Post-Vaccine SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection and Associated Factors Among Health Care Providers in Addis Ababa Public Hospitals, Addis Ababa, 2022: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background of the study: The protection against Coronavirus variants 2019 by pre-existing antibodies due to the current vaccination or natural infection is a global concern. In Ethiopia, case reports show that a significant number of health professionals are reported to get re-infected after vaccination. There are also more studies that revealed the symptomatic SARS-COV-2 re-infection, in particular, among healthcare providers actively engaged in Addis Ababa public health facilities.

Objective: This study has aimed at assessing the magnitude of post-vaccine reinfection of SARS-COV-2 and associated factors among health care providers in Addis Ababa public hospitals, Addis Ababa, 2022 G.C.

Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 11 to July 30, 2022. A total of 422 health professionals were included. A simple random sampling method was employed to select 40% of the total hospitals. Then the total sample size was equally allocated to each selected hospital, and then each individual was selected purposefully. The data was collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. The analysis was done using SPSS version 26.0, and for data entry, EPi Info version 7.1 was used. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the p-value.

Results: Overall, 418 healthcare providers were enrolled in this study, making the response rate 99.05%. The magnitude of SARS-COV-2 reinfection was 60 (14.4%) (95% CI 10.8-17.9). Healthcare professionals who took infection prevention (IP) training on COVID-19 (AOR = 7.177: CI = 4.761-9.698) were associated with SARS-COV-2 reinfection; those with a history of chronic respiratory diseases (AOR = 3.029: CI = 2.406-9.133) were associated with SARS-COV-2 reinfection; health professionals who took the third dose of SARS-COV-2 vaccine (AOR = 1.75: CI = 1.14-2.68) and being a midwife were statistically significant.

Conclusion and recommendation: This study showed the prevalence of SARS-COV-2 reinfection among vaccinated healthcare providers with a pre-vaccination infection history was high; IP training on COVID-19 was needed; educational status, profession, type of vaccine taken in the first dose, chronic respiratory diseases, and number of vaccinations were significantly associated with SARS-COV-2 reinfection after vaccination. Giving IP training, encouraging taking the vaccine as protocol, and using proper personal protective equipment are recommended.

Keywords: SARS-COV-2; health care providers; post-vaccine infection; pre-vaccination infection history; public hospitals.