Author:
Elnadi Hager,Al-Mustapha Ahmad I.,Odetokun Ismail A.,Anjorin AbdulAzeez Adeyemi,Mosbah Rasha,Fasina Folorunso O.,Razouqi Youssef,Awiagah Kwame Sherrif,Nyandwi Jean Baptiste,Mhgoob Zuhal E.,Gachara George,Mohamud Mohamed Farah Yusuf,Damaris Bamu F.,Maisara Aala MohamedOsman,Radwan Mona
Abstract
AbstractThe impact of Post COVID-19 Condition is ongoing despite the WHO declaration that the pandemic has ended. In this study, we explore the prevalence of PCC among healthcare workers (HCWs) in four African Countries and its influence on their professional performance. This study was conducted as an online cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers from four African countries (Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria, and Somalia) between the 20thof December 2021 to 12thof January 2022. We determined the prevalence of PCC based on the WHO case definition and assessed variables associated with a higher prevalence of PCC in these countries using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. A total of 706 HCWs from four African countries were included in this survey. Most of the HCWs were aged between 18-34 years (75.8%, n=535). Our findings showed that 19.5% (n=138) of the HCWs had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. However, 8.4% (n=59) were symptomatic for COVID-19 but tested negative or were never tested. Two-thirds of the HCWs (66.4%, n=469) have received a COVID-19 vaccine and 80.6% (n=378) of those vaccinated had been fully vaccinated. The self-reported awareness rate of PCC among the HCWs was 16.1% (n=114/706) whereas the awareness rate of PCC among COVID-19-positive HCWs was 55.3 % (n=109/197). The prevalence of PCC among HCWs was 58.8% (n=116). These changes include the self-reported symptoms of PCC which included headache (58.4%, n=115), fatigue (58.8%, n=116), and muscle pain (39.6%, n=78). Similarly, 30% (n=59) and 20.8% (n=41) of the HCWs reported the loss of smell and loss of taste long after their COVID-19 infection, respectively. Some HCWs (42%, n=83) believed that their work performance has been affected by their ongoing symptoms of PCC. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of PCC among the vaccinated and unvaccinated HCWs (p > 0.05). Of the socio-demographic variables, age (older HCWs between 45-54 years; OR:1.7; 95% CI: 1.06, 10.59; p = 0.001) and location (Egypt; OR:14.57; 95% CI: 2.62, 26.76; p = 0.001) were more likely to have experienced PCC than other age groups and countries respectively. The study revealed low prevalence of PCC among the surveyed HCC. In addition, it observed the need for adequate medical and psychological support to HCWs with PCC, improve their COVID-19 vaccination uptake, and conduct mass advocacy campaigns on PCC.Graphical abstractCOVID-19 positivity rate (n =197), vaccination rate (n =706), PCC awareness rate (n = 114), and prevalence of PCC (n = 116) in HCWs across four African countries.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Reference55 articles.
1. Long-term complications of COVID-19
2. WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard. WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard with Vaccination Data. Available online: https://covid19.who.int/ (accessed on 8 March 2022).
3. A Narrative Review of COVID-19 Vaccines
4. WHO (2023). Coronavirus disease (covid-19) pandemic, World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/europe/emergencies/situations/covid-19 (Accessed: 15 June 2023).
5. CDC. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html. Accessed on 22 February 2022