnti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests are being increasingly used for sero-epidemiological purposes to provide better understanding of the extent of the infection in the community, and monitoring the progression of the COVID-19 epidemic. We conducted sero-prevalence study to estimate prior infection with with SARS-CoV-2 in Addis Ababa.MethodsA cross-sectional study was done from April 23 to 28, 2020 among 301 randomly selected residents of Addis Ababa; with no known history of contact with confirmed COVID-19 person. Interviews on socio demographic and behavioural risk factor followed by serological tests were performed for SARS-CoV-2 IgM, and IgG antibodies, using COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette. The test has sensitivity of 87·9% and specificity of 100% for lgM; and a sensitivity of 97·2% and specificity of 100% for IgG. RT-PCR test was also done on combined nasopharyngeal and oropharengeal swabs as an important public health consideration.FindingsThe unadjusted antibody-based crude SARS-CoV-2 prevalence was 7·6% and the adjusted true SARS-CoV-2 prevalence was estimated at 8·8% (95% CI 5·5%-11·6%) for the study population. Higher sero-prevalence were observed for males (9.0%), age below 50 years (8.2%), students and unemployed (15.6%), those with primary education (12.1%), smokers (7.8%), alcohol consumers (8.6%), chatt-chewers (13.6%) and shish smokers (18.8%). Seroprevalence was not significantly associated neither with socio-demographic not behavioral characteristics. According to the findings, possibly more individuals had been infected in Addis Ababa than what was being detected and reported by RT-PCR test suggestive of community transmission. The use of serological test for epidemiological estimation of the extent of SARS-CoV-2 epidemic gives a more precise estimate of magnitude which would be used for further monitoring and surveillance of the magnitude of the SARS CoV-2 infection.

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Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) among Health Care Workers in Three Health Facilities of Yaounde, Center Region of Cameroon

European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences ◽

10.24018/ejmed.2021.3.6.1109 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (6) ◽

pp. 89-94

Author(s):

Philippe Salomon Nguwoh ◽

Akenji Blaise Mboringong ◽

Joseph Fokam ◽

Christian Ngounouh Taheu ◽

Ibrahima Halilou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Rapid Test ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Facilities ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Face To Face ◽

Care Workers ◽

History Of

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first appeared in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and has subsequently become a worldwide pandemic. During the pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) were very exposed to COVID-19 infected patients. The aim of this study was to determine seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) among HCWs in three health facilities of Yaounde. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 368 HCWs was conducted from January 18th to February 13th, 2021, in three health facilities located in city of Yaounde. Data of study participants were collected by face-to-face interviews using standard questionnaire. Blood samples were collected in labelled dry tubes and analyzed using Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) cassettes (Abbott PanbioTMCOVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Device). The data collected was analyzed using Epi info version 7. Any value of p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The average age was 30.25 (SD±10.43) years old, range from 21 to 72 years old. Overall, the positivity rates of IgM, IgG and IgM+IgG were 6.79% (n=25), 17.93% (n=66) and 1.09% (n=4) respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that, the rate of IgM positivity was highest in laboratory personnel (χ2= 7.99, p=0.3) and IgG (χ2= 8.50, p=0.29), IgM+IgG (χ2= 1.92, p=0.26) respectively in pharmacy and clinical personnel. The clinical signs such as fever (˃38°C) or history of fever was statistically significant with IgM (χ2=11.71, p= 0.0006) while, sore throat was statistically significant associated with IgM (χ2= 14.3, p= 0.0008) and IgG (χ2= 6.33, p= 0.04). Conclusion: The results of this study reveal a high seroprevalence of circulation of the virus in hospital milieu in Yaounde suggesting the continuation of the COVID-19 « Track-Test-Treat » system to break the chain of transmission.

