Lack Of Personal Protective Equipment Research Articles

Efficacy of a virtual nursing simulation-based education to provide psychological support for patients affected by infectious disease disasters: a randomized controlled trial.

Virtual simulation-based education for healthcare professionals has emerged as a strategy for dealing with infectious disease disasters, particularly when training at clinical sites is restricted due to the risk of infection and a lack of personal protective equipment. This research evaluated a virtual simulation-based education program intended to increase nurses' perceived competence in providing psychological support to patients affected by infectious disease disasters. The efficacy of the program was evaluated via a randomized controlled trial. We recruited 104 nurses for participation in the study and allocated them randomly and evenly to an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group was given a web address through which they could access the program, whereas the control group was provided with a web address that directed them to text-based education materials. Data were then collected through an online survey of competence in addressing disaster mental health, after which the data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences(version 23.0). The analysis showed that the experimental group's disaster mental health competence (F = 5.149, p =.026), problem solving process (t = 3.024, p =.003), self-leadership (t = 2.063, p =.042), learning self-efficacy (t = 3.450, p =.001), and transfer motivation (t = 2.095, p =.039) significantly statistically differed from those of the control group. A virtual nursing simulation-based education program for psychological support can overcome limitations of time and space. The program would also be an effective learning resource during infectious disease outbreaks. This Korean clinical trial was retrospectively registered (21/11/2023) in the Clinical Research Information Service ( https://cris.nih.go.kr ) with trial registration number KCT0008965.

Risk factors for scabies in hospital: a systematic review

BackgroundAnnually, 175.4 million people are infected with scabies worldwide. Although parasitic infections are important nosocomial infections, they are unrecognized compared to bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. In particular, nonspecific cutaneous manifestations of scabies lead to delayed diagnosis and frequent nosocomial transmission. Hospital-based studies on the risk factors for scabies have yet to be systematically reviewed.MethodsThe study followed the PRISMA guidelines and was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023363278). Literature searches were conducted in three international (PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL) and four Korean (DBpia, KISS, RISS, and Science ON) databases. We included hospital-based studies with risk estimates calculated with 95% confidence intervals for risk factors for scabies infection. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Two authors independently performed the screening and assessed the quality of the studies.ResultsA total of 12 studies were included. Personal characteristics were categorized into demographic, economic, residential, and behavioral factors. The identified risk factors were low economic status and unhygienic behavioral practices. Being a patient in a long-term care facility or institution was an important factor. Frequent patient contact and lack of personal protective equipment were identified as risk factors. For clinical characteristics, factors were categorized as personal health and hospital environment. People who had contact with itchy others were at higher risk of developing scabies. Patients with higher severity and those with a large number of catheters are also at increased risk for scabies infection.ConclusionsFactors contributing to scabies in hospitals range from personal to clinical. We emphasize the importance of performing a full skin examination when patients present with scabies symptoms and are transferred from settings such as nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, to reduce the transmission of scabies. In addition, patient education to prevent scabies and infection control systems for healthcare workers, such as wearing personal protective equipment, are needed.

The Influence Of Knowledge Towards Physicians’ Intention To Use Powered Air-Purifying Respirators As Advanced Personal Protective Equipment Mediated By Health Belief Model During Covid-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 has become a devastating occurrence and an urgent intervention for public health in Indonesia. Until the beginning of 2021, Indonesia has the highest number of healthcare workers deaths in Asia and fifth in the world. One of the reasons that resulted in a high number of deaths is due to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn in high-risk environments. Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) is one of the most advanced protective equipment and recommended by many countries for their healthcare workers in handling COVID-19 pandemic. This research is conducted to predict Indonesian physicians’ intention to use PAPR as advanced PPE using the Health Belief Model. This research is a correlational study and a quantitative research using statistical tests in processing the data collected from online questionnaires. The findings collected from 163 respondents demonstrated that physicians in Indonesia have the intention to use PAPR as advanced PPE against COVID-19 based on their knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and perceived benefits of using PAPR. Perceived barriers do not have a significant influence towards physicians’ intention to use. The impact of knowledge to intention to use mediated by perceived benefits has the strongest correlation. This empirical model has moderate predictive accuracy with medium predictive relevance, therefore it could be developed and tested on an extended population. There are few managerial implications that could be recommended for hospital managers, public health administrators, and medical device suppliers to encourage physicians’ behavior. Several recommendations are given for further research development.
 Keywords: Health Belief Model, Knowledge, Perceived Susceptibility, Perceived Benefits, Perceived Severity, Perceived Barriers, Powered Air-Purifying Respirator, Protective Personal Equipment

