Prevalence of COVID-19 during 2021 in Prishtina, Kosovo: a population-based cross-sectional study

Background: The global crisis of COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) has prompted comprehensive research into its impact, with studies uncovering varied occurrence and mortality rates. This study seeks to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 amongst the overall population based on self-reported symptoms and testing while also examining the association of prevalence with demographic, health, and epidemiological factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out with citizens of Prishtina, the capital city of Kosovo from May to June 2021. We calculated the prevalence of self-reported COVID-19 symptoms and positive tests among the citizens, as well as crude and adjusted ORs examining the association of COVID-19 infection with explanatory factors, including the protection and exposure coefficient. Results: A total of 654 (52.1%) out of 1255 respondents reported having experienced COVID-19 symptoms. Six hundred (47.8%) households reported having an infected family member and 44 (7.3%) households reported having a dead family member due to COVID-19. In addition, 47.2% of 3,068 household members were infected with COVID-19, and 1.5% died due to COVID-19. A total of 689 respondents underwent testing for COVID-19 and 184 (26.7%) reported positive results. For individuals who reported COVID-19 symptoms, higher odds for infection were found among urban residents (adjusted OR, 1.53; 95%CI, 1.13-2.07; p=0.006), individuals with infected household members (adjusted OR, 2.53; 95%CI, 2.00-3.20; p<0.001), higher exposure coefficient (adjusted OR, 2.20; 95%CI, 1.42-3.41; p<0.001), and existing health conditions (adjusted OR, 2.22; 95%CI, 1.50-3.27; p<0.001). For individuals who underwent COVID-19 testing, higher odds for infection were found among individuals with infected household members (adjusted OR, 3.51; 95% CI, 2.29-5.39; p<0.001). Conclusion: This study highlights the prevalence of COVID-19 in Prishtina and the significance of factors like existing health conditions, household size, epidemiologic behaviour, and the number of infected members as important determinants of COVID-19 incidence.