Effects Of COVID-19 Lockdown Research Articles

COVID-19 Lockdown Effects on Education: A Review of Themes, Education Fields, and Challenges within Academic Research

COVID-19 Lockdown Effects on Education: A Review of Themes, Education Fields, and Challenges within Academic Research

The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Service Utilization Among Chronic Disease Patients in South Africa.

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many disruptions in health service delivery. Evidence show that the pandemic has negatively affected routine healthcare utilization such as maternal and child health services, but the literature on the effect on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is scant in South Africa. These disruptions can have long-term health and economic implications for patients. To estimate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on service utilization among chronic disease patients in South Africa using administrative data. Using monthly data from the Centralized Chronic Medication Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) program database covering November 2018 to October 2021, we examined the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on utilization among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication only (ART-only), patients receiving both ART and NCD medication (ART + NCD), and patients receiving NCD medications only (NCD-only). We employed segmented interrupted time series approach to examine the changes. We stratified the analysis by socioeconomic status. We found that, overall, the lockdown was associated with increased utilization of CCMDD services by 10.8% (95% CI: 3.3%-19%) for ART-only and 10.3% (95% CI: 3.3%-17.7%) for NCD-only patients. The increase in utilization was not different across socioeconomic groups. For patients receiving ART + NCD medications, utilization declined by 56.6% (95% CI: 47.6%-64.1%), and higher reductions occurred in low SES districts. Patients should be educated about the need to continue with utilization of disease programs during a pandemic and beyond. More efforts are needed to improve service use among patients with multi-morbidities.

The Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Cerebrovascular Accidents, Acute Coronary Syndrome, and Diabetic Ketoacidosis Visits the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Study.

Objective This study aims to assess the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on acute coronary syndrome (ACS), cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) visits the emergency department (ED). Methods We compared two groups of patients attending King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) ED diagnosed with one of the following ACS, CVA, or DKA; patients presenting from 21 December 2019 to 23 March 2020 and patients presenting from 23 March 2020 to 21 June 2020, representing COVID-19 pre-lockdown and during-lockdown period, respectively. The variables we analyzed were age, nationality (Saudi/non-Saudi), and gender. Results Our total sample size was 285 patient visits, ACS (n=130), CVA (n=98), and DKA (n=57). Results showed a statistically significant relationship between the number of patients with ACS and the period of visitation to ED (45.24% reduction, p-value <0.001), while CVA (18.5% reduction, p-value 0.312) and DKA (16% reduction, p-value 0.508) showed no statistically significant relationship. Conclusion A lockdown may be necessary to control a pandemic. However, it may carry potential collateral damage, such as a decrease and delay in the presentation of life-threatening conditions, which may lead to worsening outcomes. A clinical presentation of these conditions should warrant comprehensive evaluation by healthcare workers regardless of an ongoing pandemic while implementing infection control guidelines.

Analysis of COVID-19 Lockdown Effects on Urban Air Quality: A Case Study of Monterrey, Mexico

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused several millions of deaths and forced the world population to a new normality. This study aims to analyze the air quality variation of several gaseous pollutants (CO, NO2, SO2, O3, PM10, and PM2.5) during the pre-lockdown, lockdown, and unlock period in the city of Monterrey using ground-based measurements. In this research, we proposed to use a control period of previous years to identify parameter variation due to local climate. The results showed a drastic decrease in measured contaminants during the lockdown period as follows: SO2 (−41.9%) &gt; PM10 (−30.5%) &gt; PM2.5 (−25.6%) &gt; NO2 (−14.9%) &gt; CO (−9.8%) compared to the control period (2017–2019). The O3 was the only air pollutant that showed an opposite trend, increasing during lockdown (+15%) and unlock (+2.2%), whereas CO (−16.6%) and NO2 (−30.6%) were further decreased. Moreover, using OMI/AURA satellite data, we detected a NO2 tropospheric column reduction by −1.9% during lockdown concerning the same period in the control interval. Moreover, we found a significant improvement in the Air Quality Index (AQI) due to the lockdown. Our findings indicate an association between air pollutants and economic activity and can be used in future strategies to improve urban air quality.

