Seroprevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies among Municipal Staff in the Municipality of Prishtina

Bujar Gashi, Vesa Osmani, Rrezart Halili, Teuta Hoxha, Agron Kamberi, Nexhmedin Hoti, Riaz Agahi, Vlora Basha, Visar Berisha and Ilir Hoxha
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Bujar Gashi: Main Family Medical Centre, Municipality of Prishtina, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Vesa Osmani: Evidence Synthesis Group, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Rrezart Halili: Main Family Medical Centre, Municipality of Prishtina, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Teuta Hoxha: Main Family Medical Centre, Municipality of Prishtina, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Agron Kamberi: Main Family Medical Centre, Municipality of Prishtina, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Nexhmedin Hoti: Main Family Medical Centre, Municipality of Prishtina, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Riaz Agahi: Research Unit, Heimerer College, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Vlora Basha: IndexKosova, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Visar Berisha: IndexKosova, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Ilir Hoxha: Evidence Synthesis Group, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-11

Abstract: Background: Some studies have assessed the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in different populations. Very few studies have explored seroprevalence in municipal workers, an important and potentially high-risk population. This study aims to determine the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in municipal workers, with the additional examination of the association of prevalence with various demographic, health-related, and epidemiological factors. Methods: We surveyed and tested for seroprevalence 418 public servants from the municipality of Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo. The primary prespecified outcome was the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, IgG, and IgM. Additional outcomes were crude and adjusted odds ratios of seroprevalence by different factors. Results: 21.1% of municipal workers tested positive for either IgM or IgG. Of these, 9.6% were positive for IgM and 19.4% for IgG. Data showed high levels of adherence to protective measures, e.g., social distancing in the office, but calculation of ORs did not show a significant difference between those reporting adherence to such measures and those reporting nonadherence. Of other examined factors, significantly lower odds were observed for smokers (0.52, 95% CI 0.28, 0.97), while municipal workers with infected family members had elevated odds of seropositivity according to both crude (2.19, 95% CI 1.34, 3.59) and adjusted (2.00, 95% CI 1.17, 3.41) ORs. Conclusions: Most answers from public servants demonstrated compliance to social-distancing policies in the workplace, but analysis of crude and adjusted odds ratios did not suggest a significant effect between municipal workers who followed these guidelines and those who did not. Results from this study help Kosovo policy makers in understanding the level of prevalence of COVID-19 in municipal workers and the effect of different factors on such prevalence. Results from the study could inform future decisions on the design and application of protective measures for municipal workers. Our findings should encourage further research to assess the extent of the spread of COVID-19 to other essential workers in Kosovo, including retail workers.

Keywords: COVID-19; Kosovo; seroprevalence; municipality of Prishtina; municipal workers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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