The antibodies against corona virus disease were found in 71 percent people of Dhaka and 55 percent in Chittagong, according to research conducted by icddr,b.
The study, ‘Driving Factors of Covid-19 in Slums and Non-Slum Areas of Dhaka and Chittagong,’ also found that the rate of corona infection seroprevalence positivity, commonly known as the presence of antibody, is higher among people living in slum areas.
The information was released by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) through a dissemination program on Tuesday.
A total of 3,220 people took part in the survey, which was carried out in and around three Dhaka slums and two Chittagong slums between October 2020 and February 2021.
Of the total number of participants, 2,128 were residents of the five slums.
The overall seroprevalence positivity among the participants was 68 percent while the rate was 72 percent among people living in slum regions and 62 percent among residents of non-slum areas, according to Dr Rubhana Raqib, one of the principal investigators of the study
The overall seropositivity was similar among adults (70 percent ) and children (65.5 percent).
With the country experiencing more deaths among male patients, the study also found seroprevalence to be higher in females (70.6%) than in males (66%).
However, only 35.5% of the seropositive participants were estimated to have one or more Covid-19 symptoms.
Lower seroprevalence was found in individuals who frequently washed their hands, did not touch their face or nose, had been vaccinated for tuberculosis, and carried out moderate physical activities
