High Infection Risk Among Health Care Workers During the First SARS-CoV-2 Wave in Niamey, Niger.

BACKGROUND: In 2020, the new pathogen SARS-CoV-2 spread fast, causing a pandemic. Health care workers on the frontline were of course highly exposed. This study aims to analyze the risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs who have been in contact with positive patients in Niger.

METHODS: A prospective cohort was conducted among HCWs from March 2020 to June 2020 in health facilities in Niamey. A questionnaire was administered at inclusion; RT-PCR testing was performed if clinical signs were present. Serological testing was performed at baseline, Days 15 and 30. Univariate analysis and Cox regression were used.

RESULTS: Regarding inclusion criteria, 129 health care workers were included. The sex ratio (male/female) was 0.82. The participants were mainly physicians (45.7%) and nurses (34.1%). At inclusion, the prevalence of COVID-19 was 34.9%. Only seronegative (n = 84) were followed up; the attack incidence rate for the first month was 440 per 1000 person*month. Regarding the Cox model, the use of alcohol-based hand washing was a protective factor (RR = 0.28, p = 0.01). Furthermore, females were more at risk than males (RR = 2, p-value = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS: HCWs in Niger were faced with high infection risk; this should lead decision-makers to (i) enhance training on preventive measures and (ii) boost access to personal protective equipment in emergency and infectious disease wards.

© 2025 The Author(s). Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.