Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Research Articles

Remittance Inflow, Investment, and Economic Growth in Africa amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

Africa has fared well in the aspect of remittance receipts in recent years; however, the region recorded a decline in remittances amid the COVID-19 pandemic which constrained the circular flow of income significantly and ultimately economic growth. In view of this, this study investigates the economic effects of remittance inflows and investment on economic growth in Africa amid COVID-19 pandemic using a panel of 48 economies and estimated with pooled OLS and two-step system GMM. The study employed two distinct approaches for estimation; pre-COVID-19 (2010–2019) and amid COVID-19 (2010–2023). The results indicate that the behavior of remittances, investment and economic growth in Africa is not significantly different between pre-COVID-19 and amid COVID-19. That is, remittances remain a significant economic growth catalyst in Africa whereas investment is not (though with growth effect potential). Overall, the study concludes that African economic policy stakeholders and other relevant policy authorities should sustain the current remittance and labor policy frameworks with possible fine-tuning where applicable while doubling their investment efforts especially in productive sectors of the economy.

Examining the motivators affecting acceptance towards learning management systems for sustainable learning amid COVID-19 pandemic

Examining the motivators affecting acceptance towards learning management systems for sustainable learning amid COVID-19 pandemic

Effect of Investment Knowledge on Investment Decision amid COVID-19 Pandemic: The Moderating Role of Financial Risk Tolerance

Effect of Investment Knowledge on Investment Decision amid COVID-19 Pandemic: The Moderating Role of Financial Risk Tolerance

Understanding the aftermath of banks merger: analyzing price effects on public sector banks since the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThe current study immerses in the realm of bank mergers among prominent PSBs in India, focusing on the financial performance of six recently merged PSBs entities. Amidst the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economies, the study aims to uncover the efficiency of these PSBs in navigating this unprecedented crisis.Design/methodology/approachThe evaluation encompasses panel data on an annual basis spanning from 2020 to 2023. To assess the overall efficiency of merged PSBs, the advanced statistical technique like one-step system generalized method of moments has been applied to estimate its efficiency.FindingsThe study findings affirm that PSB mergers have bolstered financial metrics and efficiency. Enhanced return on equity (ROA) and net profit margin (NPM) signify improved profitability and efficiency. The consolidation also facilitates better asset management and utilization. Moreover, merged entities benefit from economies of scale, cost efficiencies, risk diversification, technological investments, and overall performance improvements.Practical implicationsThe study's policy suggestions stress ongoing consolidation efforts to boost banking sector resilience, advocating for improved efficiency, governance, and asset quality management. These steps are crucial for successful bank mergers and fostering a robust, competitive banking landscape in India.Originality/valueThis study is a novel attempt to analyze Indian bank profitability and efficiency post PSB mergers amid COVID-19 pandemic. In a developing country like India, especially in PSBs has experienced significant structural changes over the previous 7 years just before pandemic, such a study necessitates a prompt empirical investigation.

E-TuroMo: A Valuable Virtual Community Service Project for Schools Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools to adopt online teaching and other alternative delivery modes of education. Since this is an unforeseen happening, most learning institutions are not ready for this transition. This gives birth to a virtual community service project named “e-TuroMo.” In this paper, we describe the e-TuroMo project and assess its relevance. An open-ended questionnaire was distributed to gather feedback from the respondents. The project aims primarily to help schools as they try to shift from traditional classes to online teaching. It offers free services such as webinars for teachers, a course creator account on the e-TuroMo Moodle site, consultation, and technical assistance in establishing a Learning Management System (LMS). Through this project, 51 respondents have created initial online courses as an output of the webinars. Consultation sessions on online course design, delivery, and assessment were provided to some respondents. Two schools availed of technical assistance in the setup of their LMS. The respondents acknowledged the services offered by the project as timely, relevant, and valuable to their work as teachers. Overall, the results showed high admiration and approval for the project. Cost-effective software, efficient structuring of webinars based on literature, and a stable internet connection for both the organizer and participants are deemed essential when implementing a virtual community service project similar to this case.

