Background Many studies examined the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within populations using seroprevalence. Healthcare workers are a high-risk population due to patient contact, and studies are needed to examine seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers. Our study investigates the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among staff at primary healthcare institutions in Prishtina, and factors associated with seroprevalence. Methods We carried out a cross-sectional survey including SARS-CoV-2 serological testing and questionnaires with primary healthcare workers from primary healthcare facilities in the Prishtina, the capital city of Kosovo. We calculated prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, and of self-reported positive PCR test among primary healthcare workers, as well as crude and adjusted ORs for explanatory factors. Results Eighty-three of the healthcare workers (17.47%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies IgG or IgM, while 231 (48.63%) either had antibodies or a previous positive PCR test. Odds of seropositivity were affected by male gender (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.20, 3.61), and infected family members (OR 3.61, 95% CI 2.25, 5.79) of healthcare workers. Higher education, being part of larger families and having infected family members gave higher odds of positive PCR test and seropositivity. Other healthcare workers had lower odds of positive PCR test and seropositivity than physicians. Conclusion Over 17% of healthcare workers were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and close to half of them were either seropositive or PCR self-reported positive test. Several factors are associated with decreased and increased odds for such outcomes. These findings should be explored further and addressed to Kosovo policy makers, and assist them to intensify vaccination efforts, and maintain control measures until we achieve herd immunity. Key messages Primary healthcare workers have a prevalence of 17.47% for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies Almost half of those surveyed had either tested positive by PCR or had antibodies We did not find a significant association with adherence to protective measures Infected family members significantly increased the odds of seropositivity
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, public health, Infectious diseases, Healthcare workers, serology, Epidemiology, 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, IgG, IgM, vaccination, Healthcare workers, Immunity, antibody, Seroprevalence, Gender, healthcare worker, Population, Spread, Prevalence, outcomes, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, PCR, SARS-CoV-2 antibody, Serological testing, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody, herd immunity, healthcare, male, Patient, Factors, Seropositivity, Physicians, higher education, PCR test, Other, questionnaire, seropositive, Protective, association, high-risk population, Contact, cross-sectional survey, Kosovo, family members, capital city, Questionnaires, Factor, 95% CI, higher odds, positive PCR test, measure, Positive test, positive, over, healthcare facility, significantly increased, Result, tested, affected, examined, carried, calculated, adjusted, maintain, addressed, assist, higher odd, 【제목키워드】 anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody, healthcare,