COVID-19 Preventive Measures Research Articles

Uptake, Safety and Attitudes Towards COVID-19 Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Study on First and Second Doses Among the General Public.

To investigate public uptake, attitudes and the safety of the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccination. This was a cross-sectional web-based survey study. A self-administered questionnaire was prepared from a literature search and information about COVID-19 available at various resources. The developed questionnaire was validated for readability by experts and refined in light of the feedback received from the experts and the final version was prepared. The reliability of the questionnaire was 0.7 which shows an acceptable level of scale internal consistency. The data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS software (version 25). A total of 513 participants completed the survey, including 311 (60.6%) women and 202 (39.4%) men. The mean age was (31.5±12.8) years. It was found that 493 (96.1%) took the first and second doses of COVID-19 and 376 (73.3%) suffered from side effects, of these 14% (56/376) reported the side effects to the health authorities. The most common side effects were fatigue (51.5%), fever (42.3%), headache (39.5%), and injection site pain (37.6%). Half of the participants (50.5%) had a positive attitude towards COVID-19 preventive measures. Females had higher odds of experiencing side effects than males OR (95% CI); 2.002 (1.312-3.056). Individuals living in urban areas had lower odds of experiencing side effects than those living in rural areas OR (95% CI); 0.364 (0.142-0.933). Vaccine uptake was massive and side effects due to the COVID-19 vaccine were common but minor. The majority of the participants had positive attitudes towards recommended COVID-19 preventive measures. Being female and living in rural areas were associated with experiencing side effects.

Cohort profile: The Corona Behavioral Unit cohort, a longitudinal mixed-methods study on COVID-19-related behavior, well-being and policy support in the Netherlands.

This 'cohort profile' aims to provide a description of the study design, methodology, and baseline characteristics of the participants in the Corona Behavioral Unit cohort. This cohort was established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the regional public health services. The aim was to investigate adherence of and support for COVID-19 prevention measures, psychosocial determinants of COVID-19 behaviors, well-being, COVID-19 vaccination, and media use. The cohort also examined specific motivations and beliefs, such as for vaccination, which were collected through either closed-ended items or open text responses. In April 2020, 89,943 participants aged 16 years and older were recruited from existing nation-wide panels. Between May 2020 and September 2022, 99,676 additional participants were recruited through online social media platforms and mailing lists of higher education organizations. Participants who consented were initially invited every three weeks (5 rounds), then every six weeks (13 rounds), and since the summer of 2022 every 12 weeks (3 rounds). To date, 66% of participants were female, 30% were 39 years and younger, and 54% completed two or more questionnaires, with an average of 9.2 (SD = 5.7) questionnaires. The Corona Behavioral Unit COVID-19 cohort has published detailed insights into longitudinal patterns of COVID-19 related behaviors, support of COVID-19 preventive measures, as well as peoples' mental wellbeing in relation to the stringency of these measures. The results have informed COVID-19 policy making and pandemic communication in the Netherlands throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The cohort data will continuously be used to examine COVID-19 related outcomes for scientific analyses, as well as to inform future pandemic preparedness plans.

Anxiety level and compliance with health protocols during the covid-19 pandemic in Madura Indonesia

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes in various aspects of life, one of which is the culture of implementing health protocols to prevent transmission. The level of anxiety about illness is considered to have a role in adherence to health protocols. There are not many studies that explain the relationship between anxiety levels and adherence to health protocols. Objectives: This study aims to determine the relationship between anxiety levels and adherence to health protocols in the Madura Indonesian. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design. The number of samples is 400 people of Madura Regency, the samples were selected using purposive sampling technique. The inclusion criteria were at least 17 years old and able to read and write. The research instrument used the Zung Self Rating Anxiety Scale and Adherence to COVID-19 Prevention Measures questionnaires. Results: The level of anxiety was dominated by mild anxiety (49.3%), while adherence to health protocols was dominated by low compliance (44.8%). The results of the Spearman rho test showed that there was a relationship between the level of anxiety and adherence to health protocols with a value of p = 0.000. Conclusions: This study shows that there is a significant relationship between anxiety levels and adherence to health protocols.