Bridging the Labour Regulation Gaps in India’s Informal Migrant Economy amid Covid-19 Pandemic: Uncovering Challenges and Results

Bridging the Labour Regulation Gaps in India’s Informal Migrant Economy amid Covid-19 Pandemic: Uncovering Challenges and Results

Follow-up of telemedicine mental health interventions amid COVID-19 pandemic

The initiation of the program Mental Health Support Program for Coronavirus Infection addressed the increased demand for mental health services in the province of Salamanca, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The psychiatry service provided care for COVID-19 patients, their families, and healthcare workers who treated them, as these groups were identified as being at risk. This study aims to describe the assistance provided, including personnel and resources utilized, types of interventions carried out, and to assess the demand for mental health care and predominant symptoms and emotions experienced by patients. Billboards and the complex’s intranet publicized the program. Specific clinical approach using telemedicine were provide from March 2020 to December 2021 to COVID-19 patients, their relatives, and healthcare workers. 216 patients were included with a mean age of 53.2 years, with women comprising 77.3% of this group. All the groups received treatment in similar proportions. Over a period of 730 h, a total of 1376 interventions were performed, with an average duration of 31.8 min per intervention. The program could treat 79.6% of these patients without requiring referrals to other services. When the program concluded, only 21 participants (9.7%) were discharged to the local mental health network to continue their mental health treatment. The program effectively reduced the burden on regular mental health services due to its ability to treat most patients without requiring referrals. The program was able to attend to most mental health requests with minimal involvement of the regular mental health service.

Examining Indonesian Stock Price Movement Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: Which Sectors that Underperformed the Most?

AbstractThe stock market is a financial market that is highly responsive to changes in economic conditions. Therefore, the stock market normally reflects the current economic conditions. This study discusses the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Indonesian stock exchange in several industrial sectors. Using the event study method, this study utilized a time-series data over a five-month period starting from December 2019 to April 2020. To examine the short-run and long-run impact among the observed variables, this study also applied the ARDL (Autoregressive Distributed Lag). The findings showed that the COVID-19 pandemic affected stock performance, particularly in trade, service and investments, and agricultural sectors, all of which experienced a negative return on the day of the first announcement of the COVID-19 positive cases. In addition, the outbreak evidently influenced the cumulative abnormal return in the short run, but not in the long run. Keywords:Stock Market, COVID-19 pandemic, Event Study, ADRL, Cumulative Abnormal Return

A Novel Common Canister Protocol for Albuterol Sulfate Metered Dose Inhalers: Conservation Strategy and Clinical Outcomes Amid COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented shortages of albuterol sulfate metered dose inhalers (MDIs) utilized in the supportive management of respiratory symptoms in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections. The risk of generating infective aerosols in nebulized treatments increased the demand for metered dose delivery, leading to a worldwide shortage of albuterol sulfate MDIs. Previous common canister protocols involve the recycling and cleaning of canisters for multiple patient use, however have not undergone quality control studies on viral cross-contamination. Torrance Memorial Medical Center utilized an off-label method of common canister administration through spacer devices, forgoing the need for sterilization while conserving albuterol sulfate during a public health emergency. A retrospective review of this emergency department protocol was conducted on 329 patients receiving this novel albuterol sulfate common canister method over a 10-month period between 3/23/2020 to 1/23/2021. Results showed 265 patients (80.5%) had improved aeration determined by breath sounds evaluation by the respiratory therapist and patient interview. Purchasing records reviewed since 3/1/2020 show purchases were sufficient to sustain albuterol sulfate MDI supply so that no treatments were delayed omitted during the 10-month evaluation period. This novel approach to common canister delivery offers a promising measure to conserve a vital inhaled medication during a public health emergency and could serve as a basis for future development of conservation and quality control studies.

Pharmacy students' interprofessional experience and performance in advanced pharmacy practice experience rotations amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Interprofessional education (IPE) is essential in pharmacy training, providing students with vital collaborative skills for real-world healthcare. Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) is integral to IPE, allowing students to apply their knowledge in diverse healthcare settings. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare education and raised concerns about its impact on IPE during APPE rotations. Our study investigates the pandemic's influence on pharmacy students' interprofessional interactions and APPE performance. To assess the interprofessional experiences of fourth-year pharmacy students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of APPE. This retrospective observational study examined the experiences of P4 pharmacy students in the United States during APPEs before and during the pandemic. We employed electronic surveys with 21 questions to gauge interactions and interprofessional team effectiveness, employing Likert scale response options. We compared responses between the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 APPE rotations using statistical tests. Our study encompassed 83 and 86 students for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 APPE rotations, respectively, achieving a 100% response rate. Amid the pandemic, written communications between pharmacy students and healthcare providers in general medicine rotations increased, while in-person engagement decreased. Pre-COVID, students reported higher colleague referrals and greater interprofessional utilization during ambulatory care rotations. COVID-19 shifted interactions from in-person to written communication between pharmacy students and healthcare providers. Students reported decreased satisfaction with their interprofessional experiences. This research offers insights into the changing landscape of pharmacy education, helping students prepare for evolving challenges in healthcare delivery and education.

