NIDS 2022 Conference Abstracts

J Nig Infect Dis Soc 2023; 2(1):A08

Unigwe US ${}^{1,4}$${}^{1,4}$^(1,4){ }^{1,4}${}^{1,4}$, Onyeaghala ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{A}}^{2\ast }$${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{A}}^{2\ast }$CA^(2**)\mathrm{CA}^{2 *}${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{A}}^{2\ast }$, Olaitan ${\mathrm{A}}^3$${\mathrm{A}}^3$A^(3)\mathrm{A}^{3}${\mathrm{A}}^3$, Okafor ${\mathrm{C}}^1$${\mathrm{C}}^1$C^(1)\mathrm{C}^{1}${\mathrm{C}}^1$, Mmerem ${\mathrm{J}\mathrm{I}}^1$${\mathrm{J}\mathrm{I}}^1$JI^(1)\mathrm{JI}^{1}${\mathrm{J}\mathrm{I}}^1$, Chika-Igwenyi ${\mathrm{N}\mathrm{M}}^4$${\mathrm{N}\mathrm{M}}^4$NM^(4)\mathrm{NM}^{4}${\mathrm{N}\mathrm{M}}^4$, Iroezindu ${\mathrm{M}\mathrm{O}}^1$${\mathrm{M}\mathrm{O}}^1$MO^(1)\mathrm{MO}^{1}${\mathrm{M}\mathrm{O}}^1$

DOI

10.58539/JNIDS.2023.2110

Background: There is a global decline in the incidence of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of active COVID19 infection in a rural community in Enugu state.

Methods: A community-based descriptive cross-sectional study involving 276 consenting adult participants aged 18 years or more in Ama-Etiti community, Oji-River Local Government Area of Enugu state, South-East Nigeria using a convenience sampling technique. All participant data was collected during a medical outreach on 07 October 2022. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were taken from each study participant for SARS-CoV-2 antigen using Rapid Diagnostic Test lateral flow assay. Results: Majority (70%, $\mathrm{n}=193)$ $\mathrm{n}=193)$ n=193) \mathrm{n}=193) $\mathrm{n}=193)$ were females while the mean age was $57.5\pm 19.3$ $57.5\pm 19.3$ 57.5+-19.3 57.5 \pm 19.3 $57.5\pm 19.3$ years. More than half $(56.5\mathrm{\%},n=156)$ $(56.5\mathrm{\%},n=156)$ (56.5%,n=156) (56.5 \%, n=156) $(56.5\mathrm{\%},n=156)$ were married and a low level of literacy was observed as majority of the study participants had either no formal education $(33\mathrm{\%},n=91)$ $(33\mathrm{\%},n=91)$ (33%,n=91) (33 \%, n=91) $(33\mathrm{\%},n=91)$ or primary education $(30.8\mathrm{\%}$ $(30.8\mathrm{\%}$ (30.8% (30.8 \% $(30.8\mathrm{\%}$ , $\mathrm{n}=85$ $\mathrm{n}=85$ n=85 \mathrm{n}=85 $\mathrm{n}=85$ ). Half of the participants lived in 1-2 room apartments as of the period of the data collection. The prevalence of active COVID-19 infection was 3.3% $(n=9)$ $(n=9)$ (n=9) (n=9) $(n=9)$ . Regarding infection prevention and control practices, 67.4% ( $n=186)$ $n=186)$ n=186) n=186) $n=186)$ of participants reported use of facemasks, $89.1\mathrm{\%}(n=246)$ $89.1\mathrm{\%}(n=246)$ 89.1%(n=246) 89.1 \%(n=246) $89.1\mathrm{\%}(n=246)$ affirmed practicing some form of hand washing, while $35.9\mathrm{\%}(n=99)$ $35.9\mathrm{\%}(n=99)$ 35.9%(n=99) 35.9 \%(n=99) $35.9\mathrm{\%}(n=99)$ reported that they have used a hand sanitizer. Among those that reported use of facemasks, 70.7% $(n=195)$ $(n=195)$ (n=195) (n=195) $(n=195)$ were regular users, while $29.3\mathrm{\%}(n=81)$ $29.3\mathrm{\%}(n=81)$ 29.3%(n=81) 29.3 \%(n=81) $29.3\mathrm{\%}(n=81)$ used it rarely. Out of $35.9\mathrm{\%}(n=99)$ $35.9\mathrm{\%}(n=99)$ 35.9%(n=99) 35.9 \%(n=99) $35.9\mathrm{\%}(n=99)$ that affirmed the use of hand sanitizer, $63.6\mathrm{\%}(n=176)$ $63.6\mathrm{\%}(n=176)$ 63.6%(n=176) 63.6 \%(n=176) $63.6\mathrm{\%}(n=176)$ did so regularly while $36.4\mathrm{\%}(n=100)$ $36.4\mathrm{\%}(n=100)$ 36.4%(n=100) 36.4 \%(n=100) $36.4\mathrm{\%}(n=100)$ used it rarely. Only $1.1\mathrm{\%}(n=3)$ $1.1\mathrm{\%}(n=3)$ 1.1%(n=3) 1.1 \%(n=3) $1.1\mathrm{\%}(n=3)$ indicated they had come in contact with a COVID-19 case, $13\mathrm{\%}(n=36)$ $13\mathrm{\%}(n=36)$ 13%(n=36) 13 \%(n=36) $13\mathrm{\%}(n=36)$ reported that they had come in contact with a febrile patient while $39\mathrm{\%}(n=108)$ $39\mathrm{\%}(n=108)$ 39%(n=108) 39 \%(n=108) $39\mathrm{\%}(n=108)$ engaged in alcohol and/or cigarette use. On binary logistic regression, none of the variables was predictive of active COVID-19 infection

Conclusions: Our study revealed a low prevalence of active COVID-19 infection in a rural community in South East Nigeria as of October 7, 2022. The low level of preventive practices reported by the participants highlights the need for a robust community sensitization on basic infection prevention measures.

Key words: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Enugu, Nigeria