SARS-CoV-2 infection, transmission dynamics and household impact in Malawi (SCATHIM)

撒哈拉以南非洲国家采取了与发达国家类似的新冠肺炎预防方法，尽管这些国家的人民生活在不同的背景下。新冠肺炎在非洲家庭中的传播情况以及人们遵守预防措施的情况尚不清楚，但需要这些信息来制定适当的预防措施。我们旨在确定位于非洲马拉维城市中密度、城市高密度和农村高密度地区的家庭中新冠肺炎的传播强度、促进疾病传播的因素以及疾病对人们生活的影响。我们的具体目标是：(1)估计与感染者同住一户的比例；(2)评估感染和出现严重症状的风险是否受个人和营养特征以及对新冠肺炎的免疫力；其他感染(艾滋病毒、结核病、疟疾)或他们的治疗的影响；(3)评估感染者是否可以接受、可行和有效地使用个人防护用品；(4)描述新冠肺炎感染者的照顾者的经历；(5)估计与感染者的居家护理相关的成本和收入损失。研究结果将有助于确定高危家庭/地区，并为受影响的家庭设计适当的社会安全网。我们研究团队与政策制定者和当地卫生部门的现有合作将有助于利用研究成果加强与疾病的斗争。

Sub-Saharan African countries have adopted COVID-19 prevention methods similar to those used in developed countries although their people live in a different context. The spread of COVID-19 in African households and people's adherence to preventive measures are not known, but this information is required to develop appropriate prevention measures. We aim to determine the intensity of COVID-19 spread in households located in urban medium-density, urban high-density and rural-high density areas in Malawi, Africa, factors that promote the spread of the disease and the impact of the disease on people's lives. Our specific objectives are to: (1) estimate the proportion of people living in the same household with infected people who become infected, (2) assess whether the risk of getting infected and developing severe symptoms are influenced by personal and nutritional characteristics and immunity to COVID-19; other infections (HIV, TB, malaria) or their treatments; and the household environment (3) assess whether the use of personal protective equipment is acceptable, feasible, and effective among people living with infected individuals (4) describe the experiences of caregivers of COVID-19 infected individuals (5) estimate the costs and lost income associated with home-based care for infected people. Study findings will help to identify high risk households/areas and design appropriate social safety nets for affected households. Our research team's existing collaboration with policy makers and local health department will facilitate the use of research findings to strengthen the fight against the disease.