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) knowledge and perception among medical students in Ajman United Arab Emirates: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the COVID-19 related knowledge, practice and attitudes amongst medical students (MS) at Ajman University. Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among Ajman medical college students about COVID-19 during April and May 2020. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to all MS to examine their knowledge, practice and attitudes towards COVID-19 pandemic. Non-parametric tests were used to estimate the difference between the selected variables in relation to different parameters while independent t-test and ANOVA were used to estimate the difference between the independent parameters in relation to the total scoring. Results: Eighty-two students responded to the questionnaire (response rate 76.0%), more than half of the participants were females (64.6%), and aged between 18-20 years. Most of the participants (82.9%) were aware of the UAE government COVID19 task force and 96.3% of the students had good knowledge about COVID-19 symptoms (96.3%), route of transmission (79.3%) and the current available treatment or vaccination for COVID -19 (80.5%),students used social media (69.5%) to obtain information about COVID-19 and showed positive perceptions of COVID-19 prevention and control measures. Conclusion: Ajman University medical students have sufficient knowledge of COVID-19 pandemic and implemented proper strategies to prevent COVID-19 spread. It is obligation of academic institutions to promote effective infection control training to protect patients, health care workers and students by encouraging safer working practices in the clinics sitting.

A multi-country survey of the socio-demographic factors associated with adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundHealth behaviours are influenced by individual characteristics including age, gender, education and economic level. This study aimed to assess the associations between individual-level determinants and adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures.MethodsWe performed secondary analyses of international data collected using an online survey during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic between June and December 2020. The dependent variables were self-reported adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures (wearing of face masks, frequent washing/sanitizing of hands, physical distancing, working remotely). The independent variables were age, sex at birth (female vs male), having a chronic disease related elevated risk for severe COVID-19 (none/little, might be at increased risk, at increased risk), educational level completed (no formal education, primary, secondary vs college/university) and employment status (retiree, students, not employed vs employed). Four multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations between the dependent variables and independent variables. Interaction terms with country-income level were tested in regressions to explore its moderating effect.ResultsOut of 16,866 respondents, 12,634 (74.9%) wore masks or face coverings, 12,336 (73.1%) washed or sanitized their hands frequently, 11,464 (68.0%) reported adherence to physical distancing and 5,646 (33.5%) worked remotely. In adjusted analyses, increased age, college/university education, employment, and having risks for severe COVID-19 were associated with significantly higher odds of adhering to COVID-19 preventive measures. Retirees and students had lower odds of adhering to COVID-19 prevention measures than employed individuals. Males had significantly lower odds of wearing face masks (AOR: 0.901), frequent washing/sanitizing hands (AOR: 0.774) and working remotely (AOR: 0.875) compared to females. Country-income level generally moderated the above relationships such that the associations disappeared in lower income countries.ConclusionThe study findings suggest that the individual socio-demographic factors—age, sex, employment status, education status and having a chronic disease – influence adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Findings further reiterate the need for health education and health promotion campaigns on preventive health measures to focus on subpopulations, such as younger males, students and retirees, that require targeted or unique messaging.

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 Prevention Measures on Adolescent Growth in Italy.

