Coronavirus Disease 2019 Prevention Measures Research Articles

Community-level survey of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) preventive measures in Kwara State, Nigeria: good knowledge vs poor attitude

BackgroundThe public knowledge and adherence to the established coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) precautionary measures are crucial to Nigeria's war against the pandemic. Public health education on its preventive practices at the grassroots level was initially crucial to achieving a lower COVID-19 incidence in Kwara State, Nigeria. MethodsWe assessed the knowledge of, and adherence to COVID-19 precautionary measures at the community level among 795 respondents from the three senatorial zones of Kwara State. Results54.5% (433/795) of the respondents were aged between 21 and 40 years, and 45.9% (365/795) of the respondents had a bachelor's degree or higher. Study participants had a good knowledge of COVID-19, its symptoms, and its mode of transmission. 91.8% of the respondents (730/795) had a positive perception of the COVID-19 preventive measures while 96.1% (763/795) of the respondents agreed that maintaining social distance was important in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic. However, only 38% (302/795) of them used face masks and only 25.7% (204/795) of the respondents used hand sanitizers. In addition, only 31.9% (253/795) of the respondents isolated themselves when they were ill. Multi-variable logistic regression analysis revealed that education, occupation, gender, and ethnicity were significantly associated with positive COVID-19 preventive practices among residents of Kwara State. Civil servants were more likely (AOR: 3.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.67 to 14.82; P = 0.034) to have positive preventive attitudes than other respondents. Study participants with tertiary education and those that were Yoruba (ethnicity) were 14.81 times more likely (95% CI: 4.29 to 51.05; P = 0.001) and 5.19 times more likely (95% CI: 1.82 to 14.84; P = 0.007) to have positive attitudes towards the laid-down COVID-19 preventive measures respectively. ConclusionThe poor community adherence to the COVID-19 preventive practices could pre-dispose Kwara to more COVID-19 cases. More community engagement activities are needed to fully curb the spread of the COVID-19. Public health education should focus on preventive measures, vaccine acceptance, and community monitoring of COVID-19.

The Role of Big Data Analytics in Digital Health for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Asia

Big data analytics (BDA) in digital health is critical for gaining the knowledge needed to make decisions, with Asia at the forefront of utilising this technology for the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This review aims to study how BDA was incorporated into digital health in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in six selected Asian countries, discuss its advantages and barriers and recommend measures to improve its adoption. A narrative review was conducted. Online databases were searched to identify all relevant literature on the roles of BDA in digital health for COVID-19 preventive and control measures. The findings showed that these countries had used BDA for contact tracing, quarantine compliance, outbreak prediction, supply rationing, movement control, information update, and symptom monitoring. Compared to conventional approaches, BDA in digital health plays a more efficient role in preventing and controlling COVID-19. It may inspire other countries to adopt this technology in managing the pandemic.

Hand hygiene practices during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors among barbers and beauty salon workers in Ethiopia.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is still causing morbidity and mortality all over the world. Preventive measures such as wearing a facemask, social distancing and hand hygiene continue to be the only options available in countries such as Ethiopia where vaccines are not yet widely available. Hand hygiene is one of the easiest and cheapest preventive measures, and one that is especially important for barbers and beauty salon workers who are widely exposed to the virus due to their contact with many customers. Therefore, measuring the proportion of good hand hygiene practices and associated factors among barbers and beauty salon workers may provide essential guidance in the development of effective interventions to improve COVID-19 prevention measures. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 410 barbers and beauty salon workers in Dessie City and Kombolcha Town from January 5 to February 10, 2021. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire and an observational checklist were used to collect the data. The collected data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Logistic regression analysis using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models was employed. From the bivariate analysis, variables with p <0.25 were retained into multivariable logistic regression analysis. Finally, from the multivariable analysis, variables that had a p-value < 0.05 were declared as factors significantly associated with good hand hygiene practices. Of the total 410 barbers and beauty salon workers, 52.9% [95% CI: 48.3–57.6] had good hand hygiene practices whereas 47.1% [95% CI: 42.4–51.7] had poor hand hygiene practices. From the total respondents, more than half 250 (61%) were male and 160 (39%) were female, with a mean age of 27.42 ±7.37 years. Out of 410 barbers and beauty salon workers, 73.7% had good knowledge about COVID-19 and 59.5% had a positive attitude towards taking precautions against COVID-19. Female sex (AOR = 2.17, 95% CI:1.29–3.65), educational level of college or above (AOR = 5.53, 95% CI:2.85–10.71), positive attitude towards taking precautions against COVID-19 (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI:1.46–4.17), belief in the effectiveness of hand hygiene practices (AOR = 3.78, 95% CI:2.18–6.55) and presence of a hand-washing facility with soap and water (AOR = 5.55, 95% CI:3.28–9.40) were factors significantly associated with good hand hygiene practices among barbers and beauty salon workers. The proportion of good hand hygiene practice was not sufficient to combat the virus. Good hand hygiene practice was higher among those with higher educational level, positive attitude towards taking precautions against COVID-19, belief in the effectiveness of hand hygiene practices, presence of a hand-washing facility with soap and water and those of female sex. Thus, improving hand hygiene practices through continued training, especially for those with a lower educational level and for male workers, is recommended. Moreover, government and non-government organizations should work together to provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer at a low cost to those barbershops and beauty salons if there is no access to water and soap.

