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Endriyas M, Woldemariam B, Shibru E, Hussen M, Bedru B, Moges M, Melka M, Lemango F, Mate M, Lejiso T, Gebremedhin B, Tolcha A, Shiferaw B, Wondimu G, Terefe T, Ayele S, Misganaw T, Samuel T, Kelaye T, Gebru A, Assefa A, Getachew W, Yalew B, Geleta D. Readiness of public schools before reopening during COVID-19 pandemic: School-based cross-sectional survey in southern Ethiopia. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293722. [PMID: 37906545 PMCID: PMC10617685 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND School closures in response to the COVID-19 impacted children's education, protection, and wellbeing. After understanding these impacts and that children were not super spreaders, countries including Ethiopia decided to reopen schools with specified preconditions. But when deciding to reopen schools, the benefits and risks across education, public health and socio-economic factors have to be evaluated. However, there was information gap on status of schools as per preconditions. Hence, this study was designed to investigate status of schools in Southern Ethiopia. METHODS School based cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2020 in Southern Ethiopia. Sample of 430 schools were included. National school reopening guideline was used to develop checklist for assessment. Data was collected by public health experts at regional emergency operation center. Descriptive analysis was performed to summarize data. RESULTS A total of 430 schools were included. More than two thirds, 298 (69.3%), of schools were from rural areas while 132 (30.7%) were from urban settings. The general infection prevention and water, sanitation and hygiene (IPC-WASH) status of schools were poor and COVID-19 specific preparations were inadequate to meet national preconditions to reopen schools during the pandemic. Total score from 24 items observed ranged from 3 to 22 points with mean score of 11.75 (SD±4.02). No school scored 100% and only 41 (9.5%) scored above 75% while 216 (50.2%%) scored below half point that is 12 items. CONCLUSION Both the basic and COVID-19 specific IPC-WASH status of schools were inadequate to implement national school reopening preconditions and general standards. Some of strategies planned to accommodate teaching process and preconditions maximized inequalities in education. Although COVID-19 impact lessened due to vaccination and other factors, it is rational to consider fulfilling water and basic sanitation facilities to schools to prevent communicable diseases of public health importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misganu Endriyas
- Health Research and Technology Transfer Directorate, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Belete Woldemariam
- Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Directorate, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | | | - Mamush Hussen
- Public Health Institute Director Office, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Bersabeh Bedru
- Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Directorate, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Mathewos Moges
- College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Mintesinot Melka
- Public Health Institute Director Office, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Fiseha Lemango
- Health Research and Technology Transfer Directorate, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Male Mate
- Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Directorate, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Tesfaye Lejiso
- Maternal, Child Health and Nutrition Directorate, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Biruk Gebremedhin
- Health Research and Technology Transfer Directorate, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Alemu Tolcha
- College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Biniam Shiferaw
- Medical Services Directorate, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Girma Wondimu
- Public Health Laboratory Directorate, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Tesfatsion Terefe
- Public Health Emergency Management, Southwest Ethiopia Health Bureau, Tercha, Southwest Ethiopia, Ethiopia
| | - Sinafikish Ayele
- Health Research and Technology Transfer Directorate, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Tebeje Misganaw
- Health Research and Technology Transfer Directorate, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Teka Samuel
- Health Research and Technology Transfer Directorate, Sidama Regional Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Temesgen Kelaye
- Health Research and Technology Transfer Directorate, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Agegnehu Gebru
- Transform Primary Health Care Project, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Amare Assefa
- Transform Primary Health Care Project, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Wogene Getachew
- Technical Assistant at EOC, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Bereket Yalew
- Technical Assistant at EOC, SNNPR Health Bureau, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
| | - Dereje Geleta
- College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia
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Ryan RE, Silke C, Parkhill A, Virgona A, Merner B, Hurley S, Walsh L, de Moel-Mandel C, Schonfeld L, Edwards AG, Kaufman J, Cooper A, Chung RKY, Solo K, Hellard M, Di Tanna GL, Pedrana A, Saich F, Hill S. Communication to promote and support physical distancing for COVID-19 prevention and control. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 10:CD015144. [PMID: 37811673 PMCID: PMC10561351 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd015144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This review is an update of a rapid review undertaken in 2020 to identify relevant, feasible and effective communication approaches to promote acceptance, uptake and adherence to physical distancing measures for COVID-19 prevention and control. The rapid review was published when little was known about transmission, treatment or future vaccination, and when physical distancing measures (isolation, quarantine, contact tracing, crowd avoidance, work and school measures) were the cornerstone of public health responses globally. This updated review includes more recent evidence to extend what we know about effective pandemic public health communication. This includes considerations of changes needed over time to maintain responsiveness to pandemic transmission waves, the (in)equities and variable needs of groups within communities due to the pandemic, and highlights again the critical role of effective communication as integral to the public health response. OBJECTIVES To update the evidence on the question 'What are relevant, feasible and effective communication approaches to promote acceptance, uptake and adherence to physical distancing measures for COVID-19 prevention and control?', our primary focus was communication approaches to promote and support acceptance, uptake and adherence to physical distancing. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE to explore and identify key elements of effective communication for physical distancing measures for different (diverse) populations and groups. SEARCH METHODS We searched MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library databases from inception, with searches for this update including the period 1 January 2020 to 18 August 2021. Systematic review and study repositories and grey literature sources were searched in August 2021 and guidelines identified for the eCOVID19 Recommendations Map were screened (November 2021). SELECTION CRITERIA Guidelines or reviews focusing on communication (information, education, reminders, facilitating decision-making, skills acquisition, supporting behaviour change, support, involvement in decision-making) related to physical distancing measures for prevention and/or control of COVID-19 or selected other diseases (sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), influenza, Ebola virus disease (EVD) or tuberculosis (TB)) were included. New evidence was added to guidelines, reviews and primary studies included in the 2020 review. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Methods were based on the original rapid review, using methods developed by McMaster University and informed by Cochrane rapid review guidance. Screening, data extraction, quality assessment and synthesis were conducted by one author and checked by a second author. Synthesis of results was conducted using modified framework analysis, with themes from the original review used as an initial framework. MAIN RESULTS This review update includes 68 studies, with 17 guidelines and 20 reviews added to the original 31 studies. Synthesis identified six major themes, which can be used to inform policy and decision-making related to planning and implementing communication about a public health emergency and measures to protect the community. Theme 1: Strengthening public trust and countering misinformation: essential foundations for effective public health communication Recognising the key role of public trust is essential. Working to build and maintain trust over time underpins the success of public health communications and, therefore, the effectiveness of public health prevention measures. Theme 2: Two-way communication: involving communities to improve the dissemination, accessibility and acceptability of information Two-way communication (engagement) with the public is needed over the course of a public health emergency: at first, recognition of a health threat (despite uncertainties), and regularly as public health measures are introduced or adjusted. Engagement needs to be embedded at all stages of the response and inform tailoring of communications and implementation of public health measures over time. Theme 3: Development of and preparation for public communication: target audience, equity and tailoring Communication and information must be tailored to reach all groups within populations, and explicitly consider existing inequities and the needs of disadvantaged groups, including those who are underserved, vulnerable, from diverse cultural or language groups, or who have lower educational attainment. Awareness that implementing public health measures may magnify existing or emerging inequities is also needed in response planning, enactment and adjustment over time. Theme 4: Public communication features: content, timing and duration, delivery Public communication needs to be based on clear, consistent, actionable and timely (up-to-date) information about preventive measures, including the benefits (whether for individual, social groupings or wider society), harms (likewise) and rationale for use, and include information about supports available to help follow recommended measures. Communication needs to occur through multiple channels and/or formats to build public trust and reach more of the community. Theme 5: Supporting behaviour change at individual and population levels Supporting implementation of public health measures with practical supports and services (e.g. essential supplies, financial support) is critical. Information about available supports must be widely disseminated and well understood. Supports and communication related to them require flexibility and tailoring to explicitly consider community needs, including those of vulnerable groups. Proactively monitoring and countering stigma related to preventive measures (e.g. quarantine) is also necessary to support adherence. Theme 6: Fostering and sustaining receptiveness and responsiveness to public health communication Efforts to foster and sustain public receptiveness and responsiveness to public health communication are needed throughout a public health emergency. Trust, acceptance and behaviours change over time, and communication needs to be adaptive and responsive to these changing needs. Ongoing community engagement efforts should inform communication and public health response measures. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Implications for practice Evidence highlights the critical role of communication throughout a public health emergency. Like any intervention, communication can be done well or poorly, but the consequences of poor communication during a pandemic may mean the difference between life and death. The approaches to effective communication identified in this review can be used by policymakers and decision-makers, working closely with communication teams, to plan, implement and adjust public communications over the course of a public health emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic. Implications for research Despite massive growth in research during the COVID-19 period, gaps in the evidence persist and require high-quality, meaningful research. This includes investigating the experiences of people at heightened COVID-19 risk, and identifying barriers to implementing public communication and protective health measures particular to lower- and middle-income countries, and how to overcome these.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Ryan
- Centre for Health Communication and Participation, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Charlotte Silke
- UNESCO Child & Family Research Centre, School of Political Science & Sociology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Anne Parkhill
- Centre for Health Communication and Participation, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Ariane Virgona
- Centre for Health Communication and Participation, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Bronwen Merner
- Centre for Health Communication and Participation, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Shauna Hurley
- Cochrane Australia, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Louisa Walsh
- Centre for Health Communication and Participation, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
- Department of Nursing and Allied Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Lina Schonfeld
- Centre for Health Communication and Participation, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Adrian Gk Edwards
- Wales COVID-19 Evidence Centre, Cardiff University, 8th floor Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN , UK
- PRIME Centre Wales, Division of Population Medicine, School of Medicine, 8th floor Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Jessica Kaufman
- Centre for Health Communication and Participation, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
- Vaccine Uptake Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute , The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia
| | - Alison Cooper
- Wales COVID-19 Evidence Centre, Cardiff University, 8th floor Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN , UK
- PRIME Centre Wales, Division of Population Medicine, School of Medicine, 8th floor Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | | | - Karla Solo
- GRADE McMaster & Cochrane Canada, Health Research Methods, Evidence & Impact, McMaster University , Hamilton, Ontario , Canada
| | | | - Gian Luca Di Tanna
- Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | - Sophie Hill
- Centre for Health Communication and Participation, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
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Pulgaron ER, D’Agostino EM, Johnson SB, Ko LK, Drain PK, Duran MC, Keener Mast D, Kay S, Layer MA, Kenworthy T, Dozier A. Reflections From School Communities in Underserved Populations on Childhood COVID-19 Vaccination. Pediatrics 2023; 152:e2022060352M. [PMID: 37394501 PMCID: PMC10312275 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-060352m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Outbreaks in vaccine-preventable diseases among children have increased, primarily among under- or unvaccinated subgroups. The influence and interaction of a child's school community on parental health care decisions, such as vaccination, has not been explored. Our study examined childhood coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy within the context of school communities. METHODS This study combines data from 4 independent research studies funded by the National Institutes of Health Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Underserved Populations Return to School Initiative. We examined focus group data to better understand the apprehension surrounding parental and child COVID-19 vaccination among underserved school populations. RESULTS Across all study sites, 7 main themes emerged with regard to COVID-19-related vaccination concerns for children: (1) potential side effects, (2) vaccine development, (3) misinformation (subthemes: content of vaccine and negative intent of the vaccine), (4) vaccine effectiveness, (5) timing of vaccine administration/availability for children, (6) fear of needles, and (7) mistrust. CONCLUSIONS School settings offered unique access to youth and family perspectives in underserved communities. Our studies highlighted several factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in school communities, which align with existing literature on vaccine hesitancy. These concerns centered primarily on potential harm of vaccines, as well as misinformation, mistrust, and timing of vaccines. Related recommendations for increasing vaccination rates are provided. Developing specific strategies that address parent and child concerns will be critical to reducing health inequities related to COVID-19 vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth R. Pulgaron