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Alcohol use disorder and its determinant factors among patients with schizophrenia attending treatment at mental specialized hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

SAGE Open Medicine ◽

10.1177/20503121211048748 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 205031212110487

Author(s):

Habtamu Tadesse ◽

Yohannes Mirkana ◽

Tadesse Misgana

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Addis Ababa ◽

Previous History ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Duration Of Illness ◽

Specialized Hospital ◽

Audit Score ◽

History Of

Background: Alcohol use disorder is one of the primary causes of avoidable death, illness, and injury in many societies throughout the world. Although alcohol use disorder can influence the natural history of a disease, disease recurrence, quality of life, and treatment adherence in psychiatric patients, the data on its magnitude is scarce. Objectives: This study was aimed to determine the magnitude of alcohol use disorder and its determinants among patients with schizophrenia attending a mental specialized hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 15 to June 15, 2018. An alcohol use disorder identification test was employed among a sample of 414 randomly selected patients with schizophrenia. Alcohol use disorder was categorized as hazardous drinking (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score of 8–15), harmful drinking (AUDIT score of 16–19), and alcohol dependence (AUDIT score of 20 or above). The data were entered into Epi-Data 3.1 and exported to SPSS 20 for analysis. Logistic regression was fitted to identify factors associated with alcohol use disorder. Results: The prevalence of alcohol use disorder was 38.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 33.7, 42.9). Of this, 22.4% of the patients had hazardous drinking, 8.4% harmful drinking, and 7.6% alcohol dependence. Factors associated with alcohol use disorder were male sex (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.8, 95% CI 2.55, 13.19), being single (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.63, 5.51), divorced (AOR = 4.3, 95% CI 1.95, 9.47) and widowed (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.39, 8.81), having family history of alcoholism (AOR = 3.8, 95% CI 1.98, 7.19), longer duration of illness (AOR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.83, 8.36), previous history of psychiatric diagnosis (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.1, 4.34), and concomitant use of non-alcoholic substances (AOR = 3.7, 95% CI 2.06, 6.74). Conclusions: Almost four in ten patients with schizophrenia had alcohol use disorder. Male sex, single, divorced, and widowed, family history of alcohol use, long duration of illness, previous history of psychiatric diagnosis, and concomitant use of non-alcoholic substances were significantly associated with alcohol use disorder. Continuous counseling of at risk populations about alcohol consumption should be strengthened.

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Evaluation of nine serological rapid tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2

Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública ◽

10.26633/rpsp.2020.149 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Marcela Mercado ◽

Jeadran Malagón-Rojas ◽

Gabriela Delgado ◽

Vivian Vanesa Rubio ◽

Lida Muñoz Galindo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Study Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Diagnostic Aid ◽

Rapid Tests

Objective. To evaluate the operative capacity of nine serological rapid tests to detect the IgM/IgG antibodies response in serum from patients with SARS-CoV-2 in different clinical stages. Methods. A cross-sectional study of serological rapid tests was designed to compare the performance of the evaluated immunochromatographic tests for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. A total of 293 samples was used, including negatives, asymptomatic, and symptomatic serum samples. Results. The sensitivity of the evaluated tests was low and moderate in the groups of asymptomatic serum samples and the group of serums coming from patients with less than 11 days since the onset of the symptoms. The specificity for the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies tests ranged between 86.5%-99% for IgM and 86.5%-99.5% for IgG. The sensitivity and the likelihood ratio were different according to the study groups. The usefulness of these tests is restricted to symptomatic patients and their sensitivity is greater than 85% after 11 days from the appearance of symptoms. Conclusions. Serological tests are not an adequate strategy for the identification of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic patients. Serological rapid tests for the detection of specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies can be used as a diagnostic aid, but diagnosis must be confirmed by RT-PCR. Rapid tests should be reserved for patients with symptoms lasting more than 11 days.

