Abstract
Introduction: Migrants, especially those in temporary accommodations like camps and shelters, might be a vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic, but little is known about the impact of the pandemic in these settings in low-income and middle-income countries. We assessed SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and RNA prevalence, the correlates of seropositivity (emphasising socially determined conditions), and the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic among migrants living in shelters in Tijuana, a city on the Mexico-US border.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, non-probability survey of migrants living in shelters in Tijuana in November-December 2020 and February-April 2021. Participants completed a questionnaire and provided anterior nasal swab and blood samples for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies (IgG and IgM), respectively. We explored whether SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with sociodemographic and migration-related variables, access to sanitation, protective behaviours and health-related factors.
Results: Overall, 481 participants were enrolled, 67.7% from Northern Central America, 55.3% women, mean age 33.2 years. Seven (1.5%) participants had nasal swabs positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and 53.0% were SARS-CoV-2 seropositive. Avoiding public transportation (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.90) and months living in Tijuana (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.10) were associated with seropositivity. Sleeping on the streets or other risky places and having diabetes were marginally associated with seropositivity. Most participants (90.2%) had experienced some socioeconomic impact of the pandemic (eg, diminished income, job loss).
Conclusion: Compared with results from other studies conducted in the general population in Mexico at a similar time, migrants living in shelters were at increased risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2, and they suffered considerable adverse socioeconomic impacts as a consequence of the pandemic. Expanded public health and other social support systems are needed to protect migrants from COVID-19 and reduce health inequities.
Keywords: COVID-19; cross-sectional survey; epidemiology.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Epidemiology, cross-sectional survey, 【초록키워드】 public health, SARS-CoV-2, pandemic, antibody, Epidemiology, cross-sectional, SARS-COV-2 infection, COVID-19 pandemic, diabetes, RNA, Prevalence, Impact, Social support, Factors, Seropositivity, age, SARS-CoV-2 RNA, General population, women, nasal swab, questionnaire, seropositive, Protective behaviours, Sanitation, cross-sectional survey, health inequities, IgG and IgM, vulnerable population, Support, 95% CI, increased risk, Blood samples, city, blood sample, participant, America, positive, nasal swabs, Sociodemographic, MOST, PROTECT, enrolled, conducted, provided, suffered, reduce, conditions, diabete, Avoiding, protective behaviour, variables,