Effects of COVID-19 lockdown on the observed density of coral reef fish along coastal habitats of Moorea, French Polynesia.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10113-022-02011-0.

Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Sleep Quality and Insomnia in Collegiate Students

Background and aim: The COVID-19 Pandemic necessitates strict lockdowns worldwide to prevent its spread, which has hurt people's lives, including students, on a physical, economic, and emotional level. This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the quality of sleep and the prevalence of insomnia among college students in Chennai. Methods: Using a random sampling approach, collegiate students (n=450) are invited to complete Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Frequencies, unpaired T-test, and the chi-square test were the statistical techniques employed to assess the data. Results: The findings imply that 48% of students experienced poor sleep quality, and 37% reported Subthreshold insomnia during the COVID-19 lockdown. Even though no gender difference was observed regarding the overall sleep quality and insomnia scores, there is a significant association observed between gender with sleep quality; however, those failed to show a significant association with insomnia. Conclusions: Thus, the study concluded that the lockdown has affected sleep quality and led to insomnia among college students.

Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Substance Use Among Middle School and High School Students: A Natural Experiment.

Research on COVID-19's effect on substance use is mixed, and few studies have focused on adolescents. We assessed whether implementation of the COVID-19 lockdown affected substance use and changed perceptions of psychoactive substance availability in middle and high school students. We assessed self-reported use and perceived availability of alcohol, tobacco cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, marijuana, synthetic marijuana, nonprescribed prescription drugs, and illicit drugs (heroin, inhalants) among middle and high school respondents aged 11-18 years to the Rhode Island Student Survey (N = 17 751). An administrative pause because of COVID-19 lockdowns allowed us to divide results into surveys completed before (January through March 2020; n = 13 259) and after (November 2020 through May 2021; n = 4492) the lockdown implementation. We determined the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown using logistic regression models, adjusting for age, gender/sexual orientation, middle/high school level, and city/town classification. After the COVID-19 lockdown implementation, the odds of respondents using psychoactive substances decreased, with the largest decreases occurring for prescription drugs (odds ratio [OR] = 0.39; 95% CI, 0.28-0.54) and inhalants (OR = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.26-0.53). The odds of respondents perceiving difficulties in obtaining psychoactive substances significantly increased after lockdown implementation, with the largest increases occurring for prescription drugs (OR = 1.53; 95% CI, 1.39-1.69) and illicit drugs (OR = 1.65; 95% CI, 1.44-1.88). COVID-19 lockdown implementation was associated with a decreased perception of availability of psychoactive substances and use of psychoactive substances. Decreases in substance use may be because of decreased perceived availability and increased parental support and oversight. Interventions that focus on parental oversight and strengthened policies to disrupt the licit and illicit drug markets are needed.

Myopia and axial length in school-aged children before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdown-A population-based study.

