TITLE:
Assessing the Effectiveness of Temperature Screening in COVID-19 Detection: A Statistical Study of Socio-Demographic Variables in Lagos, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Kazeem Osuolale, Babatunde Adewale, Toyosi Raheem, Oluwaseun Otekunrin, Dayo Lawal, Folahanmi Akinsolu, Dolapo Shobanke, Hakeem Osho
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19, Infrared Digital Thermometer, Inferential Analysis, Odds Ratio, Sustainability
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.16 No.1,
February
25,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Since the emergence of coronavirus disease in December 2019, Global health has been a major concern. COVID-19 symptoms include an elevated body temperature above the normal range, and preventive measures against the causative agent involve social distancing, the use of face masks, and frequent hand washing. This study evaluates participants’ temperature and COVID-19 status to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Aim of the Study: This study aims to estimate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection using a logistic regression model. Specific objectives include evaluating the relationship between participants’ temperature, COVID-19 status, gender, age, and mode of transportation to understand their impact on infection risk. Method: Data for this study were collected through a cross-sectional survey conducted from March 31, 2020 through April 30, 2020, at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in Lagos, Nigeria. The study included 2160 participants, (53.1% women) and (46.9% men) and 69 (3.2%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The logistic regression model was used for inferential analysis to estimate the risk of infection based on various factors. Results: This study found that 5(7.2%) participants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 exhibited elevated body temperature, while 64 (92.8%) had normal body temperature. Although gender was not significantly associated with body temperature (p > 0.05), female participants showed higher odds (OR = 1.5) of having a normal body temperature compared with male participants. Age and mode of transportation significantly affected participants’ temperature (p Conclusion and Recommendation: The study concludes that temperature alone is not sufficient as an indicator of COVID-19 infection, and asymptomatic transmission is a critical factor in the overall incidence of COVID-19. These findings support sustainable public health strategies, such as targeted resource allocation, holistic approaches to disease management, and effective communication. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and support community well-being, it is essential to continue to prioritize preventive measures and account for the impact of asymptomatic transmission in public health planning. These findings are in line with findings in other studies during COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria.