Prevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Sellers at Two Main Goma Markets in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

• Published in: Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research Vol. 35; no. 6; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Prudence, Mitangala Ndeba, Léonid, Irenge Mwana Wa Bene, Edgar, Musubao Tsongo, Mbeva, Jean Bosco Kahindo, Patrick, Ayonga Ndeba, Israël, Safari Kyembwa, Janvier, Kubuya Bonane, Edmon, Ntabe Namegabe, Raphaël, Kabangwa Kakongo Senga, Guy, Mutombo Ndongala, Gala, Jean Luc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 22.02.2023
• ISSN: 2456-8899; 2456-8899
• DOI: 10.9734/jammr/2023/v35i64973

Objective: Official data on Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) show a low prevalence. This study assessed the seroprevalence of antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the two main markets of Goma city, in the eastern DRC. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in 454 sellers in Kituku and Virunga markets between September 1st and November 08th, 2021. Participants were asked to answer a questionnaire survey on COVID-19 symptoms and their attitudes against COVID-19, including whether they had been vaccinated against COVID-19. Presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in blood samples was investigated using QuickZen®. Results: The median (minimum-maximum) age of participants was 27.4 years (13.4-88.3). Participants aged 15 to 40 years old made up 80.6 % of the participants enrolled in the study (n=454), with women accounting for 65.1 % of all participants. No participant in the study had been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. The overall crude and adjusted seroprevalence rates of antibodies anti-SARS-CoV-2 were 73.8 % (95 % CI 69.7-77.9) and 82.7 % (95 % CI 79.2 % -86.2 %), respectively. COVID-19 symptoms were absent for 43,1% (n = 332) of the participants with anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. During the same period, none of the participants with anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies required hospitalization. Conclusion: We discovered a high seroprevalence of anti-SARS-Cov-2 antibodies in the sellers at the two main Goma markets without any record of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. No severe COVID-19 symptoms were reported among participants.