Myopic shift had been observed during the COVID-19 lockdown in young school children. It remains unknown whether myopic shift is accompanied with increase in axial length. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on myopia and axial length of school children in China by comparing them before, during and after the lockdown. In this population-based cross-sectional study, school-based myopia screenings were conducted in the Fall of 2019, 2020, and 2021 (representing before, during and after COVID-19 lockdown respectively) in Chengdu, China. Myopia screenings were performed on 83,132 students aged 6 to 12 years. Non-cycloplegic refractive error was examined using NIDEK auto-refractor (ARK-510A; NIDEK Corp., Tokyo, Japan) and axial length was measured using AL-Scan (NIDEK Corp., Tokyo, Japan). Spherical equivalent (SER, calculated as sphere+ 0.5*cylinder), prevalence of myopia (SER ≤ -0.50 D), and axial length were compared across 3 years stratified by age. Myopia prevalence rate was 45.0% (95% CI: 44.6-45.5%) in 2019, 48.7% (95% CI: 48.3-49.1%) in 2020, and 47.5% (95% CI: 47.1-47.9%) in 2021 (p < 0.001). The mean non-cycloplegic SER (SD) was -0.70 (1.39) D, -0.78 (1.44) D, and -0.78 (1.47) D respectively (p < 0.001). The mean (SD) axial length was 23.41 (1.01) mm, 23.45 (1.03) mm, and 23.46 (1.03) mm across 3 years respectively (p < 0.001). From the multivariable models, the risk ratio (RR) of myopia was 1.07 (95% CI: 1.06-1.08) times, the SER was 0.05 D (95% CI: 0.04 D to 0.06 D) more myopic and the mean axial length increased by 0.01 mm (95% CI: 0.01 mm to 0.02 mm) in 2020 compared to 2019. In 2021, the risk ratio (RR) of myopia was 1.05 (95% CI: 1.04-1.06), the mean SER was 0.06 D (95% CI: 0.05 D to 0.07 D) more myopic, and the mean axial length increased by 0.03 mm (95% CI: 0.02 mm to 0.04 mm) compared to 2019. The COVID-19 lockdown had significant impact on myopia development and axial length, and these impacts remained 1 year after the lockdown. Further longitudinal studies following-up with these students are needed to help understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 lockdown on myopia.

Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on injury incidence and burden in amateur rugby union

ObjectivesTo analyse match and training injury incidence rates and burden from pre-(2019) and post-COVID-19 (2021) seasons;To analyse injury related variables as mechanisms, type, body locations, severity and the differences of the most common injuries according to playing positions. DesignAn observational study was performed according to the consensus statement on injury definitions and data collection from World Rugby. Injury variables were collected retrospectively for 2019 season and prospectively during 2021 season. SettingArgentinian amateur rugby club. ParticipantsMale (n = 110) senior amateur rugby players. Main outcome measuresMatch and training time loss injuries, time of exposures and injury related variables. ResultsTraining incidence rate during post-lockdown season (4.2/1000 player-training-hours) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the pre-lockdown season (0.9/1000 player match hours). Post-lockdown hamstring strain injury (HSI) and concussions match incidence rates were significantly (p < 0.001; p < 0.05 respectively) higher in comparison with 2019 season. Regarding playing positions, backs showed a significantly increase (p < 0.05) in HSI match incidence rate post lockdown. ConclusionsAfter the COVID-19 lockdown, training incidence rate was significantly higher than previous season (2019), showing the impact of the lockdown restrictions. Coaches and medical staff must consider that players probably need more lead-in time for conditioning and more monitoring after periods of no rugby.

Impacto del confinamiento por COVID-19 en la prescripción de benzodiacepinas

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on the prescription of benzodiazepines by gender, age and district health departments. DesignLongitudinal observational study. LocationPrimary care. Asturias (Spain) health district V. ParticipantsPeople over 15 years of age with filled benzodiazepine prescriptions in between 2017 and 2020. Main measurementsBenzodiazepine DHD (defined daily dose per 1000 habitants) mean difference between the period defined as pre-lockdown and lockdown. Additionally, the difference was adjusted for gender, sex and district health department and also with the interaction among them. ResultsDHD mean pre-lockdown was 131.3 and 139.5 in the lockdown; this difference was significant in the global analysis (95% CI: 4.1–12.1). There was an increase in the DHD mean in the 60–74 age group (95% CI: 2.28–21.42), in the group over 90 years old (95% CI: 21.31–40.63) and in women (95% CI: 3.51–14.59). Finally, a decrease in the DHD mean of V11 (95% CI: -29 to -0.66) and V14 (95% CI: -54.28 to -25.04) district health departments was observed. ConclusionsCertain subgroups show a change in the pattern of benzodiazepine prescription without being able to relate this to the lockdown. We believe that there could be some inertia in the prescription of psychiatric medication according to the biopsychosocial characteristics of the patients; it is important to detect this in order to avoid the medicalization of psychological disorders.

Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on People’s Sexual Lives in Turkiye

Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on People’s Sexual Lives in Turkiye

Predictive modeling and analysis of air quality – Visualizing before and during COVID-19 scenarios

Quality air to breathe is the basic necessity for an individual and in recent times, emission from various sources caused by human activities has resulted in substantial degradation in the air quality. This work focuses to study the inadvertent effect of COVID-19 lockdown on air pollution. Pollutants' concentration before- and during- COVID-19 lockdown is captured to understand the variation in air quality. Firstly, multi-pollutant profiling using hierarchical cluster analysis of pollutants' concentration is performed that highlights the differences in the cluster compositions between before- and during-lockdown time periods. Results show that the particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in air that formed the primary cluster before lock-down, came down to close similarity with other clusters during lockdown. Secondly, predicting air quality index (AQI) based on the forecasts of pollutants' concentration is performed using neural networks, support vector machine, decision tree, random forest, and boosting algorithms. The best-fitted models representing AQI is identified separately for before- and during-lockdown time periods based on its predictive power. While deterministic method reactively evaluates present AQI when current pollutants' concentration at a particular time and place are known, this study uses the best fitted data-driven model to determine future AQIs based on the forecasts of pollutant's concentration accurately (overall RMSE<0.1 for before lockdown scenario and <0.3 for during lockdown scenario). The study contributes to visualize the variation in pollutants' concentrations between the two scenarios. The results show that the reduced economic activities during lockdown period had led to the drop in concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 by 27% and 50% on an average. The findings of this study have practical and societal implications and serve as a reference mechanism for policymakers and governing bodies to revise their actions plans for regulating individual air pollutants in the atmospheric air.

Education Financing During and Immediately After an Emergency: A Case of Effects of COVID-19 on the Financial Management of Private Secondary Schools in Uganda

Although school governing bodies are responsible for raising funds, their ability of fundraising is limited by the set laws or rules in the country, irrespective of the origin of the funds or assets in question. These laws have a big impact on the funding structure and management by private schools. In 2020, schools were closed for more than 7 months because of COVID-19 pandemics. This left many school proprietors bankrupt and it became difficult for them to solicit for the funds to run their schools. Using a qualitative research approach, the purpose of this research was to find out the effects of COVID-19 lockdown of education institutions on the financial management of private schools in Uganda. The study was guided by the following objectives: To determine how the school budget was affected by COVID-19, to examine the plans put into place to balance the budget, and to identify parents’ reactions on the request to continue paying school fees during the lockdown. The findings showed that COVID-19 brought an impact on school budget like reduced income due to re-opening in phases, high operating costs (COVID response equipment, utility costs, office supplies, among others), failure to pay school fees, as well as high bank interest rates on loans taken prior to the COVID-19 era. The study further revealed the different plans the school put into place to balance the budget like to prioritize spending, from support activities (alumni associations, school dinners), support from Board of governors, school extra activities (poultry and agriculture farms). Lastly, the findings revealed the different reactions by parents when told to continue paying school fees during and after the lockdown; whereas some easily accepted to pay because it was their obligation, majority had mixed feelings and almost refused since at the time of school closure, they had just paid. The following recommendations were made; the school administrators should encourage parents to pay school fees, the government should help schools financially, and the school governing bodies should support the schools they lead.

Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Cardiovascular Health in University Students

A decrease in physical activity levels among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic is well-documented in the literature. However, the effect of lockdown restrictions on cardiovascular fitness has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of the study was to assess the possible changes in cardiovascular fitness among university students during a 14-week period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirteen female and seven male tourism and recreation students participated in the study. Examinations were conducted in November 2020 and in February/March 2021. Students performed the PWC170 test on a cycling ergometer. Maximal oxygen consumption was calculated based on the PWC170 test results. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured at rest, as well as in the 1st and 5th minute of post-exercise recovery. No substantial changes were observed in maximal oxygen consumption level when comparing autumn and winter indices. Male students presented elevated blood pressure whereas female students presented normal blood pressure. Heart-rate and blood-pressure indices did not show substantial alternations in examined students during analyzed period. Fourteen weeks of lockdown had little effect on the cardiovascular health of tourism and recreation students.

The Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Oral Glucose Challenge Tests and Body Mass Indexes in Türk Pregnant Women

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the glycemic status of pregnant women by the comparison of 50 g glucose challenge test results and body mass index changes in the pandemic period versus last year's test results. STUDY DESIGN: In this case-control study two groups were constituted. Group 1 included patients who underwent a glucose challenge test in the year 2019 before the pandemic lockdown (n=604) was assessed as the control group; group 2 (n=505) included patients who underwent the same test in the year 2020 that in the pandemic lockdown period was evaluated as the study group. RESULTS: Pandemic lockdown affected the gaining weight in every level of educational status who did not exercise, but there was only a statistical difference between university-educated participants. We could not see any negative effect of the pandemic lockdown on glucose challenge test results. But only in the university-educated participants, there was an effect on increased glucose challenge test levels. CONCLUSION: Our study and the other studies designed like ours show that the pandemic lockdown affects our life worse.

Air pollution in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, assessed by plant comet assay.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is among the European countries with the highest rate of air pollution-related death cases and the poorest air quality. The main causes are solid fuel consumption, traffic, and the poorly developed or implemented air pollution reduction policies. In addition, the city of Sarajevo, the capital of B&H, suffers temperature inversion episodes in autumn/winter months, which sustain air pollution. Human biomonitoring studies may be confounded by the lifestyle of subjects or possible metabolic alterations. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate Ligustrum vulgare L. as a model for air pollution monitoring by measuring DNA damage at one rural and two urban sites. DNA damage was measured as tail intensity (TI) in L. vulgare leaves, considering seasonal, sampling period, leaf position and staging, and spatial (urban versus rural) variation. Effects of COVID-19 lockdown on TI were assessed by periodical monitoring at one of the selected sites, while in-house grown L. vulgare plants were used to test differences between outdoor and indoor air pollution effects for the same sampling period. Significantly higher TI was generally observed in leaves collected in Campus in December 2020 and 2021 compared with March (P < 0.0001). Outer and adult leaves showed higher TI values, except for the rural site where no differences for these categories were found. Leaves collected in the proximity of the intensive traffic showed significantly higher TI values (P < 0.001), regardless of the sampling period and the stage of growth. In regards to the COVID-19 lockdown, higher TI (P < 0.001) was registered in December 2020, after the lockdown period, than in periods before COVID-19 outbreak or immediately after the lockdown in 2020. This also reflects mild air pollution conditions in summer. TI values for the in-house grown leaves were significantly lower compared to those in situ. Results showed that L. vulgare may present a consistent model for the air pollution biomonitoring but further studies are needed to establish the best association between L. vulgare physiology, air quality data, and air pollution effects.

Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration of the Central Nervous System from Air Pollutants: A Scoping Review.

In this scoping review, we provide a selective mapping of the global literature on the effects of air pollution on the life-span development of the central nervous system. Our synthesis first defines developmental neurotoxicants and the model effects of particulate matter. We then discuss air pollution as a test bench for neurotoxicants, including animal models, the framework of systemic inflammation in all affected organs of the body, and the cascade effects on the developing brain, with the most prevalent neurological structural and functional outcomes. Specifically, we focus on evidence on magnetic resonance imaging and neurodegenerative diseases, and the links between neuronal apoptosis and inflammation. There is evidence of a developmental continuity of outcomes and effects that can be observed from utero to aging due to severe or significant exposure to neurotoxicants. These substances alter the normal trajectory of neurological aging in a propulsive way towards a significantly higher rate of acceleration than what is expected if our atmosphere were less polluted. The major aggravating role of this neurodegenerative process is linked with the complex action of neuroinflammation. However, most recent evidence learned from research on the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns around the world suggests that a short-term drastic improvement in the air we breathe is still possible. Moreover, the study of mitohormesis and vitagenes is an emerging area of research interest in anti-inflammatory and antidegenerative therapeutics, which may have enormous promise in combatting the deleterious effects of air pollution through pharmacological and dietary interventions.