Low COVID-19–related knowledge and access to adequate handwashing among patients with chronic diseases in rural Rwanda: a cross-sectional survey

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) misinformation and inadequate access to hygiene and sanitation amenities could hamper efforts to contain COVID-19 spread in resource-limited settings. In this study, we describe knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and preventive measures, sources of information, and access to adequate handwashing among patients with chronic diseases in three Rwandan rural districts during the onset of COVID-19 in Rwanda. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey conducted among patients who were enrolled in the HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases, mental health, oncology, and pediatric development programs at health facilities in Kayonza, Kirehe and Burera districts. The study sample was randomly selected and stratified by district and clinical program. Telephone-based data collection occurred between 23 April and 11 May 2020. Primary caregivers responded to the survey when the selected patient was a child under age 18 or severely ill. We defined good knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and preventive measures as knowing that a dry cough and fever were common symptoms and social distancing or staying home and regular handwashing could prevent COVID-19 infection. Access to adequate handwashing was defined as living in a household with a handwashing station and regular access to clean water and soap. We used Fisher’s exact tests and logistic regression to measure associations between the source of information and good knowledge about COVID-19 and between socio-economic characteristics and access to adequate handwashing. Results In total, 150 patients and 70 caregivers responded to the survey. Forty-eight (22.3%) respondents had no formal education. Sources of COVID-19 information included mass media (86.8%), local government leaders (27.3%), healthcare workers (15.9%) and social media (6.8%). Twenty-seven percent (n=59) of respondents had good knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and preventive measures. In the adjusted analysis, getting information from news media was associated with having good knowledge about COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 5.46; 95% CI: 1.43-20.75]. Seventy-nine (35.9%) respondents reported access to adequate handwashing at home, with access varying significantly by the district in favour of Kayonza (61.3%). Conclusions COVID-19-related knowledge and access to adequate handwashing were low among patients with chronic diseases at the beginning of the pandemic in Rwanda. Efforts to mitigate COVID-19 spread among chronic care populations may include investment in targeted COVID-19-related education and access to adequate handwashing.

Challenges in Burn Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Scoping Review.

Objective: The aim of this review is to map and summarize the experiences of various burn centers worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to enable future strategies with regard to the most effective measures in burn care during pandemics and to detect possible gaps in knowledge. Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a major impact on economies, social interactions, and health systems worldwide. Burn units all over the world face a new challenge in maintaining the care of acute burn wounds and follow-up treatments while dealing with constantly changing regulations. Infrastructural changes, the establishment of efficient triage systems, protective measures, personnel resources, in addition to the maintenance of efficient patient care and the guarantee of supply chains, are challenging tasks to be addressed. This review provides an overview of recent developments regarding different strategies and methods used by burn units worldwide to safely overcome the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Methods: A scoping review of the literature was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed and Google Scholar. Publications were screened for the following key terms: burns, burn injuries, thermal injuries, burn center, burn unit, burn ward, in combination with COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, Corona, and Coronavirus. Articles dealing with the management of burn units during the pandemic were further analyzed and included. Results: Of the 136 publications, 10 were considered relevant to the key question and were included in the present review. Results were divided into six major topics, such as infrastructural and personnel management, triaging, severe burns and emergencies, elective surgeries, patient and visitor management, and outpatient management. Conclusion: Only a few studies about managing burn units during the COVID-19 pandemic have been published. Personnel resources and equipment needed to be redistributed to cope with country-specific challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and to maintain adequate burn care. Since all of these articles refer to the period of the initial outbreak, a lack of clinical studies exists regarding the prevention measures taken by burn units during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we identified gaps in knowledge about the impact of implemented measures on burn patient outcomes in the published literature. Further studies are mandatory in order to provide generally applicable guidelines regarding COVID-19 prevention measures at a burn unit.

