Knowledge and preventive behaviors regarding COVID-19 in Bangladesh: A nationwide distribution

Unveiling Coronasomnia: Pandemic Stress and Sleep Problems During the COVID-19 Outbreak

The COVID-19 pandemic posed an unprecedented challenge to public well-being, necessitating an examination of its health impact. This review discusses the relationship between pandemic-induced stressors and individual sleep patterns and quality. The pandemic stressors include lockdown or physical distancing measures, direct virus exposure, and the dissemination of misinformation and disinformation. The pandemic led to delayed sleep-wake cycles, except for healthcare professionals, and worsened sleep quality. The prevalence of insomnia was higher for women due to pre-existing conditions and susceptibility stressors such as lockdown stress and family responsibilities. Healthcare professionals, who experienced worsened work conditions during the pandemic, reported higher rates of insomnia and sleep difficulties due to infection anxiety and post-traumatic stress from direct virus exposure. For the general population, stress stemmed from social isolation under lockdown and overwhelming false information available online, resulting in sleep problems. Taken together, the findings highlight the importance of promoting social interactions, providing psychological support services, and caution in navigating health information. In summary, this review underscores the need for individual- and group-centered approaches in ongoing research and interventions to address pandemic-related stress and sleep issues during COVID-19.

Meta-analysis of KAP toward COVID-19 in Chinese residents

Background

During the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there have been many studies on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward prevention of COVID-19 infection in China. Except for symptomatic treatment and vaccination, KAP toward COVID-19 plays an important role in the prevention of COVID-19. There is no systematic evaluation and meta-analysis of KAP toward COVID-19 in China. This study is the earliest meta-analysis of KAP toward COVID-19 in China's general population. Hence, this systematic review aimed to summarize the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of Chinese residents toward COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Methodology

Following the PRISMA guidelines, articles relevant to COVID-19 KAP that were conducted among the Chinese population were found in databases such as Scopus, ProQuest, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, CQVIP, Wanfang and Google Scholar. A random-effect meta-analysis is used to summarize studies on knowledge, attitudes, and practice levels toward COVID-19 infection in China's general population.

Results

Fifty-seven articles published between August 2020 and November 2022 were included in this review. Overall, 75% (95% CI: 72-79%) of Chinese residents had good knowledge about COVID-19, 80% (95% CI: 73-87%) of Chinese residents had a positive attitude toward COVID-19 pandemic control and prevention (they believe that Chinese people will win the battle against the epidemic), and the aggregated proportion of residents with a correct practice toward COVID-19 was 84% (95% CI: 82-87%, I2 = 99.7%).In the gender subgroup analysis, there is no significant difference between Chinese men and Chinese women in terms of their understanding of COVID-19. However, Chinese women tend to have slightly higher levels of knowledge and a more positive attitude toward the virus compared to Chinese men. When considering the urban and rural subgroup analysis, it was found that Chinese urban residents have a better understanding of COVID-19 compared to Chinese rural residents. Interestingly, the rural population displayed higher rates of correct behavior and positive attitudes toward COVID-19 compared to the urban population. Furthermore, in the subgroup analysis based on different regions in China, the eastern, central, and southwestern regions exhibited higher levels of knowledge awareness compared to other regions. It is worth noting that all regions in China demonstrated good rates of correct behavior and positive attitudes toward COVID-19.

Conclusion

This study reviews the level of KAP toward COVID-19 during the pandemic period in China. The results show that the KAP toward COVID-19 in Chinese residents was above a favorable level, but the lack of translation of knowledge into practice should be further reflected on and improved. A subgroup analysis suggests that certain groups need more attention, such as males and people living in rural areas. Policy makers should pay attention to the results of this study and use them as a reference for the development of prevention and control strategies for major public health events that may occur in the future.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=348246, CRD42022348246.

Effects of the source of information and knowledge of dengue fever on the mosquito control behavior of residents of border areas of Yunnan, China

BACKGROUND

Strengthening the mosquito control measures undertaken by residents of an area where dengue fever is present can significantly decrease the spread of this disease. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of the source of information and knowledge of dengue fever on the mosquito control behavior of residents of areas at high risk of this disease to determine effective ways of enhancing this behavior.

METHODS

A survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews or questionnaires between March and May 2021 in three regions of the province of Yunnan, China. The survey included basic information about the respondents, the source(s) of their dengue fever information, the level of their dengue fever knowledge, and the measures they had implemented to control mosquitoes. Principal component analysis was used to extract the main components of the sources of information. Correlation analysis and structural equation analysis were used to explore the impact of the sources of information and residents' dengue fever knowledge on their mosquito control behavior.

RESULTS

Publicity achieved through mass media, including official WeChat accounts, magazines/newspapers, poster leaflets, television/radio and the Internet, had a direct effect on dengue fever knowledge and mosquito control behavior, and indirectly affected mosquito control behavior through dengue fever knowledge. Organized publicity campaigns, including information provided by medical staff and through community publicity, had a direct effect on dengue fever knowledge and indirectly affected mosquito control behavior through dengue fever knowledge. The residents' level of dengue fever knowledge had a significant, positive, direct effect on their mosquito control behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Mosquito control is an important measure for the prevention and control of outbreaks of dengue fever. An effective source of information can improve the level of dengue fever knowledge among residents and thus enhance their mosquito control behavior.

Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 among rural adolescents in Thakurgaon district, Bangladesh: an interview-based study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the understanding, opinions and actions concerning COVID-19, referred to as knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP), among rural adolescents in Bangladesh. Additionally, the study aimed to identify the determinants that may influence adolescents' KAP.

DESIGN

An interview-based cross-sectional study.

SETTING

The study area was the Thakurgaon district, which was located in the northwestern region of Bangladesh.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 266 rural adolescents were selected using a non-probability (convenience sampling) technique.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Sociodemographic characteristics, source of information, COVID-19-related KAP, and their associated factors.

RESULTS

The majority of the respondents were females and reported that mass media (eg, television channels and papers) was the main source of information to learn about COVID-19. The mean score for knowledge was 7.15±3, whereas the scores were 10.5±2.8, and 8.78±2.66 for attitude and practice, respectively. Among the adolescents, only 11% had adequate knowledge, a positive attitude (27%) and good practices (31%). The predictive factors related to adolescents' knowledge and attitude were their religion, educational level and family income. Adolescents who were from the Islamic religion and who had secondary education were more knowledgeable and encompassed more positive attitudes. Besides, poor KAP towards COVID-19 was significantly higher among the participants with the lowest family income (less than 10 000 BDT). Moreover, their knowledge was significantly associated with their attitudes and practices.

