SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence on the north coast of Peru: A cross-sectional study after the first wave

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases 2023-06, Vol.17 (6), p.e0010794-e0010794
• Main Authors: Moyano, Luz M, Toledo, Angie K, Chirinos, Jenny, Vilchez Barreto, Percy Mc Quen, Cavalcanti, Sofia, Gamboa, Ricardo, Ypanaque, Jhon, Meza, Mauro, Noriega, Sheilla, Herrera, Victor, Bazan, Edgar, Requena, Alexandra, Silva, Henry, Burgos, Harold, León-Jimenez, Franco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anosmia; Antibodies; Biology and life sciences; Censuses; Complications; Cough; COVID-19; Cross-sectional studies; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Emergency medical care; Fatalities; Health insurance; Households; Immunoassay; Infection control; Informed consent; Medicine and Health Sciences; Methods; Mortality; Nucleotide sequence; Pandemics; People and places; Random sampling; Research and Analysis Methods; Sanitation; Serology; Settlements & damages; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Signs and symptoms; Symptoms; Testing; Transmission; Tropical diseases; Viral antibodies; Viral diseases; Water supply; Women
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010794

Peru had the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in Latin America. After the first wave, Peru registered more than 900,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 36,000 confirmed deaths from the disease. Tumbes, a border area with poor sanitation and not enough water, had the fifth highest death rate. The cross-sectional analytic study aimed: a) to assess seroprevalence of COVID-19 after the first wave; b) to assess sociodemographic determinants and symptoms associated with a positive COVID-19 antibody lateral flow test. We performed this study between November 11th and November 30th, 2020, in an informal settlement in Tumbes. Individuals older than two years were invited to participate in a systematic random sample from one in every four households. Finger-prick blood samples were collected, and a census and symptom survey were applied. Within the chosen house, one adult over 18 years of age was chosen for a PCR-RT molecular test. Overall seroprevalence was 25.59%, adjusted seroprevalence was 24.82% (95%CI 22.49-27.25). Women had higher adjusted seroprevalence (28.03% vs 21.11%; 95% CI 24.83-31.41, p = 0.002). Symptoms as fever (PR 1.89: 95% CI 1.44-2.48, p