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Association of Anosmia and Positive SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) RT-PCR Test Results Among Patients in the Quezon City General Hospital

Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery ◽

10.32412/pjohns.v36i1.1631 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 33

Author(s):

Jeff James Alega ◽

Emmanuel Tadeus Cruz

Keyword(s):

General Hospital ◽

Neck Surgery ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

The Philippines ◽

Test Results ◽

Government Hospital ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Quezon City ◽

Pcr Test

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the association of anosmia and positive SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) RT-PCR test results among patients in a tertiary government hospital in Metro Manila. Methods: Design: Cross-Sectional Study Setting: Tertiary Government Hospital Participants: Patients aged 18 years old and above who consulted or were admitted with COVID-19 symptoms at the Quezon City General Hospital in the Philippines from July to September 2020 answered an offline version of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery AAO-HNS COVID-19 Anosmia Reporting Tool prior to undergoing (COVID-19) RT-PCR testing. Results: Out of 172 participants, 63 (36.6%) presented with anosmia. Sixty (95.2%) out of 63 of those with anosmia had a positive COVID-19 RT-PCR test result. Forty-one (65%) participants reported anosmia as the first symptom while the most common associated symptoms were fever (59%), cough (50%), and rhinorrhea (31%). There was a significant association between anosmia and positive SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) RT-PCR tests (X2 =33.85, df=1, p<.0001). Conclusion: Anosmia was associated with a positive SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) RT-PCR test in more than 95% of those who reported the symptom. Anosmia should be considered as a red flag sign which should be included in the screening of persons suspected of being infected with COVID-19 to help mitigate further spread of the virus.

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Mental Distress and Associated Factors Among Hospitalized Medical Surgical Adult Inpatients in Public Hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020. Cross-sectional Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-97696/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shegaw Tesfa ◽

Berhanu Wordofa Giru ◽

Tadesse Bedada

Keyword(s):

Associated Factors ◽

Psychiatric Illness ◽

Mental Distress ◽

Addis Ababa ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Care Providers ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

History Of

Abstract Background: Mental distress is a mental or psychological syndrome, which influences the health status and treatment effectiveness, getting quality of care in a hospitalized medical surgical inpatient. It is more common in hospital setting than community setting population. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of mental distress and associated factors among hospitalized medical surgical adult inpatients in public hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020.Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 408 study subjects from March 1-30, 2020. Systematic random sampling technique was used and data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaire. Data was collected by trained nursing students and collected data was entered into Epi-data 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis, and then binary and multiple logistic regressions was performed to check the association between dependent and independent variable.Result: The prevalence of mental distress among hospitalized medical surgical adult inpatients in public hospitals was 53.1% with (95%CI; 48%, 58%). Variables of being married [AOR=2.67; 95%CI(1.065,6.683)], private employee [AOR=2.21; 95%CI(1.001, 4.900)], daily laborer [AOR=4.70; 95%CI(1.218, 18.215)], rural residence [AOR=1.85; 95%CI(1.047,3.264)], taking alcohol [AOR=1.68; 95%CI(1.025, 2.740)], previous psychiatric illness [AOR=3.40; 95%CI(1.078, 10.737)] and co-morbidity [AOR=1.93; 95%CI (1.200, 3.094)] were found to be significantly associated with mental distress; while age, sex, ethnicity, religion, educational status, income, smoking, chat, social support, living condition, history of hospitalization, ward admitted and length of hospital stay were not significantly associated.Conclusion: The prevalence of mental distress was high and being married, private employee, daily laborer, residence in rural area, previous history of psychiatric illness, alcohol used and comorbidity disorder were associated with mental distress among hospitalized adult inpatients. Therefore, health care providers should provide special consideration to those group of patients admitted to the hospital.