CONCLUSION

The study found that adolescents in rural areas lacked sufficient knowledge of COVID-19 and engaged in unsatisfactory preventative behaviour. Therefore, the development of effective health education programmes that incorporate consideration of KAP-modifying factors is needed. In addition, the result would be helpful for other similar types of pandemics.

Prevalence and factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress among people with disabilities during COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of individuals across various populations. People with disabilities (PWDs) are particularly vulnerable to these effects, yet there is a lack of studies investigating the mental health of PWDs in Bangladesh. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress among PWDs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.

METHODS

Data was collected through interviews with 391 PWDs between December 2020 and February 2021. Demographic information, clinical characteristics, and scores from the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were obtained. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between psychological measures and potential risk factors.

RESULTS

The prevalence was found to be 65.7% for depression, 78.5% for anxiety, and 61.4% for stress, respectively. Several factors were identified as associated with these mental health issues, including gender (male), marital status (being married), low education levels, multiple impairments, comorbid medical illnesses, poor sleep quality, rural residency, hearing disability, disability onset later in life, and testing positive for COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence was found to be 65.7% for depression, 78.5% for anxiety, and 61.4% for stress, respectively. Several factors were identified as associated with these mental health issues, including gender (male), marital status (being married), low education levels, multiple impairments, comorbid medical illnesses, poor sleep quality, rural residency, hearing disability, disability onset later in life, and testing positive for COVID-19.

Death Anxiety Among Pakistani HCWs: The Role of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Positive Religious Coping Strategy

Background: The mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this, spirituality and religious coping mechanisms have been suggested as a way to maintain well-being and reduce anxiety levels. Additionally, vaccination has been shown to play an essential role in lowering anxiety levels, including death anxiety. However, there is a lack of evidence on how positive religious coping strategies and COVID-19 immunization affect death anxiety levels. To fill this gap, this study uses a Pakistani HCWs sample. Methods: This study collected cross-sectional data from 389 HCWs on socio-demographics, positive religious coping strategies, vaccine acceptance, and death anxiety. Hypothesis testing was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Partial Least Squares (PLS) by adopting the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique. Results: The results showed that the positive religious coping strategy and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine reduced death anxiety among HCWs in Pakistan. HCWs practicing the positive religious coping strategy and vaccine acceptance had lower levels of death anxiety symptoms. Thus, the positive religious coping strategy has a direct effect on reducing death anxiety. Conclusion: In conclusion, COVID-19 immunization positively affects individual mental health by reducing death anxiety. Vaccines protect individuals from COVID-19 infection, providing a sense of security that reduces the chance of death anxiety among HCWs attending to COVID-19 patients.

A longitudinal study of COVID-19 preventive behavior fatigue in Hong Kong: a city with previous pandemic experience

BACKGROUND

In addition to high vaccination levels, COVID-19 control requires uptake and continued adherence to personal hygiene and social distancing behaviors. It is unclear whether residents of a city with successive experience in worldwide pandemics such as SARS, would quickly adopt and maintain preventive behaviors.

METHODS

A population-based, longitudinal telephone survey was conducted between in first local wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020) and third local wave (December 2020) (n = 403). The study examined factors associated with personal hygiene and social distancing behavior fatigue, as measured by reduced adherence.

RESULTS

Over 9 months, face mask use increased (96.5-100%, p < 0.001). Although habitual hand hygiene remained unchanged (92.0%), blue collar workers and non-working individuals showed higher risk of hand hygiene fatigue. There was a decline (p < 0.05) in avoidance of social gatherings (81.1 to 70.7%), avoidance of public places (52.9-27.5%) and avoidance of international travel (81.9-77.4%) even with rising caseloads. Lowered perception of COVID-19 disease severity was associated with decreased avoidance of social gatherings and public places while lower education was associated with decline in avoidance of social gatherings.

CONCLUSION

Even in regions with past pandemic experience, maintaining social distancing behaviors during a protracted pandemic remains a major public health challenge.

Stigmatization in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey experiment using attribution theory and the familiarity hypothesis

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global health crisis, leading to stigmatization and discriminatory behaviors against people who have contracted or are suspected of having contracted the virus. Yet the causes of stigmatization in the context of COVID-19 remain only partially understood. Using attribution theory, we examine to what extent attributes of a fictitious person affect the formation of stigmatizing attitudes towards this person, and whether suspected COVID-19 infection (vs. flu) intensifies such attitudes. We also use the familiarity hypothesis to explore whether familiarity with COVID-19 reduces stigma and whether it moderates the effect of a COVID-19 infection on stigmatization.

METHODS

We conducted a multifactorial vignette survey experiment (2⁸-design, i.e., N_Vignettes = 256) in Germany (N_Respondents = 4,059) in which we experimentally varied signals and signaling events (i.e., information that may trigger stigma) concerning a fictitious person in the context of COVID-19. We assessed respondents' cognitive (e.g., blameworthiness) and affective (e.g., anger) responses as well as their discriminatory inclinations (e.g., avoidance) towards the character. Furthermore, we measured different indicators of respondents' familiarity with COVID-19.

RESULTS

Results revealed higher levels of stigma towards people who were diagnosed with COVID-19 versus a regular flu. In addition, stigma was higher towards those who were considered responsible for their infection due to irresponsible behavior. Knowing someone who died from a COVID infection increased stigma. While higher self-reported knowledge about COVID-19 was associated with more stigma, higher factual knowledge was associated with less.

CONCLUSION

Attribution theory and to a lesser extent the familiarity hypothesis can help better understand stigma in the context of COVID-19. This study provides insights about who is at risk of stigmatization and stigmatizing others in this context. It thereby allows identifying the groups that require more support in accessing healthcare services and suggests that basic, factually oriented public health interventions would be promising for reducing stigma.

The relationship between COVID-19 fear levels and healthy lifestyle behaviors of elderly individuals: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

It is known that fear of COVID-19 is associated with many lifestyle behaviours including delays in access to healthcare services and smoking status. However, the relationship between healthy lifestyle behaviours and fear of COVID-19 in older individuals remains unclear. Therefore, there is a need for research that examines the relationship between healthy lifestyle behaviours and fear of COVID-19 in elderly individuals. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the COVID-19 fear levels of elderly individuals and their healthy lifestyle behaviours.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out with individuals at or over the age of 65 registered at a public health centre located in eastern Turkey (N = 494). Data collection tools included a form for descriptive variables and two scales, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19 S) and the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours Scale-II (HLSBS-II). Descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-test, ANOVA, correlation analyses, and hierarchical linear regression analyses were used in the analysis of the data.

