| dc.description.abstract | Introduction : Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease
caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
SARS-CoV-2 is a new varian of coronavirus that has never been previously
identified in humans. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused an unprecedented
public health situation. It is important to be well informed on methods to monitor
and analyse the progression of the pandemic. The Serology tests detect the presence
of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Population based serological surveys are useful
for epidemiologic purposes to define how widespread the transmission of infection
and understand the immunity landscape in a population at large.
Objective : To estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in high
school students in Deli Serdang district, Provinci of North Sumatera.
Methods : This cross-sectional study enrolled 385 students from August-December
2022. Primary data ( demographic, health, and COVID-19 exposure) information
was collected, and finger blood sampling analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 antibody.
RBD screening and examination of anti-S1 antibodies using the ELISA method
were carried out at the Integrated Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine, University
of North Sumatera.
Results : The female participants were 249 (64,7%). The median age of the students
was 16 years (13-18). History of COVID-19 infection were found in 3 from 385
study subjects. History of exposure to person with COVID-19 were found in 16
(94,2%) from 385 participants. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was
49.4% with a median antibody level of 1375.19 BAU/ml (38.16-6953.77). The
proportion of seropositive antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in the early adolescent age
group was 64.1%. The proportion of seropositive antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in
males was 52.9%. The seropositive rate for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the group
with a history of COVID-19 infection was 100%. Of the 167 (87.9%) students with
positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody results did not show clinical symptoms of acut
respiratory infection during the last 7 days of data collection.
Conclusion : The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in students at SMA
N 1 Namorambe, Deli Serdang Regency, was 49.4%, or about 6 times higher than
the reported positive cases. There was no statistically significant difference in the
median value of SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels with each of the demographic
characteristics of the study subjects (P <0.05). | en_US |