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Emily M. D’Agostino
- Departments of Orthopedic Surgery
- Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Sara B. Johnson
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Linda K. Ko
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health
| | - Paul K. Drain
- Global Health, Medicine, and Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | | | | | | | | | - Tara Kenworthy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Ann Dozier
- Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
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Mamun TM, Akter M, Akter R, Alam MT, Hasan KM, Hossain R. Role of school preparedness on children's in-person schooling decision during Covid-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY AND GLOBAL HEALTH 2023; 20:101238. [PMID: 36714537 PMCID: PMC9869638 DOI: 10.1016/j.cegh.2023.101238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Due to Covid-19 impacted disruption, Bangladesh government had temporarily shut all the educational institutes down in March 2020 though it was prolonged until September 2021. After continuous concern of UNICEF, when government considered about reopening of schools for in-person classes amid the pandemic, many parents were found to be worried regarding the status of school preparedness. Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate compliance status of school preparedness as per UNICEF's guidelines and its effect on children's schooling decision during the pandemic. Methods The study considers 30 primary schools and 310 parents by employing a simple random sampling technique in Dhaka city. Along with the descriptive analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and a logistic regression model have been executed to come up the goal of the study. Results The findings explore that classroom density, level of preparedness on health and hygiene, social distancing and awareness, reporting and referral mechanism, communication with school authority, and school arrival on foot have a positive association with the likelihood of parents' decision for sending their children back to school. On the other hand, monthly expenditure and distance from school to home have a negative relationship with the likelihood on sending children to in-person schooling. Conclusion The level of school preparedness greatly affects the parent's decision for children's physical schooling during pandemic. So, to keep mental stability of the children amidst any pandemic, the authorities should take care on school preparedness to ensure physical schooling of the children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mukta Akter
- Economics Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | - Rozina Akter
- Research Department, Bangladesh Bank, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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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. GLOBAL HEALTH, SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 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] [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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Galiatsatos P, Jones V, Bryan J, Brown M, Banks O, Martin B, Collins M, Ling C, Levin MB, Johnson A, Wilson A, Anderson A. The Health Education and Training (HEAT) Corps: A Medical-Community Collaboration Response during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1829. [PMID: 36767198 PMCID: PMC9914071 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
With the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020, many elements of society were faced with attempting to assimilate public health recommendations for infectious control. Vital social organizations had to balance delivering their social services while attempting to stay up to date with COVID-19 information and comply with evolving regulations. In the realm of schools and school systems, guidance on how to best adapt to COVID-19 was often limited. School officials and staff had to assist with multiple public health crises as a consequence of the pandemic, from the pandemic's transmission prevention strategies (e.g., face masks and physical distancing) to the recognition that students would have personal tragedies related to COVID-19. In this review, we highlight the process and feasibility of implementing an international COVID-19 school-based initiative over two years of the pandemic, the Health Education and Training (HEAT) Corps program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagis Galiatsatos
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Medicine for the Greater Good, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Vanya Jones
- Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jacqueline Bryan
- Office for Economic Development and Community Partnerships, Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Meghan Brown
- Office for Economic Development and Community Partnerships, Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Olivia Banks
- Office for Economic Development and Community Partnerships, Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Brittany Martin
- Office for Economic Development and Community Partnerships, Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Megan Collins
- Wilmer Eye Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Catherine Ling
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Mindi B. Levin
- Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- SOURCE, The Community Engagement and Service-Learning Center, Johns Hopkins University Schools of Public Health, Nursing, and Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Audrey Johnson
- Office for Economic Development and Community Partnerships, Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Alicia Wilson
- Office for Economic Development and Community Partnerships, Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Birhanu Z, Tesfaye G, Tareke KG. COVID-19 self-protective practices and associated factors among secondary school students in Jimma town, Jimma, Oromia, Southwest Ethiopia. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1082563. [PMID: 36620275 PMCID: PMC9816375 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1082563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Since there is limited evidence regarding COVID-19 self-protective practices among school students, this study assessed COVID-19 self-protective practices and associated factors among secondary school students. Methods A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma town, Oromia regional state, Southwest Ethiopia from 25 May 2021 to 10 June 2021. The total sample size was 634, and students were randomly selected from public and private secondary schools. