Prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection among returnees from South Africa at Mwanza Border
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Date
10-03-22
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Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 which has spread rapidly throughout the world can present as symptomatic or asymptomatic infection. Literature shows that asymptomatic individuals play a significant role in the ongoing pandemic, but their relative number and effect have been uncertain. In Malawi, there are no reliable estimates of the true burden of imported asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 cases published.
Malawi’s mainland testing algorithm for MoH priotises those with symptoms, thereby maximizing the risk for silent spread by asymptomatic persons. It is thus imperative that testing programs include those without symptoms. Under travel restrictions, Mwanza border, the main border for most returnees from SA (a high risk nation), remained the only border which was open during the partial border lockdown and SARS-CoV-2 testing was conducted in all the returnees irrespective of symptoms.
With the information above, a retrospective study will be conducted to estimate the burden of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection where 350 cases will be employed as participants. Stratified sampling will be used to recruit the participants. The design has both quantitative and qualitative aspects The quantitative aspect will involve reviewing existing case-based records of returnees who presented at Mwanza border The qualitative aspect will involve administering of questionnaires to health-care
workers at the border to find out how they managed the cases. No patient names will be mentioned in any of our data collection tools for complete privacy. Data analysis will be done both manually and electronically using SPSS.
The aim of the study is to review and provide the available evidence on asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection among returnees from SA at Mwanza Border. In this study we are going assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the returnees at Mwanza border as our main objective and specific objectives as follows: to assess clinical and demographic characteristics of the returnees with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, to develop an understanding on how returnees with SARS-CoV-2 were managed according to the standard management protocol, to compare the proportion of asymptomatic cases to symptomatic cases and to assess the association between demographic characteristics and SARS-CoV-2 status stratified by symptom status. We expect to find a high prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection among the returnees as testing was carried out on the returnees regardless of symptom presentation and the returnees were coming from a high risk nation. A report of the findings will be handed in to COMREC, Kuhes library and other relevant institutions.
Findings from this study will have potential role to inform policy-makers and stake holders to devise, review and enforce measures and policies to effectively combat the pandemic, will help in laying a foundation for future studies, and the data collected will help us estimate the magnitude of the problem at Mwanza Border so that with
our recommendations together, we can somehow help improve the quality of health-care services.
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Prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection among returnees from South Africa