Unmarried Respondents Research Articles

Unveiling the failure: a comprehensive analysis of Bangladesh’s war on drugs

Purpose This study aims to evaluate public perceptions of illegal drug availability in Bangladesh amid the ongoing war on drugs while comparing the efficacy of crackdowns with traditional law enforcement strategies. Design/methodology/approach Using a quantitative approach, the research analyzes data gathered from 400 participants, including law enforcement officials, students, politicians, community leaders and journalists. Findings The findings reveal that illegal drugs continue to be widely accessible in Bangladesh, with 50.15% of respondents acknowledging this despite the government's intensified efforts against drug dealers since 2015. Perceptions of availability are notably higher among those identifying as “other” (66.67%), younger individuals aged 18–28 (55.26%), participants with lower educational levels (76.67% for those with less than SSC education), unmarried respondents (58.86%) and students (60.55%). When assessing enforcement methods, a substantial majority (65.6%) prefer regular law enforcement over violent crackdowns. The survey indicates that all respondents identifying as “other,” along with 73.23% of females, 65.6% of males, 81.82% of participants aged 58–68 and individuals from Khulna (92.65%), Rangpur (96.92%) and Dhaka (51.43%), overwhelmingly favor regular law enforcement compared to crackdowns. Practical implications The study emphasizes the urgent need to address the shortcomings of violent anti-drug measures and advocates for a more holistic approach that considers the complex interplay of social, economic and health factors in combating drug abuse in Bangladesh. Originality/value This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between demographic factors and perceptions of drug availability and the effectiveness of violent crackdowns vs regular law enforcement, revealing new insights into this complex sociocultural issue.

Direct and indirect estimation of adolescent sexual intercourse and contraceptive use in Rajasthan India: an application of the best friend methodology

BackgroundExisting estimates of adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) behaviors may be a gross undercount given the sensitivity of this behavior in Indian culture. The objective of this study was to estimate ASRH behaviors in Rajasthan, India using direct questions and the best friend approach that seeks to reduce social desirability bias.MethodsWe used population-based data of adolescents aged 15–19 in Rajasthan collected between September and December 2022. Data include whether the respondent and her closest female friend ever had a partner, ever had sex, ever used contraception, and were currently using contraception. We estimated respondent and best friend ASRH outcomes separately, overall and among unmarried adolescents for whom we anticipate social desirability bias is greatest.ResultsThe best friend approach performed well, with method assumptions largely met even before adjustments. Respondent and best friend estimates were similar among all adolescents except for current contraceptive use, which was higher for friends (though not significantly so). However, we observed large differences in ASRH behaviors between unmarried respondents and friends, with a significantly higher percentage of friends who ever had a partner (4.3% respondents, 11.6% friends), and a slightly higher percentage who ever had sex (2.4%, 3.8%) and who were currently using contraception (17.0%, 19.7% among those in need of contraception).ConclusionsWe observed potential benefits of using the best friend methodology in estimating premarital sexual activity, but further work is needed to refine social network-based measures of sensitive adolescent behaviors in larger study samples to better understand ASRH needs.

To Study the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice about COVID-19 Pandemic among Health-care Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Northern India

Abstract Background: As the primary carers, the health-care workers (HCWs) are interacting directly with the patients and are consequently more susceptible to infection. By enhancing their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about COVID-19, the HCWs can prevent or significantly minimize their risk of contracting it. Objective: This research was carried out to assess KAP about various aspects of the COVID-19 infection among HCWs and their association vis-à-vis different sociodemographic variables. Methodology: The study used a prospective cross-sectional design and the participants were the HCWs working in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at a tertiary care referral and academic hospital. A pretested questionnaire comprised 35 items, with 14 items about knowledge, 13 about attitude, and 8 about practices adopted by HCWs. Statistical Analysis: For the analysis, we used descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson Chi-square tests. Results: The study involved a cohort of 209 HCWs. Based on the results of descriptive statistical analysis, the participants had an average knowledge score of 9.59 with a standard deviation (SD) of 2.07. The observed scores ranged from 2.00 to 14.00. On further subgroup analysis, the mean knowledge was highest among the 19–25-year age group (mean: 9.97, minimum: 4.00, and maximum: 14.00; SD: 2.13), MBBS students (mean: 10.69, minimum: 8.00, and maximum: 14.00; SD 1.74), male participants (mean: 9.97, minimum: 5.00, and maximum: 13.00; SD: 1.62), and unmarried respondents (mean: 9.77, minimum: 2.00, and maximum: 14.00; SD 2.24). Conclusions: It is vital to evaluate the present KAP of health-care professionals regarding COVID-19 in the global fight against the pandemic. The study identified a few gaps in the KAP of HCWs.

