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. 2022 Dec 1;17(12):e0278335.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278335. eCollection 2022.

Population-based correlates of COVID-19 infection: An analysis from the DFW COVID-19 prevalence study

Amit G Singal  1 , Andrew Masica  2 , Kate Esselink  1 , Caitlin C Murphy  1 , Jill A Dever  3 , Annika Reczek  1 , Matthew Bensen  4 , Nicole Mack  4 , Ellen Stutts  4 , Jamie L Ridenhour  4 , Evan Galt  1 , Jordan Brainerd  1 , Noa Kopplin  1 , Sruthi Yekkaluri  1 , Chris Rubio  1 , Shelby Anderson  1 , Kathryn Jan  1 , Natalie Whitworth  2 , Jacqueline Wagner  2 , Stephen Allen  2 , Alagar R Muthukumar  1 , Jasmin Tiro  1
Affiliations

Population-based correlates of COVID-19 infection: An analysis from the DFW COVID-19 prevalence study

Amit G Singal et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has resulted in over 1 million deaths in the U.S. as of June 2022, with continued surges after vaccine availability. Information on related attitudes and behaviors are needed to inform public health strategies. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19, risk factors of infection, and related attitudes and behaviors in a racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse urban population.

Methods: The DFW COVID-19 Prevalence Study Protocol 1 was conducted from July 2020 to March 2021 on a randomly selected sample of adults aged 18-89 years, living in Dallas or Tarrant Counties, Texas. Participants were asked to complete a 15-minute questionnaire and COVID-19 PCR and antibody testing. COVID-19 prevalence estimates were calculated with survey-weighted data.

Results: Of 2969 adults who completed the questionnaire (7.4% weighted response), 1772 (53.9% weighted) completed COVID-19 testing. Overall, 11.5% of adults had evidence of COVID-19 infection, with a higher prevalence among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black persons, essential workers, those in low-income neighborhoods, and those with lower education attainment compared to their counterparts. We observed differences in attitudes and behaviors by race and ethnicity, with non-Hispanic White persons being less likely to believe in the importance of mask wearing, and racial and ethnic minorities more likely to attend social gatherings.

Conclusion: Over 10% of an urban population was infected with COVID-19 early during the pandemic. Differences in attitudes and behaviors likely contribute to sociodemographic disparities in COVID-19 prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Estimated prevalence by select beliefs that lower risk of COVID-19 infection.
SES = Socioeconomic status. Non-Hispanic (NH) Other is comprised of racial groups other than White and Black including multiracial. Essential workers (Yes) are defined as those who worked onsite in the past 30 days at the time of the survey most of the time and who came into frequent contact with the public. The ‘No” category includes those not working (e.g., student, retired). Education: < HS = less than high school/ high school no diploma; HS = high school, vocational, business or trade school; some college = some college no degree/associate degree; college degree = 4-year college/university degree/graduate school.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Estimated prevalence by select behaviors that lower risk of COVID-19 infection.
SES = Socioeconomic status. Non-Hispanic (NH) Other is comprised of racial groups other than White and Black including multiracial. Essential workers (Yes) are defined as those who worked onsite in the past 30 days at the time of the survey most of the time and who came into frequent contact with the public. The ‘No” category includes those not working (e.g., student, retired). Education: < HS = less than high school/ high school no diploma; HS = high school, vocational, business or trade school; some college = some college no degree/associate degree; college degree = 4-year college/university degree/graduate school.
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