RESULTS

The mean HLSBS-II and FCV-19 S scores of the participants were 127.61 ± 24.76 and 20.96 ± 7.29, respectively. While fear of COVID-19 alone, as indicated by the FCV-19 S score, explained 2.4% of the total variance in healthy lifestyle behaviours, fear of COVID-19, having a university degree, and high economic status together explained 7.5% of the total variance in healthy lifestyle behaviours indicated by scores on the HLSBS-II.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study showed that fear of COVID-19 and healthy lifestyle behaviours were dynamics that are positively related, albeit to a small extent, to each other for elderly individuals. Additionally, it was revealed that elderly individuals have moderate levels of fear of COVID-19 and healthy lifestyle behaviours.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of COVID-19 in rural Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Understanding the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of COVID-19 within distinct populations may aid further public health messaging. This study's aims were to explore KAP towards COVID-19 in rural Bangladesh and identify any potential links to sociodemographics, existing clinical conditions and sources of information.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional community-based study.

SETTING

Participants were recruited from 18 villages using multistage cluster random sampling.

METHODS

Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, from June to November 2021, using a structured questionnaire. Data included sociodemographics, clinical conditions, sources of information and KAP of COVID-19 questions. Χ² test, multiple logistic regression and correlation analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 1603 participants were included with mean ages of 42.3±14.2 years, ranging from 18 to 60 years. Of these, 51% were male, 42.2% had secondary education and 45% had comorbidities. Television was the main source of COVID-19 information (55.8%). The overall correct response rate of KAP questions was 90%, 78% and 59%, respectively. In stepwise multiple logistic regression, good knowledge was associated with higher education (adjusted OR (AOR): 4.61, 95% CI: 2.40 to 8.85, p<0.001), employment, high body mass index (overweight and obese) and trust in the sources of information. Being female (AOR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.19 to 1.85, p<0.001), having depression (AOR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.34 to 2.43, p<0.001), being a past smoker and sources of information (family members/friends/relatives/neighbours) were associated with positive attitudes. Good practices were associated with older age (AOR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.10 to 2.11, p=0.01), higher education (AOR: 2.78, 95% CI: 1.58 to 4.89, p<0.001) and having anxiety, while current smokers and fully vaccinated people were less likely to be engaged in good practices. Positive significant correlations between domains of KAP were observed as well as between past vaccination KAP and COVID-19 KAP.

CONCLUSION

This study uncovered gaps in understanding and practices, and identified targeted intervention especially for young and less educated people using mass media to promote updated knowledge regarding COVID-19 and the efficacy of preventive practices.

The role of e-health on the public knowledge and behavior in preventing COVID-19

Background

Electronic health (e-health) technologies play an important role in improving public knowledge and behavior to control the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to investigate the role of e-health on the public knowledge and behavior in preventing COVID-19 in Kerman, a city in Iran.

Methods

The present descriptive cross-sectional study used an online survey in Kerman in November 2021. The research instrument was a tripartite questionnaire that included demographic information, the level of respondents' knowledge about COVID-19, the extent of change in respondents' behavior influenced by e-health. Negative binomial regression analysis was run to test the relationship between individual characteristics and the research variables with knowledge and behavior. Spearman correlation test was used to measure the correlation between the two main parts of the survey.

Results

As the negative binomial regression analysis results showed, the relationship between no demographic variable and the public knowledge and behavior was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean knowledge and behavior scores were 5.84 ± 2.55 and 11.95 ± 5.09, respectively, showing that people who used e-health had a high level of knowledge, and taking preventive measures was at a high level. The Spearman correlation coefficient test results showed a positive association between knowledge and behavior (r = 0.71).

Conclusion

E-health played a decisive role in increasing knowledge and improving behavior in preventing COVID-19. The results of our research can encourage the use of e-health to improve the public knowledge and behavior in pandemics such as COVID-19.

Associated factors with adherence to preventive behaviors related to COVID-19 among medical students in the university of Monastir, Tunisia

INTRODUCTION

Medical students should act as a model for the community in terms of compliance with preventive practices toward COVID-19. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to preventive behaviors related to COVID-19 among medical students and to identify its associated factors.

POPULATION AND METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional survey in October 2020 in the faculty of medicine of Monastir. We included a representative sample of medical students during registration days for the 2020-2021 academic year. The data were collected through a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. Eleven items related to preventive practices against COVID-19 were assessed (respiratory hygiene practices (Six Item), hand hygiene practices (Three Items) and social distancing (two items)). Items were evaluated using a Likert scale of five points (from 0: (Never) to 4: (Always)). The score obtained from the sum of these items allowed to classify students into two categories: "Good compliance" if the score was ≥ 80% and "Poor compliance" if the score was less than 80%. Scores were compared according to the study population characteristics. Multivariate analysis was used to identify associated factors with good practices. The threshold of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

We included 678 medical students. The average age was 21.76 (SD = 1.89 years) with a sex ratio of 0.40. The protection measures most respected by the participants were related to the respiratory hygiene: correct coverage of the nose and mouth with the mask (80%), wearing masks regardless of the presence of symptoms (73.3%) and coverage of the mouth during coughing or sneezing (76.6%). Adherence to hand hygiene measures ranged from 51.4% to 66.3%. The least respected measures were related to social distancing: distancing of at least one meter from others (31.2%) and avoiding crowded places (42.5%). An overall score ≥ 80% was obtained among 61.5% of students. Referring to multivariate analysis, variables that positively affected the overall score of preventive measures related to COVID-19 were the female sex and living alone, with Beta coefficients of 3.82 and 1.37 respectively. The perceived level of stress, E-cigarette and Chicha consumption negatively affected the score with Beta coefficients of (-0.13), (-5.11) and (-2.33) respectively.

CONCLUSION

The level of adherence to good practice among medical students was overall moderate. Awareness programs would be needed in this population, especially for men and those who smoke and vape.

Prevalence and risk factors of sleep problems in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has altered people's lives worldwide and fostered the emergence of sleep problems. However, no systematic review and meta-analysis has yet been conducted to rigorously evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on sleep problems from a Bangladeshi perspective. As a result, the current systematic review and meta-analysis aims to fill this knowledge gap, which may lead to a better understanding of the prevalence and risk factors associated with sleep problems. To conduct this systematic review, PRISMA guidelines were followed; a literature search was conducted to include studies published till 5th March 2022 from the inception of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh searching databases such as PubMed, Scopus. A total of eleven studies were included. The JBI checklist was used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. The overall estimated prevalence of sleep problems was 45% (95% CI: 32% to 58%, I² =99.31%). General populations were more affected by sleep problems [52% (95% CI: 36% to 68%, I² =98.92%)] than the healthcare professionals [51% (95% CI: 23% to 79%, I² =97.99%)] (χ² = 137.05, p <0.001). Additionally, results suggested that suffering from sleep problems were higher among female (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.29 compared to men); urban residents (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.55 to 2.02 compared to rural); and anxious person (OR: 5.15; 95% CI: 4.32 to 6.14 compared to non-anxious), whereas single participants less likely to suffer from sleep related problems (OR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.71 to 0.94). The prevalence rate of sleep problems was high and the general populations was at particularly high risk. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to investigate the trajectories of such sleep problems as a function of pandemic changes.