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were entered into Epidata 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS 21.0 software. Descriptive statistics, such as proportion and mean, were computed to describe the findings. The composite index was computed for each dimension. A linear regression analysis was used to identify the predictors of self-protective practice. A local polynomial smoothing graph was done using Stata 12 software to visualize the relationship between a significant variable and an outcome variable. Results A total of 576 respondents participated in this study, which made a response rate of 90.85%. The mean score for overall knowledge was 31.40 (SD ±8.65). Knowledge about COVID-19 symptoms and preventive practices had a mean score of 23.93 and 45.96, respectively. The mean scores for perceived vulnerability, severity, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, and school support were 26.37, 33.21, 43.13, 16.15, 33.38, and 25.45, respectively. The mean score for self-protective practice was 28.38 (SD ±11.04). As perceived benefit (AOR = 0.199, p = 0.000, 95% CI: 0.094-0.304), perceived school support (AOR = 0.125, p = 0.009, 95% CI: 0.032-0.218), and self-efficacy (AOR = 0.186, p = 0.000, 95% CI: 0.102-0.270) increased, COVID-19 self-protective practices also increased and vice versa. However, age (AOR = -0.873, p = 0.006, 95% CI = -1.495, -0.251), perceived vulnerability (AOR = -0.107, p = 0.021; 95% CI = -0.199, -0.016), and maternal educational status (no formal education) (AOR = -5.395, p = 0.000, 95% CI = -7.712 to 3.077) had negatively associated with self-protective practices. Conclusion COVID-19 self-protective practice is unsatisfactory. Perceived benefit, perceived school support, and self-efficacy are positively associated with it. However, students' age, perceived vulnerability, and maternal educational status (no formal education) were negatively associated with COVID-19 self-protective measures among secondary school students. The findings underscore that there is a need to conduct risk communications among students. Similarly, awareness creation intervention should target mothers with no formal education.
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Beccia F, Di Pilla A, Causio FA, Federico B, Specchia ML, Favaretti C, Boccia S, Damiani G. Narrative Review of the COVID-19 Pandemic's First Two Years in Italy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15443. [PMID: 36497543 PMCID: PMC9736498 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Italy was the first country in the western world to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, arguably among the worst-affected ones, counting 12 million cases and 150 thousand deaths two years since the first case. Facing new challenges, Italy has enacted different strategies and policies to limit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and treat those affected by COVID-19. This narrative review provided an overview of factors, measures, and actions that shaped Italy's first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic by investigating epidemiological data and using a mixed-method approach. This narrative review aimed to summarize the most relevant aspects and measures and analyze available data to provide policymakers and healthcare providers with the instruments to learn from this pandemic and improve their preparedness for future pandemic events. The first two years of the pandemic differ in that, during the first year, significant necessary changes to the way health systems were organized were implemented, increasing healthcare spending and adopting social and physical distancing measures that were stricter than the ones adopted in the second year. However, as the pandemic progressed, increased knowledge of the virus and related variants, as well as the introduction of highly effective vaccines, which were not equally available to the whole population, resulted in a stratification of COVID-19 infections and deaths based on factors such as age, vaccination status, and individual susceptibility to the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Beccia
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Di Pilla
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Andrea Causio
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Federico
- Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale, 03043 Cassino, Italy
| | - Maria Lucia Specchia
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Favaretti
- Centre on Leadership in Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Boccia
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Damiani
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
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9
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Ganem F, Bordas A, Folch C, Alonso L, Montoro-Fernandez M, Colom-Cadena A, Mas A, Mendioroz J, Asso L, Anton A, Pumarola T, González MV, Blanco I, Soler-Palacín P, Soriano-Arandes A, Casabona J. The COVID-19 Sentinel Schools Network of Catalonia (CSSNC) project: Associated factors to prevalence and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in educational settings during the 2020-2021 academic year. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277764. [PMID: 36395191 PMCID: PMC9671345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Sentinel Schools project was designed to monitor and evaluate the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Catalonia, gathering evidence for health and education policies to inform the development of health protocols and public health interventions to control of SARS-CoV-2 infection in schools. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections and to identify their determinants among students and staff during February to June in the academic year 2020-2021. We performed two complementary studies, a cross-sectional and a longitudinal component, using a questionnaire to collect nominal data and testing for SARS-CoV-2 detection. We describe the results and perform a univariate and multivariate analysis. The initial crude seroprevalence was 14.8% (95% CI: 13.1-16.5) and 22% (95% CI: 18.3-25.8) for students and staff respectively, and the active infection prevalence was 0.7% (95% CI: 0.3-1) and 1.1% (95% CI: 0.1-2). The overall incidence for persons at risk was 2.73 per 100 person-month and 2.89 and 2.34 per 100 person-month for students and staff, respectively. Socioeconomic, self-reported knowledge, risk perceptions and contact pattern variables were positively associated with the outcome while sanitary measure compliance was negatively associated, the same significance trend was observed in multivariate analysis. In the longitudinal component, epidemiological close contact with SARS-CoV-2 infection was a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection while the highest socioeconomic status level was protective as was compliance with sanitary measures. The small number of active cases detected in these schools suggests a low transmission among children in school and the efficacy of public health measures implemented, at least in the epidemiological scenario of the study period. The major contribution of this study was to provide results and evidence that help analyze the transmission dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 and evaluate the associations between sanitary protocols implemented, and measures to avoid SARS-CoV-2 spread in schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Ganem
- Centre of Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), Health Department, Government of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
- Departament de Pediatria, d’Obstetrícia i Ginecologia i de Medicina Preventiva i de Salut Publica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Anna Bordas
- Centre of Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), Health Department, Government of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Cinta Folch
- Centre of Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), Health Department, Government of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Lucia Alonso
- Centre of Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), Health Department, Government of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Marcos Montoro-Fernandez
- Centre of Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), Health Department, Government of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
| | - Andreu Colom-Cadena
- Centre of Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), Health Department, Government of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Ariadna Mas
- Direcció Assistencial d’Atenció Primària i Comunitària, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jacobo Mendioroz
- Subdirecció general de Vigilància i Resposta a Emergències de l’Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya, Departament de Salut, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Laia Asso
- Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya (ASPCAT), Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Andres Anton
