tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Influenza Other Respir Viruses
. 2025 Oct;19(10):e70177.
doi: 10.1111/irv.70177. High Infection Risk Among Health Care Workers During the First SARS-CoV-2 Wave in Niamey, Niger
Hamidou Lazoumar Ramatoulaye[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Aliou Sanda Abdal-Kader[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Adamou Lagare[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mahamadou Almahamoudou Maiga[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Fakani Aboutalib Aliane[SUP] 1 [/SUP], François Comlan Aida Sylviane[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Idi Issa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bibata Abdou Sidikou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Garda Idé Oumarou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ali Sidiki[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zeinabou Abdou Aouta[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Amina Moussa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zeinabou Dioffo Alassan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ibrahim Karidio[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Goni Alhassan Maman Bachir[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Issifou Djibo[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Salia Moussa[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Ibrahim Maman Laminou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ronan Jambou[SUP] 1 7 [/SUP], Vincent Richard[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: In 2020, the new pathogen SARS-CoV-2 spread fast, causing a pandemic. Health care workers on the frontline were of course highly exposed. This study aims to analyze the risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs who have been in contact with positive patients in Niger.
Methods: A prospective cohort was conducted among HCWs from March 2020 to June 2020 in health facilities in Niamey. A questionnaire was administered at inclusion; RT-PCR testing was performed if clinical signs were present. Serological testing was performed at baseline, Days 15 and 30. Univariate analysis and Cox regression were used.
Results: Regarding inclusion criteria, 129 health care workers were included. The sex ratio (male/female) was 0.82. The participants were mainly physicians (45.7%) and nurses (34.1%). At inclusion, the prevalence of COVID-19 was 34.9%. Only seronegative (n = 84) were followed up; the attack incidence rate for the first month was 440 per 1000 person*month. Regarding the Cox model, the use of alcohol-based hand washing was a protective factor (RR = 0.28, p = 0.01). Furthermore, females were more at risk than males (RR = 2, p-value = 0.049).
Conclusions: HCWs in Niger were faced with high infection risk; this should lead decision-makers to (i) enhance training on preventive measures and (ii) boost access to personal protective equipment in emergency and infectious disease wards.
Keywords: COVID‐19; Niger; health workers; risk factors.
. 2025 Oct;19(10):e70177.
doi: 10.1111/irv.70177. High Infection Risk Among Health Care Workers During the First SARS-CoV-2 Wave in Niamey, Niger
Hamidou Lazoumar Ramatoulaye[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Aliou Sanda Abdal-Kader[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Adamou Lagare[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mahamadou Almahamoudou Maiga[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Fakani Aboutalib Aliane[SUP] 1 [/SUP], François Comlan Aida Sylviane[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Idi Issa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bibata Abdou Sidikou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Garda Idé Oumarou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ali Sidiki[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zeinabou Abdou Aouta[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Amina Moussa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zeinabou Dioffo Alassan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ibrahim Karidio[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Goni Alhassan Maman Bachir[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Issifou Djibo[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Salia Moussa[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Ibrahim Maman Laminou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ronan Jambou[SUP] 1 7 [/SUP], Vincent Richard[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41137793
- PMCID: PMC12553308
- DOI: 10.1111/irv.70177
Background: In 2020, the new pathogen SARS-CoV-2 spread fast, causing a pandemic. Health care workers on the frontline were of course highly exposed. This study aims to analyze the risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs who have been in contact with positive patients in Niger.
Methods: A prospective cohort was conducted among HCWs from March 2020 to June 2020 in health facilities in Niamey. A questionnaire was administered at inclusion; RT-PCR testing was performed if clinical signs were present. Serological testing was performed at baseline, Days 15 and 30. Univariate analysis and Cox regression were used.
Results: Regarding inclusion criteria, 129 health care workers were included. The sex ratio (male/female) was 0.82. The participants were mainly physicians (45.7%) and nurses (34.1%). At inclusion, the prevalence of COVID-19 was 34.9%. Only seronegative (n = 84) were followed up; the attack incidence rate for the first month was 440 per 1000 person*month. Regarding the Cox model, the use of alcohol-based hand washing was a protective factor (RR = 0.28, p = 0.01). Furthermore, females were more at risk than males (RR = 2, p-value = 0.049).
Conclusions: HCWs in Niger were faced with high infection risk; this should lead decision-makers to (i) enhance training on preventive measures and (ii) boost access to personal protective equipment in emergency and infectious disease wards.
Keywords: COVID‐19; Niger; health workers; risk factors.