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Kim W, Chang K, Lee SY, Ju YJ. Area-level deprivation and handwashing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multilevel analysis on a nationwide survey in Korea. Int J Environ Health Res 2024; 34:2088-2103. [PMID: 37204032 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2023.2212600] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the association between area deprivation level and performance of handwashing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korean adults. This study used data from the 2015 Population and Housing Census data to measure area deprivation level. The 2020 Korea Community Health Survey was used for all other variables, including hand hygiene behavior (August through November 2020). The association between area deprivation level and practice of handwashing behavior was examined using multilevel logistic regression analysis. The study population comprised 215,676 adults aged 19 years or above. Compared to the least area deprived group, the most deprived group was more likely to not wash hands after using the restroom (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.13-1.82), after coming home (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.43-2.39), and using soap (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.29-1.84). The findings suggest the importance of considering area deprivation in implementing policies that promote handwashing, particularly during a pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woorim Kim
- Division of Cancer Control & Policy, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyujin Chang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon Young Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeong Jun Ju
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon-si, Republic of Korea
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Alelign A, Mulualem N, Tekeste Z. Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors among patients attending Debarq Primary Hospital, northwest Ethiopia. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298767. [PMID: 38451932 PMCID: PMC10919636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are major public health problems in developing countries. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of IPIs at Debarq Primary Hospital in northwest Ethiopia. A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2022 to June 2022. The study participants were recruited from patients who visited Debarq Primary Hospital during the study period. Stool samples were collected from each participant and examined for intestinal parasites using direct wet-mount and formal-ether concentration techniques. Socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Out of 422 individuals examined, 33.64% were infected with at least one intestinal parasite species. Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia intestinalis, Ascaris lumbricoides, and hookworm were found in 12.79%, 8.53%, 7.10%, and 1.65% of the participants, respectively. Double and triple parasite infections were found in 2.37% and 0.23% of the participants, respectively. A habit of eating unwashed vegetables (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 9.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.68-37.14) and low income (AOR = 6.66, 95% CI = 1.87-23.70) were associated with increased odds of IPIs. Participants with a habit of hand washing after using the toilet had 0.05 (95% CI = 0.13-0.22) lower odds of IPIs than those who did not. In conclusion, IPIs are common among Debarq Primary Hospital patients and are associated with factors such as low income, not washing hands after using the toilet, and eating unwashed vegetation, necessitating control and prevention efforts in the study area that include health education and the provision and use of sanitary facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Alelign
- Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Nigus Mulualem
- Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Zinaye Tekeste
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Ahmed KO, Amini A, Dadkhah K, Bahrami J, Kavianpour MR, Rahim EKH, Ahmed NM, Heddam S, Mafakheri S. Assessment of Hygiene Practices, Awareness, and Water Consumption Regarding Covid-19 Among Children in a Refugee Camp. Matern Child Health J 2024; 28:545-556. [PMID: 37922059 DOI: 10.1007/s10995-023-03833-y] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION At the outbreak of infectious diseases, the response of different communities to the disease varies, and children are most affected by the collective anxiety and grief that consequently arises. In this research, the behavior of children and their parents in terms of hygiene and precautions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic was investigated. METHODOLOGY The focus of the present research was on sanitation facilities, particularly access to end-use of water for hand washing. The research was conducted in Barika Camp, Kurdistan, Iraq and 311 parents and children were interviewed. A data collection team consisting of two females and one male was responsible for gathering data, primarily from women who served as the main respondents. Questionnaires consisted of three main parts: demography, COVID-19 pandemic effects, and sanitary shelter specifications. RESULT The results demonstrated that the behavior of refugees during the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the priority of child protection, type of disinfectants, and water consumption has significantly altered. These changes mainly depended on the women's age and education level. DISCUSSION Overall results showed that in 61.09% of the participants, the number of hand washes and in 58.58%, the washing time increased, leading to water shortage in the refugee camp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaywan Othman Ahmed
- Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tishk International University, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Ata Amini
- Kurdistan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Sanandaj, 66177-15175, Iran
| | - Kourosh Dadkhah
- Statistics Department, University of Kurdistan, PoBOX: 416, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Jamil Bahrami
- Civil Engineering Department, University of Kurdistan, PoBOX: 416, Sanandaj, Iran
| | | | | | | | - Salim Heddam
- Laboratory of Research in Biodiversity Interaction Ecosystem and Biotechnology, Hydraulics Division, Agronomy Department, Faculty of Science, University 20 Août 1955 Skikda, Route El Hadaik, BP 26, Skikda, Algeria.
| | - Shiva Mafakheri
- Kurdistan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Sanandaj, 66169-36311, Iran
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Alzahrani AS, Alessa TT, Dosh HY, Aljuwaybiri R, Alshaddadi WA, Almhmadi MM, Siddiqui MI. Hand Hygiene Knowledge and Practices Among Visitors to the Holy Masjid (Masjid Al-Haram) During the Month of Ramadan in 2023. Cureus 2024; 16:e56986. [PMID: 38665757 PMCID: PMC11045255 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.56986] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Visits to the Holy Masjid are considered mass gatherings (MGs), defined as concentrations of people at a specific location for a certain objective over a predetermined amount of time. Such gatherings might strain the host nation's preparation and reaction capabilities, increasing the chances of spreading infectious diseases. Aim To evaluate the comprehension of hand hygiene (HH) and proper HH habits among visitors to the Holy Masjid during the month of Ramadan in 2023. Methods A total of 690 visitors to the Holy Masjid were interviewed for this cross-sectional study. The questionnaire was developed using model questions from another published survey. Results Of the participants, 541 (78.4%), predominantly female, had generally good knowledge about HH. A total of 282 (40.9%) participants used nothing to clean their hands after shaking hands with someone. Four hundred and eighty (69.6%) participants were aware that poor HH does not spread HIV/AIDS, and 504 (73%) stated that consistent HH does not reduce the body's natural immunity. A total of 530 (76.8%) participants with good knowledge about HH cleaned their hands before meals, compared to 131 (19%) participants with poor knowledge of HH. Conclusion Based on the results of our study, the participants' awareness of HH was generally high, with most recognizing the role of good HH in preventing common infectious diseases, such as gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. However, certain aspects of HH, such as the necessity and proper use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, were not well understood. Regular, focused awareness-raising initiatives are recommended to enhance HH knowledge and practices among visitors to the Holy Masjid.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Turki T Alessa
- College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU
| | - Heba Y Dosh
- College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU
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Aljaffary A, Al Elaiwi T, AlOtaibi N, AlAnsari F, Alumran A, Salama KF. Determining the nurses' perception regarding the effectiveness of COVID-19 protocols implemented in Eastern Province: Saudi Arabia. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1291261. [PMID: 38249370 PMCID: PMC10796469 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1291261] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The global impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been profound, affecting public health, the global economy, and overall human life. Past experiences with global pandemics underscored the significance of understanding the perception of HCWs and hospital staff in developing and implementing preventive measures. The World Health Organization (WHO) provided protocols to manage the spread of COVID-19 and assist healthcare workers and health systems globally in maintaining high-quality health services. Objective This study aims to assess nurses' perception, awareness, and compliance regarding the implementation of COVID-19 protocols and explore factors influencing their perception. Methodology A quantitative cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted, distributing a constructed survey among nurses in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Results Out of 141 participants, most adhered to protocols such as hand sanitization, social distancing, and proper personal protective equipment (PPE) usage. The predominant age group among respondents was 31 to 40 years (n = 71, 50%). A significant portion of participants reported holding a bachelor's degree (n = 86, 61%), with only 14% possessing advanced degrees (n = 19). Nearly a third of the nurses in the study had accumulated 6 to 10 years of professional experience (n = 49, 34.8%). A noteworthy percentage of nurses were engaged in daily shifts exceeding 8 h (n = 98, 70%). Gender differences were observed, with females exhibiting a higher tendency to avoid shaking hands and social gatherings. Saudi nationals were more inclined to shake hands and engage in gatherings. Non-Saudi nurses and those aged between <25 to 40 years demonstrated proper donning/doffing practices. Nurses with over 6 years of experience avoided social gatherings, while those working >8 h adhered better to PPE usage, proper donning/doffing, and disposal of PPE in designated bins. Conclusion Understanding COVID-19 protocols is crucial for tailoring interventions and ensuring effective compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures among nurses. More efforts should be made toward preparing the healthcare nursing to deal with the outbreak. Preparing healthcare nursing with the right knowledge, attitude, and precautionary practices during the COVID-19 outbreak is very essential to patient and public safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afnan Aljaffary
- Health Information Management and Technology Department, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tahani Al Elaiwi
- Health Information Management and Technology Department, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Noot AlOtaibi
- Health Information Management and Technology Department, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatimah AlAnsari
- Health Information Management and Technology Department, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arwa Alumran
- Health Information Management and Technology Department, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khaled F. Salama
- Environmental Health Department, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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Voidarou C, Rozos G, Stavropoulou E, Giorgi E, Stefanis C, Vakadaris G, Vaou N, Tsigalou C, Kourkoutas Y, Bezirtzoglou E. COVID-19 on the spectrum: a scoping review of hygienic standards. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1202216. [PMID: 38026326 PMCID: PMC10646607 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1202216] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, rapidly escalated into a worldwide public health crisis. Despite numerous clinical treatment endeavors, initial defenses against the virus primarily relied on hygiene practices like mask-wearing, meticulous hand hygiene (using soap or antiseptic solutions), and maintaining social distancing. Even with the subsequent advent of vaccines and the commencement of mass vaccination campaigns, these hygiene measures persistently remain in effect, aiming to curb virus transmission until the achievement of herd immunity. In this scoping review, we delve into the effectiveness of these measures and the diverse transmission pathways, focusing on the intricate interplay within the food network. Furthermore, we explore the virus's pathophysiology, considering its survival on droplets of varying sizes, each endowed with distinct aerodynamic attributes that influence disease dispersion dynamics. While respiratory transmission remains the predominant route, the potential for oral-fecal transmission should not be disregarded, given the protracted presence of viral RNA in patients' feces after the infection period. Addressing concerns about food as a potential viral vector, uncertainties shroud the virus's survivability and potential to contaminate consumers indirectly. Hence, a meticulous and comprehensive hygienic strategy remains paramount in our collective efforts to combat this pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Georgios Rozos
- Veterinary Directorate, South Aegean Region, Ermoupolis, Greece
| | - Elisavet Stavropoulou
- Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Elpida Giorgi
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Department of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Christos Stefanis
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Department of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Georgios Vakadaris