- Microbiology Department, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Tomàs Pumarola
- Microbiology Department, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Maria Victoria González
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut Català de la Salut, Institut D’Investigació en Ciències de La Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ignacio Blanco
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut Català de la Salut, Institut D’Investigació en Ciències de La Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Pere Soler-Palacín
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Antoni Soriano-Arandes
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jordi Casabona
- Centre of Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), Health Department, Government of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
- Departament de Pediatria, d’Obstetrícia i Ginecologia i de Medicina Preventiva i de Salut Publica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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10
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Hargreaves JR, Langan SM, Oswald WE, Halliday KE, Sturgess J, Phelan J, Nguipdop-Djomo P, Ford B, Allen E, Sundaram N, Ireland G, Poh J, Ijaz S, Diamond I, Rourke E, Dawe F, Judd A, Warren-Gash C, Clark TG, Glynn JR, Edmunds WJ, Bonell C, Mangtani P, Ladhani SN. Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection among staff and students in a cohort of English primary and secondary schools during 2020-2021. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. EUROPE 2022; 21:100471. [PMID: 36035630 PMCID: PMC9398464 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background There remains uncertainty about the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 among school students and staff and the extent to which non-pharmaceutical-interventions reduce the risk of school settings. Methods We conducted an open cohort study in a sample of 59 primary and 97 secondary schools in 15 English local authority areas that were implementing government guidance to schools open during the pandemic. We estimated SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence among those attending school, antibody prevalence, and antibody negative to positive conversion rates in staff and students over the school year (November 2020-July 2021). Findings 22,585 staff and students participated. SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence among those attending school was highest during the first two rounds of testing in the autumn term, ranging from 0.7% (95% CI 0.2, 1.2) among primary staff in November 2020 to 1.6% (95% CI 0.9, 2.3) among secondary staff in December 2020. Antibody conversion rates were highest in the autumn term. Infection patterns were similar between staff and students, and between primary and secondary schools. The prevalence of nucleoprotein antibodies increased over the year and was lower among students than staff. SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence in the North-West region was lower among secondary students attending school on normal school days than the regional estimate for secondary school-age children. Interpretation SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence in staff and students attending school varied with local community infection rates. Non-pharmaceutical interventions intended to prevent infected individuals attending school may have partially reduced the prevalence of infection among those on the school site. Funding UK Department of Health and Social Care.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R. Hargreaves
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sinéad M. Langan
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - William E. Oswald
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Katherine E. Halliday
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Joanna Sturgess
- Department of Medical Statistics, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jody Phelan
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Patrick Nguipdop-Djomo
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Benjamin Ford
- Office for National Statistics, Government Buildings, Newport, UK
| | - Elizabeth Allen
- Department of Medical Statistics, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Neisha Sundaram
- Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Georgina Ireland
- National Infection Service, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - John Poh
- National Infection Service, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Samreen Ijaz
- National Infection Service, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Ian Diamond
- Office for National Statistics, Government Buildings, Newport, UK
| | - Emma Rourke
- Office for National Statistics, Government Buildings, Newport, UK
| | - Fiona Dawe
- Office for National Statistics, Government Buildings, Newport, UK
| | - Alison Judd
- Office for National Statistics, Government Buildings, Newport, UK
| | - Charlotte Warren-Gash
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Taane G. Clark
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Judith R. Glynn
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - W. John Edmunds
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Chris Bonell
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Punam Mangtani
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Shamez N. Ladhani
- National Infection Service, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George's University of London, London, UK
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11
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Endo (遠藤彰) A, Uchida (内田満夫) M, Liu (刘扬) Y, Atkins KE, Kucharski AJ, Funk S. Simulating respiratory disease transmission within and between classrooms to assess pandemic management strategies at schools. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2203019119. [PMID: 36074818 PMCID: PMC9478679 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2203019119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The global spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emphasized the need for evidence-based strategies for the safe operation of schools during pandemics that balance infection risk with the society's responsibility of allowing children to attend school. Due to limited empirical data, existing analyses assessing school-based interventions in pandemic situations often impose strong assumptions, for example, on the relationship between class size and transmission risk, which could bias the estimated effect of interventions, such as split classes and staggered attendance. To fill this gap in school outbreak studies, we parameterized an individual-based model that accounts for heterogeneous contact rates within and between classes and grades to a multischool outbreak data of influenza. We then simulated school outbreaks of respiratory infectious diseases of ongoing threat (i.e., COVID-19) and potential threat (i.e., pandemic influenza) under a variety of interventions (changing class structures, symptom screening, regular testing, cohorting, and responsive class closures). Our results suggest that interventions changing class structures (e.g., reduced class sizes) may not be effective in reducing the risk of major school outbreaks upon introduction of a case and that other precautionary measures (e.g., screening and isolation) need to be employed. Class-level closures in response to detection of a case were also suggested to be effective in reducing the size of an outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Endo (遠藤彰)
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
- The Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
- The Alan Turing Institute, London NW1 2DB, United Kingdom
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
| | - CMMID COVID-19 Working Group
- The Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | | | - Yang Liu (刘扬)
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
- The Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine E. Atkins
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
- The Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
- Centre for Global Health, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UX, United Kingdom
| | - Adam J. Kucharski
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
