Community-based cohort study of arboviral seroprevalence and population health indicators

Introduction: Arboviral infections like dengue and chikungunya are major causes of acute fever in tropical areas, yet true population exposure is unclear, as routine surveillance mainly detects symptomatic cases. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence and persistence of antibodies for dengue and chikungunya, alongside general health indicators, in a community-based cohort.Methodology: A prospective cohort study was conducted in a community across five representative clusters. A total of 766 participants were enrolled and followed up over 12 months. Baseline and end-line sera were tested for IgG, IgM, and neutralizing antibodies for dengue and chikungunya. Febrile episodes were actively monitored and confirmed using rapid and confirmatory tests. Socio-demographic and health data, including major NCDs, were collected through interviews and clinical assessments. The statistical analysis included descriptive summaries and paired comparisons of antibody titres from baseline to 12 months.Results: Among 766 enrolled participants, 750 completed follow-up (16 lost, including four unrelated deaths). Stata software was used for statistical analysis. Descriptive analysis was used for population analysis. Statistical significance in seroprevalence was estimated using the Paired t-test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with a p-value