Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40180388›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Seroprevalence and demographic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2-infected residents of Kibera informal settlement during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nairobi, Kenya: a cross-sectional study.

Jane Y Carter, Samoel Khamadi, Joseph Mwangi, Samuel Muhula, Stephen M Munene, Lucy Kanyara, Joyceline Kinyua, Nancy Lagat, Judy Chege, Robert Oira and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Jane Y CarterRegional Laboratory Programme, Amref Health Africa, Nairobi, Kenya jane.carter@amref.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4671-3519
Samoel KhamadiCentre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Joseph MwangiCentre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4827-185X
Samuel MuhulaMonitoring, Evaluation and Learning Department, Amref Health Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7992-6532
Stephen M MuneneRegional Laboratory Programme, Amref Health Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5834-2914
Lucy KanyaraCentre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Joyceline KinyuaCentre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Nancy LagatCentre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Judy ChegeCentre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Robert OiraCentre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Alex MaiyoCentre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Roy StewartDepartment of Health Sciences, Community and Occupational Medicine, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9227-433X
Maarten PostmaDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6306-3653
Jelle StekelenburgDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Joachim OsurOffice of the Vice Chancellor, Amref International University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Marinus van HulstDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3216-7246

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the residents of Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya, before vaccination became widespread, and explore demographic and health-related risk factors for infection.

designA cross-sectional study.

settingKibera informal settlement, Nairobi, Kenya.

participantsResidents of Kibera informal settlement between October 2019 and August 2021, age 1 year and above who reported no current symptoms of COVID-19.

main outcome measuresAssociations were determined between SARS-CoV-2 positive tests measured with one rapid test and two ELISAs and demographic and health-related factors, using Pearson's χ

resultsA total of 438 participants were recruited. Most (79.2%) were age 18-50 years; females (64.2%) exceeded males. More than one-third (39.1%) were unemployed; only 7.4% were in formal, full-time employment. Less than one-quarter (22.1%) self-reported any underlying health conditions. Nearly two-thirds (64.2%) reported symptoms compatible with COVID-19 in the previous 16 months; only one (0.23%) had been hospitalised with a reported negative COVID-19 test. 370 (84.5%) participants tested positive in any of the three tests. There was no significant difference in SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity across age, sex, presence of underlying health conditions, on medication or those ever tested for SARS-CoV-2. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that COVID-19 symptoms in the previous 16 months were the only significant independent predictor of seropositivity (p=0.0085).

conclusionHigh SARS-CoV-2 exposure with limited morbidity was found in the residents of Kibera informal settlement. The study confirms other reports of high SARS-CoV-2 exposure with limited morbidity in slum communities. Reasons cited include the high infectious disease burden on the African continent, demographic age structure and underreporting due to limited testing and lack of access to healthcare services; genetic factors may also play a role. These factors require further investigation.

Indexed as

COVID-19SARS-CoV-2AdolescentAdultAgedAntibodies, ViralChildCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansKenyaMaleMiddle AgedRisk FactorsSeroepidemiologic StudiesYoung AdultAntibodies, ViralCommunity-Based Participatory ResearchCOVID-19EPIDEMIOLOGYPUBLIC HEALTH

Identifiers

PMID40180388
PMCPMC11966967

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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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.