Hygiene knowledge and practices and determinants of occupational safety among waste and sanitation workers in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic

Waste and sanitation workers provide essential services to society. In most low-and middle-income countries, they are often mistreated and lack access to necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and hygiene facilities that ensure occupational safety in workplaces. COVID-19 has also imposed serious health risks upon these worker groups. This study explores factors associated with poor occupational health and safety based on a conceptual framework. We conducted 499 surveys with five categories of waste and sanitation workers across ten cities in Bangladesh. We performed descriptive analysis and used Firth's logistic regression model following the conceptual framework. The analysis revealed consistent distinctions between workers considered to be in "safe" versus "unsafe" working conditions. The result showed that workers had not been adequately trained, not provided with proper equipment, and many had an informal status that prevented access to hygiene facilities. The workers who received occupational training, knew how to prevent COVID-19 by wearing a face mask, hand washing, and maintaining social distance, maintained protective measures, and practiced proper disposing of PPEs were more likely to be in safe condition. Initiatives to improve the situation of the waste workers who work in unsafe work conditions are still inadequate. Therefore, we recommend supplying proper protective equipment, ensuring a regular supply of gender-specific PPEs, and providing functional facilities necessary to practice personal hygiene and occupational safety, such as handwashing stations, changing rooms, and disposal facilities of used PPEs at the workplace. We also urge increased institutional management procedures, infrastructure that facilitates hygiene practices, and social policies to reduce occupational hazards for the waste workers in Bangladesh during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Factors affecting face mask-wearing behaviors to prevent COVID-19 among Thai people: A binary logistic regression model

OBJECTIVES

Face mask wearing is a standard preventive measure, in addition to handwashing and physical distancing. Individuals may find that wearing a face mask protects their physical health and prevents viral transmission. However, none of the studies in Thailand identified factors associated with face mask-wearing behaviors among Thai people. Therefore, this study aims to determine factors affecting face mask-wearing behaviors to prevent COVID-19.

METHODS

This research is analytical survey research. The data used in this study were under the project title "The assessment of psychosocial and behavioral response and compliance to restriction measures to prevent and control COVID-19: A series of the rapid survey." A total of 6,521 people participated in an online survey by multi-stage sampling. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the factors associated with face mask-wearing behaviors.

RESULTS

After adjusting for independent variables (i.e., gender, age, education, career, smoking, and comorbidity disease), the bivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that gender, age, and career were statistically significant to the face mask-wearing behaviors (p < 0.05). Level of education, smoking, and comorbidity disease were not statistically significant with face mask-wearing behaviors among Thai people.

CONCLUSION

Further study should explore broader on individual face mask perceptions and wearing in the continuing of COVID-19 across gender, age, and careers to better understand their health behaviors and to inform further policy. In addition, the development of an intervention to promote face mask wearing should target men who age below 30 yrs. and did not work in government services careers as this group of the population was likely not to wear a face mask outside the home.

In-person training on COVID-19 case management and infection prevention and control: Evaluation of healthcare professionals in Bangladesh

Background

As COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, the major focus of healthcare organizations shifted towards preparing healthcare systems to handle the inevitable COVID-19 burden at different phases and levels. A series of in-person training programs were operated in collaboration with government and partner organizations for the healthcare workers (HCW) of Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of HCWs regarding SARS-CoV-2 infection, their case management, infection prevention and control to fight against the ongoing pandemic.

Methods

As a part of the National Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19 in Bangladesh, the training program was conducted at four district-level hospitals and one specialized hospital in Bangladesh from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. A total of 755 HCWs participated in the training sessions. Among them, 357 (47%) were enrolled for the evaluation upon completion of the data, collected from one district hospital (Feni) and one specialized hospital (National Institute of Mental Health).

Results

The mean percentage of pre-test and post-test scores of all the participants were found to be 57% (95% CI 8.34–8.91; p 0.01) and 65% (95% CI 9.56–10.15; p <0.001) respectively. The difference of score (mean) between the groups was significant (p<0.001). After categorizing participants’ knowledge levels as poor, average and fair, doctors’ group has shown to have significant enhancement from level of average to fair compared to that of the nurses. Factors associated with knowledge augmentation of doctors were working in primary health care centers (aOR: 4.22; 95% CI: 1.80, 9.88), job experience less than 5 years (aOR: 4.10; 95% CI: 1.01, 16.63) and experience in caring of family member with COVID-19 morbidity (aOR: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.03, 4.10), after adjusting for relevant covariates such as age, sex and prior COVID-19 illness.

Conclusion

Considering the series of waves of COVID-19 pandemic with newer variants, the present paper underscores the importance of implementing the structured in-person training program on case management, infection prevention and control for the HCWs that may help for successful readiness prior to future pandemics that may further help to minimize the pandemic related fatal consequences.

Factors associated with preventive behaviors for COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers by a health behavior model

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease. There are limited data on predictors of good preventive behaviors among healthcare workers. This study aimed to evaluate if any factors were predictors of good preventive behaviors in healthcare workers under the theory of health behavior model.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study in healthcare workers who were willing to participate in the study. Participants were requested to fill out a self-administered questionnaire that comprised health behavior model and preventive behaviors from COVID-19 infection. Factors associated with preventive behavior, an outcome, were analyzed by multivariate linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

There were 273 healthcare workers who participated in this study. The average (SD) age and working duration of participants was 38.9 (12.1) and 11.4 (9.8) years. The preventive behavior category had an average score of 87.6% (70.3/80). After adjusted, knowledge and perception of personal preventability were independently associated with preventive behaviors. The adjusted coefficients of both factors were-0.911 (p 0.009) and 0.477 (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Specific knowledge and perception of personal ability questions were associated with preventive behaviors for COVID-19 infection. To improve personal preventive behaviors in healthcare workers, these factors should be emphasized.