Preventive Measures Against COVID-19 in Small- and Mid-sized Enterprises from an Early Stage of the Epidemic in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do

BackgroundIn the early stage of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, small- and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) may be an important transmission consideration. The study aimed to identify the pattern of COVID-19 prevention measures during the outbreaks in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do at the early stage of COVID-19. Moreover, we investigated whether SME size and past experiences affected the preventive measures implemented in the region. MethodsA survey detailing the general characteristics and implementation of 12 preventive activities was conducted in 122 SMEs in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do. The survey was analyzed by size and operation period. ResultsThe study subjects consisted of 53 (43.4%) workplaces with 1–5 employees, 50 (40.9%) workplaces with 6–30 employees, and 19 (15.6%) workplaces with 31–49 employees. The lowest three items among those surveyed were ‘symptomatic workers to stay home for 3–4 days’ (17.2%), ‘work remotely’ (18.9%), and ‘video meetings’ (20.5%). There were significant differences in the rate of several preventive measures implemented. The larger sized SMEs, the higher the number of implementations (p < 0.01). The operation period had no significant relationship with the implementation of preventive measures. The same pattern was observed in multiple generalized linear regression with covariate adjustment. ConclusionPreventive measures among SMEs with fewer than 50 employees were identified. Even within SMEs, a gap in preventive measures according to size was confirmed. To prevent the spread of infection and protect workers' right to health, different support for different sized SMEs is necessary.

COVID-19 in Africa: An Explorative Cross-Sectional Analysis of Twenty-One African Countries From January to June 2020.

Introduction: Africa has surprisingly recorded better gains in containing the coronavirus spread than countries with the better health indices, such as the USA and UK. The low rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and death in Africa represents a puzzle with different biological and social theories such as low COVID-19 testing capacity, substantial young population, few old people, favourable climate, genetic admixture, infectious disease antibodies, and sound community health care systems proposed. We aimed to understand the COVID-19 preventive measures in a group of twenty-one systematically selected African countries that may explain the low burden of COVID-19 in Africa.Methods: Data (COVID-19, health, socioeconomic, and demographics indices) of twenty-one systemically selected African countries were retrieved from the various official country and multilateral organization sources such as Worldbank, and the United nations development Programme (UNDP). The extracted data were analyzed in three large groups: international travel restrictions, physical and social distancing, and movement restrictions (lockdown measures; curfews, partial or/and national lockdowns). Data cleaning, analysis (including Pearson correlation), and visualization were done with Microsoft Excel and Graph Pad Prism version 9 (https://www.graphpad.com/).Result: Southern Africa had the greatest number of cases and deaths within the period studied compared to East Africa, which was the least COVID-19 affected sub-region (in terms of COVID-19 cases and deaths). We observed that coronary artery disease death rate was highly correlated with COVID-19 death density (number of COVID-19 deaths/total population) and similarly observed a correlation between the number of cases and deaths and number of in-country arrivals, pandemic preparedness (health security index), COVID-19 containment, and health index (not correlated with deaths). Finally, we noted that the most effective preventive strategy was the 'use of a face mask'.Conclusion: Africa had fewer COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 related deaths. Our data shows that the rapidity and stringency of COVID-19 preventive measures and government policies, and the low level of tourism in Africa compared to other countries (i.e., low COVID-19 seeding rate) may have been contributory to these favorable statistics. We hope these findings impact how the preparedness for pandemics can be enhanced to decrease the burden of preventable deaths and morbidity.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Northeast and Appalachian Loggers

ABSTRACT Objective: The Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety conducted a survey in December 2020 to understand the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the Androscoggin Mill explosion among loggers in six states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Methods: Logger mailing addresses were aggregated with the assistance of state logging organizations. A paper survey, including a self-addressed return envelope was mailed to the loggers in December 2020. Results: The mailed survey had a response rate of 13.3% and captured data on 484 loggers. The majority knew someone (including themselves) who tested positive for COVID-19 (71.9%). Less than half (43%) received employer training about COVID-19 prevention measures, though 73% received some form of COVID-19 personal protective equipment from their employers. The health department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and health care providers were the most trusted sources of health information. Nearly half acknowledged significant change in their home lives and work responsibilities due to the pandemic. The explosion of the Androscoggin Mill affected the business of 80% of Maine loggers, and 18% of loggers that resided outside Maine. Conclusion: The lessons learned can be used to enhance trust in public health institutions and future public health response to this unique occupational group.

Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and its association with intimate partner violence among women in informal settings of Kampala, Uganda.

Cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) detected, and COVID-19 associated mortality increased since the first case was confirmed in Uganda. While adherence to WHO-recommended measures to disrupt COVID-19 transmission has since been implemented, it has been reported to be sub-optimal. An increase in intimate partner violence (IPV) cases was linked to enforcement of COVID-19 lockdowns and other preventive measures especially in informal settings of Kampala. We determined the association between adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and intimate partner violence among women dwelling in informal settings in Kampala, Uganda. Between July and October 2020, we conducted a three-month prospective cohort study of 148 women living in informal settlements of Kampala during the COVID-19 lockdown and easing of restrictive measures. Participants were surveyed at baseline, at 3-weeks and 6-weeks (endline). The dependent variable was adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures (remained adherent vs poorly adherent) between baseline and endline surveys. This composite outcome variable was computed from implementing all four variables: social distancing, wearing face masks, frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitizers at baseline and endline surveys. The key independent variable was IPV measured as experiencing at least one form of physical, emotional, or sexual IPV. Covariates were age, education, marital status, household size, occupation, and having problems getting food. Adjusted logistic regression analyses tested the independent association between adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and intimate partner violence. Among 148 respondents, the mean age (SD) was 32.9 (9.3) years, 58.1% were exposed to at least one form of IPV, and 78.2% had problems getting food. Overall, 10.1% were poorly adherent to COVID-19 preventive measures during the first COVID-19 wave. After controlling for potential confounders, remaining adherent to COVID-19 preventive measures were more likely to experience intimate partner violence when compared to women who were poorly adherent to COVID-19 preventive measures during the first COVID-19 wave in Uganda [OR 3.87 95%CI (1.09, 13.79)]. Proportions of women in informal settlements of Kampala experiencing at least one form of IPV during the first COVID-19 wave is substantial. Remaining adherent to preventive measures for COVID-19 transmission may increase IPV exposure risk among women living in informal settlements in Kampala. Contextualizing COVID-19 interventions to the needs of marginalized and vulnerable women and girls in informal settings of Kampala is warranted. Processes to integrated violence prevention and response strategies into the Uganda COVID-19 prevention strategy are underscored.

Knowledge, attitude and perception of West Africans towards COVID-19: a survey to inform public health intervention

BackgroundThe first case of the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in West Africa was first confirmed in Nigeria in February 2020. Since then, several public health interventions and preventive measures have been implemented to curtail transmission of the causative agent, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Therefore, this study was performed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of West Africans towards COVID-19.MethodsAn online survey was conducted between 29 September to 29 October 2020 among West Africans. Thirty-three survey questions were designed to collect sociodemographic data and participants’ knowledge, attitude and perception towards COVID-19. The study targeted all West African nationals who were 18 years and above, and willing to participate in the study. Participants were either in-country or abroad.ResultsOverall, 1106 respondents (≥18 years) from 16 West African countries, with about 12.1% of them residing outside the West African subregion, participated in the survey. The respondents had an average COVID-19 knowledge score of 67.82 ± 8.31, with knowledge of the disease significantly associated with the country of residence (p = 0.00) and marginally (p = 0.05) so with settlement types (i.e., urban, suburban and rural areas). Most respondents (93.4%) could identify the main COVID-19 symptoms, and 73.20% would consult a healthcare professional if infected with SARS-CoV-2. Also, 75.2% of the respondents are willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, whereas 10.40% and 14.40% are unwilling and undecided, respectively. Perceptions of what constitute COVID-19 preventive measures were highly variable. Approximately, 8% of the respondents felt that their government responded excellently in managing the pandemic while a third felt that the response was just good. Also, more than half (54%) opined that isolation and treatment of COVID-19 patients is a way of curbing SARS-CoV-2 spread.ConclusionsMost West Africans have basic knowledge of COVID-19 and showed a positive attitude, with likely proactive practice towards the disease. However, results showed that these varied across countries and are influenced by the types of settlements. Therefore, the health and education authorities in various countries should develop focused measures capturing people in different settlements to improve their preventative measures when designing public health interventions for COVID-19 and any future epidemics or pandemics.