The Unspoken Wounds: Understanding the Psychological Impact on Healthcare Professionals Fighting COVID-19 in Pakistan

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital staff faced numerous mental health challenges. However, limited research focused on anxiety and stress specifically among hospital workers during this time. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anxiety levels of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A multidimensional, cross-sectional survey was distributed to healthcare workers and staff at hospitals, COVID-19 laboratories, and healthcare settings. The survey included a total of 625 frontline healthcare workers, with 445 (71.2%) being male and 180 (28.8%) female. There were 405 (64.8%) lab professionals, 90 (14.0%) doctors, and 130 (20.8%) others, including nursing staff, administrative personnel, and supporting staff crucial to the functioning of healthcare settings. Among the lab professionals, 37.0% reported moderate depression levels and 16.0% reported severe depression levels during the pandemic. For doctors, 22.2% experienced mild depression and 33.33% experienced severe depression. Several factors were significantly associated with depression and anxiety among frontline healthcare workers, including physiological and social factors, fear of infection, risk of infecting family members and colleagues, lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), long working hours, untrained staff, social issues, and cooperation problems. These factors collectively contributed to reduced work efficacy during the pandemic. Frontline health workers played a critical role in the fight against COVID-19. The findings from this study have important implications for developing strategies to improve the mental health of healthcare workers during the pandemic and implementing policies that enhance work efficacy, ultimately leading to the improved outcomes.

Worry perception and its association with work conditions among healthcare workers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a web-based multimethod survey at a university hospital in Sweden

ObjectivesIn this study, we explored healthcare workers’ (HCWs) worry perception and its association with their work situation during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignA web-based multimethods survey including multiple...

Edukasi Penggunaan Alat Pelindung Diri (APD) Pelindung Jari Pada Pemilahan Sampah AMDK Gelas Plastik Di Bank Sampah SiHatin

The increase in consumption of bottled drinking water (AMDK) reached 54.11% from 2018 to 2020, which has a negative impact on the environment. SiHatin Waste Bank is a community formed to manage the waste. Waste Bank officers face the risk of injury and infection, especially to the hands, due to the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the processing of plastic glass AMDK waste. This condition creates new problems for Waste Bank officers, the purpose of this activity is to implement education on the use of finger protection in sorting and cutting plastic glass AMDK. The method of implementation of the activity involves observation, preparation of educational materials, direct training at the Waste Bank location, and evaluation of the impact through monitoring changes in officer behavior. The implementation of education on the use of PPE succeeded in increasing staff understanding by 41%, which is expected to reduce the incidence of injury and infection in the process of cutting plastic bottled water. It also contributed positively to the overall operations of the Waste Bank. In the next stage, there is a need for comprehensive monitoring by involving stakeholders to support the implementation of education holistically in an effort to manage sustainable waste.

Analisis Risiko Bahaya Kesehatan dan Keselamatan kerja (K3) Pengelasan dengan Metode Fishbone Diagram dan Job Safety Analisis (JSA)

Occupational Safety and Health (K3) are activities that ensure the creation of safe working conditions, avoiding physical and mental disorders. The aim of this research is to determine the risk of severity of welding workers who do not use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This research uses 2 methods, the fishbone diagram method and job safety analysis. The survey technique was carried out by taking a sample of 15 welding worker respondents in the company. The results of this research are that welding workers experience a very high level of risk to Occupational Health and Safety due to the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used. So companies must provide, comply with and prioritize (K3) welding. The company must also facilitate and require all workers to use safety equipment such as welding Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that meets the Indonesian National Standard (SNI).

