COVID-19 Infection higher in males than females in Nigeria - Survey

Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of the Nigeria centre for Disease control (NCDC) {PHOTO: PMNEWS}

A recent survey conducted by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reveals that COVID-19 Infection is higher in males than females in Nigeria, reports Premium Times.

The household seroprevalence survey was done in Lagos, Enugu, nasarawa and Gombe States in Nigeria between September and October 2020.

Findings from the survey show infection rates as high as 10 in 100 males, compared with seven in 100 females in Gombe; and 21 in 100 men against 17 in 100 women in Nasarawa.

“Results of the survey showed higher rates of infection among: 1) males than females {for example, 10 percent in Gombe and 21 percent vs. 17 percent in Nasarawa}; 2) urban compared to rural and residents {for example, 28 percent vs. 18 percent in Enugu and 23 percent vs. 19 percent in Lagos}, and persons aged 18-64 years”, findings published on the NCDC website show.

The survey reveals that the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in Lagos and Enugu States is 23 percent.

19 percent in Nasarawa State, and 9 percent in Gombe state. This means that as many as 1 in every 5 individuals in Lagos, Enugu and Nasarawa states would have ever been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Gombe, the proportion is about 1 in 10”

According to the infectious disease agency, these rates of infection are higher than those reported through the national surveillance system.

It said the spread of infection in the states surveyed is wider than is obvious from surveillance activities.

“This is not surprising for COVID-19, given that a majority of those infected do not have any symptoms”.

The Director-General of NCDC, Chikwe Ihekeazu, had said the survey will give better understanding of the burden of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria.

Seroprevalence surveys are used to identify the occurrence of a disease in a population by estimating the presence of antibodies in individuals who have had the disease. This is done by testing blood samples in randomly selected households in selected states.

Nigeria has recorded around 152,074 confirmed COVID-19 cases and over 1,800 fatalities. Over 100 million cases have been recorded globally.