Social Distancing Rules Research Articles

Effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions on social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from the 27 Brazilian states.

BackgroundDespite substantial evidence on the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), there is still limited evidence on the individual effects of different types of NPIs on social distancing, especially in low- and middle-income countries.MethodsWe used panel data analysis to evaluate the effects of mandatory social distancing rules on social distancing. We obtained data on six different categories of mandatory restrictions implemented in Brazil, by date and state, from state government gazettes (diários oficiais). We then defined a social distancing rules index (SDI) to measure the strictness of social distancing rules, assigning each a value of 2, 1, or 0 depending on whether restrictions were full, partial, or very limited/non-existent at every given time. A separate variable was defined for masking mandates. We tested whether the following variables were associated to social distancing: SDI, masking mandates, COVID-19 incidence, population socioeconomic status, and political orientation. Data is for each day between March 11th and November 10th, 2020 in the 27 Brazilian states (N = 6615).FindingsSocial distancing increased when social distancing rules were stricter, and decreased when the use of face masks became mandatory. The effects of different types of restrictions varied: suspending in-person classes and gatherings, religious/sport/cultural activities had a greater effect than other types of restrictions. Also, the effect of social distancing rules on people’s behaviour decreased over time, especially when rules were stricter.InterpretationMandatory social distancing rules must be adopted to increase social distancing. Stricter rules have a higher impact, but result in decreased compliance over time. Policymakers should prioritize more targeted policies.

Remaking academic library services in Zimbabwe in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic

The outbreak of the global COVID -19 pandemic has affected all aspects of life, access to higher education has not been out of danger as evidenced by the enforcement of official closures, enforcement lockdown and social distancing rules by governments throughout the world. However, while the COVID-19 pandemic has presented the world with numerous socioeconomic challenges, it has also helped to spur creativity and information as evidenced by the responses of academic libraries that have seen a heighted use of digital platforms to support education, teaching and research. The study sought to establish how librarians in Zimbabwe responded to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the implications of the pandemic on library service delivery. A qualitative research was adopted for the study. Using snowballing, interviews were used to gather data beginning with the library association's branch leadership. The researchers ensured that the questions were aligned to the research objectives. The interview schedule included open and closed questions to enable participants to provide further details relating to the phenomenon under study. The participants were guaranteed their rights to consent, privacy and anonymity in the introduction of the interview schedule. An The study reveals that there has been an increase in the use online platforms for accessing information especially library's webpages, electronic books and journals. The use of library online resources from distance locations also rose following closure of campuses. Library patrons' perceptions towards electronic resources significantly improved as they realized that they were equally useful as the print. Findings from the study provide useful recommendation on how librarians can remodel their services to match new demands presented by the COVD-19 pandemic. The study provides a starting point upon which further research on the effect of COVID-19 or other similar pandemics have on library service delivery.

Compliance with the first UK covid-19 lockdown and the compounding effects of weather

The effectiveness of containment measures has been shown to depend on both epidemiological and sociological mechanisms, most notably compliance with national lockdown rules. Yet, there has been growing discontent with social distancing rules during national lockdowns across several countries, particularly among certain demographic and socio-economic groups. Using a highly granular dataset on compliance of over 105,000 individuals between March and May 2020 in the United Kingdom (UK), we find that compliance with lockdown policies was initially high in the overall population during the earlier phase of the pandemic, but that compliance fell substantially over time, especially among specific segments of society. Warmer temperatures increased the non-compliance of individuals who are male, divorced, part-time employed, and/or parent of more than two children. Thus, while epidemiologically the virus spread was naturally more limited during the warmer period of 2020, sociologically the higher temperature led to lower individual-level compliance with public health measures. As long as new strains emerge, governments may therefore be required to complement vaccination campaigns with targeted and time limited restrictions. Since non-complying individuals at the beginning of the pandemic share certain characteristics with vaccination sceptics, understanding their compliance behaviour will remain essential for future policymaking.