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Department of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Natalia Vaou
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Department of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Christina Tsigalou
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Yiannis Kourkoutas
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Eugenia Bezirtzoglou
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Department of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
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Shi C, O'Donoghue M, Yang L, Tsang H, Chen J, Zou J, Qin J, Mak YW, Pittet D, Xie YJ, Lai T, Li C, Cao J. Factors associated with hand washing effectiveness: an institution-based observational study. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2023; 12:85. [PMID: 37649107 PMCID: PMC10469426 DOI: 10.1186/s13756-023-01293-1] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have investigated how the effectiveness of hand washing in removing hand contaminants is influenced by the performance and duration of each step involved. We conducted an observational study by recruiting participants from a university campus, with the aim to comprehensively evaluate how performance, duration and demographic factors influence hand washing effectiveness. METHODS A total of 744 videos were collected from 664 participants in July-October 2022 and independently evaluated by two infection control experts through labelling videos for correct and incorrect performance of each step. The individual hand washing effectiveness was determined by quantifying the percentage of residual fluorescent gel on the dorsum and palm areas of each participant's hands. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors that were significantly associated with better hand washing effectiveness. An exposure-response relationship was constructed to identify optimal durations for each step. Approximately 2300 hand images were processed using advanced normalization algorithms and overlaid to visualize the areas with more fluorescence residuals after hand washing. RESULTS Step 3 (rub between fingers) was the most frequently omitted step and step 4 (rub the dorsum of fingers) was the most frequently incorrectly performed step. After adjustment for covariates, sex, performance of step 4 and step 7 (rub wrists), rubbing hands during rinsing, and rinsing time were significantly associated with hand washing effectiveness. The optimal overall hand washing time was 31 s from step 1 to step 7, and 28 s from step 1 to step 6, with each step ideally lasting 4-5 s, except step 3. The palms of both hands had less fluorescence residuals than the dorsums. The areas where residuals most likely appeared were wrists, followed by finger tips, finger webs and thumbs. CONCLUSIONS Performance and duration of some hand washing steps, sex and rinsing time were associated with hand washing effectiveness. The optimal duration might be applied to all seven steps to achieve the best decontamination results. Further studies are needed to refine hand hygiene standards and enhance compliance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Shi
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Lin Yang
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Hilda Tsang
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jing Chen
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jing Zou
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jing Qin
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yim-Wah Mak
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Didier Pittet
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yao Jie Xie
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Timothy Lai
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Computing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jiannong Cao
- Department of Computing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
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Pooseesod K, Umezaki M, Phetrak A, Phuanukoonnon S. Handwashing among caregivers of young children in a protracted and complex refugee and immigration context: a mixed methods study on the Thai-Myanmar border. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1099831. [PMID: 37583886 PMCID: PMC10423810 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1099831] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Protracted refugee situations create complex contexts that present significant health risks for young children. Effective hand hygiene practices by caregivers can reduce respiratory infections and diarrhoeal disease, the two largest contributors to mortality among children between 1 month and 5 years of age. This study documented handwashing patterns and access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure among caregivers of young children living along the Thai-Myanmar border, one of the world's most protracted and complex refugee and immigration contexts. It also examined the association between handwashing and socio-demographic variables and captured participants' explanations for when and how hands are washed. The study broadened the scope of previous research by also including the large number of caregivers living outside formal camps. Methods Caregivers of children attending 11 preschools in Tak province, Thailand participated in a mixed-methods cross-sectional study. Quantitative questionnaire data (n = 384) were supplemented by a thematic analysis of data from in-depth interviews (n = 9). Results Fewer than half the caregivers reported routinely washing their hands before preparing meals or after using the latrine/toilet. Fewer than one-in-five routinely used soap in these situations. Interviewees explained that handwashing was only necessary when a substance could be felt or seen, in which case wiping with a cloth or a rinsing with water were sufficient to clean hands. However, their explanations also suggested some potential avenues for culturally appropriate and feasible interventions to improve hand hygiene. Conclusion The results confirmed previous research on the multi-dimensional barriers to good hand hygiene in protracted refugee situations and other low-resource settings. Additional investment to overcome shortages in the infrastructure necessary to support good hand hygiene and creative means of drawing on and developing human capital will be necessary to realize the potential hand hygiene holds for reducing ill-health and mortality among young children living in these contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasama Pooseesod
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Thailand
| | - Masahiro Umezaki
- Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Athit Phetrak
- Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Suparat Phuanukoonnon
- Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Sujarwoto S, Maharani A. Is knowledge about COVID-19 associated with willingness to receive vaccine, vaccine uptake, and vaccine booster uptake in rural Malang, Indonesia? Front Public Health 2023; 11:1203550. [PMID: 37351094 PMCID: PMC10282756 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1203550] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Lack of knowledge regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and COVID-19 vaccines is a key barrier to COVID-19 vaccine uptake in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Aims To examine factors associated with knowledge about COVID-19 and the association between knowledge of COVID-19, willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and vaccine uptake in Malang, East Java, Indonesia. Method A cross-sectional study among individuals aged 15-99 years was conducted in Malang, Java Timur, Indonesia between November 2022 and January 2023. Of 10,050 potential respondents, 10,007 were able to complete the survey. The main independent variable was knowledge about COVID-19, which was assessed using a six-item questionnaire. The dependent variables were COVID-19 vaccine uptake and COVID-19 booster vaccine uptake. The mediating variable was respondent's willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Linear regression was used to examine factors associated with knowledge about COVID-19. Logistic regression was employed to examine the association of knowledge about COVID-19 with vaccine uptake. Generalized structural equation modeling (GSEM) was performed to examine whether willingness to receive a vaccine mediated the association between knowledge about COVID-19 and vaccination uptake. Findings The percentage of respondents who reported having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine was 94.8%, while the percentage of those who reported having received at least three doses was 88.5%. These numbers are higher than the national average for COVID-19 vaccine and booster vaccine uptake. Most respondents answered about four of six knowledge items correctly (M = 4.60, SD = 1.1). Among respondents who had not received a vaccine, 83.1% expressed willingness to receive a vaccine when it became available to them. Older, more educated, employed respondents, and those with higher economic status, demonstrated more accurate knowledge about COVID-19 than younger, less educated, unemployed respondents and those with lower economic status. Respondents who demonstrated more accurate knowledge about COVID-19 were more likely to have received a vaccine (OR = 1.528, 95% CI = 1.428-1.634) and a booster vaccine (OR = 1.260, 95% CI = 1.196-1.328). Willingness to receive a vaccine mediated the association between knowledge about COVID-19 and vaccine uptake (coef. = 0.426, 95% CI = 0.379-0.473). Implications Interventions and public health programs aiming to improve knowledge about COVID-19 can be implemented to improve individual willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination and to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake among the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujarwoto Sujarwoto
- Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Administrative Science, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia
| | - Asri Maharani
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Haghpanah MA, Vali S, Mousavi Torkamani A, Tale Masouleh M, Kalhor A, Akhavan Sarraf E. Real-time hand rubbing quality estimation using deep learning enhanced by separation index and feature-based confidence metric. Expert Syst Appl 2023; 218:119588. [PMID: 36710887 PMCID: PMC9862712 DOI: 10.1016/j.eswa.2023.119588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Hand hygiene plays a crucial role in healthcare environments which can cease infections and diseases from spreading. It is also regarded as the second most effective way to control the transmission of COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 12-step guideline for alcohol-based hand rubbing. Compliance with this guideline is vital in order to clean the hands thoroughly. Hence, an automated system can help to improve the quality of this procedure. In this study, a large-scale and diverse dataset for both real and fake hand rubbing motions is collected as the first stage of building a reliable hand hygiene system. In the next stage, various pre-trained networks were analyzed and compared using a swift version of the Separation Index (SI) method. The proposed Swift SI method facilitates choosing the best pre-trained network without fine-tuning them on the whole dataset. Accordingly, the Inception-ResNet architecture achieved the highest SI among Inception, ResNet, Xception, and MobileNet networks. Fine-tuning the Inception-ResNet model led to an accuracy of 98% on the test dataset, which is the highest score in the literature. Therefore, from the proposed approach, a lightweight version of this model with fewer layers but almost the same accuracy is produced and examined. In the final stage, a novel metric, called Feature-Based Confidence (FBC), is devised for estimating the confidence of models in prediction. The proposed confidence measure is able to profoundly differentiate models with similar accuracy and determine the superior one. Based on the metrics results, the Inception-ResNet model is about 2x slower but 5% more confident than its lightweight version. Putting all together, by addressing the real-time application concerns, a Deep Learning based method is offered to qualify the hand rubbing process. The model is also employed in a commercial machine, called DeepHARTS, to estimate the quality of the hand rubbing procedure in different organizations and healthcare environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Amin Haghpanah
- Human and Robot Interaction Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sina Vali
- Human and Robot Interaction Laboratory, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Mousavi Torkamani
- Department of Computational Engineering Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lappeenranta, Finland
| | - Mehdi Tale Masouleh
- Human and Robot Interaction Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Kalhor
- Human and Robot Interaction Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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Jones DL, Rhymes JM, Green E, Rimmer C, Kevill JL, Malham SK, Weightman AJ, Farkas K. Poor air passenger knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and behaviour undermines strategies aimed at preventing the import of SARS-CoV-2 into the UK. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3494. [PMID: 36859503 PMCID: PMC9976683 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30654-4] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Air travel mediates transboundary movement of SARS-CoV-2. To prepare for future pandemics, we sought to understand air passenger behaviour and perceived risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study of UK adults (n = 2103) quantified knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, perceived health risk of contracting COVID-19, likelihood of returning to the UK with COVID-19 symptoms, likelihood to obey self-quarantining guidelines, how safe air travellers felt when flying during the pandemic (n = 305), and perceptions towards face covering effectiveness.Overall knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms was poor. Men and younger age groups (18-44) were less informed than women and older age groups (44 +). A significant proportion (21%) of the population would likely travel back to the UK whilst displaying COVID-19 symptoms with many expressing that they would not fully comply with self-isolation guidelines. Overall, males and younger age groups had a reduced perceived personal risk from contracting COVID-19, posing a higher risk of transporting SARS-CoV-2 back to the UK. Poor passenger knowledge and behaviour undermines government guidelines and policies aimed at preventing SARS-CoV-2 entry into the UK. This supports the need for stricter, clearer and more targeted guidelines with point-of-departure viral testing and stricter quarantining upon arrival.