Factors associated with Facebook addiction among university students amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from an online cross-sectional survey

Background

Facebook addiction (FA) has been suggested as a potential behavioral addiction. There is a severe lack of research evidence regarding the Facebook addiction behavior among university students during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with Facebook addiction among Bangladeshi university students.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 2,161 Bangladeshi university students during the COVID-19 pandemic from June 2021 to September 2021. A well fitted regression model in R programming language was used for this study.

Results

Female respondents and those whose family monthly income was <25,000 BDT were more addicted to Facebook than other respondents. Respondents who lost a family member or a relative to COVID-19, engaged in physical activities (exercise) during the pandemic, used Facebook for work purposes or used Facebook to relieve daily stress were more addicted to Facebook.

Conclusion

Overuse of social media is problematic as it can trigger several mental health symptoms, especially among students. Adequate and effective interventions are required to educate students about the dangers of Facebook addiction and to provide an alternative, healthy options.

To what extent is alcohol consumption in social gatherings associated with observance of COVID-19 restrictions? A rapid review

Background

Pre-pandemic research found a connection between alcohol consumption and reduced physical distancing among strangers. Understanding the association between alcohol consumption at social gatherings and observance of COVID-19 restrictions can help inform policy related to the safe operation of public spaces where alcohol is typically consumed, as well as guidance related to the safe conduct of social events in private spaces.

Methods

We conducted a rapid review using adapted systematic review methods to explore the association between alcohol consumption in social gatherings and compliance with COVID-19 public health measures and produced a narrative synthesis of our findings. We ran searches in eleven health-related databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase (Ovid), ProQuest Public Health, ProQuest Coronavirus, Global Health (Ovid), WHO COVID-19 literature database, PsycInfo (Ovid) and ASSIA) between July 9, 2021, and July 31, 2021. We assessed methodological quality using the relevant Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklists. This review was conducted and reported in accordance with PRISMA-P guidelines.

Results

We identified 7936 studies from the searches. After title, abstract and full-text review, three cross-sectional studies were eligible for inclusion. One study found that people who adhered strongly to physical distancing rules were engaged in about 40% fewer weekly drinks and 60% fewer heavy episodic drinking occasions in a week than people who adhered poorly to physical distancing rules (P < 0.01). One study found that people who reported low-risk alcohol consumption patterns had a higher chance of adhering to hand hygiene measures than those who reported high-risk alcohol consumption (odds ratio (OR) = 4.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08-16.64). No other statistically significant results on patterns of alcohol consumption and compliance with individual public health measures or with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were found. The direction of effect between alcohol consumption and non-adherence to NPIs and the effect of confounding factors has not been established. The quality of studies found was low to moderate, with risk of recall bias and selection bias due to study design; and the extent to which those studies can be generalised beyond their original settings may be limited.

Conclusions

Despite existing evidence suggesting an association between alcohol consumption, reduced physical distancing, and increased social interaction, we found few studies of variable quality exploring the relationship between alcohol consumption and compliance with public health measures. A possible association between higher-risk alcohol behaviours and lower compliance with certain NPIs was suggested, but the direction of effect is unknown, and further studies are required to confirm this finding.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward the Prevention of COVID-19 in Bangladesh: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Numerous studies on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) about the prevention of COVID-19 infections are available in Bangladeshi contexts, with results that vary significantly. However, no earlier attempt has been made to analyze the available COVID-19 KAP studies in Bangladesh, which is incorporated in this meta-analysis for the first time.

Methods

Following the PRISMA guidelines, articles relevant to COVID-19 KAP that were conducted among the Bangladeshi population were found in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate. Random-effect meta-analysis was used to generate a pooled prevalence of knowledge, attitude, and practice level toward the prevention of COVID-19 infection.

Results

This review included 18 articles that were published between March 2020 and November 2021. Overall, 89.87% (95% CI: 67.71-97.40) understood about COVID-19 symptoms, 92.09% (95% CI: 84.32-96.18) knew about how it spreads, and 79.51% (95% CI: 59.38-91.15) knew about how to treat it. The public's perception of controlling COVID-19 is mixed, with only 44.16% (95% CI: 35.74-52.93) and 60.28% (95% CI: 49.22-70.38) believing the country would win the struggle against the pandemic and the infection will be successfully controlled, respectively. Although overall COVID-19 preventative practice was good, subgroup analysis found that men had a poor practice toward controlling the infection. The practice of avoiding crowded places (70.15%) and maintaining social distance (77.17%) was found to be satisfactory in institution-based studies.

Conclusion

The findings of this study revealed that the Bangladeshi population had a good awareness of COVID-19 symptoms, treatment, attitudes, and behaviors. The findings of this study are likely to aid Bangladeshi governments and policymakers in putting evidence into action by identifying gaps and emphasizing the importance of educating the less informed public about COVID-19 transmission.

Explaining interpersonal differences in COVID-19 disease prevention behavior based on the health belief model and collective resilience theory: a cross-sectional study from Bolivia

Background

Governments have attempted to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by issuing guidelines for disease prevention behavior (e.g., wearing masks, social distancing, etc.) and by enforcing these guidelines. However, while some citizens have complied with these guidelines, others have ignored them or have even participated in large-scale protests. This research aims both to understand the causes of such variation in citizens’ adherence to government guidelines on disease prevention behavior and to extend the scientific literature on disease prevention to account for the collective resilience of a society to diseases. Thus, this research draws on the health belief model and collective resilience theory to develop hypotheses about the determinants of a citizen’s disease prevention behavior. These hypotheses deal with how citizens’ vulnerability, attitudes toward disease prevention, and social orientation are associated with COVID-19 prevention behaviors.

Methods

From March 24 to April 4, 2020, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Bolivia. It included questions on demographic characteristics, chronic health problems, emotional burden, attitudes towards preventive behaviors, trust in public institutions, and culture. Among 5265 participants who clicked on the survey, 1857 at least partially filled it out. After removing data with missing responses to any variable, the final sample consists of 1231 respondents. The collected data were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling.

Results

Regarding a citizen’s vulnerability, chronic health problems have a U-shaped association with disease prevention behavior. Moreover, age, female gender, and worries have positive associations with disease prevention behavior, whereas depression showed a negative association. Regarding attitudes toward disease prevention, trust in public institutions, and attitudes toward social distancing, a government-imposed lockdown and the enforcement of this lockdown showed positive associations with disease prevention behavior. Regarding social orientation, individualism and collectivism both have positive relationships with disease prevention behavior.

