1. Spread and seasonality of COVID-19 pandemic confirmed cases in sub-Saharan Africa: experience from Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda.
- Author
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Adebowale AS, Afolabi RF, Bello S, Salawu MM, Bamgboye EA, Adeoye I, Dairo MD, Kivumbi B, Wanyana I, Seck I, Diallo I, Leye MMM, Bassoum O, Fall M, Ndejjo R, Kabwama SN, Mapatano MA, Bosonkie M, Egbende L, Namale A, Kizito S, Wanyenze RK, and Fawole OI
- Subjects
- Humans, Uganda epidemiology, Nigeria epidemiology, Senegal epidemiology, Democratic Republic of the Congo epidemiology, Pandemics, COVID-19 epidemiology
- Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world negatively with huge health and socioeconomic consequences. This study estimated the seasonality, trajectory, and projection of COVID-19 cases to understand the dynamics of the disease spread and inform response interventions., Method: Descriptive analysis of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases from January 2020 to 12
th March 2022 was conducted in four purposefully selected sub-Saharan African countries (Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Senegal, and Uganda). We extrapolated the COVID-19 data from (2020 to 2022) to 2023 using a trigonometric time series model. A decomposition time series method was used to examine the seasonality in the data., Results: Nigeria had the highest rate of spread (β) of COVID-19 (β = 381.2) while DRC had the least rate (β = 119.4). DRC, Uganda, and Senegal had a similar pattern of COVID-19 spread from the onset through December 2020. The average doubling time in COVID-19 case count was highest in Uganda (148 days) and least in Nigeria (83 days). A seasonal variation was found in the COVID-19 data for all four countries but the timing of the cases showed some variations across countries. More cases are expected in the 1st (January-March) and 3rd (July-September) quarters of the year in Nigeria and Senegal, and in the 2nd (April-June) and 3rd (October-December) quarters in DRC and Uganda., Conclusion: Our findings show a seasonality that may warrant consideration for COVID-19 periodic interventions in the peak seasons in the preparedness and response strategies., (© 2023. The Author(s).)- Published
- 2023
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