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PREVALENCE OF MOLECULAR AND SEROLOGICAL TESTS OF THE NEW CORONAVIRUS (SARS-CoV-2) IN CARLOS CHAGAS-SABIN LABORATORIES IN CUIABÁ

10.1101/2020.10.26.20219683 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Cristiane Coimbra de Paula ◽

João Pedro Castoldo Passos ◽

Walkiria Shimoya-Bittencour ◽

Caroline Aquino Vieira de Lamare ◽

Ruberlei Godinho de Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

Nasal Swab ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

High Rate ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Midwest Region ◽

Epidemiological Profile

AbstractBACKGROUNDCOVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), became a pandemic in 2020 with mortality rate of 2% and high transmissibility, which makes studies with an epidemiological profile essential.OBJECTIVESTo characterize the population that performed the SARS-CoV-2 molecular and serological tests in Carlos Chagas-Sabin laboratories in Cuiabá.METHODSA retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out with all the samples collected from nasal swab tested by RT-PCR and serological for SARM-CoV-2 IgM / IgG from the population served between April and July 2020.FINDINGSIn the analyzed period, 11,113 PCR-Covid-19 exams were registered. Of this total of cases, 3,912 (35.20%) tested positive, while 6,889 (61.90%) did not detect viral RNA and 312 (2.80%) of the visits resulted as undetermined. The peak of positive RT-PCR performed in July (n = 5878), with 35.65% (n = 2096). A total of 6,392 tests performed on SOROVID-19, with a peak of 1161 (18.16%) of the positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 in July.MAIN CONCLUSIONSMolecular positivity and serological tests, both peaked in July 2020, were mostly present in women aged 20-39, characterizing Cuiabá as the epicenter of the Midwest region in this period due to the high rate of transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2.

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Syphilis and HIV Infection among Prisoners in Maputo, Mozambique

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1177/095646249500600109 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 42-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Rui Gama Vaz ◽

Stephen Gloyd ◽

Elena Folgosa ◽

Joan Kreiss

Keyword(s):

Educational Interventions ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Intravenous Drug Use ◽

Correctional Institutions ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Female Prisoners ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

History Of ◽

Std Screening

A cross-sectional study was carried out among 1284 male and 54 female prisoners to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in 4 correctional institutions of Maputo, Mozambique. Among the men, 32% reported a history of prostitute contact and 41% reported a history of STD. Only 9% reported having ever used condoms. Seventy (5.5%) men reported having had sexual intercourse while in prison, in all but one instance this involved sex with another man. There was no reported intravenous drug use. One hundred and four (7.8%) inmates had positive serological tests for syphilis and 8 (0.6%) had antibodies to HIV. Among men, syphilis was associated with a history of genital ulcer [odds ratio (OR) = 3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.4, 6.4] and uncircumcised status (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.0, 2.5). This study demonstrates that syphilis is common among inmates in Maputo and that risk behaviours for STD transmission exist within Maputo prisons. There is a need for STD screening and treatment programmes within prisons in Mozambique and the introduction of educational interventions, including condom promotion.

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A comparison of antigen-based rapid test and RT-PCR test to diagnose COVID-19 and its infectivity

Romanian Medical Journal ◽

10.37897/rmj.2021.3.11 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 68 (3) ◽

pp. 399-405

Author(s):

Cokorda Agung Wahyu Purnamasidhi ◽

◽

Richard Christian Suteja ◽

I Komang Hotra Adiputra ◽

Giovanca Verentzia Purnama ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rapid Test ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Ct Value ◽