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Work-Related Injury Among Municipal Solid Waste Collectors in Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Municipal solid waste collectors are at risk of experiencing work-related health problems due to the waste they handle and the physical effort they put in. Work-related injuries among domestic waste collectors have been the subject of scant research in developing nations. Therefore, it is necessary to describe work-related injuries in these subpopulation groups. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of work-related injury among municipal solid waste collectors in Hawassa city, Southern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 11 to 30, 2022, with all the registered municipal solid waste collectors (411). Three diploma environmental health professionals assisted in collecting data using a pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire; 1 Bachelor of Science environmental health professional served as a supervisor. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 was used to enter, clean, code, and analyze the data. Associations between independent and dependent variables were assessed, and the strength of the associations was presented by using Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). According to the bivariable analysis, all independent variables associated with a P-value <.25 were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model. Variables in the multivariable regression analysis were considered significant if their P-value was less than 0.05. In this study, the prevalence of work-related injuries within the last 30 days was 12.9% (95% CI: 9.5, 16.3), while the prevalence over the last 12 months was 59.4% (95% CI: 54.7, 64.0). After adjusting for possible confounding factors, age 18 to 24 years [AOR = 1.72;95% CI: (1.07, 2.76)], lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) utilization [AOR = 2.30; 95% CI: (1.44, 3.68)], chewing khat (yes) [AOR = 2.32;95% CI: (1.32, 4.08)], drinking alcohol (yes) [AOR = 1.80; 95% CI: (1.003, 3.24)] and job dissatisfaction [AOR = 2.26, 95% CI: (1.44, 3.54)] were shown to be significantly associated with work-related injury. The prevalence of work-related injuries was high. Age 18 to 24 years, chewing khat, drinking alcohol, lack of PPE utilization, and job dissatisfaction were significantly associated with work-related injury. Based on the findings of this study, we suggest that addressing these risk factors could help to reduce work-related injuries.

Radiographer experiences of personal protective equipment during COVID-19 in Gauteng, South Africa

IntroductionAmidst the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) were found to be at a greater risk of becoming infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). This disease is highly contagious and is for the most part preventative if correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used while attending to patients. Subsequently, a lack of PPE in South Africa was putting the lives of health care workers at risk impacting on the functioning of the healthcare system. MethodsThis exploratory, descriptive, qualitative study used purposeful sampling to obtain data saturation. The study comprised twelve individual interviews with radiographers from both private and government hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa who worked in x-ray departments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online video interviews were conducted. The transcripts of the interviews were further coded into themes and categorised using thematic analysis and verified by an independent coder. ResultsThe radiographers’ experiences of PPE during COVID-19 in Gauteng, South Africa generated 3 themes: radiographers’ experiences with PPE supplied during COVID-19, workplace practices and procedures for PPE during COVID-19 and emotional challenges faced during PPE shortage. DiscussionWhile there was an understandable fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus during the height of the pandemic. The researcher also believes that radiographers would benefit greatly by receiving training on how to use PPE correctly for infection control in highly stressful situations. Education is required for use of PPE when supply is scarce and the number of infected patients outweighs the quantities of PPE available. This study further found that there needs to be more support given to healthcare workers (HCW's) to assess their mental health and emotional stress experienced when facing a pandemic. ConclusionWhile COVID-19 has started to settle, the lessons learnt should inform recommendations on PPE use, regarding procurement and preservation. In addition, mental health assessments can be considered for radiographers during future pandemic.

Health and Safety Risks Among Informal Solid Waste Pickers in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar Es Salaam Region, Tanzania

Waste pickers in Dar Es Salaam play a great role in managing wastes, however; their health and safety status is not documented with certainty. The objective of the study was to assess the health and safety risks among informal solid waste pickers. The study deployed interview and questionnaire to collect data. The study revealed that most waste pickers are poor and marginalized social groups. The health and safety status of waste pickers is affected by long working hours, repetitive movement for picking waste, walking long distances carrying heavy bags of recyclables, and working on hazardous environments without personal protective gears. The most common health and safety risks were musculoskeletal diseases, accidents and injuries. The waste pickers' vulnerability to the hazards is exacerbated by inadequate awareness on health and safety problems, lack of personal protective equipment and medical insurances. Formal recognition of waste pickers, educational support on health and safety including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and medical insurances are needed to lessen their exposure to various risks. The government and private sector are encouraged to invest in waste recycling activities which create employment opportunities while protecting the environment. At the same time, they should pay attention to waste pickers who, despite the challenges they face, form an integral part on successful recycling activities.

