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El Bilali H, Ben Hassen T. Regional Agriculture and Food Systems Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of the Near East and North Africa Region. Foods 2024; 13:297. [PMID: 38254598 PMCID: PMC10815245 DOI: 10.3390/foods13020297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic affected agri-food systems worldwide. However, while the impacts differed from one country/region to another, the scholarly literature seems to focus on developed countries in the Global North. Consequently, this review scrutinizes the literature on the pandemic's impacts in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. A search on the Web of Science in March 2023 generated 334 documents, of which 151 were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review. According to the bibliometric analysis, the most active nations are Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon. In general, the coverage of studies is better in the Gulf region than in the less developed countries of North Africa and those suffering from wars (cf. Libya, Syria, and Yemen). Studies generally focus on crop production and the downstream food chain (cf. distribution and consumption). While the pandemic influenced every pillar of food security, this research concentrates on access and utilization. Meanwhile, the lion's share of the literature deals with the pandemic's socio-economic effects, especially those linked to food (in)security and health. The pandemic, which laid bare the agri-food system vulnerabilities, should be seized to foster the transition towards more resilient agri-food systems in the NENA region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid El Bilali
- International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM-Bari), Via Ceglie 9, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy;
| | - Tarek Ben Hassen
- Program of Policy, Planning, and Development, Department of International Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
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Ding Y, Shi X, Li G, Liang Q, Yang Z, Peng Y, Deng H, Wang Z. Effects of dynamic zero COVID-19 policy on anxiety status and lifestyle changes of pregnant women in rural South China: a survey-based analysis by propensity score matching method. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1182619. [PMID: 37427259 PMCID: PMC10323362 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1182619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic triggered a global public health crisis and has brought an unprecedented impact on pregnant women. The problems faced by pregnant women in the rural areas of China during the epidemic are different from those in urban areas. Although the epidemic situation in China has gradually improved, studying the impact of the previous dynamic zero COVID-19 policy on the anxiety status and lifestyle of pregnant women in rural areas of China, is still necessary. Methods A cross-sectional survey of pregnant women in rural South China was conducted from September 2021 to June 2022.Using questionnaires, sociodemographic characteristics, anxiety status, physical activity, sleep quality, and dietary status of the population were collected. Using the propensity score matching method, the effect of the dynamic zero COVID-19 strategy on the anxiety status and lifestyle of pregnant women was analyzed. Results Among the pregnant women in the policy group (n = 136) and the control group (n = 680), 25.7 and 22.4% had anxiety disorders, 83.1 and 84.7% had low or medium levels of physical activity, and 28.7 and 29.1% had sleep disorders, respectively. However, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed between the two groups. Compared with control group, the intake of fruit in the policy group increased significantly (p = 0.019), whereas that of aquatic products and eggs decreased significantly (p = 0.027). Both groups exhibited an unreasonable dietary structure and poor compliance with the Chinese dietary guidelines for pregnant women (p > 0.05). The proportion of pregnant women in the policy group, whose intake of stable food (p = 0.002), soybean, and nuts (p = 0.004) was less than the recommended amount, was significantly higher than that in the control group. Discussion The dynamic zero COVID-19 strategy had little impact on the anxiety status, physical activity, and sleep disorders of pregnant women in the rural areas of South China. However, it affected their intake of certain food groups. Improving corresponding food supply and organized nutritional support should be addressed as a strategic approach to improve the health of pregnant women in rural South China during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Ding
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xi Shi
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Genyuan Li
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qingfen Liang
- Lingshan Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Qinzhou, China
| | - Ziqi Yang
- Tianyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Baise, China
| | - Yanxia Peng
- Zijin Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Heyuan, China
| | - Huiqin Deng
- Longchuan Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Heyuan, China
| | - Zhixu Wang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Gow ML, Rossiter C, Roberts L, Henderson MJ, Yang L, Roche J, Hayes E, Canty A, Denney-Wilson E, Henry A. COVID-19, lifestyle behaviors and mental health: A mixed methods study of women 6 months following a hypertensive pregnancy. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1000371. [PMID: 36330103 PMCID: PMC9623114 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1000371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented challenges to both the physical and psychological health of postpartum women. The aim of this study was to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the diet, physical activity and mental health of women 6 months following a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Methods Mixed methods sub-study of the Blood Pressure Postpartum trial, which recruited women following a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy from six Sydney metropolitan hospitals. Cross sectional analysis of baseline quantitative data, collected at 6-months postpartum from March 2019-February 2022, and qualitative data analysis from semi-structured telephone interviews, was performed. Dates of COVID-19 lockdowns for Sydney, Australia were collected from government websites. Diet (vegetable, fruit, alcohol, take away intake) and physical activity (walking, vigorous activity, strength training frequency and duration) were assessed using the self-report NSW Population Health Survey. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Edinburgh Depression Scale and GAD-7 scale, respectively. Outcome data were compared between women who completed surveys "In Lockdown" vs. "Not in Lockdown" as well as "Prior to any Lockdown" vs. "During or Following any Lockdown". Results Of 506 participants, 84 women completed the study surveys "In Lockdown," and 149 completed the surveys "Prior to any Lockdown." Thirty-four participants were interviewed. There were no statistically significant differences in diet, physical activity, depression and anxiety among women who completed the survey "In Lockdown" vs. "Not in Lockdown." "Prior to any Lockdown," participants were more likely to do any walking (95% vs. 89%, p = 0.017), any vigorous activity (43% vs. 30%, p = 0.006) or any strength training (44% vs. 33%, p = 0.024), spent more time doing vigorous activity (p = 0.003) and strength training (p = 0.047) and were more likely to drink alcohol at least monthly (54% vs. 38%, p < 0.001) compared with "During or Following any Lockdown." Conclusions Our findings suggest that the confinements of lockdown did not markedly influence the mental health, diet and physical activity behaviors of women 6 months following hypertensive pregnancy. However, physical activity levels were reduced following the emergence of COVID-19, suggesting targeted efforts may be necessary to re-engage postpartum women with exercise. Trial registration https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=376286&isReview=true, identifier: ACTRN12618002004246.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L. Gow
- The University of Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia,Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia,Women's and Children's Health, St George Hospital, Kogarah, NSW, Australia,*Correspondence: Megan L. Gow
| | - Chris Rossiter
- Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lynne Roberts
- Women's and Children's Health, St George Hospital, Kogarah, NSW, Australia,St George and Sutherland Clinical Campus, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maddison J. Henderson
- The University of Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Lin Yang
- Women's and Children's Health, St George Hospital, Kogarah, NSW, Australia,Office of Medical Education, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Judith Roche
- Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Erin Hayes
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Alison Canty
- Women's Health Initiative Translational Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Denney-Wilson
- Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia,Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Amanda Henry
- Women's and Children's Health, St George Hospital, Kogarah, NSW, Australia,Discipline of Women's Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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