TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations between COVID-19 testing status, non-communicable diseases and HIV status among residents of sub-Saharan Africa during the first wave of the pandemic
AU - Folayan, M.O.
AU - Zuniga, R.A.A.
AU - Virtanen, J.I.
AU - El Tantawi, M.
AU - Abeldano, G.F.
AU - Ishabiyi, A.O.
AU - Jafer, M.
AU - Al-Khanati, N.M.
AU - Quadri, M.F.A.
AU - Yousaf, M.A.
AU - Ellakany, P.
AU - Nzimande, N.
AU - Ara, E.
AU - Khalid, Z.
AU - Lawal, F.B.
AU - Lusher, J.
AU - Popoola, B.O.
AU - Idigbe, I.
AU - Khan, A.T.A.
AU - Ayanore, M.A.
AU - Gaffar, B.
AU - Osamika, B.E.
AU - Aly, N.M.
AU - Ndembi, N.
AU - Nguyen, A.L.
N1 - Funding Information:
The cost of implementing this study was born by study team members. ALN was additionally supported by funding from the NIH/NIA (K01 AG064986-01). The funding agency was not involved in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript. The contents of this paper do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
PY - 2022/6/13
Y1 - 2022/6/13
N2 - Background This study determined if non-communicable disease status, HIV status, COVID-19 status and co-habiting were associated with COVID-19 test status in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Data of 5945 respondents age 18-years-old and above from 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa collected through an online survey conducted between June and December 2020, were extracted. The dependent variable was COVID-19 status (testing positive for COVID-19 and having symptoms of COVID-19 but not getting tested). The independent variables were non-communicable disease status (hypertension, diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, respiratory conditions, depression), HIV positive status, COVID-19 status (knowing a close friend who tested positive for COVID-19 and someone who died from COVID-19) and co-habiting (yes/no). Two binary logistic regression models developed to determine associations between the dependent and independent variables were adjusted for age, sex, employment, sub region and educational status. Results Having a close friend who tested positive for COVID-19 (AOR:6.747), knowing someone who died from COVID-19 infection (AOR:1.732), and living with other people (AOR:1.512) were significantly associated with higher odds of testing positive for COVID-19 infection, while living with HIV was associated with significantly lower odds of testing positive for COVID-19 infection (AOR:0.284). Also, respondents with respiratory conditions (AOR:2.487), self-reported depression (AOR:1.901), those who had a close friend who tested positive for COVID-19 infection (AOR:2.562) and who knew someone who died from COVID-19 infection (AOR:1.811) had significantly higher odds of having symptoms of COVID-19 infection but not getting tested. Conclusion Non-communicable diseases seem not to increase the risk for COVID-19 positive test while cohabiting seems to reduce this risk. The likelihood that those who know someone who tested positive to or who died from COVID-19 not getting tested when symptomatic suggests there is poor contact tracing in the region. People with respiratory conditions and depression need support to get tested for COVID-19.
AB - Background This study determined if non-communicable disease status, HIV status, COVID-19 status and co-habiting were associated with COVID-19 test status in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Data of 5945 respondents age 18-years-old and above from 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa collected through an online survey conducted between June and December 2020, were extracted. The dependent variable was COVID-19 status (testing positive for COVID-19 and having symptoms of COVID-19 but not getting tested). The independent variables were non-communicable disease status (hypertension, diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, respiratory conditions, depression), HIV positive status, COVID-19 status (knowing a close friend who tested positive for COVID-19 and someone who died from COVID-19) and co-habiting (yes/no). Two binary logistic regression models developed to determine associations between the dependent and independent variables were adjusted for age, sex, employment, sub region and educational status. Results Having a close friend who tested positive for COVID-19 (AOR:6.747), knowing someone who died from COVID-19 infection (AOR:1.732), and living with other people (AOR:1.512) were significantly associated with higher odds of testing positive for COVID-19 infection, while living with HIV was associated with significantly lower odds of testing positive for COVID-19 infection (AOR:0.284). Also, respondents with respiratory conditions (AOR:2.487), self-reported depression (AOR:1.901), those who had a close friend who tested positive for COVID-19 infection (AOR:2.562) and who knew someone who died from COVID-19 infection (AOR:1.811) had significantly higher odds of having symptoms of COVID-19 infection but not getting tested. Conclusion Non-communicable diseases seem not to increase the risk for COVID-19 positive test while cohabiting seems to reduce this risk. The likelihood that those who know someone who tested positive to or who died from COVID-19 not getting tested when symptomatic suggests there is poor contact tracing in the region. People with respiratory conditions and depression need support to get tested for COVID-19.
KW - Respiration disorder
KW - Depression
KW - HIV
KW - COVID-19
KW - COVID-19 testing
KW - CORONAVIRUS
KW - BURDEN
U2 - 10.1186/s12879-022-07498-w
DO - 10.1186/s12879-022-07498-w
M3 - Article
C2 - 35692050
SN - 1471-2334
VL - 22
JO - BMC Infectious Diseases
JF - BMC Infectious Diseases
IS - 1
M1 - 535
ER -