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Affiliation(s)
- David. L. Jones
- grid.7362.00000000118820937Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW Gwynedd UK ,grid.1025.60000 0004 0436 6763SoilsWest, Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6105 Australia
| | - Jennifer M. Rhymes
- grid.7362.00000000118820937Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW Gwynedd UK ,grid.494924.60000 0001 1089 2266UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor, LL57 2UW Gwynedd UK
| | - Emma Green
- grid.7362.00000000118820937Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW Gwynedd UK
| | - Charlotte Rimmer
- grid.7362.00000000118820937Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW Gwynedd UK
| | - Jessica L. Kevill
- grid.7362.00000000118820937Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW Gwynedd UK
| | - Shelagh K. Malham
- grid.7362.00000000118820937School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, LL59 5AB Anglesey UK
| | - Andrew J. Weightman
- grid.5600.30000 0001 0807 5670Microbiomes, Microbes and Informatics Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX UK
| | - Kata Farkas
- grid.7362.00000000118820937Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW Gwynedd UK ,grid.7362.00000000118820937School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, LL59 5AB Anglesey UK
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Watson J, Cumming O, Dreibelbis R. Nongovernmental Organization Practitioners' Perspectives on the Challenges and Solutions to Changing Handwashing Behavior in Older Children: A Qualitative Study. Glob Health Sci Pract 2023; 11:GHSP-D-22-00231. [PMID: 36853630 PMCID: PMC9972390 DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-22-00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing handwashing with soap (HWWS) among older children (aged 5-14 years) can achieve a substantial public health impact. However, HWWS interventions targeting older children have had mixed success. Recent research has attempted to quantitatively identify effective intervention techniques; however, success is likely also influenced by the wider context of implementation. We explore nongovernmental organization (NGO) practitioners' perspectives on the challenges and solutions to HWWS interventions targeting older children to enhance understanding of what is required, beyond intervention content, for them to be effective. METHODS We conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews in April-November 2020 with 25 practitioners employed across 11 NGOs and involved in HWWS interventions targeting older children in development and humanitarian settings. We used purposive and snowball sampling to recruit participants in roles at the global, national/regional, and local levels. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed to identify challenges and solutions to HWWS interventions targeting older children. Results were organized according to program development cycle stages. RESULTS Twelve themes relating to perceived challenges emerged: (1) lack of prioritization, (2) funding inconsistency, (3) insufficient formative research, (4) demand on resources, (5) unengaging intervention content, (6) non-enabling physical environments, (7) availability of skilled implementers, (8) reaching out-of-school children, (9) community mistrust, (10) lack of coordination, (11) lack of evaluation rigor, and (12) failure to assign older children's HWWS as a primary outcome in evaluations of hygiene interventions. Recommended solutions were at the intervention, organization, and sector levels. CONCLUSION Intervention design and delivery are important for the success of HWWS interventions for older children, but contextual factors, such as the availability of human and material resources and the level of coordination within and beyond the NGO sector, should also be considered. NGOs need to prioritize HWWS promotion among older children and support programs accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Watson
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Oliver Cumming
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Dreibelbis
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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13
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Sigudu TT, Oguttu JW, Qekwana DN. Prevalence of Staphylococcus spp. from human specimens submitted to diagnostic laboratories in South Africa, 2012-2017. S Afr J Infect Dis 2023; 38:477. [PMID: 36756240 PMCID: PMC9900383 DOI: 10.4102/sajid.v38i1.477] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although staphylococci are commensals of the skin and mucosa of humans and animals, they are also opportunistic pathogens. Some coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (CoNS), such as S. haemolyticus and S. epidermidis, are reported to be zoonotic. Objectives The prevalence of coagulase positive (CoPS), CoNS and coagulase-variable Staphylococcus spp. isolated from human clinical cases in South Africa was investigated. Method Retrospective records of 404 217 diagnostic laboratory submissions from 2012 to 2017 were examined and analysed in terms of time, place and person. Results Of the 32 different species identified, CoPS were the most frequently isolated (74.7%), followed by CoNS (18.9%). Just over half (51.2%) of the Staphylococcus isolates were from males, while females contributed 44.8%. Patients aged 0-4 years contributed the most (21.5%) isolates, with the highest number coming from KwaZulu-Natal (32.8%). Urinary specimens accounted for 29.8% of the isolates reported. There was no variation in the number of Staphylococcus isolates reported in the autumn (25.2%), winter (25.2%), spring (25.1%) and summer (24.5%) seasons. Conclusion This study demonstrated the diversity of Staphylococcus spp. isolated from humans and the magnitude of infection, with the most predominant species being S. aureus and S. epidermidis. Contribution Although most isolates were CoPS, the isolation of CoNS seen in this study suggests a need to improve infection control measures in a South African context. More research is needed to investigate the determinants of the observed variations in the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Themba T. Sigudu
- Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa,Department of Health and Society, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - James W. Oguttu
- Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Daniel N. Qekwana
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Breidablik HJ, Johannessen L, Andersen JR, Søreide H, Kleiven OT. Effect of Optimal Alcohol-Based Hand Rub among Nurse Students Compared with Everyday Practice among Random Adults; Can Water-Based Hand Rub Combined with a Hand Dryer Machine Be an Alternative to Remove E. coli Contamination from Hands? Microorganisms 2023; 11. [PMID: 36838290 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Efficient hand hygiene is essential for preventing the transmission of microorganisms. Alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) is a recommended method. We compared health personnel (skilled nurse students) with random adults to study the effect of an ABHR procedure. A water-based hand rub (WBHR) procedure, using running tap water and a hand-drying machine, was also investigated. The study included 27 nurse students and 26 random adults. Hands were contaminated with Escherichia coli, and concentrations of colony forming units (CFU/mL) were determined before and after ABHR or WBHR. Concentrations after ABHR were 1537 CFU/mL (nurse students) and 13,508 CFU/mL (random adults) (p < 0.001). One-third of participants reported skin irritation from daily ABHR. Concentrations after WBHR were 41 CFU/mL (nurse students) and 115 CFU/mL (random adults) (p < 0.011). The majority of participants (88.5%) preferred the WBHR method. Results from 50 air samples from filtered air from the hand dryer outlet showed no CFU in 47 samples. A significant difference between the two groups was shown for the ABHR method, indicating that training skills are important for efficient hand hygiene. Surprisingly, the WBHR method seemed to have a significant effect in largely removing transient bacteria from hands.
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Zheng Z, Liang C, Li Z, Wu Y, Lin B, Fang J. Mask-Wearing and Handwashing Behaviors of Chinese Rural Residents during the Pandemic of COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 20:779. [PMID: 36613099 PMCID: PMC9819408 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010779] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To understand mask-wearing and handwashing behaviors of Chinese rural residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze the associated factors. METHODS This study used a multi-stage random sampling method to conduct a cross-sectional questionnaire survey during the period of July to December of 2021, in six counties located in Shandong, Shanxi, and Yunnan provinces representing the eastern, central, and western regions of China, respectively. A total of 3864 villagers were surveyed with a questionnaire, and 3832 valid questionnaires were finally analyzed. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Around ninety-four percent (93.6%) of rural residents reported mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic, but only 44.5% of them could replace masks in time. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that those who were female, aged 15-59, had an education level of high school and above, were divorced/widowed, worked as farmers (workers), or were rural residents in Shandong Province were more likely to wear masks. Furthermore, those who were female, aged 15-59, had an education level of high school and above, were unmarried and married, were business and service workers, or were rural residents in Shandong and Shanxi Province replaced masks more timely. Around seventy percent (69.7%) of rural residents reported using soap when washing their hands, but only 38.0% of rural residents could wash their hands properly. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that rural residents who were aged 35-59, had an education of high school and above, or lived in Shandong Province and Shanxi Province were more likely to wash their hands with soap. Those who were aged 15-59, had an education of high school and above, worked as farmers (workers), were employees of governmental departments and retirees, were business and service workers, or were students had higher proper handwashing rates. CONCLUSION During the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of Chinese rural residents wearing masks reached 93.6%, but only 44.5% were able to replace masks in time, gender, age, education level, marital status, occupation, and living place had an impact on mask-wearing. The proportion of Chinese rural residents who could wash hands with soap reached 69.7%, but only 38.0% could wash their hands properly. Age and education level were influencing factors for both washing-hand with soap and proper handwashing.
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16
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Gim H, Oh S, Lee H, Lee S, Seo H, Park Y, Park JH. Reduction in COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Seoul according to Age, Sex, and Symptoms: A Test-Negative Case-Control Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:16958. [PMID: 36554839 PMCID: PMC9779328 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416958] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We evaluated vaccine effectiveness (VE) against infections with SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea, having the highest population density in the country, under real-world conditions. METHODS We evaluated the reduction in the effectiveness of mRNA and viral-vector COVID-19 vaccines against infection by the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant in a subpopulation from April 2021 to July 2021 who visited screening clinics in Seoul using a test-negative case-control study design. Moreover, we conducted a case-control study matching the ten-year-old age group, sex, healthcare workers, and five districts of Seoul, which are considered confounding factors. RESULTS The full VE in the pre-delta-dominant period was 95.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 91.2-97.2); however, it decreased to 61.1% (95% CI: 53.2-67.6) during the delta-dominant period. Notably, we found that COVID-19 VE was significantly decreased in individuals aged ≥80 years (52.9%, 95% CI: -9.9-79.8), men (50.6 %, 95% CI: 39.4-59.8), and asymptomatic individuals (49.8%, 95% CI: 36.5-60.3) during the widespread SARS-CoV-2 delta variant circulation. CONCLUSIONS Vaccine-mediated protection drastically declined during the delta-dominant period and in vulnerable groups. This study suggests the requirement for additional countermeasures, such as the administration of a booster vaccine, in vulnerable groups based on age, sex, and symptomatic manifestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyerin Gim
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Citizen’s Health Bureau, Seoul Metropolitan Government, 110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul 04524, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyoung Oh
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Citizen’s Health Bureau, Seoul Metropolitan Government, 110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul 04524, Republic of Korea
| | - Heeda Lee
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Citizen’s Health Bureau, Seoul Metropolitan Government, 110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul 04524, Republic of Korea
| | - Seul Lee
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Citizen’s Health Bureau, Seoul Metropolitan Government, 110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul 04524, Republic of Korea
| | - Haesook Seo
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Citizen’s Health Bureau, Seoul Metropolitan Government, 110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul 04524, Republic of Korea
| | - Yumi Park
- Citizen’s Health Bureau, Seoul Metropolitan Government, 110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul 04524, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hyun Park
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
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Silva MVR, de Castro MV, Passos-Bueno MR, Otto PA, Naslavsky MS, Zatz M. Men are the main COVID-19 transmitters: behavior or biology? Discov Ment Health 2022; 2:1. [PMID: 35174362 PMCID: PMC8785017 DOI: 10.1007/s44192-022-00004-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background COVID-19 has affected millions of people worldwide. Clinical manifestations range from severe cases with lethal outcome to mild or asymptomatic cases. Although the proportion of infected individuals does not differ between sexes, men are more susceptible to severe COVID-19, with a higher risk of death than women. Also, men are pointed out as more lax regarding protective measures, mask wearing and vaccination. Thus, we questioned whether sex-bias may be explained by biological pathways and/or behavioral aspects or both. Methods Between July 2020 and July 2021, we performed an epidemiological survey including 1744 unvaccinated adult Brazilian couples, with there was at least one infected symptomatic member, who were living together during the COVID-19 infection without protective measures. Presence or absence of infection was confirmed by RT-PCR and/or serology results. Couples were divided into two groups: (1) both partners were infected (concordant couples) and (2) one partner was infected and the spouse remained asymptomatic despite the close contact with the COVID-19 symptomatic partner (discordant couples). Statistical analysis of the collected data was performed aiming to verify a differential transmission potential between genders in couples keeping contact without protective measures. Results The combination of our collected data showed that the man is the first (or the only) affected member in most cases when compared to women and that this difference may be explained by biological and behavioral factors. Conclusions The present study confirmed the existence of gender differences not only for susceptibility to infection and resistance to COVID-19 but also in its transmission rate. There are sex differences in COVID-19 susceptibility and transmission between couples highly exposed to SARS-Cov-2 without protective measures; Men are more efficient virus transmitters than women; Sex-bias in COVID-19 transmission can be explained by differences in viral load in saliva, immune response and also behavioral protective differences between genders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monize V. R. Silva
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center (HUG-CELL), Biosciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Mateus V. de Castro
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center (HUG-CELL), Biosciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Maria Rita Passos-Bueno
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center (HUG-CELL), Biosciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Paulo A. Otto
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Biosciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Michel S. Naslavsky
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Biosciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Mayana Zatz
- Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center (HUG-CELL), Biosciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP Brazil
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18
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Rahman Zuthi MF, Hossen MA, Pal SK, Mazumder MH, Hasan SMF, Hoque MM. Evaluating knowledge, awareness and associated water usage towards hand hygiene practices influenced by the current COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. Groundw Sustain Dev 2022; 19:100848. [PMID: 36164324 PMCID: PMC9493147 DOI: 10.1016/j.gsd.2022.100848] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Hand hygiene is considered as one of the most effective ways for preventing transmissible diseases, especially for preventing virus-borne diseases. The study has been conducted to evaluate changes in knowledge, awareness and practices of hand hygiene due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangladesh. The potential factors influencing human behaviours for maintaining hand hygiene have also been explored. Moreover, a probable increase in daily water demand associated with the changed situation has been assessed. An online survey was performed among a total of 367 Bangladeshi residents about their practices of hand hygiene during pre-corona, corona, and of their perceived future practices at post-corona period. It has been observed that a significant percentage (62.1%) of the respondents have received basic hygiene education at any level of their academic education. Nevertheless, their hygiene practices were very poor before the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak of the COVID-19 has reinforced their previous knowledge and greatly influenced their behavioural changes towards practicing hand hygiene as per World Health Organization guidelines for preventing the virus outbreak. The changes, however, have created increased water demand. The estimated water usage is found to be 2.68 times (9.15 L/c/d) and 2.52 times (8.59 L/c/d) higher in the corona and post-corona period respectively than that of the pre-corona situation (3.41 L/c/d). The principal component analysis (PCA) elucidated that an individual's practice of hand hygiene was associated with income, level of academic and hygiene education, and the COVID-19 outbreak itself. Moreover, the influence of hygiene education and COVID-19 outbreak affecting the duration of handwashing are found highly significant (p-value < 0.001) from the regression analysis. Raising awareness towards behavioural change of an individual about water usage, improvement of academic curriculum regarding hand hygiene and provision of water pricing are recommended to attain sustainable development goals of the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mst Farzana Rahman Zuthi
- Center for Environmental Science & Engineering Research (CESER), Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Chattogram, 4349, Bangladesh
- Department of Civil Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Chattogram, 4349, Bangladesh
| | - Md Arif Hossen
- Center for Environmental Science & Engineering Research (CESER), Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Chattogram, 4349, Bangladesh
| | - Sudip Kumar Pal
- Department of Civil Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Chattogram, 4349, Bangladesh
| | - Maruful Hasan Mazumder
- Department of Disaster Engineering and Management, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Chattogram, 4349, Bangladesh
| | - S M Farzin Hasan
- Department of Civil Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Chattogram, 4349, Bangladesh
| | - Md Muzamamel Hoque
- Department of Civil Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Chattogram, 4349, Bangladesh
- Southern University Bangladesh, Chattogram, 4000, Bangladesh
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Tan J, Yoshida Y, Sheng-Kai Ma K, Mauvais-Jarvis F, Lee CC. Gender differences in health protective behaviours and its implications for COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan: a population-based study. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1900. [PMID: 36224561 PMCID: PMC9554846 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14288-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection produces more severe symptoms and a higher mortality in men than in women. The role of biological sex in the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is believed to explain this sex disparity. However, the contribution of gender factors that influence health protective behaviors and therefore health outcomes, remains poorly explored. Methods We assessed the contributions of gender in attitudes towards the COVID-19 pandemic, using a hypothetical influenza pandemic data from the 2019 Taiwan Social Change Survey. Participants were selected through a stratified, three-stage probability proportional-to-size sampling from across the nation, to fill in questionnaires that asked about their perception of the hypothetical pandemic, and intention to adopt health protective behaviors. Results A total of 1,990 participants (median age = 45·92 years, 49% were women) were included. Significant gender disparities (p < .001) were observed. The risk perception of pandemic (OR = 1·28, 95% CI [1·21 − 1·35], p < .001), older age (OR = 1·06, 95% CI [1·05 − 1·07], p < .001), female gender (OR = 1·18, 95% CI [1·09-1·27], p < .001), higher education (OR = 1·10, 95% CI [1·06 − 1·13], p < .001), and larger family size (OR = 1·09, 95% CI [1·06 − 1·15], p < .001) were positively associated with health protective behaviors. The risk perception of pandemic (OR = 1·25, 95% CI [1·15 − 1·36]), higher education (OR = 1·07, 95% CI [1·02 − 1·13], p < .05), being married (OR = 1·17, 95% CI [1·01–1·36, p < .05), and larger family size (OR = 1·33, 95% CI [1·25 − 1·42], p < .001), were positively associated with intention to receive a vaccine. However, female gender was negatively associated with intention to receive a vaccine (OR = 0·85, 95% CI [0·75 − 0·90], p < ·01) and to comply with contact-tracing (OR = 0·95, 95% CI [0·90 − 1·00], p < .05) compared to men. Living with children was also negatively associated with intention to receive vaccines (OR = 0·77, 95% CI [0·66 − 0·90], p < .001). Conclusion This study unveils gender differences in risk perception, health protective behaviors, vaccine hesitancy, and compliance with contact-tracing using a hypothetical viral pandemic. Gender-specific health education raising awareness of health protective behaviors may be beneficial to prevent future pandemics. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-14288-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Tan
- School of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Sociology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yilin Yoshida
- Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Tulane Center of Excellence in Sex-Based Biology & Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Kevin Sheng-Kai Ma
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Center for Global Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Franck Mauvais-Jarvis
- Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Tulane Center of Excellence in Sex-Based Biology & Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Southeast Louisiana VA Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Chien-Chang Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. .,Byers Center for Biodesign, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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AlGhobaishi A, Alzabin H, Alhazmi A, Mousa AH, AlThagafi H, Alghamdi M, Khawaji A, Albenayan E, Zailaie R, Almaghrabi RH, Garout MA. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on hand hygiene adherence among pediatric physicians, in Saudi Arabia. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022; 82:104518. [PMID: 36092858 PMCID: PMC9444314 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The hand hygiene practice (HHP) is the most effective and simplest preventive measure to reduce the risk of infection. HHP is more relevant among pediatric physicians in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic since, children are more vulnerable to infection. Therefore, assessment of the COVID-19 impact on HHP could be useful in minimizing lethal virus transmission from pediatric physicians to patients and vice versa. Method The present cross-sectional, electronically self-administered supplement based survey study was conducted among different professional levels of pediatric physicians involving consultants, specialists, and residents. The supplement includes information related to demography, knowledge, awareness, preventive measures, demonstration and practice of HHP. The information was collected and summarized on a Microsoft excel sheet before being imported to SPSS for statistical analysis. Results Of the total (N = 404) pediatric physicians, 56.68% male, 43.06% belongs to 25–35 years, 42.32% were consultants, 98.01% respondents were familiar with five moments of HHP. Further, HHP immediately before touching patients (99.26%), clean/aseptic procedure (95.04%), after body fluid exposure (72.28%), after touching patients (98.01%), after touching surrounding of patients (74.75%) may prevent germ transmission to patients whereas HHP after touching patients (98.27%), before clean/aseptic procedure (67.57%), after exposure to immediate surroundings of patients (97.02%) may prevent germ transmission to pediatric physicians. Rubbing hands is preferred before palpation of abdomen (74.25%), before giving injection (56.68%), after removing gloves (61.88%), after making a patient's bed (47.80%), while washing of hands preferred after emptying bedpan (67.82%) and after visible exposure to blood (84.40%), 92.57% believed gloves can't replace HHP, posters display at point of care as reminders (95.30%), received frequent HHP education (82.92%), 50.49% do not need HHP reminder, 51.73% preferred alcohol based sanitizer, 53.46% facilitate daily morning huddle, HHP >10 times per day before COVID-19 (24.62%) while in COIVID-19 (56.44%). HPP is the most effective way to prevent the spread (98.01%) of microbes because it kills germs (90.35%), health care associated infections is the major (38.06%) cause of germ transmission, 86.88% will be remains committed to HHP even after pandemic. In comparison to residents and specialists, consultants gave more importance (p = 0.02) to HHP and were more adherent during (p = 0.007) and even after (p = 0.001) COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion Assessing knowledge of pediatric physician, awareness, and adherence to hand hygiene measures could be helpful to reduce the contact transmission of lethal viruses to patients and vice versa. Further increase in the awareness, knowledge and education of HHP are required in order to maximize its utilization. The hand hygiene practice (HHP) is the most effective and simplest preventive measure to reduce the risk of infection. Of the total (N = 404) pediatric physicians, 56.68% male, 43.06% belongs to 25–35 years, 42.32% were consultants, 98.01% respondents were familiar with five moments of HHP. Assessing knowledge of pediatric physician, awareness, and adherence to hand hygiene measures could be helpful to reduce the contact transmission of lethal viruses to patients and vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah AlGhobaishi
- Department of Pediatrics, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Corresponding author. Pediatric intensivist Department of Pediatrics, King Fahad Armed Forces, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Haifa Alzabin
- Department of Pediatrics, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asma Alhazmi
- Department of Pediatrics, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Hafez Mousa
- Department of Pediatrics, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine and Surgery, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Children's Health Center, Department of Pediatrics, International Medical Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hatem AlThagafi
- Department of Pediatrics, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Alghamdi
- Emergency Department, King Fahad General Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adeeb Khawaji
- Department of Pediatrics, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eyad Albenayan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, King Fahad Armed Forces, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Roaa Zailaie
- Department of Pediatrics Infectious Disease, King Fahad Armed Forces, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Mohammed A. Garout
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) Control Leader, Saudi Arabia
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21
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Leal HF, Mamani C, Quach C, Bédard E. Survey on antimicrobial resistance knowledge and perceptions in university students reveals concerning trends on antibiotic use and procurement. J Assoc Med Microbiol Infect Dis Can 2022; 7:220-232. [PMID: 36337599 PMCID: PMC9629729 DOI: 10.3138/jammi-2022-0008] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that antimicrobial resistance is one of the top ten global public health threats humanity is facing. To tackle this problem, it is necessary to not only address it in the hospital setting, but even more so in the community. In this context, understanding people's knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards antimicrobial resistance is of utmost importance. Accordingly, we investigated whether students from the Université de Montréal (Quebec, Canada) had perceptions and behaviours that could foster bacterial resistance. METHODS We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, prospective, and descriptive study from November 30 to December 11, 2020. We applied an online questionnaire (Google Forms) adapted from the WHO survey entitled 'Antibiotic resistance: Multi-country public awareness survey.' RESULTS Overall, 106 participants were included in this study. Most of them demonstrated reasonable understanding and behaviours related to antimicrobial resistance. Erroneous response proportions ranged from 0.9% to 25.5%, except for the statement 'Antibiotic resistance occurs when your body becomes resistant to antibiotics, and they no longer work,' where 63.2% of participants answered that it was true, even though it is false. Regarding antibiotic use, 28.3% of participants said they already had used antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. Of these, 55.2% were Canadian students. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates a possible misuse of antimicrobials in an area where antibiotics should not be easily accessible without a prescription. It is necessary to investigate why these medications are being used without being prescribed. Furthermore, we demonstrate a need to increase public awareness to better understand antimicrobial resistance's theoretical basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Ferreira Leal
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Claudia Mamani
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Caroline Quach
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Quebec, Canada
| | - Emilie Bédard
- Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Quebec, Canada
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22
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Taslem Mourosi J, Anwar S, Hosen MJ. The sex and gender dimensions of COVID-19: A narrative review of the potential underlying factors. Infect Genet Evol 2022; 103:105338. [PMID: 35863677 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Multiple lines of evidence indicate that the male sex is a significant risk factor for severe disease and mortality due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the precise explanation for the discrepancy is currently unclear. Immunologically, the female-biased protection against COVID-19 could presumably be due to a more rapid and robust immune response to viruses exhibited by males. The female hormones, e.g., estrogens and progesterone, may have protective roles against viral infections. In contrast, male hormones, e.g., testosterone, can act oppositely. Besides, the expression of the ACE-2 receptor in the lung and airway lining, which the SARS-CoV-2 uses to enter cells, is more pronounced in males. Estrogen potentially plays a role in downregulating the expression of ACE-2, which could be a plausible biological explanation for the reduced severity of COVID-19 in females. Comorbidities, e.g., cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and kidney disorders, are considered significant risk factors for severe outcomes in COVID-19. Age-adjusted data shows that males are statistically more predisposed to these morbidities-amplifying risks for males with COVID-19. In addition, many sociocultural factors and gender-constructed behavior of men and women impact exposure to infections and outcomes. In many parts of the world, women are more likely to abide by health regulations, e.g., mask-wearing and handwashing, than men. In contrast, men, in general, are more involved with high-risk behaviors, e.g., smoking and alcohol consumption, and high-risk jobs that require admixing with people, which increases their risk of exposure to the infection. Overall, males and females suffer differently from COVID-19 due to a complex interplay between many biological and sociocultural factors.
