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Orunta PC, Ndu CO, Ijioma CE, Ogedegbe OJ, Ogundipe FA, Eze-Njoku CP. Knowledge and Practice of Precautions and Prevention of COVID-19 Among Adolescents in Umuahia, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus 2024; 16:e64984. [PMID: 39161476 PMCID: PMC11332091 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.64984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed significant challenges worldwide, particularly in developing countries with limited healthcare resources. Among the various demographics, adolescents represent a crucial group in understanding and curbing the spread of the virus. Aim This research aims to assess the level of knowledge and practice of COVID-19 prevention measures among adolescents in a developing country. Methodology This study's descriptive cross-sectional study design was appropriate for capturing a snapshot of adolescents' understanding of COVID-19 in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria, a developing country. The study's participants were secondary school students in Umuahia's urban and rural secondary schools, aged 10-19. Fisher's formula was used to calculate the sample size. A multistage systematic sampling method was used to select 424 participants. Data were gathered using a self-administered questionnaire. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 25 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY) was used to handle and evaluate the data that had been obtained. Results All the respondents were aware of COVID-19, primarily informed through social media and television (TV). It is concerning that less than half correctly identify the disease as caused by a virus (46.9%), with some falsely attributing it to bacteria (31.1%) or fungi (15.6%). While the majority of respondents knew about the existence of COVID-19 vaccines, only 63.4% were aware that there was no definitive cure for the disease. The most worrying finding was the limited awareness and practice of recommended precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Handwashing with soap and water, social distancing, and using hand sanitizers were the most frequently recognized precautions. However, even these were poorly practiced, with less than 30% of the respondents following them regularly. It was also noted that misconceptions about precautions exist, including unusual practices such as regularly drinking hot water or eating bitter kola/pepperfruit. Also, the most prominent reason for refusal among the respondents for COVID-19 vaccines was parental refusal, accounting for 57.5% of negative responses. Conclusion The study's findings underscore the urgent need for tailored, accessible, and effective health education strategies to improve adolescents' understanding and adoption of COVID-19 preventive measures in the region.
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Sasse K, Mahabir R, Gkountouna O, Crooks A, Croitoru A. Understanding the determinants of vaccine hesitancy in the United States: A comparison of social surveys and social media. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301488. [PMID: 38843170 PMCID: PMC11156396 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted governments worldwide to implement a range of containment measures, including mass gathering restrictions, social distancing, and school closures. Despite these efforts, vaccines continue to be the safest and most effective means of combating such viruses. Yet, vaccine hesitancy persists, posing a significant public health concern, particularly with the emergence of new COVID-19 variants. To effectively address this issue, timely data is crucial for understanding the various factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy. While previous research has largely relied on traditional surveys for this information, recent sources of data, such as social media, have gained attention. However, the potential of social media data as a reliable proxy for information on population hesitancy, especially when compared with survey data, remains underexplored. This paper aims to bridge this gap. Our approach uses social, demographic, and economic data to predict vaccine hesitancy levels in the ten most populous US metropolitan areas. We employ machine learning algorithms to compare a set of baseline models that contain only these variables with models that incorporate survey data and social media data separately. Our results show that XGBoost algorithm consistently outperforms Random Forest and Linear Regression, with marginal differences between Random Forest and XGBoost. This was especially the case with models that incorporate survey or social media data, thus highlighting the promise of the latter data as a complementary information source. Results also reveal variations in influential variables across the five hesitancy classes, such as age, ethnicity, occupation, and political inclination. Further, the application of models to different MSAs yields mixed results, emphasizing the uniqueness of communities and the need for complementary data approaches. In summary, this study underscores social media data's potential for understanding vaccine hesitancy, emphasizes the importance of tailoring interventions to specific communities, and suggests the value of combining different data sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuleen Sasse
- Department of Computer Science, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ron Mahabir
- Geographic Data Science Lab, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Olga Gkountouna
- Geographic Data Science Lab, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Crooks
- Department of Geography, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Arie Croitoru
- Department of Computational and Data Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