Emotional exhaustion and traumatic stress among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal changes and protective factors

Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of experiencing work-related stress, burnout syndrome, and depression, especially during infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19. Contributing factors include increased workload, lack of personal protective equipment, and inadequate support from the healthcare administration. Longitudinal studies have shown that the mental health status of HCWs has deteriorated over time. Social support and compassion satisfaction (CS) are protective factors that can mitigate adverse mental health effects. The present longitudinal study examined the mental health status of HCWs during the COVID-19 outbreak and aimed to identify potential predictors and protective factors. Methods The study comprised 386 healthcare workers in Hungary and was conducted in two waves (T1 and T2) from January 2021 to January 2022. Participants completed an online survey including the Professional Quality of Life Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, demographic and work-related background factors. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, and a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM). Results Frontline HCWs had higher levels of secondary traumatic stress (STS) and emotional exhaustion (EE) than non-frontline healthcare workers. Both groups experienced significant increases in these measures between T1 and T2. The CLPM indicated that EE had a significant lagged effect on STS among frontline workers, while STS had a significant lagged effect on EE among non-frontline workers. CS had a significant protective effect on both STS and EE in both groups. Conclusions The findings suggest that CS protects EE and STS, particularly among frontline HCWs. The study also showed that different causative relationships exist between these factors among frontline and non-frontline HCWs, which underlines the possible cyclical relationship between the two depending on the circumstances. The results provide insights into the protective role of positive work experiences and the importance of considering the needs of both frontline and non-frontline HCWs in preventive intervention programs.

The Psychological Status of Healthcare Workers of a COVID-19- Free Cancer Hospital during COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey - A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Identifying the psychosocial effects on healthcare workers is critical in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: In this study, we aimed to examine the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers of a cancer hospital in Turkey and to determine its predictors. Methods: The psychosocial effects of the epidemic on hospital staff were evaluated by a psychiatrist through a face-to-face psychiatric interview. A semi-structured questionnaire containing socio-demographic variables and questions about social changes, and Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90-R) were administered to the hospital staff that agreed to participate in the study. Results: Twenty-three percent of the subjects had threshold values for the Global Severity Index in SCL-90-R. The most common symptoms were obsessions and depressive symptoms (42% and 36.5%, respectively). Being young, being a woman, being single, worsening economic situation, high education level, history of past psychiatric disorders, isolation and/or quarantine history, lack of personal protective equipment, separation from the family, fear of infecting a family member or cancer patient were determined as risk factors. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant psychosocial impact on healthcare workers, highlighting the need for appropriate strategies to understand and mitigate these effects.

A systematic review of dentists' psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges to healthcare workers worldwide, including the effect on the psychological wellbeing of dentists.Aims To evaluate the impact of the early phases of the pandemic on the psychological health, long-term wellbeing and clinical service provision of dentists, as well as the identification of the key risk and protective factors for adverse mental health outcomes (MHOs) in this group.Methods A systematic review of cross-sectional studies (n = 53) from public and private dentistry sectors was employed to delineate the risk and protective factors for adverse MHOs.Results Self-reports from these studies (1 December 2019 to 31 December 2021), involving 45,671 dentists worldwide were analysed. Study findings were classified according to their psychological impact (as risk or protective factors), categorised as 'operational' or 'organisational' and subdivided into 'psychosocial', 'occupational', 'sociodemographic' and 'environmental' elements. A GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) certainty of evidence score was calculated for all the identified factors.Conclusions This review confirmed the negative impact of the pandemic on the MHOs of dentists worldwide. Pivotal risk factors included fear of infection, transmission to families, lack of personal protective equipment and possible direct contact with infected patients. Enhanced infection control protocols, individual resilience and organisational support were identified as important protective factors.