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23
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Saleh AM, Alrawaili SM, Abdelbasset WK. Hand hygiene practices among Jordanian nurses in Amman. Afr Health Sci 2022; 22:710-717. [PMID: 36910398 PMCID: PMC9993278 DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v22i3.76] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hand hygiene is a simple and effective practice that helps to reduce the spread of hospital-acquired infections. However, health care professionals' adherence to hand hygiene guidelines is low. The purpose of this study is to evaluate hand hygiene practices among Jordanian nurses working in hospitals. Methodology The standardized version of the World Health Organization (WHO) questionnaire was given to Jordanian nurses from two hospitals in Amman. Result The response rate was 76 percent, with 173 nurses contacted to enroll 226 participants. According to the study, 65.5 percent (113) of the participants have a good practice hand hygiene, while 11 percent (19) practiced poor hand hygiene. The percentage of female participants who practiced good hand hygiene was found to be significantly higher (70 percent) than the percentage of male participants (30 percent). Conclusion To improve compliance with hand hygiene practices, male nurses and nurses working in the department of internal medicine and pediatrics need in-service educational intervention. Posters and other visual aids emphasizing the importance of hand hygiene should be displayed in all departments to raise awareness of the importance of hand hygiene among nurses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad M Saleh
- Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saud M Alrawaili
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Walid Kamal Abdelbasset
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Physical Therapy, Kasr Al-Aini Hospital, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
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24
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Butty A, Bühler N, Pasquier J, Dupraz J, Faivre V, Estoppey S, Rawlinson C, Gonseth Nusslé S, Bochud M, D'Acremont V. Adherence to Coronavirus Disease 2019 Preventive Measures in a Representative Sample of the Population of the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. Int J Public Health 2022; 67:1605048. [PMID: 36090841 PMCID: PMC9453818 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1605048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: We quantified adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and explored associated factors, after the first and during the second Swiss epidemic waves.Methods: With an observational cohort study in a representative sample of individuals aged 15 years and more, we analysed the association between self-reported adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures (respect of simple hygiene rules; respect of social distancing rules; wearing a mask) and socio-demographic factors, the existence of a chronic disease, and the existence of a previous confirmed COVID-19 episode.Results: Highest adherence was to simple hygiene rules, followed by social distancing rules and mask wearing, with a slight decrease for simple hygiene rules and a strong increase for mask wearing between visits. Men were significantly less likely to respect simple hygiene rules and wear a mask in public. Participants aged 65 years and more (versus 25–64 years) and those with at least one chronic disease (versus none) were two times more likely to respect social distancing rules and wear a mask.Conclusion: Adherence to social distancing rules and mask wearing was rather poor, especially compared to other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Butty
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nolwenn Bühler
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- STS Lab, Institute of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jérôme Pasquier
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Dupraz
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Faivre
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sandrine Estoppey
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cloé Rawlinson
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Semira Gonseth Nusslé
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Murielle Bochud
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Valérie D'Acremont
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Sultana R, Nahar N, Rimi NA, Swarna ST, Khan S, Saifullah MK, Kabir H, Jensen PKM. The Meaning of "Hygiene" and Its Linked Practices in a Low-Income Urban Community in Bangladesh. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph19169823. [PMID: 36011456 PMCID: PMC9407852 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19169823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Improving hygiene practices is considered to be the single most cost-effective means of reducing the global health burden of infectious diseases. Hygiene promotion and disease prevention interventions often portray and promote "hygiene" from a biomedical perspective, which may not be optimally effective for achieving their goal of changing people's behaviors. This study aimed to educe the meaning of hygiene for the residents of a low-income community in Bangladesh and how that meaning shapes their personal hygiene practices. We conducted this study in the Tongi township in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from September 2014 to June 2016. The research team purposively selected 24 households. The team conducted day-long observations using the participant observation approach and in-depth interviews with specific members of the 24 households. The concept of "hygiene" had two separate meanings to the study participants: cleanliness and holiness. The participants reported that cleanliness was required to remove odors, grease, hot spices and dirt. The motivation for cleanliness was to feel fresh, avoid heavy feelings, feel light and feel comfortable. To maintain the holiness of the body, bathing and ablution needed to be performed following particular religious rules/rituals. The motivation of holiness was derived from their accountability to God. The participants also reported that the cleansing processes and methods for the body and the home for cleanliness reasons were also different from those for holiness reasons. The notion of "hygiene" was multidimensional for the residents of the low-income urban community in Bangladesh. Our study participants did not explicitly conceptualize a notion of hygiene that was based on the germ theory of diseases but rather a notion that was based on individual physical comfort and cultural belief systems. Future studies on the prevention of hygiene-related diseases should combine and link the biomedical aspect to religious and cultural rituals to promote improved hygiene practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Sultana
- Copenhagen Center for Disaster Research, Global Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, 1353 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
- icddr,b, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Nazmun Nahar
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Peter Kjær Mackie Jensen
- Copenhagen Center for Disaster Research, Global Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, 1353 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Onyiaorah AA, Uba-Obiano CU, Akudinobi CU, Okpala NE, Ezenwa AC, Nwosu SNN. Hand Hygiene Knowledge Among Eye Care Workers at an Eye Hospital in Nigeria. J West Afr Coll Surg 2022; 12:84-88. [PMID: 36388739 PMCID: PMC9641735 DOI: 10.4103/jwas.jwas_143_22] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
AIM The aim of this article is to determine the knowledge of hand hygiene (HH) practices among eye care workers in a tertiary eye hospital in Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a cross-sectional study of eye care workers at a tertiary eye hospital in Nigeria. Eye care workers, involved with clinical duties, responded to the WHO Hand Hygiene Knowledge questionnaire containing 24 multiple choice questions on HH knowledge. Each correct answer earned one point; zero was given for a wrong answer. Overall scores were expressed in percentage. An overall score of ≥75% was considered as good; 50-74% moderate; and <50% poor knowledge. Data analysis was with SPSS version 23. RESULTS Fifty-eight workers participated. Thirty-nine (67.2%) were females and 19 (32.8%) were males; the age range was 25-68 years; mean 39.6 ± 7.4 years. The average work experience was 15.3 ± 8.9 years; range 1-40 years. The mean knowledge score was 12.0 ± 2.9 (50%) which is moderate knowledge; range 3-18. Workers who had received training in HH had a significantly higher mean knowledge score than those who did not receive training (12.8 ± 2.3 vs. 11.3 ± 3.2; P = 0.04). There was no statistically significant association between knowledge of HH and age, sex, work experience, and professional category (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION HH knowledge of the eye care workers studied is sub-optimal. This has negative implication for hospital infection control. Eye care workers' knowledge of HH can be improved through formal training and frequent rehearsals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adaora Amaoge Onyiaorah
- Center for Eye Health Research and Training, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
- Guinness Eye Centre, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria
| | - Chizoba Udoka Uba-Obiano
- Center for Eye Health Research and Training, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
- Guinness Eye Centre, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria
| | | | - Nonso Ejikeme Okpala
- Center for Eye Health Research and Training, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
- Guinness Eye Centre, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria
| | - Adanma Chinyele Ezenwa
- Center for Eye Health Research and Training, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
- Guinness Eye Centre, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria
| | - Sebastian N. N. Nwosu
- Center for Eye Health Research and Training, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
- Guinness Eye Centre, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria
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Galanis P, Vraka I, Katsiroumpa A, Siskou O, Konstantakopoulou O, Katsoulas T, Mariolis-Sapsakos T, Kaitelidou D. Attitudes toward COVID-19 Pandemic among Fully Vaccinated Individuals: Evidence from Greece Two Years after the Pandemic. Acta Med Litu 2022; 29:245-257. [PMID: 37733398 PMCID: PMC9798998 DOI: 10.15388/amed.2022.29.2.11] [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: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Considering the major effects of COVID-19 pandemic on health, social, economic, and political dimensions of all countries, positive attitudes toward COVID-19 pandemic are essential to control the pandemic. In our study, we investigated attitudes toward COVID-19 pandemic among fully COVID-19 vaccinated individuals two years after the pandemic and we identified predictors of attitudes. Materials and Methods We conducted an on-line cross-sectional study with 815 fully COVID-19 vaccinated individuals in Greece during May 2022. A self-administered and valid questionnaire was disseminated through social media platforms. We measured socio-demographic variables and COVID-19-related variables as potential predictors of attitudes toward COVID-19 pandemic. The outcome variable was attitudes toward COVID-19 pandemic (compliance with hygiene measures, trust in COVID-19 vaccination, fear of COVID-19, and information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination). Results We found a very high level of compliance with hygiene measures, a high level of trust and information about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination, and a moderate level of fear of COVID-19. Also, we identified that females, participants with a higher educational level, those with a chronic disease, those with a better self-perceived physical health, and those without a previous COVID-19 diagnosis adhered more in hygiene measures. Trust in COVID-19 vaccination was higher among females, older participants, those with a higher educational level, those with a better self-perceived physical health, and those without a previous COVID-19 diagnosis. Moreover, females, older participants, those with a higher educational level, those with a chronic disease, those with a better self-perceived physical health, those that received a flu vaccine in previous season, and those without a previous COVID-19 diagnosis experienced more fear of COVID-19. Finally, level of information regarding COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination was higher for participants with a higher educational level, those without a chronic disease, those with a better self-perceived physical health, and those that received a flu vaccine in previous season. Conclusions Understanding predictors of attitudes toward COVID-19 pandemic among fully vaccinated individuals is crucial for developing appropriate public health campaigns in the future. Vaccination should be accompanied by positive attitudes in order to decrease the frequency of negative outcomes of COVID-19, such as hospitalization, complications and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petros Galanis
- Clinical Epidemiology Laboratory, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Irene Vraka
- Department of Radiology, P. & A. Kyriakou Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Aglaia Katsiroumpa
- Clinical Epidemiology Laboratory, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Olga Siskou
- Department of Tourism Studies, University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece
| | - Olympia Konstantakopoulou
- Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Theodoros Katsoulas
- Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Daphne Kaitelidou
- Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Duan Y, Hu C, Lin Z, Liang W, Shang B, Baker JS, He J, Wang Y. Individual Preventive Behaviors of COVID-19 and Associated Psychological Factors Among Chinese Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey. Front Psychol 2022; 13:827152. [PMID: 35386886 PMCID: PMC8979016 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.827152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Older adults aged 60 years and above are classified as being of high-risk for infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the associations of psychological factors (motivational factors: risk perception, health knowledge, attitude, subjective norm, motivational self-efficacy, and intention; volitional factors: volitional self-efficacy, planning, and action control) of preventive behaviors with three preventive behaviors (hand washing, facemask wearing, and social distancing) among Chinese older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was administered via SOJUMP, a widely used online survey platform in China. A total of 928 older adults (mean = 67.24 years, age range: 60–90 years, SD = 6.43, 55.9% females) were recruited using a snowball sampling approach from Hubei Province (n = 667) and outside Hubei Province (n = 261) in China during May 18, 2020 to June 7, 2020. Multiple hierarchical regressions were conducted with four models to examine the association between demographic, past behavior, psychological factors and each preventive behavior. Principal Findings All three preventive behaviors in older adults increased dramatically during the pandemic of COVID-19. Gender, living status, educational level, past behavior, health knowledge, intention and planning significantly predicted hand washing behavior, R2 = 0.395, F(10, 927) = 54.372, p < 0.001. Gender, education level, important others (e.g., family members or friends) infection, past behavior, health knowledge, planning and action control significantly predicted mask wearing behavior, R2 = 0.202, F(10, 927) = 23.197, p < 0.001. Living place, past behavior and health knowledge significantly predicted social distancing behavior, R2 = 0.204, F(9, 927) = 26.201, p < 0.001. Major Conclusions Past behavior and health knowledge predicted all three preventive behaviors. Planning was an important psychological factor for both hand washing and mask wearing behaviors. All those critical demographic and psychological factors are critical for future interventions to facilitate older adults to comply with three preventive behaviors in daily life and to stay healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Duan
- Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Center for Health and Exercise Science Research, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.,College of Health Science, Wuhan Institute of Physical Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Chun Hu
- Student Mental Health Education Center, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhihua Lin
- Sport Section, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Liang
- Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Center for Health and Exercise Science Research, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Borui Shang
- Department of Kinesiology, Hebei Institute of Physical Education, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Julien Steven Baker
- Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Center for Health and Exercise Science Research, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jiali He
- College of Health Science, Wuhan Institute of Physical Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanping Wang
- Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Anderson-Carpenter KD, Tacy GS. Predictors of social distancing and hand washing among adults in five countries during COVID-19. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264820. [PMID: 35298498 PMCID: PMC8929564 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine disparities in hand washing and social distancing among 2,509 adults from the United States, Italy, Spain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and India. Respondents were recruited via Qualtrics' participant pool and completed an online survey in the most common language spoken in each country. In hierarchical linear regression models, living in a rural area (β = -0.08, p = .001), older age (β = 0.07, p < .001), identifying as a woman (β = 0.07, p = .001), and greater educational attainment (β = 0.07, p = .017) were significantly associated with hand washing. Similar results were found regarding social distancing, in which living in a rural area (β = -0.10, p < .001), country of residence (β = 0.11, p < .001), older age (β = 0.17, p < .001), identifying as a woman (β = 0.11, p < .001), and greater educational attainment (β = 0.06, p = .019) were significant predictors. Results from the multivariable linear regression models demonstrate more nuanced findings with distinct and significant disparities across the five countries found with respect to hand washing and social distancing. Taken together, the results suggest multiple influencing factors that contribute to existing disparities regarding social distancing and hand washing among adults internationally. As such, more tailored public interventions are needed to promote preventive measures to mitigate existing COVID-related disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Garrett S. Tacy
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Handwashing is known as the most preventive method for various infectious diseases. Health authorities have conducted various campaigns and public relations targeting the general population but few evaluations of these long-term interventions. This study aimed to investigate the association between experience of educational events or public relations (EXEP), attitude towards the effectiveness of handwashing (AEHW) and handwashing practice (HWP). SETTING Using a population-based cross-sectional study with a complex sample design, we explored the response outcomes of handwashing. Those outcomes were collected biennially using Community Health Survey among the years 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019. We applied multivariate logistic regression for the association among sociodemographic factors, health conditions, EXEP, AEHW and HWP. PARTICIPANTS Total participants residing in Seoul were 23 139 (men 44.2%), 23 004 (men 44.4%), 22 955 (men 44.8%) and 22 930 (men 43.9%), in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019, respectively. RESULTS Overall, participants with EXEP are more likely to be women, aged between the 30s and 60s, and with a higher educational level. Particularly, participants with EXEP had an increased association with HWP (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.33) and AEHW (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.38 to 1.63). In addition, AEHW also had an increased association with HWP (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.53 to 1.81). The mediated effect of AEHW to HWP is not determined evidently. CONCLUSION The results showed that EXEP is positively associated with HWP and AEHW among community-dwelling people. Our results confirm that educational activity can lead to more pronounced behavioural changes only when it forms a positive attitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayeun Kim
- Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul, The Republic of Korea
- Korea Institute of Child Care and Education, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyuhyun Yoon
- Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul, The Republic of Korea
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Abd Rahim MH, Ibrahim MI. Hand hygiene knowledge, perception, and self-reported performance among nurses in Kelantan, Malaysia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nurs 2022; 21:38. [PMID: 35101001 PMCID: PMC8805290 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-022-00820-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Nurses interact with patients 24 hours a day, and this connection has the potential to raise the risk of infection transmission to patients. Nursing plays a vital role in pre-venting healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) by ensuring that hand hygiene (HH) practises are followed and maintained. The purpose of this study was to evaluate nurses’ knowledge, perceptions, and self-reported HH performance scores, as well as their correlation, in tertiary care hospitals in Kelantan, Malaysia. Methods A cross-sectional study was undertaken in all four Kelantan tertiary care hospitals from December 2019 to February 2020. A stratified random selection method was used to obtain a sample of 438 registered nurses. A validated WHO self-administered HH knowledge and perception questionnaire for healthcare personnel was used to measure HH knowledge, perception, and self-reported HH performance. Results The mean (SD) score of knowledge was 15.08 (1.96) out of the total 25. The score of perception participants towards HH was 68.02 (10.14) out of the total 81 and the average self-reported HH performance was 87.58 (12.03) out of 100. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations between perception and knowledge scores; r (436) =0.17, p<0.001 and Perception and self-reported HH performance scores; r (436) =0.27, p<0.001. Conclusions There is a strong link between knowledge and perception scores. Lack of understanding of HH during patient care might lead to a negative perception, which can affect overall self-reported HH performance. The need of monitoring and maintaining HH knowledge among nurses was established in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Hazni Abd Rahim
- Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Ismail Ibrahim
- Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.
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Eriksson K, Dickins TE, Strimling P. Global sex differences in hygiene norms and their relation to sex equality. PLOS Glob Public Health 2022; 2:e0000591. [PMID: 36962769 PMCID: PMC10021886 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Strict norms about hygiene may sometimes have health benefits but may also be a burden. Based on research in the United States, it has been suggested that women traditionally shoulder responsibility for hygiene standards and therefore tend to have stricter views on hygiene. However, there is little systematic research on sex differences in hygiene norms at the global scale. We set up two hypotheses: (1) Stricter hygiene norms among women than among men is a global phenomenon. (2) The size of this sex difference varies across nations with the level of sex equality. We examine these hypotheses using data from a recent international survey (N = 17,632). Participants in 56 countries were asked for their views of where it is not appropriate for people to spit and in which situations people should wash their hands. As a measure of sex equality, we use an existing country-level measure of attitudes to equality between the sexes, available for 49 nations in the study. Stricter hygiene norms among women than among men are observed almost everywhere, but there are a few exceptions (most notably Nigeria and Saudi Arabia). The size of the sex difference in hygiene norms varies strongly with the level of sex equality, but in a non-linear way. The sex difference is most pronounced in moderately egalitarian countries with the highest recorded difference being in Chile. In more egalitarian parts of the world, more sex equality is associated with a smaller sex difference in hygiene norms. In the less egalitarian parts of the world, the opposite relation holds. We offer an interpretation in terms of what different levels of sex equality mean for the content of sex roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimmo Eriksson
- Institute for Futures Studies, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Mathematics and Physics, School of Education, Culture and Communication, Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Thomas E. Dickins
- Department of Psychology, School of Science & Technology, Middlesex University, Hendon, London, United Kingdom
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Sondakh JJ, Warastuti W, Susatia B, Wildan M, Sunindya BR, Budiyanto MAK, Fauzi A. Indonesia medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19. Heliyon 2022; 8:e08686. [PMID: 34977397 PMCID: PMC8711172 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [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: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Implementing health protocols and preventive measures are the only effective ways to suppress COVID-19 transmission before vaccines and antiviral drugs are developed. The implementation of health protocols and preventive measures are influenced by one's knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward this pandemic. Medical students as candidates for healthcare workers and role models for the community should have a good KAP. This study intends 1) to explore the KAP of medical students in Indonesia toward COVID-19 and 2) to assess which demographic factors have a significant effect on their KAP scores. An online questionnaire consisting of 18 items of knowledge, six items of attitudes, and 12 items of practices were used as instruments in this study. After being distributed for two weeks in June 2020, 525 respondents whose data were worth analyzing were obtained. The respondents consisted of male and female students, from diploma to bachelor degree, and came from all four types of higher education institutions in Indonesia. The results, 48% of respondents had good knowledge, 81% had good attitudes, and 43.5% had good practices toward COVID-19. The location of students' residence has no significant effect on their KAP score. Gender has a significant effect on knowledge and practice scores. Age, institution type, and institution status have a significant effect on their three KAP domains. The KAP survey results can be used as a reflection of the importance of the curriculum that prepares medical students for the pandemic. Medical students are also expected to be able to actively participate in educating people around them on how to minimize the transmission of COVID-19 during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Widya Warastuti
- Politeknik Kesehatan Kementerian Kesehatan Palangka Raya, Indonesia
| | - Budi Susatia
- Politeknik Kesehatan Kementerian Kesehatan Malang, Indonesia
| | - Moh. Wildan
- Politeknik Kesehatan Kementerian Kesehatan Malang, Indonesia
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Naveen Kumar PG, Khairnar M, Srivastava V, Kusumakar A, Srivastava A, Agrawal R, Chandra A, Akram Z. Evaluation of hand hygiene practices among patients visiting dental college of purvanchal region – A cross-sectional study. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent 2022. [DOI: 10.4103/jiaphd.jiaphd_217_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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35
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Ayran G, Köse S, Sarıalioğlu A, Çelebioğlu A. Hand hygiene and mask-wearing behaviors and the related factors during the COVID 19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study with secondary school students in Turkey. J Pediatr Nurs 2022; 62:98-105. [PMID: 34688528 PMCID: PMC8491930 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The research was conducted to determine the hand hygiene and mask-wearing behaviors and related factors of secondary school students in the COVID-19 pandemic process. DESIGN AND METHODS This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between March 02-April 022021 with 1284 students who continued their secondary education in a province in the east of Turkey. The data were collected face-to-face through the Descriptive Characteristics Form, the Mask-Wearing Behavior Form, and the Hand Hygiene Behavior Form. Percentage, mean, t-test in independent groups, Mann Whitney U test and Multiple Regression analysis were used in the evaluation of the data. Ethical principles were observed at all stages of the study. RESULTS It was determined that 80.1% of the students used disposable medical masks, 62.1% of their parents chose a mask suitable for the age of the student, and 52.1% used the mask they wore all day long. It was found that 41.4% of the students washed their hands before wearing a mask, and 51.9% after wearing a mask. It was determined that there was a significant relationship between students' mask-wearing behavior and gender, and hand hygiene behavior and gender, grade level, previous training on hand-washing and mask-wearing. As a result of multiple regression analysis, it was found that gender and mother's occupation had a statistically significant effect on mask-wearing behavior, while gender and previous training on mask-wearing had a statistically significant effect on hand-washing behavior. CONCLUSIONS/PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Students exhibited correct behaviors regarding hand hygiene and mask-wearing, but some misbehaviors suggest that training is necessary, especially in the COVID-19 pandemic period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gülsün Ayran
- Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Erzincan, Turkey.
| | - Semra Köse
- Necmettin Erbakan University, Faculty of Nursing, Konya, Turkey.
