High Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Mwanza, Northwestern Tanzania: A Population-Based Survey

Helmut A. Nyawale (), Nyambura Moremi, Mohamed Mohamed, Johnson Njwalila, Vitus Silago, Manuel Krone, Eveline T. Konje, Mariam M. Mirambo and Stephen E. Mshana
Additional contact information
Helmut A. Nyawale: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza P.O. Box 1464, Tanzania
Nyambura Moremi: National Public Health Laboratory, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 9083, Tanzania
Mohamed Mohamed: East Central and Southern Africa Health Community, Arusha P.O. Box 1009, Tanzania
Johnson Njwalila: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza P.O. Box 1464, Tanzania
Vitus Silago: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza P.O. Box 1464, Tanzania
Manuel Krone: Infection Control and Antimicrobial Sterwardship Unit, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080 Wüerzburg, Germany
Eveline T. Konje: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Catholoic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza P.O. Box 1464, Tanzania
Mariam M. Mirambo: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza P.O. Box 1464, Tanzania
Stephen E. Mshana: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza P.O. Box 1464, Tanzania

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-13

Abstract: The transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, has been documented worldwide. However, the evidence of the extent to which transmission has occurred in different countries is still to be established. Understanding the magnitude and distribution of SARS-CoV-2 through seroprevalence studies is important in designing control and preventive strategies in communities. This study investigated the seropositivity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus antibodies in the communities of three different districts in the Mwanza region, Tanzania. A household cross-sectional survey was conducted in September 2021 using the modified African Centre for Disease and Prevention (ACDC) survey protocol. A blood sample was obtained from one member of each of the selected households who consented to take part in the survey. Immunochromatographic rapid test kits were used to detect IgM and IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, followed by descriptive data analysis. Overall, 805 participants were enrolled in the study with a median age of 35 (interquartile range (IQR):27–47) years. The overall SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was 50.4% (95%CI: 46.9–53.8%). The IgG and IgM seropositivity of the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 49.3% and 7.2%, respectively, with 6.1% being both IgG and IgM seropositive. A history of runny nose (aOR: 1.84, 95%CI: 1.03–3.5, p = 0.036), loss of taste (aOR: 1.84, 95%CI: 1.12–4.48, p = 0.023), and living in Ukerewe (aOR: 3.55, 95%CI: 1.68–7.47, p = 0.001) and Magu (aOR: 2.89, 95%CI: 1.34–6.25, p = 0.007) were all independently associated with SARS-CoV-2 IgM seropositivity. Out of the studied factors, living in the Ukerewe district was independently associated with IgG seropositivity (aOR 1.29, CI 1.08–1.54, p = 0.004). Twenty months after the first case of COVID-19 in Tanzania, about half of the studied population in Mwanza was seropositive for SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; seroprevalence; antibodies; Mwanza; Tanzania (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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