This paper is in the following e-collection/theme issue:

EMPHNET 7th Regional Conference 2021: “Towards Public Health Resilience in the EMR: Breaking Barriers” (62)

Published on in Vol 8, No 1 (2022): Jan-Dec

Preprints (earlier versions) of this paper are available at https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/36473, first published .
Seroprevalence of COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers in Primary Health Care Centers in Al-Sader City District, Baghdad, Iraq

Seroprevalence of COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers in Primary Health Care Centers in Al-Sader City District, Baghdad, Iraq

Seroprevalence of COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers in Primary Health Care Centers in Al-Sader City District, Baghdad, Iraq

Authors of this article:

Raheem Hussein1 ;   Faris Lami2 Author Orcid Image
Article Authors Cited by Tweetations Metrics

    Abstract

    1Public Health department, Al-Rusafa Health Directorate, Baghdad, Iraq

    2Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific research, Baghdad, Iraq

    Corresponding Author:

    Raheem Hussein

    Public Health department

    Al-Rusafa Health Directorate

    Al-Rusafa

    Baghdad, 89WG+5P5

    Iraq

    Phone: 964 07706858337

    Email: rhhu1965@gmail.com


    Background: The SARS-CoV-2 infection produces detectable immune responses in most cases reported to date. A serological test could capture previous asymptomatic infections and help to assess the immune status of a subject. Health care workers are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, and providing personal protective equipment is the primary strategy to prevent disease transmission within the health care setting.

    Objective: The aim of this paper was to determinate the seroprevalence of COVID-19 among health care workers in primary health care centers in the AL-Sader city district.

    Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 9 primary health care centers, which were selected using a cluster random sampling technique from November 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020.

    Results: A total of 470 participants were enrolled in the study; 101 (21.5%) of them had a history of COVID-19 infection, and 76 (16.1%) were diagnosed by polymerase reaction chain. There was a significant association between rapid tests and history of COVID-19 infection (P<.001). Rapid test sensitivity was 56.6%, and specificity was 79.2%. The rapid test was positive in 125 (26.6%) participants: IgG 104 (83.2%), IgM 5 (4%), and both IgG-IgM 16 (12.8%).

    Conclusions: The percent of COVID-19 infection is higher than the expected level among participants. A significant association was found between rapid tests and COVID-19 infection, smoking, comorbidity, personal protective equipment training, and household infection.

    iproc 2022;8(1):e36473

    doi:10.2196/36473

    Keywords

    COVID-19; cross-sectional; health care workers; infection 

    Edited by Y Khader; This is a non–peer-reviewed article. submitted 15.01.22; accepted 19.01.22; published 25.02.22

    Copyright

    ©Raheem Hussein, Faris Lami. Originally published in Iproceedings (https://www.iproc.org), 25.02.2022.

    This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in Iproceedings, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.iproc.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.