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Joseph K, Chan PSF, Fang Y, Chen S, Mo PKH, Wang Z. Knowledge and practice of personal protective measures against COVID-19 in Africa: a systematic review. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2023; 9:e44051. [PMID: 37058578 DOI: 10.2196/44051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 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). OBJECTIVE This systematic review aimed to examine the knowledge and practice of COVID-19 PPMs in African countries, as documented in the published literature. METHODS 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. RESULTS 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. CONCLUSIONS 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. CLINICALTRIAL The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022355101).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kawuki Joseph
- Centre for Health Behaviours Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, Room 508, School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital,, Shatin, N.T., HK
| | - Paul Shing-Fong Chan
- Centre for Health Behaviours Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, Room 508, School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital,, Shatin, N.T., HK
| | - Yuan Fang
- Department of Health and Physical Education, the Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, New Territories, HK
| | - Siyu Chen
- Centre for Health Behaviours Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, Room 508, School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital,, Shatin, N.T., HK
| | - Phoenix K H Mo
- Centre for Health Behaviours Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, Room 508, School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital,, Shatin, N.T., HK
| | - Zixin Wang
- Centre for Health Behaviours Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, Room 508, School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital,, Shatin, N.T., HK
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Xin L, Wang L, Cao X, Tian Y, Yang Y, Wang K, Kang Z, Zhao M, Feng C, Wang X, Luo N, Liu H, Wu Q. Prevalence and influencing factors of pandemic fatigue among Chinese public in Xi'an city during COVID-19 new normal: a cross-sectional study. Front Public Health 2022; 10:971115. [PMID: 36172203 PMCID: PMC9511105 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.971115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to assess Chinese public pandemic fatigue and potential influencing factors using an appropriate tool and provide suggestions to relieve this fatigue. Methods This study used a stratified sampling method by age and region and conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of citizens in Xi'an, China, from January to February 2022. A total of 1500 participants completed the questionnaire, which collected data on demographics, health status, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) stressors, pandemic fatigue, COVID-19 fear, COVID-19 anxiety, personal resiliency, social support, community resilience, and knowledge, attitude, and practice toward COVID-19. Ultimately, 1354 valid questionnaires were collected, with a response rate of 90.0%. A binary logistic regression model was used to examine associations between pandemic fatigue and various factors. Result Nearly half of the participants reported pandemic fatigue, the major manifestation of which was "being sick of hearing about COVID-19" (3.353 ± 1.954). The logistic regression model indicated that COVID-19 fear (OR = 2.392, 95% CI = 1.804-3.172), sex (OR = 1.377, 95% CI = 1.077-1.761), the pandemic's impact on employment (OR = 1.161, 95% CI = 1.016-1.327), and COVID-19 anxiety (OR = 1.030, 95% CI = 1.010-1.051) were positively associated with pandemic fatigue. Conversely, COVID-19 knowledge (OR = 0.894, 95% CI = 0.837-0.956), COVID-19 attitude (OR = 0.866, 95% CI = 0.827-0.907), COVID-19 practice (OR = 0.943, 95% CI = 0.914-0.972), community resiliency (OR = 0.978, 95% CI = 0.958-0.999), and health status (OR = 0.982, 95% CI = 0.971-0.992) were negatively associated with pandemic fatigue. Conclusion The prevalence of pandemic fatigue among the Chinese public was prominent. COVID-19 fear and COVID-19 attitude were the strongest risk factors and protective factors, respectively. These results indicated that the government should carefully utilize multi-channel promotion of anti-pandemic policies and knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Xin
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Liuhui Wang
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xuan Cao
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yingnan Tian
- School of Business and Economics, University of San Carlos, Cebu, Philippines
| | - Yisi Yang
- Harbin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin, China
| | - Kexin Wang
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zheng Kang
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhao
- Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chengcheng Feng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Nana Luo
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Huan Liu
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,*Correspondence: Huan Liu
| | - Qunhong Wu
- Department of Health Policy, School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,Qunhong Wu
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