BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Infectious Diseases: Epidemiology and Prevention
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1566688
A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY ON FEASIBILITY OF NASOPHARYNGEAL AND OROPHARYNGEAL SWAB COLLECTION FROM PEDIATRIC RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS IN CEBU, PHILIPPINES
Provisionally accepted
Clarissa De Guzman*
Ma. Gladys Nicole DaqueMarch Helena Jane LopezAnna Maureen CuachinMaria Vinna Crisostomo
Michelle YladeJacqueline Deen- Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines
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Nasopharyngeal (NPS) and oropharyngeal (OPS) swab collection are vital in the diagnosis and surveillance of respiratory viruses. However, acceptability of these procedures among children remains a challenge.We conducted a descriptive study using data from two pediatric observational studies in Cebu, Philippines (July 2021–October 2022). One was a community-based study, involving febrile adolescents aged 13–19 years, and the other was a hospital-based study, involving febrile children aged 1 month to <5 years. Both studies aimed to collect NPS/OPS samples for respiratory pathogen testing, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B, and respiratory syncytial virus. We described reasons for refusal of NPS/OPS collection obtained from parents/guardians who were approached for participation in these studies.Among 180 children enrolled from study sites in Bogo and Balamban Cebu, 134 (74.4%) were from the community-based study and 46 (25.6%) from the hospital-based study. Twenty-nine (29/180) (16.1%) agreed to undergo NPS/OPS collection — all of whom were from the community-based study. None of the hospital-based participants agreed to undergo NPS/OPS collection as part of their participation in the study. Among the 151/180 (83.90%) participants who refused the research swab collection, 41 (27.2%) declined due to a prior swab, 31 (20.5%) cited fear or discomfort, and 28 (18.5%) felt it was unnecessary at the time.NPS/OPS collection was less acceptable in both community and hospital settings, unless mandated by local authorities based on the experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior swabbing, procedural discomfort, and perceived lack of necessity were key barriers, especially among younger children and their caregivers.
Keywords: Nasopharyngeal swab, Oropharyngeal swab, pediatric, Cebu, Philippines
Received: 31 Jan 2025; Accepted: 26 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 De Guzman, Daque, Lopez, Cuachin, Crisostomo, Ylade and Deen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Clarissa De Guzman, Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, 1000, National Capital Region, Philippines
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