Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (Mar 2022)
Factors associated with contracting Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus type-2 in Norton Town, Zimbabwe, 2021: a case-control study
Abstract
Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease of global public health concern. Norton Hospital recorded 120 people who tested positive for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) on Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) from 28 December 2020 through 6 January 2021. Case fatality was 8(6.7%.) We investigated the risk factors associated with contracting SARS-CoV-2 to recommend prevention and control measures. Methods: We conducted a 1:1 unmatched case-control study. We randomly selected a case as a resident of Norton Town who tested SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, positive and control as a resident of Norton Town who tested SARS-CoV-2 R-T PCR, negative from 28 December 2020 through 25 January 2021. Written consent was obtained from the study participants. We used a pretested questionnaire to collect data from cases and controls on demographic characteristics, and risk factors for contracting SARS-CoV-2. Epi InfoTM7 was used to generate frequencies, proportions, p-values, odds ratios, and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals at a 0.05 significance level. Forward stepwise logistic regression analysis was done to determine factors independently associated with contracting SARS-CoV-2. Results: From a line list of 188 cases, we randomly selected 100 cases and 100 controls from 194 controls in the laboratory register. Fifty-six 56 (56%) of the cases and 68 (68%) of the controls were aged between 25 to 49 years. Sixty-seven per cent (67) of the cases and 72 (72%) controls were females. The independent risk factors for contracting SARS-CoV-2 were cigarette smoking (aOR 3.63; 95% CI 1.71−7.71) and the use of public transport to work (aOR 3.08; 95% CI 1.52−6.25). Conclusion: Cigarette smoking and the use of public transport to work were independently associated with the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 in public and in an urban setting. Health education on social distancing, hand hygiene and wearing of masks was done.
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