COVID-19 infection has caused increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. Several strategies have been adopted around the world to prevent its spread. Italy underwent a long lockdown for face-to-face educational activities, which were replaced with online classes. This longitudinal study aimed to analyze the effects of COVID-19 prevention measures on physical growth and body image perception in a sample of Italian adolescents who experienced the pandemic-induced lockdown in 2020. In particular, we wished to ascertain how lifestyle changes had affected their growth rates and health. Special attention was paid to increases in adiposity indicators (BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio) and weight caused by reduced physical activity, and consequent possible dissatisfaction with body image. We assessed the impact of school closures by comparing the annual growth rate and body image perception changes of adolescents (n = 60; age = 11.3 ± 0.4 years) who experienced this isolation with those in the following years who did not experience these restrictions (n = 68; age = 11.4 ± 0.3 years). As a consequence of the lockdown, our results indicate a greater annual growth rate in weight and other indices of adiposity (p < 0.05). As the virus is continuing to evolve and propagate, larger population studies can verify and confirm our findings. In promoting health policy to prevent the ongoing prevalence of obesity in adolescents, an accurate assessment of whether the increase in obesity rates during the pandemic is to be considered a temporary trend is highly recommended.

A Cross-Cultural Study of the Role of Efficacious Beliefs and Perceived Media Effects on Threat Perception in Predicting COVID-19 Compliance in China and the United States

ABSTRACT Self-centered vs. collective-oriented perceptions and beliefs have bearings on an individual’s behavior. In the context of the global coronavirus pandemic, this study attempts a cross-cultural analysis of public compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures in China and the United States. Using data collected from two parallel surveys, we explore how individualism and collectivism have affected respondents’ efficacious beliefs, perception bias and compliance behaviors. Findings show that higher self-efficacy in individualistic cultures tends to produce a wider self-other perceptual gap. Further, we found that individual-referenced variables (i.e. self-efficacy and perceived media effects on threat perception on oneself) play a stronger role in predicting public compliance in America. In comparison, collective-oriented and other-referenced measures (i.e. collective efficacy and perceived media effects on threat perception on others) are a stronger predictor of compliance in China than in the United States. The theoretical implications of the culturally rooted locus of reference (self vs. others) for compliance behaviors are discussed.

A case report of COVID-19 preventive measures at an academic meeting of the Japan Society for Occupational Health

A case report of COVID-19 preventive measures at an academic meeting of the Japan Society for Occupational Health

Factors Associated with Diet Quality during COVID-19 Pandemic among Undergraduate Students in Universiti Putra Malaysia

Introduction: The COVID-19 preventive and restriction measures may disrupt an individual’s daily diet quality, potentially leading to obesity and other non-communicable diseases. This study aims to assess and determine factors associated with diet quality during the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate students at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Methods: 130 eligible undergraduate students, who participated in this cross-sectional study were assessed using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants short version (REAP-S). Self-reported sociodemographic characteristics, body weight status, and nutrition knowledge were evaluated. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 26.0 and p&lt;0.05 was denoted as statistically significant. Results: Most of the respondents were female (76.2%), aged between 20-22 years old (64.6%), Bumiputera (80.0%), funded by loan or scholarship (73.1%), low socioeconomic status (60.0%), residing in the family household (57.7%), consumed home-cooked meals (58.5%), and used the e-hailing food services for 0-3 days/week (63.1%). There was an equal distribution in the year and program of study in every selected faculty. Most were having normal BMI status (54.6%), good nutrition knowledge (66.9%), sedentary (48.5%), less severe mental health status (85.4%), and good diet quality (62.3%). Nonetheless, throughout the study, only the anxiety subscale was associated with diet quality (r= -0.20, p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Perceived anxiety may lead to poor diet quality. Future studies could determine the food environment and food security faced by the students as these factors vary among individuals. It is also recommended to measure diet quality differences before, during, or after the pandemic.