Conclusions

In the COVID-19 pandemic, a citizen’s low vulnerability, weak social orientation, and beliefs about low benefits of disease prevention behavior are associated with poor compliance with guidelines on disease prevention behavior. More research on these associations would help generalize these findings to other populations and other public health crises.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13068-1.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BMI: Its changes in relation to socio-demographic and physical activity patterns based on a short period

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly a major threat to the world. The preventive strategies designed to minimize the virus transmission by remaining at home, being isolated, and keeping social distance, which would substantially reform people’s lifestyle, physical activity, eating habits, etc. Consequently, those measures might create a disturbance in weight management and overweight. Therefore, how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the physical activities of individuals and its impacts on the Body Mass Index (BMI) is explored herein.

Methods

An online-based cross-sectional study collected data from 338 Bangladeshi adults in November 2020. The questionnaire included socio-demographics, health-related variables, physical activity-related variables, and diet measurement. Inferential statistics (i.e., chi-square test, McNemar test) were used to measure the associations between BMI and studied variables with a consideration of two scenarios (‘before’ and ‘during’ the pandemic inception), where p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Results showed that the prevalence of overweight was 30.5% ‘before’ the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased to 34.9% ‘during’ the pandemic; that means 4.4% of the participants significantly gained weight after the pandemic inception. There was no significant role of socio-demographic (e.g., gender, age, current residence, occupation) or physical activity-related factors (e.g., unavailability of outdoor space, not performing regular physical exercise, exercising with a partner) in changing the BMI status after the pandemic inception. However, following a proper diet plan during the COVID-19 pandemic was observed to decrease BMI status significantly.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that a minor portion of the participants reported increasing their overweight status after the pandemic inception, whereas having a proper diet plan during the pandemic can significantly decrease BMI status. Therefore, the importance of the appropriate diet plan should be considered while implementing any policies.

The Effect of Parent Phubbing on Chinese Adolescents’ Smartphone Addiction During COVID-19 Pandemic: Testing a Moderated Mediation Model

Purpose

COVID-19 has affected the health and well-being of tens of millions of people and contributed to smartphone addiction. The prior studies found several characteristics that influenced smartphone addiction, but little research was undertaken on the epidemic. This study aims to test a moderated mediation model of smartphone addiction.

Methods

Three classes in each grade from grade 7 through grade 9 at random were recruited in the target junior high schools. A total of 931 Chinese adolescents (M_age=13.54 years, SD_age =1.08) completed valid questionnaires via online surveys from February 5–19, 2021.

Results

Parent phubbing had a positive effect on smartphone addiction. Boredom proneness played a mediating role in this relationship. Additionally, refusal self-efficacy moderated the effect of parent phubbing on smartphone addiction. Refusal self-efficacy moderated the effect of boredom proneness on smartphone addiction.

Conclusion

Findings of this study shed light on a correlation between parent phubbing and smartphone addiction. Moreover, this study emphasizes the value of intervening in adolescents’ boredom proneness and increasing the ability of refusal self-efficacy to prevent and intervene in the context of COVID-19.

Knowledge of COVID-19 and Its Relationship with Preventive Behaviors and Vaccination among Adults in Northern Thailand's Community

(1) Background: the 2019 coronavirus disease outbreak (COVID-19) has posed a major threat to public health and had a significant impact on all areas of people’s lives. Vaccines against COVID-19 have been developed to control the disease, and an array of personal hygiene measures has been introduced. As a result, information that will support and promote vaccination among populations as well as other health measures against COVID-19 are urgently needed. The goal of this research was to look into the knowledge about COVID-19 and how it relates to preventive behaviors and vaccination among people living in rural areas of northern Thailand. (2) Methods: a cross-sectional study was performed in four upper northern provinces of Thailand. A total of 1524 participants were recruited using the probability sampling technique. Questionnaires were distributed to collect data on general health information, as well as knowledge and preventive behaviors regarding COVID-19. (3) Results: more than half (55.9%) of the participants were female and had not received the COVID-19 vaccine (67.2%). Their mean age was 44.13 years. The majority had moderate COVID-19 knowledge and engaged in preventive behaviors (65.5% and 42.0%, respectively). A linear regression model showed that the COVID-19 knowledge score was related to the COVID-19 preventive behaviors score, with a standardized coefficient of 0.510, after adjusting for age, underlying disease, and body mass index (B = 2.64; 95%CI = 2.42, 2.87). Binary logistic regression revealed that after controlling for age, education, occupation, financial status, and current disease (AOR = 1.87; 95%CI = 1.64–2.13), the score of COVID-19 knowledge was significantly associated with having the COVID-19 vaccine. (4) Discussion: knowledge of COVID-19 is very important for people in rural regions to engage in COVID-19 prevention behaviors and vaccination. Relevant government agencies and health network partners should support proactive education campaigns emphasizing the risk of contracting the disease and its severity in order to promote vaccination against COVID-19 among unvaccinated groups. These campaigns can highlight COVID-19’s positive benefit-risk balance in the short and long term and ensure public safety measures against COVID-19.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Coronavirus and Associated Anxiety Symptoms Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND

University students' knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward COVID-19 are vital to prevent the spread of the virus, especially in the context of developing countries. Consequently, the present study aimed to determine the KAP levels of university students and associated anxiety during the earlier stage of the pandemic in Bangladesh.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, online study with 544 university students was conducted during April 17-May 1, 2020. The questionnaire incorporated several KAP-related test items aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Anxiety was measured with the 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-2). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between KAP levels and anxiety adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Subgroup analyses included rerunning models stratified by gender and quarantine status.

RESULTS

Approximately 50% of students showed high levels of knowledge about COVID-19 guidelines, 59% reported behavioral practices that aligned with COVID-19 guidelines, and 39% had negative attitudes toward COVID-19 guidelines. Attitudes differed by anxiety (χ² = 23.55, p < 0.001); specifically, negative attitudes were associated with higher anxiety (OR: 2.40, 95% CI = 1.66-3.46, p < 0.001). Associations were significant for male (OR = 2.36; 95% CI = 1.45-3.84, p < 0.001) and female (OR = 2.45; 95% CI = 1.3-4.34; p < 0.001) students. Stratified analyses found non-quarantined students with negative attitudes had three times the chance of experiencing anxiety (OR = 3.14, 95% CI: 1.98-4.98, p < 0.001). Non-quarantined students with low levels of knowledge had half the chance of developing anxiety (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.31-0.78, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Based on these findings, it is recommended that university authorities continue to prioritize proactive and effective measures to develop higher levels of knowledge, more positive attitudes and better behavioral practices regarding COVID-19 for the mental health of their students.

The role of sociodemographics, behavioral factors, and internet use behaviors in students' psychological health amid COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically impacted students' psychological well-being by interchanging their regular activities. Students are more engaged with online activities, which may affect their mental health. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the magnitude of psychological health of the Bangladeshi students, where the role of online use behaviors is also investigated.

