Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35031025›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2022

COVID-19 infections in day care centres in Germany: social and organisational determinants of infections in children and staff in the second and third wave of the pandemic.

Franz Neuberger, Mariana Grgic, Svenja Diefenbacher, Florian Spensberger, Ann-Sophie Lehfeld, Udo Buchholz, Walter Haas, Bernhard Kalicki, Susanne Kuger

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Franz NeubergerGerman Youth Institute (DJI), Nockherstr. 2, Munich, 81541, Germany. fneuberger@dji.de.
Mariana GrgicGerman Youth Institute (DJI), Nockherstr. 2, Munich, 81541, Germany.
Svenja DiefenbacherGerman Youth Institute (DJI), Nockherstr. 2, Munich, 81541, Germany.
Florian SpensbergerCatholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Kapuzinergasse 2, Eichstätt, 85072, Germany.
Ann-Sophie LehfeldRobert Koch-Institute (RKI), Nordufer 20, Berlin, 13353, Germany.
Udo BuchholzRobert Koch-Institute (RKI), Nordufer 20, Berlin, 13353, Germany.
Walter HaasRobert Koch-Institute (RKI), Nordufer 20, Berlin, 13353, Germany.
Bernhard KalickiGerman Youth Institute (DJI), Nockherstr. 2, Munich, 81541, Germany.
Susanne KugerGerman Youth Institute (DJI), Nockherstr. 2, Munich, 81541, Germany.
Deutsches Jugendinstitut · DERobert Koch Institute · DECatholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDuring the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, German early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres organised children's attendance in different ways, they reduced opening hours, provided emergency support for a few children, or closed completely. Further, protection and hygiene measures like fixed children-staff groups, ventilation and surface disinfection were introduced in ECEC centres. To inform or modify public health measures in ECEC, we investigate the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections among children and staff in ECEC centres in light of social determinants (i.e. the socioeconomic status of the children) and recommended structural and hygiene measures. We focus on the question if the relevant factors differ between the 2nd (when no variant of concern (VOC) circulated) and the 3rd wave (when VOC B.1.1.7 (Alpha) predominated).

methodsBased on panel data from a weekly online survey of ECEC centre managers (calendar week 36/2020 to 22/2021, ongoing) including approx. 8500 centres, we estimate the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children and staff using random-effect-within-between (REWB) panel models for count data in the 2nd and 3rd wave.

resultsECEC centres with a high proportion of children with low socioeconomic status (SES) have a higher risk of infections in staff and children. Strict contact restrictions between groups like fixed group assignments for children and fixed staff assignments to groups prevent infections. Both effects tend to be stronger in the 3rd wave.

conclusionECEC centres with a large proportion of children with a low SES background and lack of using fixed child/staff cohorts experience higher COVID-19 rates. Over the long run, centres should be supported in maintaining recommended measures. Preventive measures such as the vaccination of staff should be prioritised in centres with large proportions of low SES children.

Indexed as

COVID-19SARS-CoV-2ChildChild, PreschoolDay Care, MedicalGermanyHumansPandemicsCOVID-19Early childhood education and care (ECEC)GermanySARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID35031025
PMCPMC8758891
OpenAlexW4206677246

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.