Prevalence and determinants of depression among patients attending adult HIV clinic of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Southern Nigeria

Background: Mental health challenges particularly depression is common among people living with HIV/AIDS and has been largely neglected. This is of great concern because depression is associated with high morbidity among its sufferers. An assessment of depression among PLWHA and its predictors will enhance their quality of life and improve their health outcomes. Aim: To determine the prevalence and determinants of depression among patients attending the adult HIV clinic in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria. Method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at the adult HIV outpatient clinic of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Uyo. A total of three hundred and fifty one eligible respondents were recruited over three months. Their levels of perceived social support, depression, HIV stigma and substance abuse were assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ 9), Internalized AIDS-related Stigma Scale and CAGE questionnaire respectively. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 39.8 ± 10.7 years. Two hundred and sixty six (75.8%) of the respondents were females, while eighty five (24.2%) were males. The overall prevalence of depression was 10%. Majority of respondents had disclosed their status and were experiencing HIV stigmatization representing 84.6% and 95.4% respectively. Most of the respondents (65.8%) had low perceived social support. Depression was found to be statistically associated with unskilled workers (χ2 = 13.08, p = 0.008), unmarried respondents (χ2 = 8.45, p = 0.03), low perceived social support (χ2 = 7.76, p = 0.02), shorter duration of ART use (χ2 = 8.41, p = 0.04), adverse life events (χ2 = 4.05, p = 0.04) and increasing levels of HIV stigma (χ2 = 7.66, p = 0.02) among the study participants. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the prevalence of depression in PLWHA was high. Therefore, the screening and prompt treatment of depression in HIV positive persons should be inculcated into their management plan. Furthermore, policies should be made to minimize discrimination and stigmatization of PLWHA in the communities and healthcare systems. Finally, the relevant stakeholders should work in unison to improve the social welfare conditions of HIV infected persons.

Tuberculosis treatment delay and contributing factors within tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) is a significant public health disease and a major contributor to illness and death worldwide, including in Ethiopia. There are many information from first source which had inconclusive result in Ethiopia. Therefore, this review aimed to produce pooled evidence on the TB treatment delay and factors associated with it. MethodsThe absence of a similar study with a systematic review and meta-analysis was confirmed. Articles from online available and unpublished sources conducted within Ethiopia between 2002 and 2024, were thoroughly screened using electronic sources such as Medline, Embase, Hinari, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Data analysis was performed using STATA version 14. Heterogeneity was assessed using Inverse of Variance (I2) and Cochrane Q tests. The funnel plot was employed to rule existence of publications subjectively while bias was checked using Egger's statistical method to quantify the bias. ResultPrevalence of TB treatment delay in Ethiopia was 50.42% at 95% (43.21, 57.64). Factors such as knowledge about TB, distance to health facilities less than 10 km, initial contact at a government service providing center for TB, having some educations, having pulmonary Tuberculosis, urban residency, were prtotective towards treatment delay. Female in gender, no chest pain symptom, disease severity with no restriction on daily activity, alcohol drinkers, and unmarried respondents were at higher risk to miss on time tuberculosis treatment. Conclusion and recommendationThe tuberculosis treatment delay in Ethiopia was considerably unexpected and basic personal variables and facility related variables were statistically associated with treatment. Therefore, Ethiopian TB control programs have to recognize and tackle the problem, obstacles, and vulnerability across the continuum patient care taking down and connecting to treatment post-diagnosis. This can be achieved by capacitating both government and non-governmental service provision centers and minimizing unfilled difference across professional awareness and skill, which will contribute further to minimizing delay.