Predictors of Adherence to Personal Preventive Behaviors Among Nursing Students Based on Health Belief Model: Cross Sectional Study During the Second Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

Introduction: Personal preventive behaviors was cited as effective strategy to prevent the SARS-CoV-2 transmissions. When vaccine become available, preventive behavior must still be implemented to significantly decreased the COVID-19 infection risk in the emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern with immune escape phenotype. The Health Belief Model (HBM) is the most widely recognized behaviour theory, but its capacity to predict the preventive behaviours have been inconsistent. This study aimed to assess predictors adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviour among nursing students based on HBM during the second wave of COVID-19 in Indonesia. Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted from May to September 2021. Undergraduate nursing students (n=1,413) from 10 universities in Indonesia was recruited using consecutive sampling. Online self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Binary logistic regression was employed to analyse the association between sociodemographic and HBM construct with adherence to preventive behaviors. Results: Most of the students (n=804; 56.9 %) had poor adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors, and poor physical distancing identified as the most dominant non-adherence type (n=774; 54.8 %). First year students (AOR=1.313; 95%CI: 1.020-1.690), low perceived susceptibility (AOR=1.530; 95%CI: 1.193-1.962), low perceived severity (AOR= 1.756; 95%CI: 1.337-2.307), low perceived effectiveness (AOR=1.910; 95%CI: 1.315-2.777), and low self-efficacy (AOR=4.795; 95%CI: 3.566-6.447) significantly associated with poor adherence (p&lt;0.05). Nagelkerke R square value was 0.313 suggesting that the whole model explained 31.3% of variance in adherence. Conclusion: Intervention that targeting health belief model could be useful to increased adherence level to COVID-19 preventive measures among nursing students.

Impact of the first COVID-19 epidemic wave in a large French network of nursing homes: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundNursing homes (NHs) have been particularly affected by COVID-19. The aim of this study is to estimate the burden of COVID-19 and to investigate factors associated with mortality during the first epidemic wave in a large French NHs network.MethodsAn observational cross-sectional study was conducted in September-October 2020. 290 NHs were asked to complete an online questionnaire covering the first epidemic wave on facilities and resident characteristics, number of suspected/confirmed COVID-19 deaths, and preventive/control measures taken at the facility level. Data were crosschecked using routinely collected administrative data on the facilities. The statistical unit of the study was the NH. Overall COVID-19 mortality rate was estimated. Factors associated with COVID-19 mortality were investigated using a multivariable multinomial logistic regression. The outcome was classified in 3 categories: “no COVID-19 death in a given NH”, occurrence of an “episode of concern” (at least 10% of the residents died from COVID-19), occurrence of a “moderate episode” (deaths of COVID-19, less than 10% of the residents).ResultsOf the 192 (66%) participating NHs, 28 (15%) were classified as having an “episode of concern”. In the multinomial logistic regression, moderate epidemic magnitude in the NHs county (adjusted OR = 9.3; 95%CI=[2.6–33.3]), high number of healthcare and housekeeping staff (aOR = 3.7 [1.2–11.4]) and presence of an Alzheimer’s unit (aOR = 0.2 [0.07–0.7]) were significantly associated with an “episode of concern”.ConclusionsWe found a significant association between the occurrence of an “episode of concern” in a NH and some of its organizational characteristics and the epidemic magnitude in the area. These results can be used to improve the epidemic preparedness of NHs, particularly regarding the organization of NHs in small units with dedicated staff.Brief summaryFactors associated with COVID-19 mortality and preventive measures taken in nursing homes in France during the first epidemic wave.

Predicting Suicide Risk among South African University Students: Optimal Cutoff Score for the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale

University students have been identified as a particularly vulnerable group for adverse mental health outcomes owing to the distinctive implications of the COVID-19 prevention measures on the educational sector. Even prior to the pandemic, university students were identified as being at increased risk for adverse mental health outcomes and suicidality. Although various factors can enhance the risk of suicide, one of the strongest predictors of suicidality is the presence of depressive symptomology. The current study used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to determine the optimal cutoff score on the CES-D when screening for suicide risk in university students during COVID-19 in South Africa. Participants (n = 337) were students at a historically disadvantaged university in South Africa. The ROC analysis showed no statistically significant difference between men’s and women's area under the curve (AUC); thus, a single AUC can be used for the whole sample. The study found that a cutoff score of 30 with a sensitivity of 89.30 and a specificity of 62.60 represented an acceptable cutoff point. It is recommended that when the instrument is used among student populations, those with scores of 30 and above need to be followed up with a clinician-administered interview to confirm suicide risk and facilitate timely intervention.

