A study to assess the risk of COVID-19 infection in the paediatric age group by serosurvey in four blocks of the District Gwalior

Abstract

Introduction: As it was expected that the upcoming wave of COVID-19, where children and young age group was thought to get affected the most, there was a need for finding the serological prevalence of COVID-19 infection among children. Hence, the present study had been conducted with the aim to assess the sero-prevalence of COVID-19 infection among children aged 1 year to <18 years in the families with and without a history of COVID-19 cases reported to health functionary in pre-identified rural and urban areas of Gwalior district. Methodology: The present study was a community-based, cross-sectional survey conducted for the period of 1 month i.e. August–September 2021 in Urban and Rural areas of Gwalior district. The study unit was children from 1 year to <18 years of age. Total sample of 400 children were included using purposive sampling procedure. Data collection was done using a questionnaire and blood samples of the participant were taken. Statistical analysis was done using the IBM SPSS Statistics V22.0 Chicago. P value was judged at 5% level of significance. Results: Among selected sample population Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction testing was done in 222 families to any of the family members, out of which 116 (52.3%) belongs to rural area 106 (47.7%) belongs to urban area. Gender wise, seropositivity among male participants was 77.3% and 74.4% among female participants. The overall detected seropositivity in urban area (79%) was higher as compared to rural area (73%). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity rate among children was high. There is urgent need for vaccination among the children to prevent development of complications, if develop infection. People must follow COVID-appropriate behavior and must receive full vaccination.