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36
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Barcenilla-Guitard M, Espart A. Influence of Gender, Age and Field of Study on Hand Hygiene in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in the COVID-19 Pandemic Context. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:ijerph182413016. [PMID: 34948626 PMCID: PMC8700841 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The effectiveness of hand hygiene (HH) on reducing the transmission of contagious diseases is widely known, although its use has been commonly associated with the area of healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HH was one of the main measures established to contain the transmission of this virus. The identification of the main barriers and facilitators of HH in young adults (aged 18-29 years old) will contribute to the better planning of HH training and its posterior success. A total of 716 young adults participated in the study by completing the ad hoc online questionnaire (#YesWeHand), which analyzed, among other aspects, the age range, gender and field of study that they belonged to. From the total participants, 81.3% indicated knowing how to perform HH correctly, while 49.4% affirmed having received training. The main reason for performing HH was concern for their own safety and that of others (75.8%), while forgetfulness (36.5%) was the main reason for not performing HH. In the group of young adults, being female, aged between 22 and 25 years old, and having studied in the area of Health Sciences, had a positive influence on correct HH. It is deemed necessary to maintain HH beyond the primary education stages, and to adapt it to different fields of education, ages, and genders, in order to maximize its success. Given the overrepresentation of participants from the healthcare field, it would be desirable to conduct more studies to ensure a better representation of the different educational levels and fields of study of the participants, in order to identify, in a more reliable way, the variables that influence HH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Espart
- Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Serra Húnter Lecturer, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
- Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
- Development of Healthy Organizations and Territories (DOTS), 25001 Lleida, Spain
- Research Group of Health Care (GRECS), Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research, Dr. Pifarré Foundation, IRBLleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
- Correspondence:
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Marchant F, Sánchez MP, Duprat XG, Mena A, Sjöberg-Herrera M, Cabal S, Figueroa DP. Needs for a Curricular Change in Primary and Secondary Education From the One Health Perspective: A Pilot Study on Pneumonia in Schools. Front Public Health 2021; 9:654410. [PMID: 34869133 PMCID: PMC8634956 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.654410] [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: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This is the first pilot study on alternative conceptions and obstacles pertaining to pneumonia in adolescents of different school vulnerability indexes. Countries with low socioeconomic levels are disproportionately affected, with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) being the second-most affected area in the world, after sub-Saharan Africa. In spite of this fact, pneumonia is not included as an important component within the contents of the microbiology curriculum unit in the natural science school program. Therefore, we wanted to study how students knew about this topic by putting One Health into action by building and validating qualitative and quantitative questionnaires, put together by different experts in pedagogy, didactics, microbiology, and veterinary to find out what students knew about pneumonia and their misconceptions about it. A total of 148 students (in 8th and 9th grade) participated in this survey. The results reveal that no statistically significant differences between the different scholar grades (p = 0.3360 Pearson chi∧2) or genders (p = 0.8000 Fisher's exact test) presented higher or lower School Vulnerability Index (SVI). Regardless of the social stratum or the level of vulnerability of the students, they have heard about this disease primarily through their family/relatives, maintaining a superficial notion of the disease, learning wrong ideas about microorganisms and treatments that can contribute to the risk to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca Marchant
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (CeBiB), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Pilar Sánchez
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ximena G Duprat
- One Health One World Laboratory, Applied Research Center of Chile (CIACHI), Science and Education Foundation, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandro Mena
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Mesoamericana, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Marcela Sjöberg-Herrera
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Soledad Cabal
- San José of the Precious Blood High School, Quinta Normal, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela P Figueroa
- Ecophysiological Modelling Laboratory, Liberal Arts Faculty, Adolfo Ibáñez University, Santiago, Chile.,Eco-models & Climate Change Laboratory, Applied Research Center of Chile (CIACHI) Science and Education Foundation, Santiago, Chile
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Abalkhail A, Mahmud I, Alhumaydhi FA, Alslamah T, Alwashmi ASS, Vinnakota D, Kabir R. Hand Hygiene Knowledge and Perception among the Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Qassim, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:1627. [PMID: 34946353 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9121627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hand hygiene is among the most important factors of infection control in healthcare settings. Healthcare workers are the primary source of hospital-acquired infection. We assessed the current state of hand hygiene knowledge, perception, and practice among the healthcare workers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, we used the hand hygiene knowledge and perception questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization. Knowledge and perceptions were classified into good (80–100%), moderate (60–79%), and poor (<60% score). The majority of the healthcare workers had moderate knowledge (57.8%) and perception (73.4%) of hand hygiene. Males were less likely to have moderate/good knowledge compared to females (OR: 0.52, p < 0.05). Private healthcare workers were less likely (OR: 0.33, p < 0.01) to have moderate/good perceptions compared to the government healthcare workers. Healthcare workers who received training on hand hygiene were more likely to have good/moderate perception (OR: 3.2, p < 0.05) and to routinely use alcohol-based hand rubs (OR: 3.8, p < 0.05) than the ones without such training. Physicians are more likely (OR: 4.9, p < 0.05) to routinely use alcohol-based hand rubs than technicians. Our research highlighted gaps in hand hygiene knowledge, perception and practice among healthcare workers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia and the importance of training in this regard.
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Nowak BM, Miedziarek C, Pełczyński S, Rzymski P. Misinformation, Fears and Adherence to Preventive Measures during the Early Phase of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Poland. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:12266. [PMID: 34832021 PMCID: PMC8618240 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The response to the pandemic requires access to accurate information and public understanding and adherence to preventive measures. This online cross-sectional study of adult Poles (n = 1337) assessed the frequency of COVID-19 preventive behaviors, fears related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and beliefs in COVID-19-related conspiracy theories during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic when the nationwide lockdown was imposed (April 2020). As shown, 22% of surveyed admitted not to wash their hands frequently, while 12% did not use disinfectants. These two behaviors were also less frequent in individuals with medical education. The highest levels of pandemic-related fears were associated with health loss in relatives, pandemic-induced economic crisis, and government using a pandemic to control citizens by the state. A significant share of surveyed individuals believed that the pandemic was intentional action to weaken non-Chinese economies (32%) or was deliberately induced for profits from selling vaccines (27%). Men, individuals with no children, and subjects with lower education were significantly less likely to adhere to sanitary measures (handwashing, disinfection, avoiding face touching, changes in greeting etiquette, face-covering when coughing or sneezing), and were less concerned over self and relatives' health. At the same time, men were less prone than women to the conspiracy theories related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicate that adherence to sanitary measures during the pandemic can be a challenge also in developed countries, while misinformation campaigns (also concerning vaccines) have already affected the general public during the early phase of the epidemiological outbreak. The study provides observations that may be useful in the management of the public response to future epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz M. Nowak
- Student Research Club of Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, Poland;
| | - Cezary Miedziarek
- Student Research Group of Paediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-572 Poznań, Poland
| | - Szymon Pełczyński
- Student Research Group of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-861 Poznań, Poland;
| | - Piotr Rzymski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, Poland
- Integrated Science Association (ISA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), 60-806 Poznań, Poland
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Alsharqi OZ, Qattan AMN, Alshareef N, Chirwa GC, Al-Hanawi MK. Inequalities in Knowledge About COVID-19 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Front Public Health 2021; 9:743520. [PMID: 34722449 PMCID: PMC8554190 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.743520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: As the world is still being ravaged by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the first line of prevention lies in understanding the causative and preventive factors of the disease. However, given varied socioeconomic circumstances, there may be some inequality in the level of proper knowledge of COVID-19. Despite a proliferation of studies on COVID-19, the extent and prevalence of inequalities in knowledge about COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia are not known. Most related studies have only focused on understanding the determinants of COVID-19 knowledge. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in knowledge regarding COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Data were extracted from an online cross-sectional self-reported questionnaire conducted on the knowledge about COVID-19 from 3,388 participants. Frequencies and graphs were used to identify the level and distribution of inequality in knowledge about COVID-19. Concentration curves and concentration indices were further used to assess and quantify the income- and education-related inequality in knowledge about COVID-19. Results: The level of COVID-19 knowledge was high among the surveyed sample, although the extent of knowledge varied. The findings further suggest the existence of socioeconomic inequality in obtaining proper knowledge about COVID-19, indicating that inequality in comprehensive knowledge is disproportionately concentrated among the wealthy (concentration index = 0.016; P < 0.001) and highly educated individuals (concentration index = 0.003; P = 0.029) in Saudi Arabia. Conclusions: There is inequality in the level of knowledge about COVID-19 among the more socioeconomically privileged population of Saudi Arabia. Given that COVID-19 cases ebb and flow in different waves, it is important that proper policies be put in place that will help in improving knowledge among the lower income and less educated individuals, leading to behavior that can help reduce transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Zayyan Alsharqi
- Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Health Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ameerah M N Qattan
- Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Health Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Noor Alshareef
- Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Health Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi
- Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Health Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Karimy M, Bastami F, Sharifat R, Heydarabadi AB, Hatamzadeh N, Pakpour AH, Cheraghian B, Zamani-Alavijeh F, Jasemzadeh M, Araban M. Factors related to preventive COVID-19 behaviors using health belief model among general population: a cross-sectional study in Iran. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1934. [PMID: 34689728 PMCID: PMC8542411 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11983-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [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: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has become one of the biggest challenges to global health and economy. The present study aimed to explore the factors related to preventive health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Khuzestan Province, South of Iran, using the Health Belief Model (HBM). METHODS The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the period between July 2020 and September 2020. A total of 1090 people from Khuzestan province participated in the study. The data collection method included a multistage cluster sampling method with a random selection of provincial of health centers. The questionnaire collected socio-demographic information and HBM constructs (e.g., perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits and barriers, cues to action, and COVID-19 preventive behaviors). Data were analyzed using ANOVA, t-test, hierarchical multiple linear regression, and SPSS version 22. RESULTS The mean age of the participants was 35.53 ± 11.53, more than half of them were female (61.6%) and married (65.3). The results showed that 27% of the variance in the COVID-19 preventive behaviors was explained by HBM constructs. The regression analysis indicated that female gender (β = 0.11), perceived benefits (β = 0.10), perceived barriers (β = - 0.18), external cues to action (β = 0.25), and internal cues to action (β = 0.12) were significantly associated with COVID-19 preventive behaviors (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Designing an educational intervention on the basis of HBM might be considered as a framework for the correction of beliefs and adherence to COVID-19 behavior. Health information campaigns need to (1) emphasize the benefits of preventive behaviors including avoiding the likelihood of getting a chronic disease and complications of the disease, (2) highlight the tips and advice to overcome the barriers (3) provide cues to action by means of showing various reminders in social media (4) focusing on adoption of COVID-19-related preventive behaviors, especially among men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood Karimy
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Saveh, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Bastami
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Robab Sharifat
- Omidyeh Health Care System, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Akbar Babaei Heydarabadi
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Naser Hatamzadeh
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Amir H Pakpour
- Department of Nursing, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden.,Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Bahman Cheraghian
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Zamani-Alavijeh
- Department of health education and promotion, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mehrnoosh Jasemzadeh
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Marzieh Araban
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
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Abstract
Europe experienced excess mortality from February through June, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with more COVID-19-associated deaths in males compared to females. However, a difference in excess mortality among females compared to among males may be a more general phenomenon, and should be investigated in none-COVID-19 situations as well. Based on death counts from Eurostat, separate excess mortalities were estimated for each of the sexes using the EuroMOMO model. Sex-differential excess mortality were expressed as differences in excess mortality incidence rates between the sexes. A general relation between sex-differential and overall excess mortality both during the COVID-19 pandemic and in preceding seasons were investigated. Data from 27 European countries were included, covering the seasons 2016/17 to 2019/20. In periods with increased excess mortality, excess was consistently highest among males. From February through May 2020 male excess mortality was 52.7 (95% PI: 56.29; 49.05) deaths per 100,000 person years higher than for females. Increased male excess mortality compared to female was also observed in the seasons 2016/17 to 2018/19. We found a linear relation between sex-differences in excess mortality and overall excess mortality, i.e., 40 additional deaths among males per 100 excess deaths per 100,000 population. This corresponds to an overall female/male mortality incidence ratio of 0.7. In situations with overall excess mortality, excess mortality increases more for males than females. We suggest that the sex-differences observed during the COVID-19 pandemic reflects a general sex-disparity in excess mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Nielsen
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Sarah K Nørgaard
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Giampaolo Lanzieri
- Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), Population and Migration Unit, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Lasse S Vestergaard
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kaare Moelbak
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Nielsen J, Nørgaard SK, Lanzieri G, Vestergaard LS, Moelbak K. Sex-differences in COVID-19 associated excess mortality is not exceptional for the COVID-19 pandemic. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20815. [PMID: 34675280 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00213-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Europe experienced excess mortality from February through June, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with more COVID-19-associated deaths in males compared to females. However, a difference in excess mortality among females compared to among males may be a more general phenomenon, and should be investigated in none-COVID-19 situations as well. Based on death counts from Eurostat, separate excess mortalities were estimated for each of the sexes using the EuroMOMO model. Sex-differential excess mortality were expressed as differences in excess mortality incidence rates between the sexes. A general relation between sex-differential and overall excess mortality both during the COVID-19 pandemic and in preceding seasons were investigated. Data from 27 European countries were included, covering the seasons 2016/17 to 2019/20. In periods with increased excess mortality, excess was consistently highest among males. From February through May 2020 male excess mortality was 52.7 (95% PI: 56.29; 49.05) deaths per 100,000 person years higher than for females. Increased male excess mortality compared to female was also observed in the seasons 2016/17 to 2018/19. We found a linear relation between sex-differences in excess mortality and overall excess mortality, i.e., 40 additional deaths among males per 100 excess deaths per 100,000 population. This corresponds to an overall female/male mortality incidence ratio of 0.7. In situations with overall excess mortality, excess mortality increases more for males than females. We suggest that the sex-differences observed during the COVID-19 pandemic reflects a general sex-disparity in excess mortality.