Telemedicine Is an Effective Tool to Monitor Disease Activity in IBD Patients in the COVID-19 Era: A Single Centre Experience Based on Objective Data

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak has led IBD clinics to adopt a remote monitoring approach in order to guarantee an adequate follow-up of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ensure the rules of social distancing. Aim: The aim of the study was to perform a survey on IBD patients who underwent remote monitoring in our tertiary referral center, to assess adherence, patients’ perceptions and satisfaction, and finally their opinions for future monitoring. Furthermore, we evaluated changes in disease activity and Quality of Life (QoL) using validated questionnaires. Methods: Consecutive patients with IBD scheduled for follow-up visits were switched to remote monitoring through e-mail from March 2020 to February 2021. Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire focusing on the following elements of the intervention: (1) self-assessment questions, (2) action plans, and (3) educational messages. Results: Four hundred and twenty four Caucasian patients completed the survey. 233 (55.1%) were male, 220 (52.0%) had Crohn’s Disease (CD). Median baseline Mayo Score and Harvey Bradshaw Index were 3 and 4, respectively. 9 (2.1%) patients were referred to the emergency department because of disease flares. 410 (96.9%) patients were satisfied with telemedicine, and 320 (76.5%) patients reported that they would maintain this approach also after COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, on univariate logistic regression analysis, none of the variables were related to patients’ satisfaction or to an improved QoL. The presence of ulcerative colitis was associated with the need for treatment change. Conclusions: Our results suggest that a telemedicine approach is well accepted by patients with IBD and could represent an effective tool in monitoring disease activity. Further controlled studies are warranted to properly assess if telemedicine can replace face-to-face consultations in IBD.

The role of inflammatory bowel disease nurses for patients on biologic therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) centres had to reorganise their work, and multidisciplinary teams, including IBD nurses, have had to try to deliver services to patients as safely as possible. Aims: This survey aimed to assess the thoughts, opinions and feelings of IBD patients on biologics regarding the efforts of IBD nurses to organise care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An evaluation survey based on an anonymous questionnaire was distributed to IBD nurses in five Italian IBD centres, in parallel. Findings: Of 306 participants, 55.6% had Crohn's disease and 44.4% had ulcerative colitis. Most (79.1%) were aware of the specialist IBD nurse role, and 75.8% could distinguish it from generalist nurses. Of patients, 99.7% felt IBD nurses were competent to care for their condition and 91.2% felt that IBD nurses could provide valid scientific information. Meanwhile, 81.4% had a good or excellent relationship with their IBD nurse. Patients reported that most nurses wore personal protective equipment (94.4%), promoted self-care (91.8%), asked about presence of fever or cough (84.3%), asked about patient health status (83.7%) and covered pandemic safety and social distancing rules (69.3%), but fewer spoke about patient mood (44.4%) or relevant benefits, rules and exemptions (26.8%). Most participants (77.8%) faced pandemic-related issues for infusions. Nearly all (97.4%) knew immunosuppressed people were vulnerable to COVID-19, but only 42.8% spoke to their nurse about it. Some 61.8% of patients were concerned about COVID-19, but only 39.2% raised this with the IBD nurse. However, many more patients spoke to a nurse about concerns regarding biologics (41.8%) and worsening IBD symptoms (46.4%) in the pandemic than the actual number experiencing these issues (13.7% and 4.3%, respectively). Conclusion: The results show that IBD patients appreciate the role of the specialist nurse in their care.

The Next Generation of Edutainment Applications for Young Children—A Proposal

Edutainment applications are a type of software that is designed to be entertaining while also being educational. In the current COVID-19 pandemic context, when children have to stay home due to the social distancing rules, edutainment applications for young children are more and more used each day. However, are these applications ready to take the place of an in-person teacher? In this paper, we propose a new generation of edutainment applications that are more suitable for preschoolers (aged 3–6 years old in our country) and closer to the in-person student–teacher interaction: emotions aware edutainment applications. We discuss the most important challenges that must be overcome in developing this kind of applications (i.e., recognizing children’s emotions, enhancing the edutainment application with emotion awareness, and adapting the interaction flow) and the first steps that we have taken for developing them.

