ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: We undertook this cross-sectional study to determine the level of circulating anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 immunoglobulins (IgM and IgG) in children, as well as to evaluate other potential risk factors. METHODS: Children attending the outpatient department of the SOS and Benadir Hospitals in Mogadishu from 26 July to 8 August 2021 were selected following parental consent. The children (aged <18 y) were screened using the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapid test lateral flow immune-assay kit. RESULTS: Of the 500 children screened for COVID-19, 32 (6.4%) tested positive, out of which 26 (5.2%) had IgG antibodies, while five (1%) had IgM, with the other child (0.2%) having both circulating IgG and IgM antibodies. Also, 46.9% of the COVID-19-positive children were asymptomatic without any clinical signs of the disease. Children aged >6 y and those attending school were the most affected (p=0.002). The most common clinical features among positive children were fever (22.6%), cough (22.2%), shortness of breath (5.8%) and loss of smell (2.6%) and taste (2.2%). Similarly, not wearing a facemask as a preventive measure was found to be a significant risk factor (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that children are at risk of contracting COVID-19 infection. Our study also shows evidence of a high rate of IgG antibodies in school-aged children having close contact with infected adults, in those not wearing facemasks, as well as in those with a family history of comorbidities.
ABSTRACT
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are one of the most vulnerable groups for contracting COVID-19 and dying as a result of it. Over 10,000 HCWs in Africa have been infected with COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization, making it a substantial occupational health threat for HCWs. To that end, Somalia's Ministry of Health has ordered that all healthcare personnel obtain the COVID-19 vaccination to safeguard themselves and the community they serve. In this investigation, we aimed to assess the COVID-19 vaccination coverage and its associated factors among healthcare workers in Somalia. A cross-sectional study was employed to examine COVID-19 vaccination coverage among healthcare personnel in Somalia. The data were obtained via an online questionnaire supplied by Google forms between December 2021 and February 2022, where a total of 1281 healthcare workers from the various federal states of Somalia were recruited. A multinomial regression analysis was used to analyse the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Overall, 1281 HCWs participated (630 females, 651 males) with a mean age and standard deviation of 27.7 years ± 7.1. The overall vaccine coverage was 37.4%. Sex, age, the state of residency, education level, specialization, hospital COVID-19 policy, vaccine availability at the centre, COVID-19 treatment centre, and health facility level were the factors that influenced the COVID-19 vaccine uptake among health professionals in Somalia. Male healthcare employees were 2.2 times (odds ratio-OR = 2.2; confidence interval-CI: 1.70, 2.75, p < 0.001) more likely than female healthcare workers to be fully vaccinated. The survey discovered that the COVID-19 vaccine coverage among health professionals was quite low, with the major contributing factors being accessibility, security challenges and literary prowess. Additional efforts to enhance vaccination uptake are needed to improve the COVID-19 vaccination coverage.
ABSTRACT
Only little is known about the true extent of COVID-19 in Somalia. The study aims to assess the seroprevalence of the COVID-19 pandemics in the Benadir region using SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and estimate the number of inhabitants infected with SARS-CoV-2. Population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted to measure the seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the Benadir region (Mogadishu city). In the study, we enrolled 2500 Mogadishu city residents aged ≥18 years who did not receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The overall seroprevalence of IgG/IgM anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 44.8%. The seropositivity in females (56.6%) was higher than in males (46.2%). The trend in seropositivity increased with age; however, the variation was only significant in the age group 38-57 with an odds ratio and p-value of 4.11 (1.475-11.47), p = 0.007. Families with >5 members (47.2%) were more likely to test positive than those with <5 members (37%). Participants who reported COVID-19 symptoms during the pandemics or who had contact with COVID-19 patients had significantly increased IgG prevalence. Participants with larger families, individuals working in the public sector, and students showed significant seropositive results. Therefore, precautionary measures should be heightened for individuals working in the public sector.