Variations Between Physical Banking and Internet Banking Usage amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The usage of banking functions through Internet is comfortable and time saving process, since the usage rates of different banking functions through Internet banking mechanism are very low. The present study aims to evaluate the variations between physical banking and internet banking and explores the problems faced by banking customers in using internet banking amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary data for the present study were collected from banking customers, who were identified on a random basis from three different areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The total sample size was 1,200, comprising a breakup of 400 for each of the sampling areas of central Kashmir, south Kashmir and north Kashmir. Internet banking adoption is changing the physical usage of non-financial products and financial products worldwide. Today, a click of the mouse and mobile banking offer a lot of transactions regarding electronic non-financial products and electronic financial products. Still, the adoption rates of these products are very low. The present study has examined the situation of electronic banking adoption amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and hence, it is found that maximum number of customers are non-users of electronic non-financial products and electronic financial products. Amid the pandemic, the reason for non-usage of technology banking by a majority of customers was lack of awareness, technological barriers and security concerns. They also used physical banking activities and did not follow social distancing as suggested by the Government of India during March 2020. Therefore, it is the basic responsibility of the banking industry to motivate their customers and address their concerns regarding the usage of electronic non-financial products and electronic financial products, as the maximum number of banking customers are non-users of electronic non-financial products and electronic financial products. If the banking industry will address the concerns of banking customers regarding the usage of technology banking, then only a country like India with a huge population can have technological banking and environment-friendly banking and can face situations like the COVID-19 pandemic in future.

The Readiness of the Technological in Communications for the Effectiveness of online learning amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The Readiness of the Technological in Communications for the Effectiveness of online learning amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Financial Inclusion in India Amid Covid-19 Pandemic: Recent Trends and Determinants

Financial Inclusion in India Amid Covid-19 Pandemic: Recent Trends and Determinants

Digital technology in maize nutrient management research in northern Nigeria amid COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a life threatening and spreads wildly with physical human contact. Physical distancing is recommended by health experts to prevent the spread; thus, agronomic research has to be designed in conformity to this preventive standard during the pandemic. Consequently, this study was designed to evaluate the reliability of using digital tools in nutrient management research amid the COVID-19 pandemic in northern Nigeria. Fifty extension agents (EAs) were selected across 15 LGAs of Kaduna and Kano states. The EAs were trained on how to generate fertilizer recommendation using an android mobile phone-based nutrient expert (NE), to measure farmers’ field sizes using UTM Area measure mobile phone app, and open data kit to record, submit and aggregate data during the exercise. Each EA covered 50 farms, where two nutrient management practices—one determined by the farmers: farmer fertilizer practice (FFP), and the other generated using the NE were evaluated. Results show that around 90% of the farmers have an average field size of 1.13 ha. All selected farmers used improved maize varieties for planting, among which 21% been able to use the exact recommended or lower seed rate. Use of inorganic fertilizer was 33% higher than the average recommended NE rate, while average yield of the NE fields was 48% higher than for the FFP. The results of this study indicate that yield can be improved with site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) extension approach. The SSNM using digital tools as the NE seem promising and befits to agronomic research in northern Nigeria amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mental Health Burden and Facilitators Among Frontline Healthcare Professionals in Nigeria Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the frontline healthcare providers faced significant mental health stressors. Previous pandemics have revealed the need for psychosocial support and healthy coping mechanisms to mitigate mental health risks. The study aimed to assess psychological impact and supportive mechanisms experienced by frontline healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients in Kaduna State. This study involved 38 frontline healthcare providers mainly from Kaduna State Infectious Disease Treatment Center. Participants' mental health burden was captured through Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Mental health facilitators were assessed through six tools: Ten-Item Values Inventory, healthy defense section of the Defense Style Questionnaire, Existential Anxiety Questionnaire, Brief Resilience Scale, Oslo Social Support Scale, and the Insomnia Severity Index. The mean age of the study participants was 35.5 ± 6.6 years, with the majority being males (68.4%) and doctors (39.5%). More than a quarter of the participants showed appreciable symptoms of depression and anxiety. Psychosocial facilitators such as moral values, openness to change, self-transcendence, sublimation, anticipation, and humor scored above average for more than half of the participants. Most participants demonstrated moderate resilience and social support, with few experiencing sleep challenges. Comparisons of variables indicated "openness to change" was significantly higher among males, whereas symptoms of depression and anxiety were associated with higher levels of existential concerns and sleep challenges. Our study finds that Nigerian frontline health workers experienced significant mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identified specific facilitators linked to gender and psychological burdens, informing the need for tailored support interventions.