Level of Anxiety Among Healthcare Professionals During COVID-19 Pandemic in Ahmedabad: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: COVID-19, was first identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. It is a highly contagious disease with a rapidly rising incidence globally. Due to its extensive transmission, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated it as a pandemic. This has put healthcare professionals (HCPs) under tremendous pressure as they deal with many variables some of which are long working hours, lack of personal protective equipment, lack of specific drugs and protocols, and being away from family. Therefore, it is extremely important to find out the level of anxiety among healthcare professionals who have done covid duty. Method: An online questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Civil Hospital Ahmadabad. Using a Convenient sampling method Selection of 108 subjects was according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and an Online questionnaire was designed on Google form and then circulated on social media application to selected Healthcare professionals after taken electrical consent from the subject. Statistical analysis was done. Subjective results were established. Results: All data analysis was performed using SPSS 16 and MS Excel 2021. A total of 108 participants were recruited, results of GAD-7 showed that 37.04%, 37.96%, 18.52%, and 6.48% of healthcare providers in Ahmedabad experienced minimal, mild, moderate, and severe anxiety, respectively, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The present study concluded that the level of anxiety among healthcare professionals in Ahmedabad is classified as mild in healthcare professionals after the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: Anxiety, Healthcare professionals, COVID-19, Pandemic, Ahmedabad.

Electric personal mobility device driver behaviors, their antecedents and consequences: A narrative review

Introduction: Electric personal mobility devices (ePMDs), as well as crashes involving ePMDs, have been on the rise all over the world. The objectives of this study were: (a) to summarize the literature based on a narrow definition of ePMD (excluding e-bikes) and (b) to sort out the results to fit into a psychological and behavioral framework. The available literature was sorted into three main categories: the behaviors of ePMD drivers, their antecedents, and their consequences. Method. A narrative review of the literature was carried out in 101 documents published between January 2018 and July 2021. Results. Regarding behavioral antecedents, regulations vary from country to country. ePMDs were found to be used primarily by males under 40 years of age. We found no studies on driving skills or learning, driver education or training, or on the effect of health messages on attitudes and behavior. Regarding the main behaviors themselves, the drivers’ reasons for focusing on ePMDs were our main focus (use for short distances and mainly for commuting, shopping, and leisure). Few of the studies we reviewed explored the interactions between ePMD drivers and other road users in natural or simulated environments, and the influence of road infrastructure on behavior has rarely been studied. Regarding health consequences, reported ePMD crashes resulted in serious head and limb injuries, especially head and leg fractures. The lack of personal protective equipment (e.g., a helmet) increased the severity of crashes. The conclusion highlights gaps in the literature from a psychological and behavioral point of view.

Occupational dissatisfaction of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A rising cause for concern of the world's nursing community

Since December 2020, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created many challenges for healthcare workers, especially nurses. Since nurses constitute 59% of healthcare workers worldwide, it’s necessary to pay attention to their needs as frontline fighters during COVID-19 pandemic. An extraordinary pressure is imposed on nurses due to the sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is accompanied by an increase in workload, physical fatigue, disruption of the work-life balance, lack of personal protective equipment, and nurses' fear of being infected with COVID-19 themselves or their families. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the most basic problems faced by nurses were their infection with COVID-19 and forced quarantine, and as a result, the effective activity and number of nurses in the departments affected by COVID-19 were reduced, which this issue led to an increase in workload on other nurses [1].

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.

From students to nurses under pressure: Nursing students' entry into employment during the first COVID-19 wave.

To describe the experiences of nursing students and their mental health as they entered employment during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (May-June 2020). As other healthcare professionals, nursing students who worked during the first COVID-19 wave suffered from dysfunctional mental health symptoms. Sequential, mixed-method, multicentre study. The study population comprised 92 students in the third and fourth year of the Nursing degree at three Spanish universities, who entered employment during the pandemic. Data were collected between May and June 2020. In the quantitative phase, data were collected using an online questionnaire containing both validated anxiety and stress scales. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 participants. A descriptive analysis of the quantitative data and a reflexive thematic analysis of the qualitative data were carried out, and analyses were combined. COREQ checklist was used for reporting. The combined quantitative and qualitative results were organised into five thematic areas: (1) Interruption of clinical placements, (2) Entering employment on a healthcare assistant contract, (3) Preventing contagion, (4) Adapting to the situation and managing emotions, and (5) Lessons learned. The students had a positive overall experience of entering employment, as they were able to develop their nursing skills. However, they had an emotional impact in form of stress caused by excessive responsibility, academic uncertainty, lack of personal protective equipment and training in its use, and the possibility of spreading disease to their family members. In the current context, changes must be made in study programmes to instruct nursing students to be able to cope with extreme clinical situations, such as pandemics. The programmes should include a more extensive coverage of epidemics and pandemics and management of emotional aspects such as resilience.