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Iwatani S, Watamura E. Antecedents of social media addiction in high and low relational mobility societies: Motivation to expand social network and fear of reputational damage. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300681. [PMID: 38635809 PMCID: PMC11025950 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300681] [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: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Contrary to previous studies on the antecedent factors of social media addiction, we focused on the social environmental factor of relational mobility (i.e., the ease of constructing new interpersonal relationships) and investigated its relationship with social media addiction. People in low relational mobility societies have fewer opportunities to select new relationship partners and consequently feel a stronger need to maintain their reputation. We hypothesized that (1) people in low relational mobility societies are more strongly addicted to social media because they estimate that greater reputational damage will be caused by ignoring messages and (2) people in low relational mobility societies estimate greater reputational damage than actual damage. We conducted two online experiments with 715 and 1,826 participants. Our results demonstrated that (1) there is no relationship between relational mobility and social media addiction and (2) people in both high and low relational mobility societies overestimate reputational damage. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the social media addiction mechanism differs between societies: (3) people in low relational mobility societies estimate greater reputational damage, whereas (4) people in high relational mobility societies are more motivated to expand their social networks; both mechanisms strengthen their social media addiction. Based on these results, we propose interventions for moderating social media addiction in both high and low relational mobility societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuma Iwatani
- Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Balpande LS, Pusdekar YV, Bhagat SS, Patil PD, Saoji AV. Influence of social media on psychological health of youth during COVID-19 pandemic. J Family Med Prim Care 2024; 13:1333-1339. [PMID: 38827727 PMCID: PMC11142010 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1355_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Context Medical undergraduates, being away from their institutes due to the lockdown, are at a greater risk of being affected by the negative news, which may easily instill fear and panic among them. Therefore, the present study was planned with the objective to study the effects of media exposure on the psychological health of undergraduate medical students at a tertiary health institute. Aim To assess the psychological effects of social media/media use and coping mechanisms adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Settings and Design Tertiary care teaching Institute and Cross-sectional study. Material and Methods It is a cross-sectional observational study performed among (under graduate) UG students, which was assessed using a pre-tested questionnaire including the pre-validated DASS-21 scale. Statistical Analysis Data collected was entered in MS Excel. Descriptive statistics and correlation of the study variables were analyzed while controlling for demographics using Epi-info software version 7.2.2. Results It was observed that around one-fifth of the participants have moderate depression, followed by mild 10.97%; one-fifth of the participants have moderate levels of anxiety 20.41% followed by extremely severe anxiety 13.27% and about two-thirds of the study participants having no stress 64.29% followed by mild stress 14.80% and moderate stress 9.69%. Conclusion There was a significant psychological impact of the use of social media among young populations, particularly anxiety, stress, and depression with exposure to negative news and reports on social media platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena S. Balpande
- Department of Community Medicine, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
| | - Yamini V. Pusdekar
- Department of Community Medicine, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sayali S. Bhagat
- Department of Community Medicine, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
| | - Purva D. Patil
- Department of Community Medicine, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ajeet V. Saoji
- Department of Community Medicine, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
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Cooper S, Gadanya MA, Kaawa-Mafigiri D, Katoto PDMC, Sambala EZ, Temfack E, Wiysonge CS. Using social media to build confidence in vaccines: lessons from community engagement and social science research in Africa. BMJ 2024; 384:e075564. [PMID: 38228329 PMCID: PMC10789190 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-075564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Cooper
- Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | | | - Patrick D M C Katoto
- Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Centre for Tropical Diseases and Global Health, Catholic University of Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Centre for General Medicine and Global Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Evanson Z Sambala
- Department of Community and Environmental Health, School of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Elvis Temfack
- Division of Public Health Institutes and Research, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, African Union Commission
| | - Charles S Wiysonge
- Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- HIV and other Infectious Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa
- Vaccine Preventable Diseases Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo
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Hove C, Cilliers L. A structured literature review of the health infodemic on social media in Africa. JAMBA (POTCHEFSTROOM, SOUTH AFRICA) 2023; 15:1484. [PMID: 37795236 PMCID: PMC10546230 DOI: 10.4102/jamba.v15i1.1484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Infodemics is a multi-faceted threat that needs to be dealt with by governments during public health emergencies. This strategic review described the role of social media platforms in creating and reinforcing an infodemic during health pandemics in Africa. The inclusion criteria for the review were African research on infodemics on social media during pandemics, epidemics or endemics in the past 10 years. A structured literature review, making use of the Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research (SPIDER) scoping review methodology framework, identified scholarly publications from various academic databases. A total of 41 articles met the eligibility criteria. The six factors identified included stakeholders, socio-economic context, conspiracy theories, sources of information, government responses and verification mechanisms. The findings of this study indicate that governments needs to include infodemics in the risk communication strategy for public health emergencies. Verification of misinformation can mitigate the effects of conspiracy theories while the socio-economic context of the audience will influence planning strategies to mitigate infodemics on social media. Contribution This study contributes to the knowledge base of risk communication during pandemics in Africa by providing a review of how infodemics on social media have influenced the COVID-19 pandemic on the continent. The results also provide a foundation for the research agenda in this research field that will provide an evidence-based response to the pandemic in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charity Hove
- Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Management and Commerce, University of Fort Hare, East London, South Africa
| | - Liezel Cilliers
- Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Management and Commerce, University of Fort Hare, East London, South Africa
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Jafar Z, Quick JD, Larson HJ, Venegas-Vera V, Napoli P, Musuka G, Dzinamarira T, Meena KS, Kanmani TR, Rimányi E. Social media for public health: Reaping the benefits, mitigating the harms. Health Promot Perspect 2023; 13:105-112. [PMID: 37600540 PMCID: PMC10439458 DOI: 10.34172/hpp.2023.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
With more than 4.26 billion social media users worldwide, social media has become a primary source of health information, exchange, and influence. As its use has rapidly expanded, social media has proven to be a "doubled-edged sword," with considerable benefits as well as notable harms. It can be used to encourage preventive behaviors, foster social connectivity for better mental health, enable health officials to deliver timely information, and connect individuals to reliable information. But social media also has contributed to public health crises by exacerbating a decline in public trust, deteriorating mental health (especially in young people), and spreading dangerous misinformation. These realities have profound implications for health professionals, social media companies, governments, and users. We discuss promising guidelines, digital safety practices, and regulations on which to build a comprehensive approach to healthy use of social media. Concerted efforts from social media companies, governments, users, public interest groups, and academia are essential to mitigate the harms and unlock the benefits of this powerful new technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zain Jafar
- Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, USA
| | | | - Heidi J. Larson
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
- Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | | | - Philip Napoli
- Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, USA
| | - Godfrey Musuka
- International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Kolar Sridara Meena
- Journal of Mental Health Education, Department of Mental Health Education, MIMHANS, India
| | - T. Raju Kanmani
- Department of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India
| | - Eszter Rimányi
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ectopic pregnancy presentation and treatment: A retrospective cohort study. J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod 2023; 52:102508. [PMID: 36384217 PMCID: PMC9659410 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2022.102508] [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: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We examined ectopic pregnancy (EP) incidence, presentation and management, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and following initiation of vaccination against COVID-19. STUDY DESIGN In a single-center retrospective cohort study, we compared incidence, presentation and management of EP, between 98 women who presented during the pandemic (March 1 2020 to August 31, 2021), and 94 women diagnosed earlier (March 1 2018 to August 31, 2019). Sub-periods before and after introduction of the vaccination were compared. RESULTS Age and parity were similar between the periods. For the pandemic compared to the earlier period, the median gestational age at EP presentation was higher (6.24 ± 1.25 vs. 5.59 ± 1.24, P<0.001), and the proportions were higher of symptomatic women (42.9% vs. 27.7%, p = 0.035) and urgent laparoscopies (42.9% vs. 24.5%, p = 0.038). In a multivariable linear model, women who presented during the pandemic were more likely to undergo an urgent laparoscopy [OR 2.30, 95%CI (1.20-4.41)], P = 0.012. In urgent surgeries performed during the pandemic compared to the earlier period, the proportion of women with a hemoglobin drop >2 gr/dL was greater (60% vs. 30%, p = 0.024). Statistically significant differences were not found in sonographic or laboratory findings, in rupture or massive hemoperitoneum rates, or in the need for blood transfusion in urgent laparoscopy. Outcomes were similar before and after introduction of vaccinations. CONCLUSION During the pandemic, and even after the introduction of vaccination, women with EP were more likely to undergo urgent surgery, and blood loss was greater. This is likely due to delayed diagnosis.
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Higher COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Are Associated with Lower COVID-19 Mortality: A Global Analysis. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 11:vaccines11010074. [PMID: 36679919 PMCID: PMC9862920 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11010074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mass vaccination initiatives are underway worldwide, and a considerable percentage of the world's population is now vaccinated. This study examined the association of COVID-19 deaths per 1000 cases with a fully vaccinated population. The global median deaths per 1000 cases were 15.68 (IQR 9.84, 25.87) after 6 months of vaccinations and 11.96 (IQR 6.08, 20.63) after 12 months. Across 164 countries, we found significant variations in vaccination levels of populations, booster doses, and mortality, with higher vaccine coverage and lower mortality in high-income countries. Several regression models were performed to test the association between vaccination and COVID-19 mortality. Control variables were used to account for confounding variables. A 10-percentage-point increase in vaccination was associated with an 18.1% decrease in mortality after 6 months (95%CI, 7.4-28.8%) and a 16.8% decrease after 12 months (95%CI, 6.9-26.7%). A 10-percentage-point increase in booster vaccination rates was associated with a 33.1% decrease in COVID-19 mortality (95%CI, 16.0-50.2%). This relationship is present in most analyses by country income groups with variations in the effect size. Efforts are needed to reduce vaccine hesitancy while ensuring suitable infrastructure and supply to enable all countries to increase their vaccination rates.
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