Physiological Response and Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic among Malaysian Citizens: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Studies have shown that staying at home for prolonged periods of crisis can pose a significant challenge to individuals and affect their mental health. Hence, this study was conducted to identify the susceptible subgroups among Malaysian citizens that are prone to mental health problems during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with sociodemographic factors. Methods: The mental health status was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale -21 (DASS-21) questionnaire. The survey link was distributed online between October and December 2020. Results: Of 637 respondents, one-third experienced mild to extremely severe depression and anxiety (31.1% and 35.1%, respectively). Female respondents (odds ratio = 1.516, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.057-2.172) were 1.5 times more likely to experience mild to severe depression than male respondents. Unmarried and divorced respondents were 2.1 times more prone to experience mild to severe depression than married respondents. A significant association was also found between employment status and age with depression symptoms among the respondents. For anxiety, a significant association was observed between the age group with mild to severe anxiety symptoms. Marital status, age, and employment status were socio-demographic factors significantly impacting stress levels. Conclusion: According to our findings, females, individuals aged 18-30 years old, students, unmarried and divorced respondents were more susceptible to mental health problems, suggesting that mental health support shall also be provided for these vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis.

Variasi Ukuran Payudara sebagai Daya Tarik Fisik Perempuan di Masyarakat Lampung

Sexual selection occurs when living organisms, including humans, exhibit specific preferences for morphological traits related to health and fertility when choosing a mate. Various physical characteristics such as body size and shape, leg length, skin color, hair length and color, facial features, and breast size contribute to the physical attractiveness of females in mate selection. Breasts can serve as a particular attraction for males, as they are believed to be associated with health and fertility for reproductive purposes. Sexual selection leads to a range of breast sizes, from small to large, within a population. The aim of this research is to investigate the variation in breast size preferences among females in the Indonesian society, specifically in Lampung. The study was conducted by distributing both online and offline questionnaires randomly with breast size stimuli in the form of images. Descriptive data analysis was employed to examine the variation in breast size preferences. Very large breast sizes were considered healthy and feminine by respondents, while medium sizes were deemed attractive. Married male respondents preferred larger breast sizes on average compared to unmarried respondents. Higher-income respondents tended to select larger breast sizes. Respondents with lower educational backgrounds tended to prefer smaller breast sizes. Respondents residing in rural areas preferred larger breast sizes compared to those living in urban areas. In conclusion, sexual selection applied among the population of Lampung in the context of breast size preferences.

Support matters: How formal and informal institutions shape young Indians' work‐family preferences

AbstractObjectiveThis study examines the extent to which young people's future employment preferences in India are influenced concurrently by formal workplace policies and informal caregivers' support.BackgroundScholars have focused on how young individuals' work‐family ideals are shaped by workplace institutions to better understand the persistence of gender inequalities in the labor market. Yet the literature on work‐family policy examines primarily the effects of formal policies, overlooking the role of informal caregivers. Consequently, we know little about the relative influence of formal and informal support on young individuals' work‐family preferences and why one system may be preferred over another.MethodThe study used an original survey‐experimental data from an online sample of young, highly educated and unmarried respondents in India (N = 482) to assess their employment preferences when they have a family and a young child, while conditioning them to formal and informal work‐family support. Logistic regressions examined the relationship between different support types and respondents' employment preferences.ResultsWhen not conditioned to any support, most women preferred part‐time and most men preferred full‐time employment. Women were twice as likely to prefer full‐time employment with informal support compared to formal support, but men's preferences were not sensitive to either type of support.ConclusionThe effectiveness of work‐family policies in challenging gendered behaviors depends on the credibility of formal as opposed to informal institutions.

