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Multicenter Study
. 2023 Mar 1;117(3):179-188.
doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trac089.

Multicountry study of SARS-CoV-2 and associated risk factors among healthcare workers in Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and South Africa

Sarah Kribi  1 , Fidèle Touré  2 , Adriano Mendes  3 , Soufiane Sanou  4 , Arsène Some  4 , Abdoul M Aminou  2 , Essia Belarbi  1 , Rosemary Griessel  5   6 , Arsène Hema  7 , Firmin Kabore  4 , Paul Pitzinger  1 , Amy Strydom  3 , Ann Christin Vietor  1 , Korotimi Traoré  4 , Arsène Zongo  4 , Etilé A Anoh  2 , Marica Grossegesse  1 , Natalie Hofmann  1 , Soumeya Ouangraoua  4 , Armel Poda  7 , Thérèse Kagone  4 , Grit Schubert  1 , Tim Eckmanns  1 , Marietjie Venter  3 , Fabian Leendertz  1 , Chantal Akoua-Koffi  2 , Sara Tomczyk  1
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Multicountry study of SARS-CoV-2 and associated risk factors among healthcare workers in Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and South Africa

Sarah Kribi et al. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. .

Abstract

Background: Reports on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread across Africa have varied, including among healthcare workers (HCWs). This study assessed the comparative SARS-CoV-2 burden and associated risk factors among HCWs in three African countries.

Methods: A multicentre study was conducted at regional healthcare facilities in Côte d'Ivoire (CIV), Burkina Faso (BF) and South Africa (SA) from February to May 2021. HCWs provided blood samples for SARS-CoV-2 serology and nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs for testing of acute infection by polymerase chain reaction and completed a questionnaire. Factors associated with seropositivity were assessed with logistic regression.

Results: Among 719 HCWs, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 34.6% (95% confidence interval 31.2 to 38.2), ranging from 19.2% in CIV to 45.7% in BF. A total of 20 of 523 (3.8%) were positive for acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Female HCWs had higher odds of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity compared with males, and nursing staff, allied health professionals, non-caregiver personnel and administration had higher odds compared with physicians. HCWs also reported infection prevention and control (IPC) gaps, including 38.7% and 29% having access to respirators and IPC training, respectively, in the last year.

Conclusions: This study was a unique comparative HCW SARS-CoV-2 investigation in Africa. Seroprevalence estimates varied, highlighting distinctive population/facility-level factors affecting COVID-19 burden and the importance of established IPC programmes to protect HCWs and patients.

Keywords: Africa; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; healthcare workers; infection prevention and control; serology.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Selected infection prevention and control measures reported by participating HCWs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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