- The Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastian Funk
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
- The Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
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12
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Steimle LN, Sun Y, Johnson L, Besedeš T, Mokhtarian P, Nazzal D. Students' preferences for returning to colleges and universities during the COVID-19 pandemic: A discrete choice experiment. SOCIO-ECONOMIC PLANNING SCIENCES 2022; 82:101266. [PMID: 35233122 PMCID: PMC8875867 DOI: 10.1016/j.seps.2022.101266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE When an emerging infectious disease outbreak occurs, such as COVID-19, institutions of higher education (IHEs) must weigh decisions about how to operate their campuses. These decisions entail whether campuses should remain open, how courses should be delivered (in-person, online, or a mixture of the two), and what safety plans should be enacted for those on campus. These issues have weighed heavily on campus administrators during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is still limited knowledge about how such decisions affect students' enrollment decisions and campus safety in practice when considering compliance. OBJECTIVES To assess 1) students' willingness to comply with health protocols and contrast their perception of their classmates' compliance, 2) whether students prefer in-person or online learning during a pandemic, and 3) the importance weights of different aspects of campus operations (i.e., modes of course delivery and safety plans) for students when they decide to enroll or defer. DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS An internet-based survey of college students took place from June 25, 2020 to July 10, 2020. Participants included 398 industrial engineering students at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a medium-size public university in Atlanta, Georgia. The survey included a discrete choice experiment with questions that asked students to choose whether to enroll or defer when presented with hypothetical scenarios related to Fall 2020 modes of course delivery and aspects of campus safety. The survey also asked students about expected compliance with health protocols, whether they preferred in-person or online courses, and sociodemographic information. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES We examine students' willingness to comply with potential health protocols. We estimated logistic regression models to infer significant factors that lead to a student's choice between in-person and online learning. Additionally, we estimated discrete choice models to infer the importance of different modes of course delivery and safety measures to students when deciding to enroll or defer. RESULTS The survey response rate was 20.8%. A latent class model showed three classes of students: those who were "low-concern" (comprising a 29% expected share of the sample), those who were "moderate-concern" (54%) and those who were "high-concern" (17%). We found that scenarios that offered an on-campus experience with large classes delivered online and small classes delivered in-person, strict safety protocols in terms of mask-wearing, testing, and residence halls, and lenient safety protocols in terms of social gatherings were broadly the scenarios with the highest expected enrollment probabilities. The decision to enroll or defer for all students was largely determined by the mode of delivery for courses and the safety measures on campus around COVID-19 testing and mask-wearing. A logistic regression model showed that a higher perceived risk of infection of COVID-19, a more suitable home environment, being older, and being less risk-seeking were significant factors for a person to choose online learning. Students stated for themselves and their classmates that they would comply with some but not all health protocols against COVID-19, especially those limiting social gatherings. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The majority of students indicated a preference to enroll during the COVID-19 pandemic so long as sufficient safety measures were put in place and all classes were not entirely in-person. As IHEs consider different options for campus operations during pandemics, they should consider the heterogeneous preferences among their students. Offering flexibility in course modes may be a way to appeal to many students who vary in terms of their concern about the pandemic. At the same time, since students overall preferred some safety measures placed around mask-wearing and COVID-19 testing on campus, IHEs may want to recommend or require wearing masks and doing some surveillance tests for all students, faculty, and staff. Students were expecting themselves and their fellow classmates to comply with some but not all health protocols, which may help IHEs identify protocols that need more education and awareness, like limits on social gatherings and the practice of social distancing at social gatherings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren N Steimle
- H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Yuming Sun
- H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Lauren Johnson
- H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Tibor Besedeš
- School of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Patricia Mokhtarian
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Dima Nazzal
- H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
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13
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In-Person Schooling Amidst Children’s COVID-19 Vaccination: Exploring Parental Perceptions Just after Omicron Variant Announcement. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10050768. [PMID: 35632524 PMCID: PMC9147905 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10050768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spread fast globally and became the predominant variant in many countries. Resumption of public regular life activities, including in-person schooling, presented parents with new sources of worry. Thus, it is important to study parental worry about the Omicron variant, willingness to vaccinate their children, and knowledge about school-based COVID-19 precautionary measures. Methods: A national, cross-sectional, pilot-validated online questionnaire targeting parents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was distributed between 31 December 2021, and 7 January 2022. The survey included sociodemographic, COVID-19 infection data, parental and children vaccination status, attitudes towards booster vaccine, parents’ Omicron-related perceptions and worries, and attitude towards in-person schooling. Results: A total of 1340 participants completed the survey, most (65.3%) of whom were mothers. Of the parents, 96.3% either received two or three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Only 32.1% of the parents were willing to vaccinate their young children (5–11 years of age). In relation to their children 12–18 years of age, 48% had already had them vaccinated, 31% were planning to vaccinate them, and 42.8% were willing to administer a booster dose. Only 16% were more worried about the Omicron variant compared to the Delta variant. Residents of western KSA were more worried about Omicron compared to Delta. Parents worried about the Omicron variant and male participants were significantly less aware of school-based COVID-19 precautionary measures. Parents with post-graduate degrees and those having more children were significantly more inclined to send their children to school even if COVID-19 outbreaks could occur in schools, while parents who were more worried about the Omicron variant and were more committed to infection prevention measures were significantly less inclined to do so. Conclusions: Overall, parents had lower worry levels about the Omicron variant compared to the Delta variant. They had a higher willingness to vaccinate their older children compared to the younger ones. In addition, our cohort of parents showed high willingness to send their children to schools and trusted the school-based preventative measures. These findings can inform policy makers when considering school related decisions during the current or future public health crises.