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44
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Canatay A, Emegwa TJ, Hossain Talukder MF. Critical country-level determinants of death rate during Covid-19 pandemic. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct 2021; 64:102507. [PMID: 34367903 PMCID: PMC8334175 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has already led to over 94 million confirmed cases and over 2 million deaths globally (John Hopkins CSSE, 2021). Due to the magnitude of the socio-economic damage of COVID-19 all over the world, we analyzed the critical country-level determinants of the death rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have examined the effects of GDP (allocated to pandemics and health), education, gender, cultural factors, number of physicians (per 1000 of the population) on the death rate. A correlation between the death rate and socio-economic conditions has been observed. The finding shows that power distance, individualism, gender, and age affect the death rate more than other socio-economic factors we use. We have also performed the same analysis by using Lockdown levels as a moderator. Lockdown levels have a more significant moderating effect on cultural factors rather than the other socio-economic factors. However, due to the topic's sensitivity, we still need to pay attention to the socio-economic factors that may have lower levels of significant relationship with the death rate, since even 0.1 % of changes in coefficients of our other socio-economic variables could mean thousands of lives. The study results will help health organizations, administration, and policymakers take the necessary steps to combat and manage the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arman Canatay
- A.R Sanchez Jr Business School, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX, USA
| | - Tochukwu J Emegwa
- A.R Sanchez Jr Business School, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX, USA
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Urbán R, Paksi B, Miklósi Á, Saunders JB, Demetrovics Z. Non-adherence to preventive behaviours during the COVID-19 epidemic: findings from a community study. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1462. [PMID: 34320977 PMCID: PMC8316539 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11506-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Backgrounds Preventive behaviours are an essential way to slow down and eliminate the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to estimate adherence to preventive behaviors and to identify whether any subgroups were not adopting these behaviours and for whom greater engagement in these approaches was indicated. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we obtained data from a random sample of a panel representing men and women of adult age residing in Hungary (N = 5254). The survey included questions about the frequencies of preventive behaviours, perceived susceptibility and severity of COVID-19. Results We found four factors of preventive behaviours: using physical barriers (mask and gloves), avoidance of close contacts, personal hygiene, and preparation. We identified two broadly adherent groups (36.8 and 45.3%) and two non-adherent groups (13.1 and 4.8%). Being male and being aged between 18 and 29 years were the strongest predictors of non-adherence. Concern about the severity of COVID-19 was a predictor of adherence. Conclusions To ensure maximal adherence to preventive behaviours for COVID-19, additional strategies should focus on their adoption by men and young adults. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11506-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Róbert Urbán
- Eötvös Loránd University, Institute of Psychology, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Borbála Paksi
- Eötvös Loránd University, Institute of Education, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ádám Miklósi
- Eötvös Loránd University, Institute of Biology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - John B Saunders
- the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Zsolt Demetrovics
- Eötvös Loránd University, Institute of Psychology, Budapest, Hungary.,Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar, Gibraltar
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus imposes a higher risk of complications and mortality among people with mental disorders. Until widely available vaccines, adherence to preventive behaviours remains the most crucial tool to prevent SARS/COVID-19 virus transmission. Our review focuses on the determinants of adherence behaviours. RECENT FINDINGS Adherence behaviours include the use of a face mask and protective gloves, personal hygienic behaviours (handwashing or using hand sanitiser), and keeping physical distance and avoiding social gatherings. In almost all studies, males and younger people show less adherence. Risk perception and health beliefs (especially perceived severity of COVID-19 related conditions) can explain the sex and age differences in adherence. Studies covering the impact of mental disorders on adherence are surprisingly missing, with the exception of smoking. SUMMARY Engaging men and young people in adopting preventive behaviours is crucial in protecting the whole community and specific vulnerable populations. There is a lack of studies investigating preventive behaviours among people living with mental disorders and addiction problems. Furthermore, descriptive and intervention studies are needed to understand and improve the adherence of this population to preventive behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Róbert Urbán
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Király
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Demetrovics
- Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar
- Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology and Addiction, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
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Lawson A, Cameron R, Vaganay-Miller M. An Evaluation of the Hand Hygiene Behaviour and Compliance of the General Public When Using Public Restrooms in Northern Ireland (NI) during the Initial Weeks of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:6385. [PMID: 34204779 PMCID: PMC8296206 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic has resulted in significant levels of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly among the elderly and immuno-suppressed groups. Although adequate hand hygiene (HH) behaviour and compliance is widely accepted as being the most effective self-protective measure in preventing the spread of diseases like COVID-19, previous research suggests that normal hand hygiene compliance is poor, but generally improves during a disease pandemic. This research aimed to evaluate the hand hygiene behaviour and compliance of the general public in the initial weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland (NI). METHODS This cross-sectional study involved the use of infrared-imaging cameras to observe the hand hygiene behaviour and compliance of the general public when using one set of male and female public restrooms. RESULTS The findings of this study indicated that the level of hand hygiene compliance of the general public was poor in the initial weeks, with 82.93% overall not washing their hands adequately. CONCLUSIONS Inadequate HH behaviour and compliance may have added significantly to the rapid rate of spread of COVID-19 in the initial weeks of the pandemic in NI. Current public health campaigns do not appear, based on this study, to have the desired impact and may need to be reviewed or re-enforced in order to achieve the levels of hand hygiene compliance required to slow the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Lawson
- Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Ulster University, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UK; (R.C.); (M.V.-M.)
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Alshammary F, Siddiqui AA, Amin J, Ilyas M, Rathore HA, Hassan I, Alam MK, Kamal MA. Prevention Knowledge and Its Practice Towards COVID-19 Among General Population of Saudi Arabia: A Gender-based Perspective. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27:1642-1648. [PMID: 32811408 DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666200818213558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 05/03/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study is an original contribution to the gender-based perspective of measuring knowledge and practice towards COVID-19 among the Saudi population. OBJECTIVE This study investigates the existing knowledge of COVID-19 among both genders and its likely use in practice to combat COVID-19. DESIGN AND SETTING Cross-sectional study with an online survey and data collected from all the five regions of Saudi Arabia. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS A structured, self-reported validated questionnaire was developed based on the World Health Organization (WHO) general public advice towards COVID-19 prevention. This study has employed snow-ball sampling technique. SAMPLE SIZE 627 participants (Male n=343, 54.7%) and (Females n=284, 45.3%). RESULTS This study has found that women not only carry better knowledge, but their practicing behavior is far better than the male respondents. Females practiced their knowledge of hands hygiene more in comparison to males (86% vs. 80 %, p >0.05). Female respondents were also practicing more about sneezing/coughing into their elbows as compared to males (79% vs. 71%, p < 0.05). Likewise, the practice of knowledge of staying at home to prevent infection (females 98.2% vs males 95.5%, p > 0.05), and (females 83.2% vs. males 81.5%, p > 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION This study shows that women were more compliant with the WHO public health COVID-19 prevention advice than men, which can decrease the chances of COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freah Alshammary
- College of Dentistry, Preventive Dental Sciences, University of Hail, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ammar Ahmed Siddiqui
- College of Dentistry, Preventive Dental Sciences, University of Hail, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
| | - Junaid Amin
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Ilyas
- College of Business Management, University of Hail, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Ibne Hassan
- College of Business Management, University of Hail, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Mohammad Amjad Kamal
- King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Lam SC, Cheung MMF, Au JKL, Suen LKP. Bioluminescence-based hygiene evaluation of public washroom environment: Repeated measurement of posthandwashing facilities on baseline and before and after cleaning schedule. Am J Infect Control 2021; 49:746-752. [PMID: 33127437 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk of hand recontamination is often neglected after using hand washing facilities, which can increase the spread of pathogens. The study aimed to evaluate the hygienic condition of posthandwashing facilities in public washrooms at different timeslots, particularly those near food courts and restaurants located in shopping malls. METHODS This observational study was conducted in 12 public washrooms that ranged from low-end, middle-end, to high-end category on 3 different timeslots including baseline, T1 (immediate postcleaning) and T2 (1-hour postcleaning, with counting the footfall). Hand-touch surfaces with a high risk of recontamination after handwashing, which included paper tower dispensers, air drying outlets, and exit door handles, were evaluated by the surface adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence method (ATP-value). ATP-values <500 relative light units (RLUs) were considered a good hygiene. Cleaning schedules and footfalls of each sampled washroom were obtained by direct observations. RESULTS The overall mean ATP value of washroom was 785 RLU (N = 108); the ATP values of female and male washrooms at T2 were 203 and 3,718 RLUs, respectively. The highest ATP value was found on the exit door handles of male washrooms (range = 13-26,695 RLUs, mean = 3,229 RLU). Regarding passed/failed hygiene conditions, there were significant differences in the proportion of exit door handles between genders (P = .018) and timeslots (P = .007) as well as that of paper towel button/screw between timeslots (P= .025). CONCLUSION Attention should be paid at the exit door handles of male washrooms, where are high risks of cross and re-contamination.
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Wang M, Jiang N, Li C, Wang J, Yang H, Liu L, Tan X, Chen Z, Gong Y, Yin X, Zong Q, Xiong N, Zhang G. Sex-Disaggregated Data on Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19: A Retrospective Study. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:680422. [PMID: 34123876 PMCID: PMC8187910 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.680422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sex and gender are crucial variables in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We sought to provide information on differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes between male and female patients and to explore the effect of estrogen in disease outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Method In this retrospective, multi-center study, we included all confirmed cases of COVID-19 admitted to four hospitals in Hubei province, China from Dec 31, 2019 to Mar 31, 2020. Cases were confirmed by real-time RT-PCR and were analyzed for demographic, clinical, laboratory and radiographic parameters. Random-effect logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between sex and disease outcomes. Results A total of 2501 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were included in the present study. The clinical manifestations of male and female patients with COVID-19 were similar, while male patients have more comorbidities than female patients. In terms of laboratory findings, compared with female patients, male patients were more likely to have lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, inflammatory response, hypoproteinemia, and extrapulmonary organ damage. Random-effect logistic regression analysis indicated that male patients were more likely to progress into severe type, and prone to ARDS, secondary bacterial infection, and death than females. However, there was no significant difference in disease outcomes between postmenopausal and premenopausal females after propensity score matching (PSM) by age. Conclusions Male patients, especially those age-matched with postmenopausal females, are more likely to have poor outcomes. Sex-specific differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes do exist in patients with COVID-19, but estrogen may not be the primary cause. Further studies are needed to explore the causes of the differences in disease outcomes between the sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengdie Wang
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Nan Jiang
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Changjun Li
- Department of Neurology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Heping Yang
- School of Nursing, Wuchang University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Liu
- Office of Academic Research, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangping Tan
- Lichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lichuan, China
| | - Zhenyuan Chen
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanhong Gong
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoxv Yin
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiao Zong
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Nian Xiong
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guopeng Zhang
- Department of Nuclear medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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