COVID-19 Burden on HIV Patients Attending Antiretroviral Therapy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundThere has been promising progress toward screening, testing, and retaining patients with HIV in care in Ethiopia. Concern exists that possible disruptions in HIV programs due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could result in a more HIV-related mortality and new HIV infections. This study aimed to investigate the real-time burden of COVID-19 on patients with HIV attending antiretroviral therapy.MethodsWe conducted a facility-based, multicenter, and cross-sectional study among patients with HIV attending antiretroviral therapy in 10 healthcare facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the COVID-19 pandemic period. Data were collected using adapted, interviewer-based questionnaires, and entered into EpiInfo version 7 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis.ResultA total of 212 patients with HIV were included. The participants who missed visits for refill were 58 (27.4%). When the effects of other independent variables on appointments/visits for refill were controlled, the following characteristics were found to be the most important predictors of missed appointments (p< 0.05): age ≥ 55 [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 6.73, 95% CI (1.495–30.310)], fear of COVID-19 [AOR = 24.93, 95% CI (2.798–222.279)], transport disruption [AOR = 4.90, 95% CI (1.031–23.174)], reduced income for traveling to a health facility [AOR = 5.64, 95% CI (1.234-25.812)], limited access to masks [AOR = 7.67, 95% CI (1.303–45.174)], sanitizer [AOR = 0.07, 95% CI (0.007–0.729)], and non-medical support [AOR = 2.32, 95% CI (1.547–12.596)]. The participants were well aware of the COVID-19 preventive measures. The most costly COVID-19 preventive measures that cause financial burden to the patients were the costs for buying face masks (63.7%), disinfectants (55.2%), and soap for handwashing (22.2%). The participants who missed follow-up diagnostic tests were 56 (26.4%). Variables, which were found to be statistically significant, include the following: age ≥ 55 [AOR = 0.22, 95% CI (0.076–0.621)], partial lockdown [AOR = 0.10, 95% CI (0.011–0.833)], limited access to health services [AOR = 0.15, 95% CI (0.045–0.475)], reduced income for traveling to health facility [AOR = 0.18, 95% CI (0.039–0.784)], and unable to get masks [AOR = 0.12, 95% CI (0.026–0.543)]. The participants who missed counseling services were 55 (25.9%). In multivariate logistic regression, the following were statistically significant: age ≥ 55 [AOR = 0.21, 95% CI (0.078–0.570)], fear of COVID-19 [AOR = 0.11, 95% CI (0.013–0.912)], reduced income [AOR = 0.17, 95% CI (0.041–0.699)], unable to get face masks [AOR = 0.19, 95% CI (0.039–0.959)], and partial lockdown [AOR = 0.08, 95% CI (0.008–0.790)].ConclusionsThe COVID-19 had a significant burden on patients with HIV to attend their routine clinical care and treatment, which may lead to treatment failure and drug resistance. The impact was on their appointments for medication refills and clinical and laboratory follow-ups. Targeted initiatives are needed to sustain HIV clinical care and treatment services and improve the well-being of people living with HIV.

The study protocol: COVID-19 awareness and perception among dentists in the Russian Federation.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly worldwide since it has been first identified in November 2018. It is transmissible via air droplets from infected individuals. Close contact between dentists and patients has aggravated the pandemic situation in Russia. It is necessary to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 during dental appointments by adhering to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. Questionnaires were developed to assess levels of COVID-19 infection and preventive measures in private and state-funded dental practices in Moscow and other cities in Russia. Two questionnaires were developed to assess the COVID-19 situation among dental professionals and their patients. The first, for dentists, included four domains: demographic data, signs, and symptoms of COVID-19 experienced by dentists, personal protective measures taken by dentists, and presence or absence of dental practice during the pandemic. For dentists' patients, the second included domains regarding their health status after their dental appointment. 1,500 questionnaires were sent to different cities and regions of Russia; 1,011 questionnaires (67.4%) were returned. We used statistical observation (monitoring) and clustering to analyze the data. The x2 was used to check the significance level. We found a direct relationship between those patients who contracted COVID-19 after dental treatment by those dentists who did not follow recommended measures in the dental clinic. However, patients were less likely to become infected after dental treatment by those dentists who followed the measures, such as the disinfection of surfaces and dental equipment several times a day, the wearing of medical masks by all patients, and the airing of the dental office after each patient for 10 minutes. Dentists wearing an FFP2 or FFP3 respirator, as well as a sterile disposable microfiber medical gown, prevented their patients from becoming infected with COVID-19 at dental appointments and, as a result, the spread of the virus. A key aspect of this study is its knowledge regarding preventive measures against COVID-19. The findings of this study can potentially help in formulating strategies to reduce the prevalence of COVID-19.