Determinaton of Surface Water Quality in the Lumbardh Stream, Prizren, Kosovo – COVID-19 Lockdown Effects on Stream Water Quality

Determinaton of Surface Water Quality in the Lumbardh Stream, Prizren, Kosovo – COVID-19 Lockdown Effects on Stream Water Quality

COVID-19 Lockdown Effects on Student Grades of a University Engineering Course: A Psychometric Study

Contribution: This article is centered on effects that the COVID-19 lockdown has produced on the student performance in specific engineering course. The study treats to evaluate if the changes in the teaching and student assessment have been suited. Background: Most of higher education courses have had to adapt to this situation and made quick changes in its teaching and evaluation. The course applied computing was not the exception and has to split into two blocks. Teaching and evaluation of the first block was given totally in-person with traditional methodology. On the other hand, the second block that was affected by the lockdown, was fully taught with online flipped classroom (FC) teaching and remote assessment. Research Questions: This has given the opportunity to analyze how these changes have affected the student performance and what benefits of incorporated online FC teaching have been produced in this course. Methodology: The reliability of tests and item analysis techniques have been employed to measure the consistency and the item difficulty of the performed tests, respectively. From this psychometric study, the quality of the methodology of student assessment can be established. The study is also applied to the previous year where the in-person traditional methodology was employed. Moreover, the effectiveness of the teaching methodology is analyzed with student surveys. Findings: The reliability of online student assessment for FC teaching is high, yet when compared with traditional assessment for this specific course in both analyzed years. The different level of item difficulty is constant in the first block, being a possible cause for the low reliability of the test. Moreover, student surveys and student performance suggest that the online FC teaching method can be suitable for this specific course, and can be applied in the future.

Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on the characterization and mixing state of carbonaceous particles in the urban atmosphere of Liaocheng, the North China Plain

To investigate the effect of COVID-19 control measures on aerosol chemistry, the chemical compositions, mixing states, and formation mechanisms of carbonaceous particles in the urban atmosphere of Liaocheng in the North China Plain (NCP) were compared before and during the pandemic using a single particle aerosol mass spectrometry (SPAMS). The results showed that the concentrations of five air pollutants including PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO decreased by 41.2%–71.5% during the pandemic compared to those before the pandemic, whereas O3 increased by 1.3 times during the pandemic because of the depressed titration of O3 and more favorable meteorological conditions. The count and percentage contribution of carbonaceous particles in the total detected particles were lower during the pandemic than those before the pandemic. The carbonaceous particles were dominated by elemental and organic carbon (ECOC, 35.9%), followed by elemental carbon-aged (EC-aged, 19.6%) and organic carbon-fresh (OC-fresh, 13.5%) before the pandemic, while EC-aged (25.3%), ECOC (17.9%), and secondary ions-rich (SEC, 17.8%) became the predominant species during the pandemic. The carbonaceous particle sizes during the pandemic showed a broader distribution than that before the pandemic, due to the condensation and coagulation of carbonaceous particles in the aging processes. The relative aerosol acidity (Rra) was smaller before the pandemic than that during the pandemic, indicating the more acidic particle aerosol during the pandemic closely related to the secondary species and relative humidity (RH). More than 95.0% and 86.0% of carbonaceous particles in the whole period were internally mixed with nitrate and sulfate, implying that most of the carbonaceous particles were associated with secondary oxidation during their formation processes. The diurnal variations of oxalate particles and correlation analyses suggested that oxalate particles before the pandemic were derived from aqueous oxidation driven by RH and liquid water content (LWC), while oxalate particles during the pandemic were originated from O3-dominated photochemical oxidation.