Nigeria healthcare worker SARS-CoV-2 serology study: Results from a prospective, longitudinal cohort

Dike B. Ojji*, Amelia Sancilio, Gabriel L. Shedul, Ikechukwu A. Orji, Aashima Chopra, Joel Abu, Blessing Akor, Nana Ripiye, Funmi Akinlade, Douglas Okoye, Emmanuel Okpetu, Helen Eze, Emmanuel Odoh, Abigail S. Baldridge, Priya Tripathi, Haruna Abubakar, Abubakar M. Jamda, Lisa R. Hirschhorn, Thomas McDade, Mark D. Huffman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Healthcare workers, both globally and in Nigeria, have an increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with the general population due to higher risk contacts, including occupational exposures. In addition, primary healthcare workers represent an important group for estimating prior infection to SARS-CoV-2 because they work at the first point-of-contact for most patients yet have not been included in prior COVID-19 seroepidemiology research in Nigeria. We sought to evaluate baseline seroprevalence, rates of seroconversion (IgG- to IgG+) and seroreversion (IgG+ to IgG-), change in IgG concentration at 3- and 6-month follow- up, and factors associated with seropositivity. From June 2020 to December 2020, we conducted a longitudinal seroepidemiology study among frontline health care workers in Nigeria using a validated dried blood spot assay. Among 525 participants, mean (SD) age was 39.1 (9.7) years, 61.0% were female, and 45.1% were community health workers. The six-month follow-up rate was 93.5%. Seropositivity rates increased from 31% (95% CI: 27%, 35%) at baseline to 45% (95% CI: 40%, 49%) at 3-month follow-up, and 70% (95% CI: 66%, 74%) at 6-month follow-up. There was a corresponding increase in IgG levels from baseline (median = 0.18 ug/mL) to 3-month (median = 0.35 ug/mL) and 6-month follow-up (median = 0.59 ug/mL, Ptrend < .0001). A minority of participants reported symptoms from February 2020 until baseline (12.2%) or during 3-month (6.6%) or 6-month (7.5%) follow-up. only 1 participant was hospitalized. This study demonstrated high baseline, 3-month and 6- month follow-up prevalence of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria among a cohort of unvaccinated frontline healthcare workers, including primary healthcare workers despite low symptomatology. These results may have implications in state- and national-level disease pandemic modeling.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere0000549
JournalPLOS Global Public Health
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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