Treatment-seeking and uptake of malaria prevention strategies among pregnant women and caregivers of children under-five years during COVID-19 pandemic in rural communities in South West Uganda: a qualitative study

BackgroundDespite efforts to avert the negative effects of malaria, there remain barriers to the uptake of prevention measures, and these have hindered its eradication. This study explored the factors that influence uptake of malaria prevention strategies among pregnant women and children under-five years and the impact of COVID-19 in a malaria endemic rural district in Uganda.MethodsThis was a qualitative case study that used focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and key informant interviews involving pregnant women, caregivers of children under-five years, traditional birth attendants, village health teams, local leaders, and healthcare providers to explore malaria prevention uptake among pregnant women and children under-five years. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and data were analyzed using thematic content approach.ResultsSeventy-two participants were enrolled in the Focus Group Discussions, 12 in the in-depth interviews, and 2 as key informants. Pregnant women and caregivers of children under-five years were able to recognize causes of malaria, transmission, and symptoms. All participants viewed malaria prevention as a high priority, and the use of insecticide-treated mosquito bed nets (ITNs) was upheld. Participants' own experiences indicated adverse effects of malaria to both pregnant women and children under-five. Home medication and the use of local herbs were a common practice. Some participants didn’t use any of the malaria prevention methods due to deliberate refusal, perceived negative effects of the ITNs, and family disparity. The Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) control measures did not abate the risk of malaria infection but these were deleterious to healthcare access and the focus of malaria prevention.ConclusionsAlthough pregnant women and caregivers of children under-five years recognized symptoms of malaria infection, healthcare-seeking was not apt as some respondents used alternative approaches and delayed seeking formal healthcare. It is imperative to focus on the promotion of malaria prevention strategies and address drawbacks associated with misconceptions about these interventions, and promotion of health-seeking behaviors. As COVID-19 exacerbated the effect of malaria prevention uptake and healthcare seeking, it’s critical to recommit and integrate COVID-19 prevention measures in normative living and restrict future barriers to healthcare access.

Sharp decline in rates of community respiratory viral detection among patients at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

To analyze the frequency and rates of community respiratory virus infections detected in patients at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (NIHCC) between January 2015 and March 2021, comparing the trends before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We conducted a retrospective study comparing frequency and rates of community respiratory viruses detected in NIHCC patients between January 2015 and March 2021. Test results from nasopharyngeal swabs and washes, bronchoalveolar lavages, and bronchial washes were included in this study. Results from viral-challenge studies and repeated positives were excluded. A quantitative data analysis was completed using cross tabulations. Comparisons were performed using mixed models, applying the Dunnett correction for multiplicity. Frequency of all respiratory pathogens declined from an annual range of 0.88%-1.97% between January 2015 and March 2020 to 0.29% between April 2020 and March 2021. Individual viral pathogens declined sharply in frequency during the same period, with no cases of influenza A/B orparainfluenza and 1 case of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Rhino/enterovirusdetection continued, but with a substantially lower frequency of 4.27% between April 2020 and March 2021, compared with an annual range of 8.65%-18.28% between January 2015 and March 2020. The decrease in viral respiratory infections detected in NIHCC patients during the pandemic was likely due to the layered COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures implemented in the community and the hospital. Hospitals should consider continuing the use of nonpharmaceutical interventions in the future to prevent nosocomial transmission of respiratory viruses during times of high community viral load.

