AUTHOR=Mumba Temple Kahilu , Merwe Kylie Van Der , Divall Mark , Mwangilwa Kelvin , Kayeyi Nkomba 

TITLE=Seroprevalence survey of SARS-CoV-2, community behaviors, and practices in Kansanshi and Kalumbila mining towns

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1103133

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1103133

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Coronavirus disease 2019 (SARS-CoV-2 ) was declared a global pandemic by WHO after it spread quickly around the world from its source city in Wuhan. Africa has some of the lowest documented SARS-CoV-2 incidences globally, with over 9 million confirmed cases as of December 2022. This may be due to efficient mitigation, outbreak response, or demographic traits. Therefore, this study documents the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 COVID19, its characteristics, and the socio-economic characteristics in the two districts of Solwezi and Kalumbila . Between March 28 and April 26, 2021, a cross-sectional cluster-sample survey of households was conducted. Twenty Standard Enumeration Areas (SEA) were randomly selected in Kansanshi (17 SEA) and Kalumbila (3 SEA). Members of the households aged <5 years were not eligible to participate in the survey. All participants that consented to participate in the interview, were also asked to consent to test for SARS-CoV-2 infection using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Out of the total sample of 3047 that were present for the interview, 622 of them agreed to test for COVID-19. Of the total that tested for SARS-CoV-2COVID-19, 2.6% were IgM positive while 9.0% were IgG positive. 1586 participants that agreed to the interview indicated a low self-risk assessment of getting COVID-19 (46.5%) or someone (45.5%). On the public health measures: handwashing more than usual (65.0%), not hand sanitizing more than usual (69.0%), not disinfecting surfaces in their households than usual (87.5%), not avoiding drinking from bars or night clubs (90.6%) and not wearing a mask when out in public places (71.1%). In the Logistic multivaraible model, participants with age 24 years and above (AOR =2.94; 95% CI = 1.10, 7.81) and having experienced symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 (AOR = 2.60; 95% CI: 1.33, 5.05) had a significant effects on testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: Results showed that active COVID-19 prevalence in Solwezi and Kalumbila was low, exposure to infection was 5-times high. Government and mining firms should continue to sensitize the community members on the preventive measures of COVID-19 and continue with community testing and vaccine promotion.