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14
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Online Teaching during COVID-19 Pandemic: Teachers’ Experiences from a Chinese University. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14010568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
This paper explores the experiences of Chinese university teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular emphasis on the teaching and learning methods adopted and the benefits and challenges encountered in the process. It is based on semi-structured interviews with 13 Chinese university teachers selected through purposive sampling. The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic forced the university and teachers to adopt online teaching and learning without necessary preparations. Most of the teachers had no adequate ICT and pedagogical training to engage in online teaching and learning. The teachers used the little knowledge they had to learn creating videos and managing online classes gradually. In addition to the flexibility benefits, online learning is expected to transform the teaching and learning process in China to become more interactive and student-centered, which would be a significant achievement for teachers who have been practicing traditional teaching methods. This research provides a better understanding of the benefits and challenges of online learning, which could be vital for future adjustments or educational reforms.
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15
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Lourenço A, Martins F, Pereira B, Mendes R. Children Are Back to School, but Is Play Still in Lockdown? Play Experiences, Social Interactions, and Children's Quality of Life in Primary Education in the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312454. [PMID: 34886177 PMCID: PMC8656927 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The right to play is crucial for the overall development of children. Several studies highlight the need to have time and space to play, especially at school where children spend much of their time. Unfortunately, in formal education the obsession with academic achievements sidelines and ignores the importance of play. The neglection of play had already reached a critical stage before the pandemic, so data are needed to realize how the right to play in school is presently affected. This paper aims to understand children’s play experience in primary education during the pandemic. It investigates what activities children participated in and what materials were used, and provides insight into the social interactions between peers. Furthermore, children’s quality of life is explored. A group of 370 Portuguese children answered a questionnaire on play and social interactions, alongside with Peds 4.0TM on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The results showed that recess still emerges as a significant element of children’s daily lives, but COVID-19 has brought limitations on play experiences and peer-interaction. It might also have impacted HRQOL, especially in emotional functioning. Since play, health and well-being are closely connected, play opportunities at school are crucial in helping children to thrive in the pandemic, and should be invested in.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lourenço
- Research Centre on Child Studies, Institute of Education (CIEC-IE), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
- Play Activity Department, Child Support Institute (IAC), 1050-185 Lisbon, Portugal
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +351-963-274-861
| | - Fernando Martins
- UNICID-Applied Sport Sciences Research Unit (ASSERT), Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, 3030-329 Coimbra, Portugal; (F.M.); (R.M.)
- Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, IIA, ROBOCORP, 3030-329 Coimbra, Portugal
- Instituto de Telecomunicações, Delegação da Covilhã, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Beatriz Pereira
- Research Centre on Child Studies, Institute of Education (CIEC-IE), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
| | - Rui Mendes
- UNICID-Applied Sport Sciences Research Unit (ASSERT), Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, 3030-329 Coimbra, Portugal; (F.M.); (R.M.)
- Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, IIA, ROBOCORP, 3030-329 Coimbra, Portugal
- CIDAF, FCDEF, University of Coimbra, 3040-248 Coimbra, Portugal
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16
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Anand T, Bhargava B, Panda S. Reopening of schools during COVID-19 pandemic: A persistent dilemma. Indian J Med Res 2021; 153:572-576. [PMID: 34596598 PMCID: PMC8555613 DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_2805_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tanu Anand
- Clinical Studies, Trials & Projection Unit, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi 110 029, India
| | - Balram Bhargava
- Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi 110 029, India
| | - Samiran Panda
- Division of Epidemiology & Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi 110 029; ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune 411 026, Maharashtra, India
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17
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Singh A, Kainth D, Gaur S, Yadav DK, Anand S. Characteristics of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis on COVID-19 in the Pediatric Population: A Bibliometric Review With Emphasis on Top 5 Cited Articles. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2021; 60:392-398. [PMID: 34293948 DOI: 10.1177/00099228211034340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sachit Anand
- Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai, India
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18
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Alvarez-Peregrina C, Martinez-Perez C, Villa-Collar C, Andreu-Vázquez C, Ruiz-Pomeda A, Sánchez-Tena MÁ. Impact of COVID-19 Home Confinement in Children's Refractive Errors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18105347. [PMID: 34067888 PMCID: PMC8156137 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background: Myopia is a public health problem, with estimations that 50% of the world population will be myopic by 2050. Some environmental factors, such as time spent outdoors, doing near work, and using digital devices, influence the development of myopia in children. Home confinement in Spain has increased these risk factors, so this study aims to investigate the impact of home confinement during the COVID-19 outbreak in the vision of school-aged children; Methods: A cross-sectional study in children between 5 and 7 years old that completed a visual screening and a questionnaire about their lifestyles at opticians in Spain in September and October of 2019 and 2020. Statistical analysis to compare lifestyles pre and post confinement, and vision in 2020 versus a similar cohort examined at the same opticians in 2019, was conducted; Results: Spanish children spent less time outdoors and more time doing near work in 2020 than in 2019 (p ≤ 0.001). There was a significant decrease of the spherical equivalent (mean ± standard deviation; 0.66 ± 2.03 D in 2019 vs. 0.48 ± 1.81 D in 2020; p ≤ 0.001); Conclusions: Lifestyles of Spanish children changed during the home confinement at the beginning of 2020. Together with changes in their lifestyles, spherical equivalents have decreased, which implies higher figures of myopia for children aged between 5 and 7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Alvarez-Peregrina
- Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain; (C.V.-C.); (C.A.-V.); (M.Á.S.-T.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Clara Martinez-Perez
- Instituto Superior de Educação e Ciências, ISEC LISBOA, 1750-179 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Cesar Villa-Collar
- Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain; (C.V.-C.); (C.A.-V.); (M.Á.S.-T.)