Young people\u2019s experiences of COVID-19 messaging at the start of the UK lockdown: lessons for positive engagement and information sharing

BackgroundTo reduce COVID-19 infection rates during the initial stages of the pandemic, the UK Government mandated a strict period of restriction on freedom of movement or ‘lockdown’. For young people, closure of schools and higher education institutions and social distancing rules may have been particularly challenging, coming at a critical time in their lives for social and emotional development. This study explored young people’s experiences of the UK Government’s initial response to the pandemic and related government messaging.MethodsThis qualitative study combines data from research groups at the University of Southampton, University of Edinburgh and University College London. Thirty-six online focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 150 young people (Southampton: n = 69; FGD = 7; Edinburgh: n = 41; FGD = 5; UCL: n = 40; FGD = 24). Thematic analysis was conducted to explore how young people viewed the government’s response and messaging and to develop recommendations for how to best involve young people in addressing similar crises in the future.ResultsThe abrupt onset of lockdown left young people shocked, confused and feeling ignored by government and media messaging. Despite this, they were motivated to adhere to government advice by the hope that life might soon return to normal. They felt a responsibility to help with the pandemic response, and wanted to be productive with their time, but saw few opportunities to volunteer.ConclusionsYoung people want to be listened to and feel they have a part to play in responding to a national crisis such as the COVID-19 epidemic. To reduce the likelihood of disenfranchising the next generation, Government and the media should focus on developing messaging that reflects young people’s values and concerns and to provide opportunities for young people to become involved in responses to future crises.

A Review on Digitalization of CSR during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia: Opportunities and Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a global problem since first appearing in 2020. Not only does it heavily affect the health sector, but it also spreads to other sectors such as social, economic, and education. Studies have shown that many global companies, including those based in Indonesia, contribute to the global pandemic mitigation by implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. So far, the implementation of CSR is mainly focused on providing food, medicines, and vitamins, as well as medical facilities and equipment. On the other hand, other reviewed studies showed that the pandemic has transformed the CSR implementation from offline to online, also known as CSR digitalization. The limitation in mobility and strict social distancing rules by the government have resulted in this emergence of CSR digitalization initiatives. Although CSR digitalization is still relatively rare, several technology companies have started implementing it. CSR digitalization practices aim to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) to master digital competencies and increase their economic condition affected by the pandemic. Companies implementing CSR digitalization reported a more efficient and effective CSR implementation. This article can potentially introduce a new paradigm to the industry players on the importance of CSR digitalization and future opportunities due to the changes in the behavior of society post-pandemic.

Survey on Social Distance Analyser Using Deep Learning Techniques

Covid – 19 Virus spreading over day by day, throughout the world, billions of people are infected. "Social distance" is the only key to decreasing the COVID 19 rate. The best way to deal with such a dangerous situation is to follow the rules made by the government. Maintaining social distancing is only the option to control the spread of the diseases. The ongoing COVID-19 virus outbreak has caused a global disaster with its deadly spreading. Due to the absence of effective remedial agents and the shortage of immunizations against the virus, population vulnerability increases. Social distancing is thought to be an adequate precaution (norm) against the spread of the pandemic virus. The risks of virus spread can be minimized by avoiding physical contact among people. To effectively control the Covid-19 virus situation, the survey relied on twelve research papers focusing on detecting social gap violators using in-depth learning algorithms. The goal is to detect violations of the social distancing rule. Many studies have been done and various innovative methods have been suggested. The purpose of this paper is to compare the proposed methods and their results. This survey paper will discuss the technologies used for this in detail.

Fertility Workup With Video Consultation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Pilot Quantitative and Qualitative Study.

BackgroundDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, major parts of elective health care in the Netherlands, such as reproductive medicine, were paused. When health care was resumed, video consultation was used as a new solution to continue consultations with the new governmental rules of social distancing. Prior to this COVID-19 situation, video consultation was not used extensively in the Netherlands; therefore, physicians and patients are not familiar with this way of consultation.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to measure the level of patient centeredness and shared decision making in infertile couples who have undergone fertility workup through video consultation.MethodsThis is a questionnaire study with an additional qualitative part for a more in depth understanding. Infertile couples (ie, male and female partners with an unfulfilled wish for a child after 1 year of unprotected intercourse) were referred to a fertility center and underwent fertility workup through video consultation. The fertility workup consisted of 2 separate video consultations, with diagnostic tests according to a protocol. After the last video consultation couples received a digital questionnaire, which consisted of a modified version of the Patient-Centered Questionnaire-Infertility (PCQ-I) and CollaboRATE questionnaire. Fifty-three eligible infertile couples were approached, and of these, 22 participated. Four women were approached for a semistructured interview.ResultsThe median score on the modified PCQ-I (scale of 0 to 3) was 2.64. The highest rating was for the subscale communication and information, and the lowest rating was for the subscale organization of care. The median score on the CollaboRATE questionnaire (scale of 1 to 9) was 8 for all 3 subquestions. Patients mentioned privacy, less travel time, and easy use of the program as possible benefits of video consultation. However, patients preferred the first consultation with their physician to be face-to-face consultation as video consultation was considered less personal.ConclusionsThe high levels of patient centeredness and shared decision making show that video consultation is a promising way of providing care remotely, although attention has to be payed to mitigate the more impersonal setting of video consultation when compared with face-to-face consultation.

