Correlates of Zika Virus Infection Specific IgG in North-Western Province of Zambia: Results From a Population-based Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

© Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) have become significant public health problems, with the emergency and re-emergency of arboviral diseases nearly worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and the risk factors for Zika virus infection in North-Western Province of Zambia. A cross-sectional study using a standardised questionnaire was used. Bivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to obtain odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. In total, 1,755 survey participants were recruited. Overall, 48.8% of the survey participants were males. Males tended to have higher education levels than females, with 37.4% of males and 26.0% of females having attained secondary or higher levels of education (p \u3c 0.001). Altogether, 1.8% of participants had Zika virus infection, with no sex difference (2.1% of males and 1.4% of females, p = 0.957). Visiting Angola was the only factor that was significantly associated with Zika virus infection. Participants who visited Angola were 2.82 (95% CI [1.82, 4.38]) times more likely to have Zika virus infection compared to participants who had not visited Angola. Zika virus infection is prevalent among residents of North-Western Province in Zambia. Strengthening of disease surveillance, clinical management of cases and laboratory diagnostic capacities are necessary to curb the infection