Use of a media campaign to improve access to contraception in Nigeria amid the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey

IntroductionThe total lockdown used to curtail COVID-19 infection in Nigeria disrupted access to contraception. Society for Family Health facilitated access to sexual reproductive healthcare information through an Omni-media campaign during...

Public Belief in the Maternal Health Benefits of Breastfeeding - United States, 2018 and 2021.

The objective of this study was to better understand US public awareness of maternal health benefits of breastfeeding. Data from the 2018 and 2021 SummerStyles surveys were analyzed to explore public belief in select maternal benefits of breastfeeding. As in 2018, in 2021 a low percentage of respondents believed that breastfeeding protects the mother against breast cancer (23.9%), high blood pressure (15.5%), or type 2 diabetes (15.4%), with male, older, and unmarried respondents less likely to believe in these protective effects. More public awareness of maternal benefits of breastfeeding might help increase demand for breastfeeding-supportive programs and policies.

Dietary Supplement Consumption and Mental Health in Indonesian Adults During Second Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aimed to measure supplement consumption behavior and mental health status among Indonesian adults during the second year of COVID-19. Online questionnaire regarding supplement consumption, and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) was distributed from March to June 2021 and obtained 1006 valid and completed questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted to determine the frequency and predictor factors of the respondents' supplement consumption behavior and mental health status. Respondents were divided into two groups, vulnerable and non-vulnerable individuals. The finding showed that 34.5% respondents were vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and those with comorbid disease(s). The vulnerable and non-vulnerable groups exhibited a high prevalence of supplement consumption, with the vulnerable group demonstrating a greater tendency for regular use. The incidence of mental health problems in both groups did not significantly differ (23-38%), where anxiety was higher than depression and stress. Supplement consumption was associated with mental health status. Several positive predicting factors for supplement consumption behavior included older age, higher economic status, and higher education. While the younger age and unmarried respondents were more likely to develop mental health problems. Taken together, given dietary supplement consumption increased during the pandemic and the potential associations between supplement consumption and mental health, controlling the correct information and regulation regarding supplements, especially their risks and benefits, was important. Additionally, support for mental health issues was necessary, since it might affect self-medication behavior.

Socioeconomic Determinants of Wage Differential at Workplace: A Case Study of Pakistan

This study examines three socioeconomic determinants of wage differentials at work among males and females, males only and females only. Secondary data from the Pakistan Living Standards Measurement Survey (PSLM) 2018-19 and binary logistic regression techniques were used to assess the wage differential in Pakistan's workplace. Female respondents are more likely to suffer from low wages at work than male respondents. As a result, the wage differential exists according to gender. High-educated respondents are less likely to fall into lower salaries than those with primary education. Based on the study results, a wage differential at work is more likely to occur for unmarried respondents than for married respondents. There is a wage differential between respondents in managerial-related occupations and those in other fields. Even though all determinants of wage differential have their impact, personal attributes like education play a significant role in determining wage differentials at the workplace. Men who are married earn lower wages at work than unmarried men, according to the results. Wage differentials are affected by marital status. The wage differential persists as male education increases, with higher-educated men earning lower wages. Men who do not work in managerial occupations are more likely to face wage differentials than managers. It is less likely that rural males will face wage differentials. In addition, male respondents in Punjab are less likely to fall into lower income levels at work than respondents in other regions. This suggests that wage differentials are affected by various factors, including region, marital status, and education. However, more research is needed to understand the exact causes of wage differentials between men and women. It is also essential to recognize that wage differentials are not always based on gender alone. Other factors like race or ethnicity may also affect wage disparities.