Effectiveness of telesimulation for pediatric minimally invasive surgery essential skills training

BackgroundIn the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing rules, access to in-person training activities had temporarily been interrupted, speeding up the implementation of telesimulation for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) essential skills training (T-ESTM, Telesimulation - Essential Skills Training Module) in our center. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of T-ESTM. MethodsT-ESTM was scheduled into 2 sessions of 3 h through the Zoom® virtual meeting platform. The academic lectures, the tutorials for box-trainer set-up and 7 performance tasks were accessed through an online campus previous to the remote encounter for personalized guidance and debriefing.Initial (pre-telementoring) and final (post 6-hour telementoring) assessment scoring as well as timing for Task 2 (circle-cutting pattern), 3 (extracorporeal Roeder knot) and 5 (intracorporeal Square knot) were registered. Results61 participants were recruited. The mean age was 31±5 years. 65% were surgical residents. 48% performed low complexity procedures. 52% had previous experience with simulation training.In Task 2, there was a 21% improvement in the final score obtained, as well as a significant decrease in time of 33%; in Task 3, there was an increase of 39% in the scoring and a decrease of 49% in the timing; and in Task 5, participants improved their technique a 30% and decreased the performance time a 47%. All the differences were statistically significant. DiscussionOur data support T-ESTM as a reproducible and effective educational tool for remote MIS essential skills hands-on training.Level of Evidence: II

The emergence of recreational cycling in Hanoi during the Covid-19 pandemic

ObjectivesThis study examined recreational cycling in Hanoi, Vietnam, with a particular focus on changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. The research questions were: (1) Has recreational cycling increased during the Covid-19 pandemic?; (2) If so, what factors have led to the increase?; and (3) What are some of the typical traits and behaviors of recreational cyclists? MethodFace-to-face surveys of 356 recreational cyclists were carried out in March–April 2021 in four areas of inner Hanoi. The survey data were modelled through two binary and one ordinal logit regression. ResultsRecreational cycling has become much more popular in Hanoi during the Covid-19 pandemic, with early morning being the preferred time for this activity (to avoid heavy traffic). A quarter of the participants had starting cycling recreationally since the first lockdown in April 2020, and about three quarters reported having noticed an increase in cycling activity around them. Nearly half of the participants cycled regularly (more than four times per week). The groups that were most likely to have taken up cycling for recreations during the pandemic included men, those living with children in the home, and those not working or studying. Age and income were not significant. People have been embracing cycling as a way to maintain or increase physical activity levels, and to safely socialize at the time when social gatherings are limited, walking is prohibited in some zones, and social distancing rules apply everywhere. ConclusionTo sustain the growth in recreational cycling and widen the time-window for this activity while ensuring everyone's safety, Hanoi's planning and public health sectors should join forces to adopt a combination of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ measures. The authors recommend creating multi-use paths for micromobility modes, launching a public bikesharing scheme, regulating motorised modes, and social marketing that promotes recreational cycling as trendy.

For me or for others? The better-than-average effect and negative feelings toward average others during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the first outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many people expressed hatred toward others whom they believed were responsible for the situation. Such increase in negative affect could be resultant of the better-than-average effect (BTAE), which refers to the phenomenon of believing that one is superior to average others. This study investigated the relationship between the BTAE and emotional valence toward others and tested whether the relationship was moderated by allocentric goals (i.e., concerned with the interests of others rather than themselves) and culture. Participants from the U.S. (N = 210) and South Korea (N = 214) were asked about their perceptions on whether they were better than others at preventing the COVID-19 infection, how they felt about others regarding COVID-19, and for whom they were preventing COVID-19. The results indicated that people showing more BTAE in relation to preventing the COVID-19 infection reported more negative emotional valence toward others, but the relationship was moderated by allocentric goals. In particular, the U.S. participants with higher allocentric goals reported less negatively valenced emotions, while the same was not found in Korean participants. The findings suggest the power of allocentric goals in diminishing the BTAE in some cultures, which may possibly explain the negative emotions some people experience when following social distancing rules.