Undergraduates’ Perception, Engagement and Learning Experience in Online Learning amid Covid-19 Pandemic

Undergraduates’ Perception, Engagement and Learning Experience in Online Learning amid Covid-19 Pandemic

Machine Learning-Based Students’ Sentiment towards E-Learning amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The global COVID-19 pandemic has created exceptional difficulties for college and university students. With educational institutions shutting down and an abrupt shift to online learning, students are facing new challenges. Despite the advantages of e-learning, developing nations like Pakistan are experiencing major hurdles due to a lack of internet access and financial constraints. As a result, students' academic performance is being negatively impacted. Researchers are using sentiment analysis of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to gain insight into student experiences during this challenging time. This study seeks to create a machine learning-based sentiment classification system that can determine the sentiment of higher education students in Pakistan towards e-learning classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary objective of this research is to identify and categorize the challenges and problems that university students face in their e-learning classes. The research employed Multi-Nominal NB and Gaussian NB classifiers to examine the sentiment of online reviews and comments of students. We achieve 99% accuracy using Gaussian NB and 98% accuracy using Multinomial NB classifiers. According to the study's results, the COVID-19 epidemic has had a significant effect on the education system, with the vast majority of feedback being negative (70%). Only a small percentage of feedback was classified as neutral (29.9%) or positive (4%). This finding underscores the urgent need for better solutions for online learning during and after the pandemic. The study underscores the importance of addressing these unique challenges faced by students in developing countries during the pandemic. There is a pressing need for innovative solutions that can ensure that higher education remains effective and accessible in these challenging times. By utilizing sentiment analysis and machine learning, researchers can gain a better understanding of the experiences of students during this crisis. This understanding can inform targeted interventions and solutions that can improve academic performance and well-being for students in developing countries like Pakistan. The findings of this research provide important insights and recommendations for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders in the higher education sector.

Impact of irregular appointment interval on Orthodontic treatment amid COVID-19 Pandemic- A Cross sectional Observational Study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic situation has affected all professions including orthodontics. The present study proposed determination of impact of irregular appointments on Orthodontic treatment amid COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional observational study design enrolled 134 patients over period of 2 weeks were recorded such as treatment start date, total number of appointments scheduled and frequency of missed appointments after 24 March 2020, Stage of Orthodontic treatment on or before 24 March 2020 i.e., Alignment & levelling b) Space closure c) Finishing and Detailing d) Retention. Results: The distribution of malocclusion based on Angle Molar criteria showed prevalence of 53.73 % Class I, 37.32 % Class II and 8.95% Class III. The malocclusions were treated predominantly by extraction in 57.46 % and non-extraction in 42.44 % patients. The total treatment duration revealed that more than 51 % patients’ treatment lasted beyond 24 months but finished before 36 months. Similarly, 35.82 % patients’ treatment duration was less than 12 months. It was found that more than 47 % were in Stage I, 28.36 % were in stage II, 18.66 % in stage III and lastly 5.97 % were in stage IV. Conclusion: Orthodontic emergencies and un-schedule appointments had prevalence of Class I, followed by Class II and Class III with extraction treatment therapy. Majority patients treated with fixed mechanotherapy followed by Clear aligners and Retainers. More than half of the patients had increased treatment duration due to irregular follow up. Keywords: COVID-19, Corona Virus Disease, Orthodontic Appointment, Orthodontic Appliances.

Assessment of Factors Associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Psychological Distress amid COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study on the Students of Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University

Assessment of Factors Associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Psychological Distress amid COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study on the Students of Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University

Effectiveness of Online Learning and Preparedness of Preschool Teachers Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Education is a significant factor in success. It is seen as a hope to have a bright future. Today, education has evolved through the use of technology. Technology helps to enhance learning, increase engagement, and improve teaching techniques. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of preschool online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in the identified schools in Lapu-Lapu City for the school year 2020 -2021. This study used a descriptive correlational research design and survey technique with 35 teacher respondents. A survey questionnaire was designed to assess the perception of teachers on the effectiveness of online learning for young learners. Frequency count, percentage, and weighted mean were used to treat the data gathered. The level of effectiveness of preschool online learning was measured in four aspects: online learning platform used, learning materials used, techniques and methods used, and engagement of students in class. The level of preparedness was also calculated based on criteria. A test subjected to a 0.05 level of significance was used to know if there was a significant relationship between the responses and the demographic profile of the respondents. The results of this study revealed that the respondents found online learning to be moderately effective. They are also only somewhat prepared for online teaching. Furthermore, the study revealed that there is no significant relationship between the teachers’ perception of the level of effectiveness and preparedness and their demographic profile. Based on the findings, an action plan was formulated and recommended for implementation by the authorities concerned.