Hidden Problem of COVID-19: Behavioral Surveillance and Its Preventive Measures Among Rural Adult Population in Tamil Nadu, India.

Background COVID-19-appropriate behavior has been recommended by the Government of India to reduce the spread of the disease. However, a lack of awareness, inadequate knowledge, or improper practices regarding personal protective measures have contributed to the ongoing cases in India. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the pattern of behavioral surveillance related to COVID-19 and its preventive measures and also to study the impact of knowledge ofCOVID-19 on their behavior among the rural population in Tamil Nadu, India. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the rural adult population in Siruvachur Village, Perambalur district, Tamil Nadu, from June to December 2022. The study included adult participants aged 18 years and older who had no previous history of COVID-19 disease. The participants were selected using a systematic random sampling method. A pre-designed and semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess their awareness of COVID-19, knowledge of symptoms, preventive measures, and actual behavioral practices. The collected data were analyzed using IBM Corp. Released 2011. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. The chi-square test and linear regression were employed to assess the association and strength between behavior and knowledge of COVID-19 preventive measures. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results According to the results, 94.7% of the participants reported being aware of COVID-19, with fever being recognized as the most common symptom. Regarding specific preventive measures, 71.5% of participants demonstrated adequate knowledge of handwashing, while only 55.3% had sufficient knowledge of social distancing norms. In terms of mask usage, 62% reported having adequate knowledge of how to use masks to prevent COVID-19 transmission. However, despite having adequate knowledge, the study found that only 11.3% of participants consistently used masks in outdoor settings. This indicates a significant gap between knowledge and actual behavior in mask usage. Furthermore, a significant association was found between knowledge and behavioral practices related to COVID-19 preventive measures, such as mask usage and social distancing. In other words, participants who possessed greater knowledge of these measures were more likely to exhibit corresponding behaviors. On the other hand, the study did not find a significant impact of handwashing knowledge on actual handwashing behavior (p>0.05). Conclusion Despite a relatively high level of knowledge and awareness, there is a significant gap between knowledge and actual behavioral practices, particularly in terms of mask usage and hand hygiene. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to bridge the gap between knowledge and behavior in COVID-19 preventive measures, particularly in terms of consistent mask usage and adherence to social distancing norms. Efforts should focus not only on increasing knowledge but also on promoting behavior change through effective education, awareness campaigns, and practical demonstrations of proper preventive measures.

For whom do boundaries become restrictions? The role of political orientation.

While the global pandemic highlighted the importance of adhering to boundaries (e.g., social distancing rules), compliance with these boundary-imposing measures has been politically divided. This research proposes one reason that may underlie the observed ideological asymmetries toward COVID-19 prevention measures and boundaries in general: Conservatives and liberals may fundamentally differ in how they construe boundaries. Supporting this prediction, Studies 1a-1d and two follow-up studies (n = 3,231; Studies 1a-1c and follow-up studies: Amazon Mechanical Turk and Prolific users, Study 1d: U.S. students) demonstrate that identifying with political conservatism (vs. liberalism) increases the likelihood to construe boundaries as restrictions. We further show that, due to conservatives' greater preference for order, structure-related words carry a more positive connotation among conservatives versus liberals (Study 2: n = 744; MTurk users). Capitalizing on this finding, we demonstrate that linguistic framing that highlights the structure-providing function of a boundary (e.g., a social distancing sign can "structure" customer flow in a restaurant) can reduce the salience of its usual restrictive aspect and hence effectively improve conservatives' attitudes toward the boundaries (Study 3: n = 740; MTurk users). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Narcofeminist ‘chemsex’: Rethinking sexualised drug use in a shifting queer landscape marked by public health emergency