Models for government intervention during a pandemic

While intervention policies such as social distancing rules, lockdowns, and curfews may save lives during a pandemic, they impose substantial direct and indirect costs on societies. In this paper, we provide a mathematical model to assist governmental policymakers in managing the lost lives during a pandemic through controlling intervention levels. Our model is non-convex in decision variables, and we develop two heuristics to obtain fast and high-quality solutions. Our results indicate that when anticipated economic consequences are higher, healthcare overcapacity will emerge. When the projected economic costs of the pandemic are large and the illness severity is low, however, a no-intervention strategy may be preferable. As the severity of the infection rises, the cost of intervention climbs accordingly. The death toll also increases with the severity of both the economic consequences of interventions and the infection rate of the disease. Our models suggest earlier mitigation strategies that typically start before the saturation of the healthcare system when disease severity is high.

Effect analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic on the electricity consumption of Bangladesh

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our way of life and has brought challenges on a scale never seen before. Lockdown and various other social distancing rules have been implemented in order to slow down new infections. This has led to a drastic change in people's lifestyle and has altered the pattern of electricity consumption. In this paper, the effect of lockdown on the overall electricity consumption of Bangladesh is analysed. Also, a neural network-based prediction model is developed to predict the electricity consumption during a lockdown or estimate the future consumption given a lockdown is announced in the future. Furthermore, in order to compare the change in electricity consumption for commercial, residential, and industrial areas, power measurements for the lockdown and the post lockdown period are analysed in detail. Results show a significant decline in the overall electricity consumption of Bangladesh during the period of lockdown. In addition, the commercial and industrial areas showed a considerable reduction in electricity consumption. However, the changes in electricity consumption in residential areas are found negligible. This study will aid in to provide a clearer understanding on the electricity consumption pattern in the case of further lockdowns or in the event of another outbreak in the future.

Full Range of Leadership Styles on Competency Acquisition under the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Apprenticeship Training in Zimbabwe

Apprenticeship being a practical-oriented training is one of the affected areas for the On-the-Job-Training in the COVID-19 pandemic era. Since apprenticeship training is time and competency-based, the lockdowns, stay at home and social distancing rules as pronounced by the Government due to COVID-19, temporarily suspended the continuation of the proficiency skills syllabi at colleges and competency acquisition in various companies. However, delay in the skills acquisition is unjust especially now as the industry faces collapse due to lack of appropriate skills and the skillfulness of personnel. Since competency acquisition is realized in terms of performance outcomes of trainees in industry, leadership plays a significant role in guiding, supporting, motivating and ensuring trainees acquire prerequisite competencies in such unprecedented situations. This paper presents the role of the Full Range Leadership style in competency acquisition for trainees doing apprenticeship training programs under the COVID-19 pandemic era in Zimbabwe. This is quantitative research which comprises a sample of 239 trainees which was established using an online survey that enabled rapid and effective distribution of an online questionnaire during the COVID-19 crisis. Then, data were analyzed using various statistical techniques. The results show distinctions among leadership styles in predicting competency acquisition by trainees and transformational leadership were found to be statistically significant to trainees’ competency acquisition under the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper recommends the adoption of transformational leadership and intensifying transformational leadership training to capacitate staff members at the training institutions in Zimbabwe now and in the post-pandemic era.

Pedestrian movement modelling for a commercial street considering COVID-19 social distancing strategies

This research attempts to understand the impacts of social distancing on dense urban pedestrian environments through pedestrian movement simulations. It develops a pedestrian microsimulation modelling framework that evaluates three scenarios for a commercial street in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). The Business-as-Usual scenario mimics pre-COVID conditions with no social distancing protocols. Pandemic Scenario# 1 represents social distancing without any changes in the pedestrian infrastructure. The HRM has adopted a mobility response plan for COVID-19, this generates Pandemic Scenario# 2 depicting the widened sidewalks within the pedestrian microsimulation model. The results reveal that the social distancing strategy in the pandemic scenarios significantly improved pedestrian flow in terms of the reduction in contact violations. These violations are described as instances in which a pedestrian violates the 2 m social distancing rule. The simulation of the first pandemic scenario (no sidewalk enhancement) showed a significant reduction of 43% in the number of contact violations during the one-hour pedestrian simulation of the street. The second pandemic scenario showed a 68% decrease in violations. The conclusions derived from this research support the actions of the municipality as the simulation results indicate that an increase in sidewalk width can influence contact rates and time travelled. When comparing the two pandemic scenarios, the scenario that incorporated wider sidewalks showed a decrease in total travel time and contact rates.

