Sabina Rodriguez Velásquez1, Léa Jacques2, Jyoti Dalal3, Paolo Sestito4, Zahra Habibi1, Akarsh Venkatasubramanian5, Benedict Nguimbis6, Sara Botero Mesa7, Cleophas Chimbetete8, Olivia Keiser9, Benido Impouma10, Franck Mboussou11, George Sie William12, Nsenga Ngoy13, Ambrose Talisuna14, Abdou Salam Gueye15, Cristina Barroso Hofer16, Joseph Waogodo Cabore17. 1. Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, 9 chemin des Mines, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland. 2. Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, 9 chemin des Mines, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: leajacques.ge@gmail.com. 3. International Labour Organization, United Nations, C/O Ochsner & Associés, Place de Longemalle 1, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: jyotidalal20@gmail.com. 4. Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, 9 chemin des Mines, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: Paolo.Sestito@etu.unige.ch. 5. International Labour Organization, United Nations, C/O Ochsner & Associés, Place de Longemalle 1, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: akarshv@gmail.com. 6. ASP/ GRAPH Network, C/O Ochsner & Associés, Place de Longemalle 1, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: benguimbis@live.fr. 7. Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, 9 chemin des Mines, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: sara.botero@etu.unige.ch. 8. Newlands Clinic, 4 Walmer Drive, Newlands, Harare, Zimbabwe. Electronic address: docchimbetete@gmail.com. 9. Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, 9 chemin des Mines, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: olivia.keiser@unige.ch. 10. WHO Regional Office for Africa, Epidemic Preparedness and Response Programme, Cité du Djoué, P.O. Box 06, Brazzaville, Republic du Congo. Electronic address: impoumab@who.int. 11. WHO Regional Office for Africa, Epidemic Preparedness and Response Programme, Cité du Djoué, P.O. Box 06, Brazzaville, Republic du Congo. Electronic address: mboussouf@who.int. 12. WHO Regional Office for Africa, Epidemic Preparedness and Response Programme, Cité du Djoué, P.O. Box 06, Brazzaville, Republic du Congo. Electronic address: gwilliams@who.int. 13. WHO Regional Office for Africa, Epidemic Preparedness and Response Programme, Cité du Djoué, P.O. Box 06, Brazzaville, Republic du Congo. Electronic address: nsengan@who.int. 14. WHO Regional Office for Africa, Epidemic Preparedness and Response Programme, Cité du Djoué, P.O. Box 06, Brazzaville, Republic du Congo. Electronic address: talisunaa@who.int. 15. WHO Regional Office for Africa, Epidemic Preparedness and Response Programme, Cité du Djoué, P.O. Box 06, Brazzaville, Republic du Congo. Electronic address: gueyea@who.int. 16. Department of Infectious Diseases, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, R Bruno Lobo, 50 Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: cbhofer@hucff.ufrj.br. 17. WHO Regional Office for Africa, Epidemic Preparedness and Response Programme, Cité du Djoué, P.O. Box 06, Brazzaville, Republic du Congo. Electronic address: caborej@who.int.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Few data on the COVID-19 epidemiological characteristics among the pediatric population in Africa exists. This paper examines the age and sex distribution of the morbidity and mortality rate in children with COVID-19 and compares it to the adult population within 15 Sub-Saharan African countries. METHODS: A merge line listing dataset shared by countries within the Regional Office for Africa was analyzed. Patients diagnosed within 1 March and 1 September 2020 with confirmed positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed. Children's data were stratified into three age groups: 0-4 years, 5-11 years, and 12-17 years, while adults were combined. The cumulative incidence of cases, its medians, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: 9% of the total confirmed cases and 2.4% of the reported deaths were pediatric cases. The 12-17 age group in all 15 countries showed the highest cumulative incidence proportion in children. Adults had a higher case incidence per 100,000 people than children. CONCLUSION: The cases and deaths within the children's population was smaller than the adult population. These differences can reflect biases in COVID-19 testing protocols and reporting implemented by countries, highlighting the need for more extensive investigation and focus on the effects of COVID-19 in children.
INTRODUCTION: Few data on the COVID-19 epidemiological characteristics among the pediatric population in Africa exists. This paper examines the age and sex distribution of the morbidity and mortality rate in children with COVID-19 and compares it to the adult population within 15 Sub-Saharan African countries. METHODS: A merge line listing dataset shared by countries within the Regional Office for Africa was analyzed. Patients diagnosed within 1 March and 1 September 2020 with confirmed positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed. Children's data were stratified into three age groups: 0-4 years, 5-11 years, and 12-17 years, while adults were combined. The cumulative incidence of cases, its medians, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: 9% of the total confirmed cases and 2.4% of the reported deaths were pediatric cases. The 12-17 age group in all 15 countries showed the highest cumulative incidence proportion in children. Adults had a higher case incidence per 100,000 people than children. CONCLUSION: The cases and deaths within the children's population was smaller than the adult population. These differences can reflect biases in COVID-19 testing protocols and reporting implemented by countries, highlighting the need for more extensive investigation and focus on the effects of COVID-19 in children.