Complex network-based research on organization collaboration and cooperation governance responding to COVID-19

PurposeWith multiple-related organizations, worldwide infections, deep economic recession and public disorder, and large consumption amount of anti-epidemic resources, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been defined as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Nowadays, Wuhan has recovered from the pandemic disaster and reentered normalization. The purposes of this study are to (1) summarize organization collaboration patterns, successful experience and latent defects under across-stage evolution of Wuhan's cooperation governance mode against the pandemic, and on the basis, (2) reveal how the COVID-19 development trends and organizations' collaborative behaviors affected each other.Design/methodology/approachDetailed content analysis of online news reports covering COVID-19 prevention and control measures on the website of Wuhan Municipal Government was adopted to identify organizations and their mutual collaborative interrelationships. Four complex network (CN) models of organization collaboration representing the outbreak, preliminary control, recession and normalization stages, respectively, were established then. Time-span-based dynamic parameter analyses of the proposed networks, comprising network cohesiveness analysis and node centrality analysis, were undertaken to indicate changes of global and local characteristics in networks.FindingsFirst, the definite collaborative status of Wuhan Headquarters for Pandemic Prevention and Control (WHPPC) has persisted throughout the period. Medical institutions and some other administrations were the most crucial participants collaborating with the WHPPC. Construction-industry organizations altered pandemic development trends twice to make the situation controllable. Media, large-scale enterprises, etc. set about underscoring themselves contributions since the third stage. Grassroots cadres and healthcare force, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), financial institutions, etc. were essential collaborated objects. Second, four evolution mechanisms of organization collaboration responding to the COVID-19 in Wuhan has been proposed.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, universality of Wuhan-style governance experience may be affected. Second, the stage-dividing process may not be the most appropriate. Then, data source was single and link characteristics were not considered when modeling.Practical implicationsThis study may offer beneficial action guidelines to governmental agencies, the society force, media, construction-industry organizations and the market in other countries or regions suffering from COVID-19. Other organizations involved could also learn from the concluded organizations' contributions and four evolution mechanisms to find improvement directions.Originality/valueThis study adds to the current theoretical knowledge body by verifying the feasibility and effectiveness of investigating cooperation governance in public emergencies from the perspectives of analyzing the across-stage organization collaboration CNs.

Incidence of Acute Respiratory Infections during Disasters in the Absence and Presence of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Japan recently experienced two major heavy rain disasters: the West Japan heavy rain disaster in July 2018 and the Kumamoto heavy rain disaster in July 2020. Between the occurrences of these two disasters, Japan began experiencing the wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, providing a unique opportunity to compare the incidence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) between the two disaster responses under distinct conditions. The data were collected by using the standard disaster medical reporting system used in Japan, so-called the Japan-Surveillance in Post-Extreme Emergencies and Disasters (J-SPEED), which reports number and types of patients treated by Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs). Data for ARI were extracted from daily aggregated data on the J-SPEED form and the frequency of ARI in two disasters was compared. Acute respiratory infection in the West Japan heavy rain that occurred in the absence of COVID-19 and in the Kumamoto heavy rain that occurred in the presence of COVID-19 were responsible for 5.4% and 1.2% of the total consultation, respectively (P <.001). Between the occurrence of these two disasters, Japan implemented COVID-19 preventive measures on a personal and organizational level, such as wearing masks, disinfecting hands, maintaining social distance, improving room ventilation, and screening people who entered evacuation centers by using hygiene management checklists. By following the basic prevention measures stated above, ARI can be significantly reduced during a disaster.

Trust in the scientific research community predicts intent to comply with COVID-19 prevention measures: An analysis of a large-scale international survey dataset.

In the present study, I explored the relationship between people's trust in different agents related to the prevention of the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their compliance with pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical preventive measures. The COVIDiSTRESSII Global Survey dataset, which was collected from international samples, was analysed to examine the aforementioned relationship across different countries. For data-driven exploration, network analysis and Bayesian generalised linear model (GLM) analysis were performed. The result from network analysis demonstrated that trust in the scientific research community was most central in the network of trust and compliance. In addition, the outcome from Bayesian GLM analysis indicated that the same factor, trust in the scientific research community, was most fundamental in predicting participants' intent to comply with both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical preventive measures. I briefly discussed the implications of the findings, the importance of trust in the scientific research community in explaining people's compliance with a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The role of mobile health technologies in promoting COVID-19 prevention: A narrative review of intervention effectiveness and adoption.