Survival strategies of producers involved in short food supply chains following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic: A Hungarian case-study.

Survival strategies of producers involved in short food supply chains following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic: A Hungarian case-study.

Drivers of the Consumers Adoption of Fintech Services

Aim/Purpose: This study aimed to explore the impact of environmental drivers and trust on consumers’ adoption of Fintech services in the Jordanian context. It had also evaluated the mediating role of trust on the relation between environmental drivers and consumers adoption of Fintech services. Background: The reviewed studies on Fintech adoption demonstrated a lack of focus on the role of external or environmental drivers on consumers’ intentions to use and continue to use of Fintech services. Amongst the analyzed studies, the majority had examined the role of consumers perception of services usefulness and ease of use while few had included some environmental variables within the investigated variables such as social influence and government support. Furthermore, shortage of Fintech adoption related research in the developing countries, especially the Jordanian context was noted. Methodology: The study conceptual model was derived from Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Technological Personal Environmental (TPE) framework. This study was a quantitative one that employed survey method to empirically address its research questions and test the proposed hypotheses. Jordanian residents over the age of 18 who are familiar with Fintech were targeted, and convenience sampling was applied to get representative sample. Data was assembled from 323 respondents using an online questionnaire. Partial Least Squares Structure Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to analyze the gathered data through SMART-PLS software. Contribution: This article adds to the existing literature on multiple stands, as it adds to literature related to Fintech adoption, as well as the interaction between consumer environment and their level of adoption. It also enriches the limited literature on the influence of COVID-19 to drive consumer usage of innovative services. Moreover, it supplements the scarce literature on Fintech adoption in the Jordanian settings. Findings: The main findings revealed the positive influence of both environmental drivers and trust as predictors of consumer intention to use Fintech services. It had also asserted the positive mediating effect of trust on the relationship amongst environmental drivers and consumer usage intent. Recommendations for Practitioners: By understanding the importance of consumer environment and trust on encouraging consumer to adopt Fintech services, governments, policy makers and practitioners can utilize this knowledge to adopt their offered services. They need to work on enhancing the technological infrastructure, as well as establishing general technological knowledge. They also need to highlight the role of Fintech service in fighting Covid-19, by adhering to the social distancing rules. Moreover, they need to guarantee the security and reliability of the developed services to increase their level of trust in the offered services. Recommendation for Researchers: This research has confirmed the positive influence of consumer environment represented by social influence, government support, technological readiness, and COVID-19 on their adoption of Fintech services. It has also established the mediating influence of consumer trust on the relation between environmental drivers and consumer intent to use Fintech services. This area is unexplored and needs more validation. Impact on Society: By understanding the factors affecting the Jordanian society in adopting Fintech services, this research provides set of recommendation to the Jordanian government and policy makers that can lead for more adoption of the developed Fintech services, which in turn would lead to better services provided to the society as well as increasing the financial inclusion level in the Jordanian society. Future Research: Future research can explore other environmental variables that were not included in the current research. Future research can also investigate the moderating effect of personal attributes such as consumer’s demographics, or more personal attributes such as self-efficacy, inherit innovativeness or risk aversion. It can also examine the moderating effect of financial literacy and/ or technological background.

ETNOGRAFIA COM CRIANÇAS EM TEMPOS DE PANDEMIA: UMA REFLEXÃO ÉTICO-METODOLÓGICA

Abstract This article is concerned with the ethical and methodological aspects of research carried out during 2020, which investigated the children’s representation of Covid-19 in the Brazilian state of Maranhão. It queries the fabrication of an ethnography at a distance (with the children’s parents as mediators), taking digital technologies as a means to access children and their narratives through short interviews, audio recordings, and drawings. Adhering to social distancing rules, without access to direct observation, it raises issues regarding the process of obtaining information and transforming it into data through systematization and analysis.