Karakteristik Wanita Pekerja Seks (WPS) dalam Melakukan Pemeriksaan HIV di Lokasi X, Y Kota Ternate Tahun 2022

<p><em>HIV AIDS in Ternate City are second ranks after North Halmahera District, especially in North Maluku Province. There were 684 HIV AIDS cases in 2007-April 2022, 24 new cases in 2022 (12 homosexuals, 10 heterosexuals and 2 IDUs). Early detection of HIV testing is one way of knowing HIV status, especially in people at high risk. The aim is to describe the characteristics of Sex worker in entertainment locations X and Y in their willingness to carry out an HIV test. The study was conducted in July 2022 with a total population of 50 sex worker at entertainment locations X and Y. Samples were taken by total sampling. Data were taken using the IBBS questionnaire and analyzed descriptively. Almost half of the respondents' age group is 30-39 years old (42%), high school education respondents (82%), unmarried respondents (66%) and respondents who have worked in entertainment venues X and Y for 1-5 years (60% ). More than half of the respondents had good knowledge (76%), all respondents received support related to HIV testing from peers, pimps and health workers as well as the role of health workers who always carried out HIV tests. The better the understanding and knowledge of HIV AIDS, the more motivated they are to be willing to take an HIV test because understanding the condition is a high risk.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>Keywords: </em><em>Sex worker, HIV AIDS, HIV Test, </em><em>Entertainment area</em><em></em></p>

Motivational factors, attitudes, and knowledge about the cadaveric body donation program among body donors in Myanmar.

To achieve the simple goal of cadaveric body donation (CBD) program-gaining deceased donors-numerous scientific studies have been conducted, including the current study. This cross-sectional descriptive study used questionnaires to assess the motivational factors, attitudes, and knowledge of registered body donor participants toward CBD. Among 372 respondents, most (80.6%) were motivated by specific reasons such as "to save lives through medical education," "to contribute to medical research," and "to help medical students." Most respondents had good attitudes (61.7%) but poor knowledge (55.9%) about the CBD program, and there was no association among them (p = 0.08). However, the good knowledge and good attitude level were found 1.7 times (p = 0.02) and 2.4 times (p = 0.005) more, respectively, in basic-educated respondents than in highly educated respondents, implying the influence of peer conversation and message diffusion instead of knowledge or attitudes acquired through education. Additionally, 75% of respondents had co-registration within their family, peers were chosen by 66.7% of respondents as a source of information, and married respondents had 1.8 times better knowledge than unmarried respondents (p = 0.01), indicating the possibility of peer influence and growing peer communication. This study explored the poor knowledge status of registered donors, who are the cornerstone of knowledge propagation in the general population. Hence, after implementing this study, a knowledge-raising campaign for registered donors was conducted by distributing pamphlets about the CBD program, explaining keystone information, and supplementing a follow-up study. Moreover, this study will help us plan further strategies for program enhancement.

Access to information on gender-based violence prevention during COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

During the lockdowns to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda, women and girls, disproportionately, had increased exposure to gender-based violence (GBV). Access to high-quality and empowering information or knowledge to minimise the incidences of GBV for women, girls, men and boys, was, therefore, crucial. The purpose of this study was to understand the characteristics of the individuals who were unable to access such information, and if received information, was associated with more awareness in the populace. The data analysed were from a cross-sectional nationally representative phone survey of individuals aged 18 years and above from all four regions of Uganda. The survey was carried out by Uganda Bureau of Statistics using a purely quantitative approach, and all questions were closed-ended. The sample was stratified by sex, age, and geographical region, and executed in November 2020, six months after COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Binary logistic regression analysis was used for data analysis in STATA software. Female respondents with tertiary education (OR=0.47; 95% CI=0.26, 0.85) and male respondents with tertiary education (OR=0.70; 95% CI: 0.49, 1.00) were more likely to receive information on GBV prevention. Both female (aOR=0.68; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.88) and male (aOR=0.66; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.87) respondents who were working had about a third the odds of being unable to access information about GBV prevention. Female respondents living in urban areas were associated with less odds of being unable to access the information (aOR=0.77; 95% CI: 0.59, 1.00), while unmarried male respondents had higher odds of being unable to access the information (aOR=1.37; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.89). Respondents who reported being vulnerable to GBV were also more likely to know someone who experienced GBV. This was similar for female respondents (PR=3.00; 95% CI: 2.26, 3.98) and male respondents (PR=3.01, 95% CI: 2.3, 3.95) (PR=5.49; 95% CI=4.12-7.30). Results also indicated that both male (PR=1.28; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.43) and female respondents (PR=1.24; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.37) who did not perceive themselves at risk of GBV were less likely to know a GBV survivor. The individuals who were unable to access information had characteristics associated with GBV perpetration or victimization. Monitoring the dissemination and quality of information empowers individuals and communities to develop local solutions to GBV prevention and protection. The design of GBV prevention messages and delivery channels needs to take into consideration the risk factors at the different levels of the socio-ecological model (individual, community, institutional, and society). Interventions aimed at increasing access to information on GBV prevention should consider the different socio-demographic as well as context-specific factors. There was no funding source for this study.

Breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, intention and practice of women in Purdah in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Religious beliefs and practices have been implicated in mothers’ breastfeeding practices; however, little is known about the breastfeeding intention and practices of women in Purdah. Aims: To assess the breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, intention and practices of women in Purdah in Ibadan, Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: Three hundred and sixty-three consenting women in Purdah (250 married and 113 unmarried) from seven Islamic and Arabic schools (Madrasah) participated in this cross-sectional study. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit data on the respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics, breastfeeding knowledge and breastfeeding attitude. Breastfeeding intention and practices were also obtained from unmarried and married respondents respectively. Results: The average age of the respondents was 31.2 ± 6.6 years, 68.9 % were married while 56.4 % of the unmarried were engaged to getting married (Khitba). Two-thirds of the married women had adequate breastfeeding knowledge while 56.6 % of the unmarried women had inadequate breastfeeding knowledge. Overall, 6 out of every 10 women in Purdah had adequate breastfeeding knowledge. Also, 6 out 10 of the respondents had positive attitudes toward breastfeeding (65.2 % for married and 58.4 % for unmarried), however, less than half of the unmarried and married women had appropriate intention (47 %) to breastfeeding and good breastfeeding practices (47.2 %) respectively. A Significant relationship was found between breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and intention among unmarried women. Similarly, significant association also existed between breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and practices among married women in Purdah. Conclusions: Targeted breastfeeding intervention that would improve breastfeeding intention and practices of women in Purdah should be adopted in the teaching curriculum at Islamic and Arabic schools. Keywords: breastfeeding, Muslim women, Islamic and Arabic schools, Purdah.

Differences in the perception of neuromarketing attributes in the context of selected socio-demographic characteristics of customers

The presented contribution analyzes mutual differences in the perception of the selected attributes of neuromarketing with an emphasis on the selected socio-demographic characteristics of customers. On a theoretical level, the contribution captures basic concepts from the field of neuromarketing and the customer, their personality and their behavior. The customer thinks about their already completed purchase, whether they did well with it, and whether they considered all their requirements. They decide whether they will repeat their purchase or not. The aim of the contribution within the empirical part is to find statistically significant differences from the point of view of residence and marital status of the respondents. The results of the analyses did not confirm the existence of differences in the selected attributes of neuromarketing from the point of view of residence. When using neuromarketing attributes within marital status, a higher average was recorded for unmarried respondents. They realize what neuromarketing can do and what impact it has on the business behavior of customers. The results obtained from the conducted research support the meaningfulness of investigating the issue of neuromarketing attributes, primarily in the context of selected socio-demographic characteristics of customers. The obtained data were mathematically and statistically recorded. The methods of differential statistics were used during processing, namely the Student’s t-test.

Awareness and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and associated factors among pharmacy students in Zambia.

