COVID-19 Pandemic
The Relationship Between Housing Types and the Risk of COVID-19 Infection in a University Student Population: A Pilot Convenience Sample Study . Akpevwe Amanda Ojaruega* Akpevwe Amanda Ojaruega Edmore Madondo
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges, emphasizing the need to comprehend factors contributing to infection risk for effective public health management. University campuses, with diverse housing options, provide a unique setting to investigate the potential impact of different housing types on COVID-19 transmission within student populations.
Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between housing types and the risk of COVID-19 infection among university students, providing insights into the role of housing environments in COVID-19 spread within academic communities.
Methods: Data was collected using convenience sampling at Missouri State University from August 2020 to May 2021. Weekly PCR-based testing assessed over 1437 students who completed questionnaires with information on demographics and housing types categorized as on-campus dormitories, off-campus apartments, self/apartment with a mate(s), fraternity/sorority housing, and single-family houses. Crude and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess associations.
Results: After adjusting for covariates, university students in fraternity/sorority houses and apartments with roommates were associated with greater odds of COVID-19 infection. The highest risk of COVID-19 infection was observed in students residing in frat/sorority houses (AOR=2.73 [95% CI: 0.177-42.043]), followed by those in apartments with roommates (AOR=2.705 [95% CI: 0.189-38.778]). Students in single-family homes, on-campus dorms, and apartments by themselves were associated with lower odds of contracting COVID-19.
Conclusion: Our findings reveal that the odds of COVID-19 infection in university students living in fraternity/sorority houses were 2.73 times higher compared to students with other housing arrangements. These findings can guide evidence-based strategies for mitigating the virus’s impact on academic communities and enhancing overall public health response measures.