BackgroundResearchers have found innovative ways of using mobile health (mHealth) technologies to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, fewer studies have been done to determine their adoption and effectiveness.ObjectiveThis review summarises the published evidence on the effect of mHealth technologies on the adoption of COVID-19 preventive measures, prevention knowledge acquisition and risk perception as well as technology adoption features for COVID-19 prevention.MethodsPubMed, IEEE and Google Scholar databases were searched for peer-reviewed literature from 1 January 2020 to 31 March 2022 for studies that evaluated the effect of mHealth technologies on COVID-19 preventive measures adoption, prevention knowledge acquisition and risk perception. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. All the included studies were checked for quality using the mHealth evidence reporting and assessment (mERA) checklist.ResultsThe review found out that the utilisation of mHealth interventions such as alert text messages, tracing apps and social media platforms was associated with adherence behaviour such as wearing masks, washing hands and using sanitisers, maintaining social distance and avoiding crowded places. The use of contact tracing was linked to low-risk perception as users considered themselves well informed about their status and less likely to pose transmission risks compared to non-users. Privacy and security issues, message personalisation and frequency, technical issues and trust concerns were identified as technology adoption features that influence the use of mHealth technologies for promoting COVID-19 prevention.ConclusionUtilisation of mHealth may be a feasible and effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, the small study samples and short study periods prevent generalisation of the findings and calls for larger, longitudinal studies that encompass diverse study settings.

Knowledge and Practice of COVID-19 Preventive Measures in an Internally Displaced Persons Camp, Zonkwa, Kaduna State, Nigeria - An Observational Study

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan China and declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020. The measures for prevention and control instituted and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) include hand hygiene, use of face masks and physical distancing. Physical distancing may be challenging in crowded places like internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps. Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, information about the COVID-19 response in IDP settings is limited. The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge of COVID-19 among the IDPs in Zonkwa camp, determine the practice of preventive measures and educate the IDPs on COVID-19 preventive measures. A cross-sectional study using interviewer administered questionnaires was conducted among IDPs in Zonkwa camp, Kaduna State. A multi-stage sampling method was used to select respondents. Information about socio-demographic data, awareness about COVID-19 was collected and assessment of knowledge of respondents about modes of transmission and prevention of COVID-19 was done using multiple response analysis. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 26. Majority of the 276 respondents in this study were females, Christians and married. Television and radio were the major sources of health information about COVID-19, and awareness about the disease was high among majority of the respondents. The practice of preventive measures was poor, though better in males than females (p=0.04). A higher proportion of respondents with good knowledge of modes of transmission, and knowledge of symptoms were observed to have good practice of preventive measures, (p<0.001). The practice of infection preventive measures is very important in reducing the onset and spread of the COVID-19 infection. IDPs live in very peculiar conditions owing to their forced displacement. There was a significant association between the overall level of knowledge of COVID-19 and the practice of preventive measures among respondents. Continuous health education about COVID-19 by the Kaduna State Ministry of Health to the IDPs will improve the practice of COVID-19 preventive measures.

Knowledge and practice of COVID-19 preventive measures and its associated factors among attendees of a primary care clinic in Kano, Nigeria; A cross-sectional study

Background: In recent times, an increasing number of mysterious deaths related to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have engulfed one of the largest cities in Africa. Hence, there is a need to promote the prevention of morbidity and mortality from this currently poorly understood disease. Objectives: To assess the level of knowledge and practice of preventive measures against COVID-19 and to identify its predictors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study among 420 adults systematically selected from attendees of a Nigerian general outpatient clinic over a 4-week study period. Data collected included participants' sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge and practice of COVID-19 preventive measures. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of knowledge and practice of the preventive measures. Variables with P < 0.05 were considered predictors. Results: A majority were females (57.5%), they had a mean age of 33.1 ± 11.7 years, with tertiary education (60.2%). Overall, more than two-third of 294 (71.4%) of the participants had good knowledge. However, only 59 (14.3%) of the participants had correct (good) practice. Only educational level (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.079, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.039–4.161) and overall knowledge (AOR = 0.342, 95% CI = 0.155–0.754) were predictors of knowledge and practice, respectively. Conclusion: COVID-19 preventive practice is still inadequate among this primary care population in Kano, Nigeria. Ensuring access to quality education and enlightenment campaigns will go a long way in improving the knowledge on COVID-19 preventive measures, which may improve practice.