This study aimed to assess the awareness and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and associated factors among pharmacy students in Zambia. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 326 undergraduate pharmacy students in Lusaka, Zambia, from February to April 2021. Data were analysed using Stata version 16.1. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine key factors influencing vaccine acceptance. Of the 326 participants, 98.8% were aware of the COVID-19 vaccines, but only 24.5% would accept vaccination. Compared to other religions, being of Christian faith was associated with reduced odds of awareness of the COVID-19 vaccine (aOR=0.01, 95% CI: 0.01-0.20). Conversely, factors associated with vaccine acceptance were being male, single and unemployed. Compared to females, male respondents were 86% more likely to accept the vaccine if it was made available (aOR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.10-3.14). In addition, unmarried respondents were 2.65 times as likely to accept vaccination than married respondents (aOR=2.65, 95% CI: 1.06-6.63). Conversely, unemployed respondents were less likely to accept vaccination than their employed counterparts (aOR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.16-0.46). Barriers to the acceptability of the vaccine were possible side effects (78.5%) and scepticism about its effectiveness (10.2%). There was significant vaccine hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines among Zambian pharmacy students despite their awareness of the vaccines. Health authorities must work collaboratively with training institutions to mitigate vaccine hesitancy, especially with healthcare students being a key part of the future healthcare workforce overseeing disease prevention strategies.

Perception and Preventive Behaviour about COVID-19 Pandemic among the Members of a Selected Cantonment in Bangladesh

Introduction: Appropriate knowledge, attitude and practice against any infectious disease improve perception and consequently adopt preventive practices toward disease transmission. Good perception and preventive practice is the key to prevent infectious disease like COVID-19. Objective: To assess the perception and protective behaviour against COVID-19 among the members of Shaheed Salahuddin Cantonment, Ghatail. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Shaheed Salahuddin Cantonment from March 2022 to May 2022 among conveniently selected 1315 respondents. Data were collected through face-to-face interview using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Results: The majority (79.8%) of the respondents were male, residing in the sainik line (72.3%) having monthly income of <15000 taka. Three-fourth of the respondents were lance corporal/sainik, 30.8% were currently married having secondary school certificate level of educational qualification. Study revealed that more than two-third (62.5%) respondents had moderate perception about COVID-19 and about 87.3% respondents showed good preventive behaviour. Preventive behaviour is significantly associated with male gender (χ2=2.49; p < .05), lower age group (<20 years) respondents (χ2=9.93, p < .05) who were qualified in secondary school certificate education (χ2=8.54, p<.05), married (χ2=4.97, p < .05), stayed in sainik line (χ2=9.19, p<.05) and in lance corporal/sainik respondents (χ2=13.12, df =4, p =.01) Conclusion: Extensive health education program should be undertaken to create good perception and preventive behaviour among susceptible respondents like female gender, aged, unmarried respondents of Shaheed Salahuddin Cantonment. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 18, No 1 (June) 2022: 80-85

Assessment of Mental Health and Quality of Life Status of Undergraduate Students in Indonesia during COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic globally impacted physical, spiritual, and mental health (MH). The consequences significantly affected students’ quality of life (QoL) too. This cross-sectional study assessed MH status and its relationship to the QoL of college students in Indonesia. This study collected data (September 2021–April 2022) online using the depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 (DASS-21) to measure MH and the world health organization quality-of-life scale (WHOQoL-BREF) to measure the QoL. The data were analysed using SPSS with a bivariate and multivariate linear regression test. A total of 606 respondents participated in this study, with the majority being women (81.0%), aged 21–27 years (44.3%), and unmarried (98.5%) respondents. We observed 24.4% (n = 148) moderate depression, 18.3% (n = 111) very severe anxiety, and 21.1% (n = 128) moderate stress status. The QoL measurement determined that a moderate QoL in the physical and environmental health domains (>70%) and poor QoL in the psychological health domain (58.3%) were found. Gender, age, family support, history of COVID-19 diagnosis, family with COVID-19 diagnosis, vaccination status, and physical symptoms are significantly associated with MH status and QoL (p-value < 0.05). This study demonstrated that COVID-19 was negatively related to college students’ MH and QoL. Targeted interventions may be needed to ameliorate both MH and QoL.