| | - Cristina Andreu-Vázquez
- Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain; (C.V.-C.); (C.A.-V.); (M.Á.S.-T.)
| | - Alicia Ruiz-Pomeda
- Ophthalmology Department, Hospital Universitario de Móstoles, 28935 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Miguel Ángel Sánchez-Tena
- Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain; (C.V.-C.); (C.A.-V.); (M.Á.S.-T.)
- Instituto Superior de Educação e Ciências, ISEC LISBOA, 1750-179 Lisboa, Portugal;
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19
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Shendell DG, Aggarwal J, Campbell MLF, Gonzalez LN, Kaplun E, Koshy K, Mackie TI. Fall 2020 COVID-19 Needs Assessment among New Jersey Secondary School Educational Professionals. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:4083. [PMID: 33924392 PMCID: PMC8070613 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18084083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Secondary or high school (HS) educational professionals expressed concerns about dealing with environmental and occupational health and safety protocols due to COVID-19. Concerns related to fall 2020 school re-opening and getting back into in-person teaching-whether full-time, part-time or some other approved hybrid model-plus ongoing uncertainty with how the state and federal government will be handling matters about mandates for virtual learning, rapid testing, vaccine distribution, etc. These concerns were related to both their experience as educational professionals and genuine interest in personal and student well-being. This study was a cross-sectional online survey in early fall from mid-September-early October 2020. Of a possible maximum participation of 740 New Jersey (NJ) supervisory-level HS teachers and administrators (e.g., department chairs, district and school principals), 100 confirmed unique respondents (13.5%) consented and completed the survey. Of 100 experienced (mean 18 years teaching) participants, 70% responded to the gender identity question (overall, 61% female, 39% male; by NJ region, gender ratios were similar). There were statistically significant differences (using Fischer's exact test) between NJ regions regarding provision of online counseling and support services for teachers (p < 0.001); for resources and equipment for teachers to mediate online learning (p = 0.02); for assistive video technology tools (p = 0.03) and accessibility to structured online learning and professional development (p = 0.002); concerning learning aids to engage students in online instruction, online counseling, and support services for students and their families (p = 0.006); appropriate protocol is clean and disinfect areas used by a person with COVID-19 (p = 0.002); and, immediately separate staff and students who screen positive for COVID-19 (p = 0.03). There were few statistical differences by gender. This study reported what participants wanted regarding the development of future policies then implemented as reopening practices. Data can inform recommendations in NJ and elsewhere at federal, state, and local levels. Data provide new insights and valuable information to inform the consideration of acceptability of various policy measures among HS education professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek G. Shendell
- Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), NJ Safe Schools Program, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (J.A.); (M.L.F.C.); (L.N.G.); (E.K.)
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Justice, Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
| | - Juhi Aggarwal
- Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), NJ Safe Schools Program, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (J.A.); (M.L.F.C.); (L.N.G.); (E.K.)
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Maryanne L. F. Campbell
- Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), NJ Safe Schools Program, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (J.A.); (M.L.F.C.); (L.N.G.); (E.K.)
| | - Lauren N. Gonzalez
- Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), NJ Safe Schools Program, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (J.A.); (M.L.F.C.); (L.N.G.); (E.K.)
| | - Elizabeth Kaplun
- Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), NJ Safe Schools Program, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (J.A.); (M.L.F.C.); (L.N.G.); (E.K.)
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Koshy Koshy
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health & Justice, Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
- Center for Public Health Workforce Development, Rutgers SPH, Somerset, NJ 08873, USA
| | - Thomas I. Mackie
- Department of Health Behavior, Society & Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
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20
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Differences in mental health and health-related quality of life between the Israeli and Italian population during a COVID-19 quarantine. Qual Life Res 2021; 30:1675-1684. [PMID: 33447961 PMCID: PMC7808402 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-020-02746-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Severe restrictions related to COVID-19 were implemented almost simultaneously in Italy and Israel in early March 2020, although the epidemic situation in both countries was significantly different. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine how and to what extent the severe restrictions affected the mental health and health-related quality of life of non-infected people, in a comparison between Israel and Italy. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted during the first week of May 2020 among 510 Israeli and 505 Italian participants. Anxiety and depression levels were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), and the short form-8 health survey (SF-8) questionnaire measured health-related quality of life. Linear hierarchic regression forced steps analysis was performed to measure the unique contribution of each variable to predicting health-related quality of life. RESULTS After adjusting for socioeconomic variables, the results showed a significantly higher anxiety level and lower health-related quality of life in the Italian participants. The anxiety and depression variables predicted lower health-related quality of life. Physical activity was found to be a protective factor. CONCLUSION The results suggest that early monitoring of anxiety and depression in situations such as quarantine may detect the risk for decline in health-related quality of life. Establishment of professional interventions is needed in order to prevent the negative health consequences of the pandemic-related policy.
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