ABSTRACT
Background: The age group of 5-17 years belongs to the vulnerable segment of the population for COVID-19 infection in India. Seroprevalence in this population can therefore allow inferences to be made about the extent of infection. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the seroprevalence and to determine the factors associated with COVID-19 antibody among children aged 5-17 years in an urban and rural area of Kochi, Kerala. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in the urban and rural field practice areas of the community medicine department in a medical college, Kochi. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information about sociodemographic data, history related to COVID-19, and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibody test result. Blood samples were collected and tested for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies using the Wantai test kit after attaining informed assent from the parent/guardian. Results: The seroprevalence of the COVID-19 antibody was 48.3% among participants. The seroprevalence of COVID-19 antibody was higher among children of mothers with skilled/unskilled occupation, residents of rural area, above poverty line category, those with a history of COVID-19, and those who had a history of contact with COVID-19-positive patients. Conclusion: Half of the study population were COVID antibody positive, and the rest were at risk of infection. Therefore, adherence to COVID-19 guidelines is essential to control further spread of infection among children.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Child , Female , Humans , Child, Preschool , Adolescent , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , India/epidemiology , Antibodies, ViralABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic situation has forced a shift in medical education from physical classroom to virtual online teaching. However, students and teachers perceive this differently. It is important to study these perceptions to improve the teaching-learning process, and thus to validate the role of online learning in the country. OBJECTIVE: To document the process of a pilot for a questionnaire-based study regarding perception of undergraduate medical students towards on-going online classes. METHODS: Medical Education Department of a teaching hospital developed a new questionnaire with the primary objective of studying the satisfaction and usefulness of the online classes (e-Learning). Content validity was done. For the pilot work, 10% of the total student strength was targeted. Random purposive sampling from each phase of the undergraduate course was done to choose the participants. The questionnaire was administered via Google Classroom. It was an external, undeclared type of pilot. All the responses were documented and analysed for both changes in the questions as well as for statistical sample size derivation for the main study. RESULTS: Responses from 30 students were analysed for the pilot study. Based on the proportion of the level of satisfaction (23.3%) and usefulness (23.3%) of the on-going online classes observed, and with 20% relative precision and 95% confidence, the minimum sample size for the main study was calculated. The responses revealed the need for minor changes in the questionnaire tool for overall feasibility and achievement of the objectives of the main study. CONCLUSIONS: A pilot study is a necessary component for a research project, especially when it involves the use of a new tool. This paper shows the relevance of the same. The authors intend to convey the importance of documenting the processes of conduct of a pilot study, the issues involved therein, and the steps taken to resolve the same.