Background and objectives:Children comprised a significant part of the population during the second and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives of this study were to estimate the seroprevalence of COVID-19 IgG antibody among the children aged 6 to 14 years and to determine, if any, the factors associated with seropositivity.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a selected block of West Bengal, India over a period of 1 year (April 2022-March 2023) among children. Thirty villages in the block were selected by cluster sampling technique. COVID-19 IgM/IgG Rapid Antibody Test Kit (ICMR approved) was used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies.  Data were analyzed by appropriate statistical tests.

Results:Total 600 children were enrolled in the study.SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody was positive in 57.2% children. The seropositivity rate (91.8%) was significantly (p<0.001) high among children of age group 12 to 14 years. Seropositivity rate was not significantly different between male and female children (46.4% vs. 53.6%; p>0.05).

Conclusion:SARS-COV-2 IgG antibody was positive in a high proportion of children residing in rural areas indicating asymptomatic coronavirus infections among rural population. Socio-demographic factors such as higher age group and father’s education were significantly associated with seropositivity.

July 2024; Vol. 18(2):010.  DOI:https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.18.022

*Correspondence: Vineeta Shukla, Department of Community Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Beliaghata General Hospital, Kolkata, India. Email: [email protected]