Socio-demographic and behavioural risk factors of SARS- CoV-2 seropositivity in rural tribal population of Tripura: A population based cross-sectional study

A BSTRACT Context: Population-based serosurveys are important tool to estimate proportion of population infected by SARS Cov-2 and it helps to understand various socio- demographic, behavioural factors associated it. Aim: To determine association of Covid 19 seropositivity with socio-demographic and behavioural factors among tribal population of Tripura. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult tribal population of Tripura. Methods and Material: Duration of study was six months. Blood sample was collected and serum samples were screened for the presence of COVID-19-specific antibodies using serological testing. Statistical Analysis: Analysis was done by SPSS 25. Chi-square and logistic regression were used. Results: The majority of participants were female (59.22%). Almost every participant (99.34%) was wearing a face mask. Among the participants, 68.82% were in the habit of chewing tobacco, and 26.30% were alcoholics. Age of participants [42–51 years with OR: 1.62 (1.15–2.28), 52 years and above with OR: 1.53 ((1.09–2.16)], educational status [No formal education with OR: 2.64 ((1.18–5.90), less than secondary with OR: 3.37 (1.57–7.23), Secondary education with OR: 2.92 (1.34–6.38), Higher Secondary with OR: 2.86 (1.26–6.45)], occupation [home-maker with OR: 2.85 (1.50–5.44), self-employed with OR: 3.15 (1.64–6.06), in service with OR: 7.46 (2.69–20.67)], history of non-communicable diseases with OR: 2.43 (1.76–3.35), Covid vaccination status with OR: 4.60 (3.46-6.11) and chewing tobacco with OR: 1.46 (1.13–1.88) have positive association with seropositivity status. Smokers had a lower chance of becoming seropositive with OR: 0.51 (0.31–0.83). Conclusions: Further investigations are needed to establish an association of COVID-19 seropositivity with smoking.