METHODS

An online-based cross-sectional survey was conducted between 7 October 2020 and 2 November, 2020 among Bangladeshi students utilizing a convenience sampling technique. The survey questionnaire included items concerning sociodemographics, behavior and health-related variables, online use behaviors, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present the data (i.e., binary logistic regression was performed to examine the association between variables and hierarchical regression analysis was performed to predict the variance for depression and anxiety).

RESULTS

Out of 601 included students, 260 and 196 students reported the symptoms of depression (43.3%) and anxiety (32.6%), respectively, where female students experienced a higher level of psychological problems. The psychological suffering was also significantly associated with medical college students, having an affair, less sleep time, not performing physical exercise, excessive internet use, and not watching news during online activities. After adjusting all of the studied variables in the hierarchical regression models, it explained 10% and 9.6% variance of depression and anxiety, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

During this pandemic situation, a relatively higher level of psychological complications was observed among the Bangladeshi students. Regrettably, any specific policy was absent in the country to assuage that outcome. Therefore, based on the study finding, a few strategies and policies were recommended that may be helpful to alleviate psychological issues among the students.

The Assessment of Fear of COVID-19 among the Elderly Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

The prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected the mental health and well-being of individuals. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the perceived fear of COVID-19 among older adults in Poland and identify subpopulations with the highest risk of potential mental health disorders. The study was conducted in November–December 2020 on 500 people aged ≥60 years (mean M = 67.9, standard deviation SD = 4.2). In order to collect information on participants’ characteristics and COVID-19-related information, they were asked to complete a questionnaire based on recorded telephone calls. Perceived fear of COVID-19 was measured using Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), which ranges from 7 to 35. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify factors associated with the perceived fear of COVID-19. Our results showed that the highest level of fear of COVID-19 infection was observed among women (p = 0.025) and patients taking anticoagulants (p = 0.004). Moreover, older adults with higher anxiety levels were more likely to be fearful of COVID-19 (according to the GAS-10 scale; p < 0.001). These findings may help policy makers and healthcare workers to adapt and implement better mental health strategies to help the elderly fight fear and anxiety during the prevailing pandemic.

Compliance with the main preventive measures of COVID-19 in Spain: The role of knowledge, attitudes, practices, and risk perception

In epidemics such as COVID‐19, major changes need to be made to the population's behavior to prevent infection and stop disease transmission. The three most recommended preventive measures are wearing a mask, washing hands with soap or hydroalcoholic gel, and watching an interpersonal distance of at least two meters (3W) from other people. This study aimed to assess adherence to these COVID‐19‐related three preventive measures and its association with knowledge, attitudes, risk perception, and practices in Spain. The COSMO‐Spain survey, based on the WHO Behavioral Insights questionnaire on COVID‐19, was conducted in the general Spanish population using an online questionnaire (n = 1,033). Sociodemographic, knowledge, attitudes, practices, and risk perception variables were included. A multivariable logistic regression model was carried out to evaluate the factors associated with compliance with the three preventive measures. Half of the respondents (49.8%) were women with a median age of 45 (Inter‐quartile Range, IR = 21) years. In the logistic regression, the factors associated with 3W compliance were being over 45 years; knowing about how COVID‐19 spreads and wearing masks properly; appropriate attitudes towards COVID‐19 (greater agreement with mandatory mask use); high risk perception (feeling that the coronavirus is spreading rapidly, being concerned about non‐mask wearers), and adherence to other preventive measures against COVID‐19, such as staying at home. Adequate knowledge, attitudes and risk perception are determinants of 3W compliance. Developing effective health education programs and frequent communication strategies are necessary, particularly for those who adhere less to preventive measures.

Impact of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic on the Hungarian university students' social and health behaviour

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic brought quick, severe and unexpected changes to our everyday life and also changed the traditional education pattern of Semmelweis University in the middle of academic year 2019-2020. We explored adaptive changes in Hungarian students' behaviour and their time-budget in order to determine whether quarantine and/or fear of infection were responsible for these changes.

METHODS

A self-administered online questionnaire was distributed to all students in the Hungarian language program (N = 7436) of Semmelweis University. Information was collected on basic demographic data, knowledge and attitude about COVID-19, methods of prevention as well as the students' behaviour before, during and after the first wave of the pandemic. Statistical analyses were processed using the IBM-SPSS 25.0 software package.

RESULTS

The overall response rate was 11% (N = 816). Only complete responses were processed (55%, N = 447). Among these responders, 83% did not fear the pandemic. Those who greatly feared COVID-19 infection strictly kept all regulations. The number of non-smokers increased by the end of the first wave. The nutrition of 100 students (21%) became healthier and the lockdown reduced the level of physical activity.

CONCLUSION

Social and health-related behaviour of medical students changed basically during the first wave of the pandemic and some changes remained after it in tobacco smoking, nutrition and sleeping habits. Time-budget of students changed significantly during the pandemic and did not return to the baseline values. Results of this study justify future multiple systematic research to analyse and better understand the short- and long-term effects of the current crisis.

Prevalence of Covid-19 Associated Symptoms, Their Onset and Duration, and Variations Among Different Groups of Patients in Bangladesh

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence, onset, and duration of COVID-19 associated symptoms, hospitalization, and recovery time from the infection in Bangladesh.

Methods: A retrospective study was designed adopting the snowball sampling technique (n = 439). The association of gender, age, and comorbidity on COVID-19 associated complications was determined using chi-square and binary logistic regression analysis (p < 0.05).

Result: Fever, exhaustion, cough, loss of taste, sore throat, body ache, and hair-loss were prevalent among more than 50% of the participants and developed within fourth days in above 90% of the patients. Shortness of breath was significantly higher in males (χ2 = 5.671; OR 1.641). Significant comorbidity association on the shortness of breath (χ2 = 40.119; OR 2.564), vomiting (χ2 = 4.422; OR 1.018), and loss of speech (χ2 = 17.299; OR 3.430) was observed. Patients (>40 years) exerted higher association in shortness of breath (χ2 = 24.083; OR 2.901). Age and comorbidity were significantly associated with COVID-19 associated hospitalization (χ2 = 16.890 and χ2 = 23.638, respectively) and recovery time (χ2 = 12.870 and χ2 = 26.924, respectively).

Conclusion: The study suggests that the hospitalization rate increased for older (>40 years) and comorbid patients. Comorbid patients demonstrated higher susceptibility to have shortness of breath, vomiting, loss of speech, and confusion, whereas male patients showed significant increase in the prevalence of sore throat, loss of smell, and vomiting compared to female patients.