Negative Results ◽

Equipment Availability ◽

Rapid Tests ◽

Diagnostic Cost ◽

Test Result

Background. Medical screening and diagnostic cost and equipment availability has been a major obstacle to supposed-to-be extensive tracing, and overall, to the end of COVID-19 pandemic. Even though RT-PCR is the gold diagnostic standard, it is costly, lengthy, and may be unavailable in remote areas. Therefore, antigen-based COVID-19 rapid tests may be a solution to quickly detect and screen communities suspected of contracting COVID-19. Objective. This paper aims to observe how reliable antigen-based COVID-19 rapid tests are compared to RT-PCR testing. Material and methods. An observational cross-sectional study was performed on 101 samples to find the specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of antigen-based rapid testing compared to RT-PCR testing performed on every individual. Then, a pattern between CT values and duration between onset of symptoms and testing to antigen-based rapid test result was observed to find a cut-off value such that the person may be deemed safe to exit isolation. Outcomes. A cut-off CT value of above 30.04 (p < 0.01) with a sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 77.8% (moderate accuracy) obtained from ROC analysis showed negative results on antigen-based rapid tests. The tests showed an overall accuracy of 67.3%, where results between the two tests were consistent. Conclusion. Therefore, an estimated CT value of 30 was moderately proved to be used as a criterion to end isolation and presume the person no longer sheds SARS-CoV-2.

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Coping strategies among Ethiopian migrant returnees who were in quarantine in the time of COVID-19: a center-based cross-sectional study

BMC Psychology ◽

10.1186/s40359-021-00699-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yekoyealem Desie ◽

Kassahun Habtamu ◽

Mulat Asnake ◽

Endirias Gina ◽

Temesgen Mequanint

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Religious Coping ◽

Coping Strategy ◽

Migrant Workers ◽

Addis Ababa ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Brief Cope ◽

History Of

Abstract Background Following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, many numbers of Ethiopian migrant workers from the Middle East repatriated to their home country. Returnees who came back to Ethiopia during the early stages of COVID-19 went through difficult experiences of unplanned return and unfamiliar quarantine. Despite burgeoning studies on the coping strategies of the general population on stresses associated with the pandemic, there is lack of research on how returnees cope with challenges related to migration and quarantine experiences. The aim of this study was to examine the coping strategies used by returnees who were in mandatory quarantine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A center-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 405 migrant returnees who were in mandatory quarantine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We developed a structured questionnaire to collect data about the socio-demographic, migration related, quarantine related and COVID-19 related characteristics of participants. We used the Brief COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) scale to measure returnees coping strategies. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were used to determine extent of use of coping strategies and identify factors associated with them. Results Emotion-focused coping mainly religious coping was the most frequently used coping strategy in the study group. Dysfunctional coping, however, was the least frequently employed coping strategy. Higher scores on emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies were associated with absence of perceived support from family and relatives after the quarantine and with no history of contact with COVID-19 suspected or infected person. Conclusions The study shows that emotion-focused coping, particularly religious coping, was the most commonly used coping strategy among returnees who were in quarantine centers in the context of COVID-19. Returnees who perceived that they will not have support from family and relatives and those who were not exposed to the virus were more likely to use either emotion- or problem-focused coping strategies. Psychosocial reintegration efforts need to focus on enhancing returnees’ capacity to use adaptive coping strategies. We suggest in-depth qualitative studies for better understanding of returnees’ coping strategies and to facilitate reintegration activities.

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Persistent Smell Loss Following Undetectable SARS-CoV-2

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1177/0194599820934769 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 163 (5) ◽

pp. 923-925 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carol H. Yan ◽

Divya P. Prajapati ◽

Michele L. Ritter ◽

Adam S. DeConde

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Test Results ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Subsequent Test ◽

Viral Shedding ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Smell Loss ◽

Pcr Test

The association of smell and taste loss with COVID-19 has been well demonstrated with high prevalence rates. In certain cases, chemosensory loss may be the only symptom of COVID-19 and may linger while other symptoms have resolved. The significance of persistent smell and taste loss and its relationship to ongoing viral shedding has yet to be investigated. In this cross-sectional study, of the 316 laboratory test–confirmed COVID-19 cases at our institution, 46 had subsequent test-based confirmation of viral clearance with 2 consecutive negative RT-PCR test results (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction). Olfactory dysfunction was reported by 50% of the patients (23 of 46), with 78% (18 of 23) having subjective persistent smell loss despite negative RT-PCR test results. These preliminary data demonstrate the persistence of self-reported smell loss despite otherwise clinical resolution and undetectable nasal viral RNA.

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