Public health surveillance: characterizing the Covid 19 pandemic in the Monze district, Zambia
摘要
COVID – 19 remains a public health threat, posing negative socio-economic and health impacts globally. The Zambian government instituted control measures against COVID 19 pandemic thus conducting public health surveillance is essential to target surveillance insights. The inclusion of the COVID – 19 into the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) demands for regular analysis of data to inform decisions. This analysis was done to assess COVID – 19 descriptively, and to determine the factors associated with its mortalities in Monze district.
MethodsWe conducted a retrospective data analysis on COVID – 19 cases and mortalities for the period 1st June 2020 to 30th June 2022 in Monze district. The data were extracted from Monze district COVID – 19 master line list. The data were cleaned using Microsoft Excel version 2013 and analyzed using Epi-Info version 7.2.5.0. Frequencies and proportions were calculated and results presented in tables and graphs.
ResultsBetween June 2020 and June 2022, Monze district recorded 3141 cases of COVID – 19, where 54.2% (n = 1702) were females. The median age was 31 years (IQR 22–43) with the case fatality rate of 2.5% (n = 77). Most 71.3% (n = 2239) of the people who were infected reside in the urban area. The highest number of cases 28.5% (n = 895) were from the age group 20–29 years. A total of 77 deaths were recorded with majority 66% (n = 51) being males. More than half (53.2%) of mortality was recorded from age group 70 years and above. Majority of the cases 29.0% (n = 912) and mortalities 32.5% (n = 25) occurred in June 2021. The commonest signs and symptoms were cough 96.8% (n = 3039) and fever 96.4% (n = 3027). Sex and age were associated with COVID – 19 mortalities.
ConclusionMore females were infected with COVID – 19, however, more males died from COVID – 19. The highly infected age group was 20–29 years, nonetheless, higher mortalities were recorded in the age group 70 years and above. Majority of the cases were from urban areas. The highest number of cases and mortalities occurred in June 2021. Cough and fever were the commonest signs and symptoms. Further studies are required to determine higher reported cases among females, urban settings, 20–29 age group and deaths in the elderly.