The potential of sexualised drug use to enact the queer body is largely unaccounted for within the expert public health knowledges where ‘chemsex’ is produced as a predominantly cisgender gay male practice harmful to health. Underpinned by such logics, COVID-19 prevention measures in 2020–2021 limited urban nightlife, which can be thought of as a queer ‘intimate infrastructure’, restricting chemsex to the home. Such changes in routine afforded by public health emergencies provide a particularly clear glimpse into the emergent and situated production of queer bodies. Drawing on ontopolitical research in drug studies, which treats bodily capacities as products of sociomaterial arrangements, I explore the generative effects that emerge from a shifting landscape of sex and drug practices. I draw on in-depth qualitative interviews with members of queer feminist collectives in Berlin, Germany at the time of the lockdowns to ask: what kind of community is enacted through an abrupt transformation in the material settings of sexualised drug use? I argue that the landscape of the home was co-constitutive of a queer narcofeminist collective body, providing an incisive rebuke not only of public health discourse on chemsex, but also of the bifurcation of ‘intimate infrastructure’ into the privatised heteronormative home versus the public gay dark room.

The Effect of Social Media on Preventive Behavioural Intention During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mediating Roles of Interpersonal Communication, Social Media Expression and Knowledge

Given the vast amount of possibly relevant information that circulates on social media during epidemics, it is imperative to examine how exposure to such information influences preventive practices. Using a communication mediation framework, this research investigates the underlying mechanisms of how exposure to COVID-19 information on social media affects the willingness to conduct COVID-19 preventive measures in South Korea. A structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis of survey data from 1,209 Korean adults showed that social media exposure indirectly influenced the intention to take preventive actions through interpersonal communication, social media expression and knowledge. The findings also revealed that social media exposure exerted differential effects on the intention to adopt preventive measures depending on the types of reasoning, including interpersonal communication and social media expression. The findings provide important implications for health communication.

I belong, therefore I am: The role of economic culture in compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures

Cultural orientations in relation to individualism and collectivism produced by subsistence strategies can lead to a wide array of consequences for perception, cognition, and emotion. We predict that, as a result of different economic patterns, farmers with greater collectivism would show more compliance with COVID-19 precautionary behavior than herders with greater individualism. By adopting a “just minimal difference” approach, we compared Chinese farming and herding communities that share a national identity, ethnicity, and residential area but vary in their degree of individualism-collectivism. Consistent with our hypothesis, Study 1 found that farmers reported higher compliance with prevention initiatives than herders in self-report survey. Study 2 provided a behavioral choice confirmation of the observed relationship. The present research provides the empirical evidence that economic activities can have divergent effects on mitigation strategies in the COVID-19 fight, and these results have meaningful implications for socioecological psychology theory and for pandemic prevention and control.

Factors that influenced utilization of antenatal and immunization services in two local government areas in The Gambia during COVID-19: An interview-based qualitative study.

Evidence is being consolidated that shows that the utilization of antenatal and immunization services has declined in low-income countries (LICs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Very little is known about the effects of the pandemic on antenatal and immunization service utilization in The Gambia. We set out to explore the COVID-19-related factors affecting the utilization of antenatal and immunization services in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) in The Gambia. A qualitative methodology was used to explore patients' and providers' experiences of antenatal and immunization services during the pandemic in two LGAs in The Gambia. Thirty-one study participants were recruited from four health facilities, applying a theory-driven sampling framework, including health workers as well as female patients. Qualitative evidence was collected through theory-driven semi-structured interviews, and was recorded, translated into English, transcribed, and analysed thematically, applying a social-ecological framework. In our interviews, we identified themes at five different levels: individual, interpersonal, community, institutional and policy factors. Individual factors revolved around patients' fear of being infected in the facilities, and of being quarantined, and their anxiety about passing on infections to family members. Interpersonal factors involved the reluctance of partners and family members, as well as perceived negligence and disrespect by health workers. Community factors included misinformation within the community and mistrust of vaccines. Institutional factors included the shortage of health workers, closures of health facilities, and the lack of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and essential medicines. Finally, policy factors revolved around the consequences of COVID-19 prevention measures, particularly the shortage of transport options and mandatory wearing of face masks. Our findings suggest that patients' fears of contagion, perceptions of poor treatment in the health system, and a general anxiety around the imposing of prevention measures, undermined the uptake of services. In future emergencies, the government in The Gambia, and governments in other LICs, will need to consider the unintended consequences of epidemic control measures on the uptake of antenatal and immunization services.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 among chronic disease patients visiting public hospitals

