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COVID-19 Prevalence among Healthcare Workers. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Tafadzwa Dzinamarira

    (School of Health Systems & Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
    ICAP at Columbia University, Harare, Zimbabwe)

  • Grant Murewanhema

    (Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Primary Health Care Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe)

  • Malizgani Mhango

    (School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa)

  • Patrick Gad Iradukunda

    (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, London WC1E 7HT, UK)

  • Itai Chitungo

    (Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe)

  • Moreblessing Mashora

    (Department of Public Health, Mount Kenya University, Kigali 00100, Rwanda)

  • Pelagia Makanda

    (Department of Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, China)

  • James Atwine

    (Department of Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, China)

  • Munashe Chimene

    (Department of Health Sciences, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe)

  • Elliot Mbunge

    (Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Accounting and Informatics, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa)

  • Munyaradzi Paul Mapingure

    (ICAP at Columbia University, Harare, Zimbabwe)

  • Innocent Chingombe

    (ICAP at Columbia University, Harare, Zimbabwe)

  • Godfrey Musuka

    (ICAP at Columbia University, Harare, Zimbabwe)

  • Sphamandla Josias Nkambule

    (Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa)

  • Bernard Ngara

    (Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe)

Abstract

Understanding the burden of SARS-CoV-2 infections among healthcare workers is a critical component to inform occupational health policy and strategy. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to map and analayse the available global evidence on the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections among healthcare workers. The random-effects adjusted pooled prevalence of COVID-19 among those studies that conducted the test using the antibody (Ab) method was 7% [95% CI: 3 to 17%]. The random-effects adjusted pooled prevalence of COVID-19 among those studies that conducted the test using the PCR method was 11% [95% CI: 7 to 16%]. We found the burden of COVID-19 among healthcare workers to be quite significant and therefore a cause for global health concern. Furthermore, COVID-19 infections among healthcare workers affect service delivery through workers’ sick leave, the isolation of confirmed cases and quarantine of contacts, all of which place significant strain on an already shrunken health workforce.

Suggested Citation

  • Tafadzwa Dzinamarira & Grant Murewanhema & Malizgani Mhango & Patrick Gad Iradukunda & Itai Chitungo & Moreblessing Mashora & Pelagia Makanda & James Atwine & Munashe Chimene & Elliot Mbunge & Munyara, 2021. "COVID-19 Prevalence among Healthcare Workers. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2021:i:1:p:146-:d:709898
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Antonios Revythis & Sidrah Shah & Synthia Enyioma & Aruni Ghose & Meenash Patel & Afroditi Karathanasi & Elisabet Sanchez & Stergios Boussios, 2021. "The Experience of a Single NHS England Trust on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Junior and Middle-Grade Doctors: What Is Next?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Abdul Aziz Harith & Mohd Hafiz Ab Gani & Robin Griffiths & Azlihanis Abdul Hadi & Nor Aishah Abu Bakar & Julia Myers & Maznieda Mahjom & Rosnawati Muhamad Robat & Muhammad Zulfakhar Zubir, 2022. "Incidence, Prevalence, and Sources of COVID-19 Infection among Healthcare Workers in Hospitals in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Robert Rodríguez-González & Aleksis Galloza & Edgar J. Medina & Valeria Oliver & Natalia I. Rodríguez & Elizabeth Ramos-Colón & Mileily Velázquez-Ferrer & Dayaneira Rivera-Alers & Wanda Vargas & Vanes, 2023. "Preventive Measures among Healthcare Workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-9, March.
    3. Ngqabutho Moyo & Anita D. Bhappu & Moment Bhebhe & Farai Ncube, 2022. "Perceived Risk of COVID-19 and Employee Decision-Making: How Psychological Distress during the Pandemic Increases Negative Performance Outcomes among Healthcare Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, June.

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