Frontiers in Pediatrics (Oct 2023)

Environmental and behavioral factors associated with household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents

  • Faétila dos Santos Oliveira,
  • Rafael Alves Guimarães,
  • Rafael Alves Guimarães,
  • Eliane Terezinha Afonso,
  • Lusmaia Damaceno Camargo Costa,
  • Karina Machado Siqueira,
  • Solomar Martins Marques,
  • Claci Fátima Weirich Rosso,
  • Paulo Sérgio Sucasas da Costa,
  • Alessandra Vitorino Naghettini,
  • Maria Alves Barbosa,
  • Maria Alves Barbosa,
  • Valéria Pagotto,
  • Natália Del’ Angelo Aredes

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2023.1239372
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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ObjectiveTo analyze the association between risk behaviors and environmental factors and SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents in the family environment.MethodsCross-sectional study. A total of 267 children and adolescents aged 5–19 years who have contact with COVID-19-positive essential workers were tested between June and October 2020. Behavioral and environmental variables associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection were investigated. Association between these variables was performed using Poisson regression.ResultsSARS-CoV-2 prevalence was 25.1%. Following the confirmation of COVID-19 diagnosis of the index case, 92.1% of adults reported hand hygiene and 83.5% showed habits of respiratory etiquette. However, 12.7% wore masks in common areas of the residence before COVID-19. Sharing common objects was a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection in the sample.ConclusionSharing objects among family members was identified as a risk factor associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents who lived with infected adults. There was high frequency of hand hygiene and low prevalence of mask use.

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