{
  "abstract": "Background: Africa seemed to have had low SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. While several studies reported high SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among healthy Africans, others hypothesized that this could have resulted from pre-existing cross-reactive antibodies. Our study tracks trends in seropositivity across three West African countries during the Delta- and Omicron-dominant pandemic periods using validated SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM rapid diagnostic tests (Prestige Diagnostics in Ghana and Burkina Faso; SD Biosensor in Nigeria).\n\nMethods: Cross-sectional studies were conducted in three West African countries (Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Nigeria), with study sites conveniently selected within each country. Using validated immunoassay kits with published validation procedures, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in peripheral blood during the Delta- and Omicron-dominant periods. Because we did not perform widespread viral sequencing on participant samples, we could not attribute seropositivity to a specific variant; instead, we classified sampling periods by the variant reported as dominant nationally/globally at the time of sample collection. Participants’ demographic and clinical data were obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire, and the primary outcome was the proportion of each population with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.\n\nResults: Across the 3 countries, 20,748 participants were recruited, and SARS-CoV-2 IgG seropositivity ranged from 24.1 to 76.4%, with higher rates during the Omicron-dominant period. All sites showed low self-reported vaccination rates, suggesting that seropositivity may be primarily driven by natural infection rather than vaccination. While there was a significant positive association between seropositivity and age across all sites, the association with other demographic factors was country-dependent, and most participants expressed positive opinions of vaccination.\n\nConclusion: This is one of the largest multi-country community-based SARS-CoV-2 seroepidemiology studies in Africa, showing widespread exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection among our study population across three West African countries. These findings are consistent with a marked disconnect between high population exposure and low reported clinical burden, underscoring the need for strengthened community surveillance.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana",
    "Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, University of Medical Sciences",
    "Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana",
    "Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Basic and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana",
    "African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer's University",
    "Africa Center of Excellence for Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP), Bayero University",
    "Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé (GRAS)",
    "Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences",
    "Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences",
    "Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS)",
    "Department of Community Medicine, Bayero University Kano/ Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital",
    "Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University",
    "Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University",
    "St. Elizabeth Hospital",
    "St. Patrick Hospital",
    "SDA Hospital",
    "St. Peter’s Hospital",
    "Methodist Faith Healing Hospital",
    "Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana",
    "Centre d’Excellence Africain en Innovations Biotechnologiques pour l’Élimination des, Maladies à Transmission Vectorielle (CEA/ITECH-MTV), Université Nazi BONI"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 88,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Aniefiok John Udoakang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Daniel Oduro-Mensah"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Gloria Amegatcher"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Onikepe Folarin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Isah Abubakar Aliyu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Irene Amoakoh Owusu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Francis Dzabeng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Alphonse Ouedraogo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Reuben Ayivor-Djanie"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Jones Gyamfi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9
      ],
      "name": "Moumouni Armel Sanou"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Kesego Tapela"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Manfreddy Binyet"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kyerewaa Akuamoah Boateng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5,
        10
      ],
      "name": "Taiwo Gboluwaga Amole"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Johnson Okolie"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5,
        11
      ],
      "name": "Baba Maiyaki Musa"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5,
        12
      ],
      "name": "Jamilu Abubakar Bala"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Kazeem Akano"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Ajibade Olufunke Olayemi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Olivia Achonduh-Atijegbe"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Ajayi Nnennaya"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Okoro Sylvanus Ihere"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Azuogu Benedict"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Okechukwu Ukpabi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Ojide Chiedozie Kingsley"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Augustine Abu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Moyosoore Osoba"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Nicholas Oyejide"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        13
      ],
      "name": "Evans Agyapong Owusu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        13
      ],
      "name": "Bismark Adade"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        14
      ],
      "name": "James Ekow Sampah"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        14
      ],
      "name": "Samed Ishaq"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        15
      ],
      "name": "George Agyei"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        15
      ],
      "name": "Boateng Benjamin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        15
      ],
      "name": "William Oduro-Obeng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        15
      ],
      "name": "Janet Ogoe-Anderson"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        16
      ],
      "name": "Nicholas Aloba Amekpordi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        16
      ],
      "name": "Safiatu Alhassan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        17
      ],
      "name": "David Afrifa"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        17
      ],
      "name": "Bismark Akwasi Opoku"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Oladele Oluwafemi Ayodeji"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Chukwuyem Abejegah"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Akinola Nelson Adedosu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Liasu Adeagbo Ahmed"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Samuel S. Serme"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Maurice Ouattara"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Denise Hien"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Nebié Issa"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Rachael O. Boateng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Precious C. Opurum"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Fatima O. Oyawoye"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Dzidzor Yawa Ayeke"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        18
      ],
      "name": "Michael Ofori"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9
      ],
      "name": "Nikiema Sindimbasba Achille"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9
      ],
      "name": "Bazoumana Sow"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9,
        19
      ],
      "name": "Lea Pare-Toe"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9,
        19
      ],
      "name": "Charles Guissou"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Bismark Minna"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Gifty Amponsah"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bnachesk0r60n.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1945355",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1945355/full",
  "id": "bnachesk0r60n",
  "issns": [
    "2296-2565"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1945355/full",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "RA1-1270"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2725|SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223692589",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1945355/pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-26",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bnachesk0r60n.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:24Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1945355",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1945355/full"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:47:30Z",
      "native_id": "66f108cf19d0464eb922bb938875a319",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1945355"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2725|SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research",
      "subfield": "infectious-disease"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Widespread SARS-CoV-2 exposure in West Africa: findings from a 20,748-participant multi-country seroepidemiology study",
  "title_text": "Widespread SARS-CoV-2 exposure in West Africa: findings from a 20,748-participant multi-country seroepidemiology study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:47:30Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bnachesk0r60n",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Public Health",
  "versions": []
}