Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in Jordan: A cross-sectional study in the prevaccination period.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in Jordan during the prevaccination period.

Methodology: Between December 2020 and February 2021, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs of 2,460 participants were tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To assess the risk factors, a questionnaire was applied during sample collection.

Results: Of the participants, 1,463 (59.5%) individuals were found positive for SARS-CoV-2. In multivariate analysis, male gender, younger age, lower educational level, being single, middle and higher socioeconomic status, having symptoms, presence of underlying conditions and smoking were significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity. On the contrary, washing hands routinely with soap and water, and use of alcohol-based disinfectants significantly reduced possibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Conclusions: The study findings showed that determination of risk factors is of great importance to maintain disease monitoring, prevention and control, particularly in settings with high infection rates.