SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence: Demographic and Behavioral Factors Associated With Seropositivity Among College Students in a University Setting

dc.contributor.authorKaren Diepstra, M.P.H
dc.contributor.authorBrooke W. Bullington
dc.contributor.authorLakshmanane Premkumar, Ph.D.
dc.contributor.authorBonnie E. Shook-Sa, Dr.P.H
dc.contributor.authorCorbin Jones, Ph.D.
dc.contributor.authorAudrey Pettifor, Ph.D.
dc.date.accessioned2024-03-28T08:16:37Z
dc.date.available2024-03-28T08:16:37Z
dc.date.issued2022-06-23
dc.description.abstractPurpose: Examine SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and the association of seropositivity with demographic, geographic, and behavioral variables among University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) undergraduate students enrolled in the fall 2020 semester. Methods: All UNC-CH undergraduate students were invited to participate in the Heelcheck study; participants were weighted to the UNC-CH undergraduate population using raking methods. We estimate SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence at study entrance (11/12/2020e12/10/2020) and bivariable associations using log-binomial regression. Results: SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 7.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.4%e9.2%) at baseline. Compared to students who were living off-campus in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area (CH) for the Fall 2020 semester (8.6% seroprevalence), students who never returned to CH had lower seroprevalence (1.9%, prevalence ratio (PR), 95% CI: 0.22, 0.06e0.81), whereas, students who started the semester on-campus and moved to off-campus CH housing had 18.9% seroprevalence (PR, 95% CI: 2.21, 1.04e4.72) and students who spent the semester living in a Sorority/Fraternity house had 46.8% seroprevalence (PR, 95% CI: 5.47, 2.62e11.46). Those who predicted they would join an indoor party unmasked had 3.8 times the seroprevalence of those who indicated they would not attend (PR, 95% CI: 3.80, 1.58e9.16). Compared to students who disagreed with the statement “.I am not going to let COVID-19 stop me from having fun.”, those who agreed had higher seroprevalence (14.0% vs. 5.7%; (PR, 95% CI: 2.45, 1.13e5.32)). Discussion: Increased seroprevalence was associated with congregate living and participation (actual or endorsed) in social activities. During pandemics, universities must create safe socializing opportunities while minimizing transmission.
dc.description.librarianPM2023
dc.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/38235
dc.language.isoen
dc.schoolPublic Health
dc.titleSARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence: Demographic and Behavioral Factors Associated With Seropositivity Among College Students in a University Setting
dc.typeArticle
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