Knowledge and practice of personal protective measures against COVID-19 in Africa: a systematic review.

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic being a newly evolving disease, its response measures largely depend on the practice of and compliance with personal protective measures (PPMs). This systematic review aimed to examine the knowledge and practice of COVID-19 PPMs in African countries, as documented in the published literature. A systematic search was conducted on Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases using appropriate keywords and predefined eligibility criteria for the selection of relevant studies. Only population-based original research studies (including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies) done in Africa, and published in the English language were included. The screening process and data extraction were performed according to a pre-registered protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42022355101) and followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Mixed-Method Appraisal Tool. Thematic analysis was used to systematically summarise the studies into four predefined domains: i) knowledge and perception about PPMs, ii) mask use, iii) social/physical distancing, and iv) hand washing/hygiene, including their respective levels and associated factors. A total of 58 studies across 12 African countries were included, and these were published between 2019 and 2022. African communities, including various population groups, had varying levels of knowledge and practice of COVID-19 PPMs, with lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) (mainly face masks), and side effects (among health care workers) being the major reasons for poor compliance. Lower rates of handwashing/ hygiene were particularly noted in several African countries, especially among the urban poor and slum-dwellers, with the main barrier being the lack of safe and clean water. Various cognitive (knowledge and perception), socio-demographic and economic factors were associated with the practice of COVID-19 PPMs. Moreover, there were evident research inequalities on the regional level, where East Africa contributed 36.2%, West Africa 20.7%, North Africa 17.2%, Southern Africa 6.9%, and no single-country study from Central Africa. Nonetheless, the overall quality of the included studies was generally good, as they satisfied most of the quality assessment criteria. There is a need to enhance local capacity to produce and supply PPE. Consideration of various cognitive, demographic and socioeconomic differences, with extra focus on the most vulnerable, is crucial for inclusive and more effective strategies against the pandemic. Moreover, more focus and involvement in community behavioral research are needed to fully understand and address the dynamics of the current pandemic in Africa. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022355101).

COVID-19 Disruptions of Food Systems and Nutrition Services in Ethiopia: Evidence of the Impacts and Policy Responses.

Since its first case of COVID-19 on March 13, 2020, Ethiopia has exerted efforts to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) without imposing a nationwide lockdown. Globally, COVID-19 related disruptions and mitigation measures have impacted livelihoods and food systems, nutrition, as well as access and use of health services. To develop a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food systems, health services, and maternal and child nutrition and to synthesize lessons from policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia. We conducted a review of literature and 8 key informant interviews across government agencies, donors, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), to map the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food and health systems in Ethiopia. We summarized policy responses and identified recommendations for future actions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other future emergencies. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were felt across the food system and include limited agriculture inputs due to travel restrictions and closed borders restricting trade, reduced in-person support by agriculture extension workers, income losses, increases in food prices, and the reduction in food security and dietary diversity. Maternal and child health services were disrupted due to fear of contacting COVID-19, diversion of resources, and lack of personal protective equipment. Disruptions eased over time due to the expansion of social protection through the Productive Safety Net Program, and the increased outreach and home service provision by the health extension workers. Ethiopia experienced disruptions to food systems and maternal and child nutrition services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, by expanding existing social protection programs and public health infrastructure and leveraging partnerships with non-state actors, the extent of the impact of the pandemic was largely minimized. Nevertheless, vulnerabilities and gaps remain and there is a need for a long-term strategy that considers the potential for future pandemics and other shocks.