BackgroundCorona virus disease 2019 (COVID 19) is a potentially severe acute respiratory infection first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It is currently a global health issue and a public health emergency for the entire world, including Ethiopia. People with comorbidities of chronic disease are at higher risk for severe disease and death from this virus. Hence, in order to better control the COVID-19 pandemic, their understanding, attitude, and practice of COVID-19 prevention measures should be improved. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of chronically ill patients toward COVID-19 among chronic disease patients. MethodsAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was employed among patients with chronic diseases visiting public hospitals in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia, from April to June 2021. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to retrieve data from systematically selected 319 chronic disease patients. The data were entered using EpiData version 4.4.2.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 23. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to identify factors associated with the outcome variables. Significance was determined at a p value of <0.05, and association was described by using an odds ratio at a 95% confidence interval. ResultsA total of 319 patients with chronic diseases participated in this study, with a 100% response rate. Out of 319 study participants, 51.1% had good knowledge, 59.9% had a positive attitude, and about half (49.2%) had good practices toward the COVID-19 pandemic. Multivariate analysis revealed that study participants completed secondary school (AOR = 4.691, 95%CI = 1.846–11.918), had college or higher educational levels (AOR = 4.626, 95%CI = 1.790–11.955) were positively associated with good knowledge towards COVID 19 where as those who aged 50 and up (AOR = 0.415, 95%CI = 0.227–0.759), divorced (AOR = 0.298, 95%CI = 0.116–0.764), and widowed (AOR = 0.115, 95%CI = 0.025–0.528) were negatively associated with it. Positive attitude had a statistically significant association with sex, being male (AOR = 0.471, 95%CI = 0.265–0.837), and occupation, being merchants (AOR = 4.697, 95%CI = 1.174–18.795), private employees (AOR = 4.484, 95%CI = 1.182–17.008) and housewives (AOR = 5.292, 95%CI = 1.372–20.414). Moreover, good knowledge (AOR = 4.047,95%CI = 2.205–7.427) and a positive attitude (AOR = 5.756,95%CI = 3.244–10.211) were factors significantly associated with the good practices of study participants towards COVID-19. ConclusionLess than two thirds of the study participants had good knowledge, attitudes, and practices overall about the COVID-19 pandemic. Health professionals and other responsible bodies should provide public education about COVID-19 and its prevention measures to chronic disease patients.

Compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures during the onset of the pandemic in Australia: investigating the role of trust in federal and state governments and scientists

ABSTRACT Objective The current study explored (1) changes in trust in federal and state governments and scientists across representative Australian national samples from 2003–2020; and (2) the extent to which trust in these sources predicted compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures at the onset of the pandemic. Method Using a nationally representative samples (N = 1000), we asked participants to rate their trust in federal and state government and in scientists, their extent of compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures, and to provide demographic information. Results We found that trust in federal and state governments had significantly increased, while trust in scientists was at a high level matched by only three other time-points. Higher levels of trust in state government and scientists uniquely predicted greater compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures. Women and older respondents also reported greater compliance. Conclusion The current findings reinforce those from Australia and other countries indicating that trust increased during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and those identifying trust in government and in scientists as important predictors of compliance. Importantly, our findings highlight the role of trust in state government, which potentially reflects the role played by Australian state governments in enacting and enforcing COVID-19 prevention measures.