Epidemiological Situation of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Douala, The Most Populated and Highly Heterogeneous Town of Cameroon: A Post-Vaccination Update
30 Pages Posted: 31 Dec 2022
Abstract
This study aimed at providing an update of SARS–CoV–2 epidemiology in Douala, the most populated and highly heterogeneous town of Cameroon. A hospital–based cross sectional study was conducted from January to September 2022. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, anthropometric, and clinical data. Retrotranscriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect SARS–CoV–2 in nasopharyngeal samples. Of the 2354 individuals approached, 420 were included. The mean age of patients was 42.3 ± 14.4 years (range 21 – 82). The prevalence of SARS–CoV–2 infection was 8.1%. The risk of infection with SARS–CoV–2 was seven times increased in patients aged ≥ 70 years old (aRR = 7.12, p = 0.001), and more than six times in married (aRR = 6.60, p = 0.02), those having completed secondary studies (aRR = 7.85, p = 0.02), HIV-positive patients (aRR = 7.64, p < 0.0001), asthmatic patients (aRR = 7.60, p = 0.003), and those regularly seeking health care (aRR = 9.24, p = 0.001). In contrast, the risk of infection was reduced by 86% in patients attending Bonassama hospital (aRR = 0.07, p = 0.04), by 93% in patients of blood group B (aRR = 0.14, p = 0.04), and by 95% in COVID–19 vaccinated participants (aRR = 0.05, p = 0.005). There is a need for ongoing surveillance of SARS–CoV–2 in Cameroon, given the position and importance of Douala.
Note:
Funding Information: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors
Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Ethics Approval Statement: National guidelines for human experimental models in clinical research were followed to conduct the present study. The study was approved by ethics committees of the University of Douala (N° 2945 CEI-UDo/12/2021/T), Littoral health regional delegation (N° 0038/AAR/MINSANTE/DRSPL/BCASS), and Douala Laquintinie Hospital (N° 08179/AR/MINSANTE/DHL). The study was explained to participants in the two official languages they understood best (French or English), and their questions were answered. Only patient who signed an informed consent form was enrolled.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, Prevalence, Determinants, Update, Cameroon
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