Exploring factors in fear of COVID-19 and its GIS-based nationwide distribution: the case of Bangladesh

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health threat of international concern, intensifying peoples' psychological risk and vulnerability by strengthening mental health stressors such as fear, panic and uncertainty. The unexpected fear of COVID-19 has been reported to be associated with suicide occurrences, similar to prior pandemics.

AIMS

Identifying the factors associated with fear of COVID-19 could help us to develop better mental health strategy and practice to improve the situation here in Bangladesh. This was the first attempt to present a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based distribution of fear of COVID-19 across the country's administrative districts in a nationwide sample.

METHOD

Data for a total of 10 067 individuals were collected by an online survey during the first wave of the pandemic (1 to 10 April 2020); data for 10 052 participants were finally analysed after excluding 15 transgender individuals. The survey questionnaire included items concerning sociodemographic, behavioural and health-related variables, COVID-19-related issues, and the Bangla Fear of COVID-19 Scale.

RESULTS

The mean fear of COVID-19 scores was 21.30 ± 6.01 (out of a possible 35) in the present sample. Female gender, highly educated, non-smoker, non-alcohol consumer, having chronic diseases, using social media, and using social media and not using newspapers as COVID-19 information sources were associated with a higher level of fear of COVID-19. Higher levels of fear of COVID-19 were found in districts of Magura, Panchagarh, Tangail, Sunamganj and Munshiganj; by contrast, Kushtia, Pirojpur, Chapainawabganj, Jhalokathi and Naogaon districts had lower fear of COVID-19. Based on the GIS-distribution, fear of COVID-19 was significantly associated with the district as well as in respect to its gender-based and education-level-based associations. However, fear of COVID-19 and COVID-19 cases were heterogeneously distributed across the districts; that is, no consistent association of higher COVID-19 cases with higher fear of COVID-19 was found.

CONCLUSIONS

This study being exploratory in nature may help to facilitate further studies, as well as directing governmental initiatives for reducing fear of COVID-19 in at-risk individuals. Providing adequate resources and mental health services in the administrative regions identified as highly vulnerable to fear of COVID-19 is recommended.

How Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted Internet Use Behaviors and Facilitated Problematic Internet Use? A Bangladeshi Study

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic-related "stay-at-home" and confinement orders has led individuals to be more engaged with technology use (eg, internet use). For a minority of individuals, excessive use can become problematic and addictive. However, the investigation of problematic internet use in the COVID-19 context is only just emerging. Therefore, the present study investigated the changes in internet use behaviors and addiction rates in comparison with prior Bangladeshi studies.

Methods

An online cross-sectional study was carried out among a total of 601 Bangladeshi students between October 7 and November 2, 2020. The survey included questions relating to socio-demographic, behavioral health, online use behaviors, and psychopathological variables.

Results

A quarter of the participants (26%) reported having low levels of internet addiction, whereas 58.6% were classed as having moderate internet addiction and 13% severe internet addiction. A total of 4% of the sample were classed as being at risk of severe internet dependency (ie, scoring over ≥80 on IAT). Risk factors for internet addiction included smartphone addiction, Facebook addiction, depression, and anxiety. However, the final hierarchical regression model comprising all variables explained a total of 70.6% variance of problematic internet use.

Conclusion

Based on the present findings, it is concluded that individuals are at elevated risk of problematic internet use like other psychological impacts that have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, risk-reducing measures and healthy control use strategies should be implemented for vulnerable individuals.

Mental Disorders of Bangladeshi Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Background

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has become a global burden disrupting peoples’ quality of life. Students being an important cohort of a country, their mental health during this pandemic has been recognized as a concerning issue. Therefore, the prevalence and associated risk factors of Bangladeshi students’ mental health sufferings (ie, depression, anxiety, and stress) are systematically reviewed herein for the first time.

Methods

Adhering to the PRISMA guideline, a systematic search was performed from 1 to 5 April, 2021 in several databases including PubMed; and finally, a total of 7 articles were included to this review.

Results

The prevalence rates of mild to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress ranged from 46.92% to 82.4%, 26.6% to 96.82%, and 28.5% to 70.1%, respectively. The risk factors concerning mental health problems included the factors related to (i) socio-demographic (younger age, gender, lower educational grade, urban residence, family size, currently living with family/parents, and having children in the family), (ii) behavior and health (smoking status, lack of physical exercise, more internet browsing time, and dissatisfaction with sleep), (iii) COVID-19 pandemic- (COVID-19 related symptoms, COVID-19 related perceptions, and fear of COVID-19 infection), (iv) miscellaneous (losing part-time teaching job, lack of study concentration, agitation, fear of getting assaulted or humiliated on the way to the hospital or home, financial problems, academic dissatisfaction, inadequate food supply, higher exposure to COVID-19 social and mass media, engaging with more recreational activities, and performing more household chores).

Conclusion

The overall assumption of mental disorders’ prevalence rates can be regarded as problematic to this cohort. Thus, the authorities should consider setting up possible strategies to diminish the pandemic effect on students’ mental health.

Fear of COVID 19 Infection Across Different Cohorts: A Scoping Review

Background: Psychological stressors like panic, fear, phobia, etc., are being substantially reported during the COVID-19 outbreak. In the prior outbreaks, fear of being infected was reported as the prominent suicide stressor. Therefore, fear of infection has become a concern in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic because it worsens emotion, cognition, and behavioral responses. Understanding the extent of fear of COVID-19 infection in various cohorts would aid in gauging the mental health services, which was a remedy in the present review. Methods: Adhering to Arksey and O'Malley's framework for conducting a scoping review, a systematic search was performed in the month of September 2020 in several databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, etc. Considering the inclusion criteria, a total of 14 articles were included in the present review. Results: All of the included studies were conducted via online platforms, whereas all but one of the studies were cross-sectional in nature (including a mixed-method study, and a comparative study). Most of the studies were conducted among the general population (n = 12), within March and May 2020 (n = 9), from Asian countries (n = 7), and considered a self-developed item for fear of COVID-19 assessment (n = 8; whereas the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was used in 6-studies). The prevalence of fear of COVID-19 was reported to be 18.1-45.2%, although no cutoff point or criteria was mentioned for such a prevalence estimation of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. However, females, younger adults, urban residents, divorcees, healthcare workers, those in quarantine settings, those in suspicion of being infected, and those with mental health problems, etc., were found to be at an increased risk of COVID-19 fear. Conclusions: Being one of the first reviews in this context, the findings are anticipated to be helpful to predict the possible solutions for reducing fear of COVID-19 and facilitate further studies on strategies of how to alleviate such a stressful situation.