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Samy S, Lami F, Rashak HA, Al Nsour M, Eid A, Khader YS, Afifi S, Elfadul M, Ghaleb Y, Letaief H, Alaya NB, Ikram A, Akhtar H, Barkia A, Taha HA, Adam R, Saeed KMI, Almudarra SS, Hassany M, El Sood HA, ur Rahman F, Saaed FAK, Hlaiwah MS. Public health workers' knowledge, attitude and practice regarding COVID-19: the impact of Field Epidemiology Training Program in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. J Public Health (Oxf) 2021; 43:iii1-iii11. [PMID: 34580723 PMCID: PMC8500047 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to compare knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding COVID-19 between public health workers (PHWs) attended field epidemiology training program (FETP-trained) and those who did not attend FETP (non-FETP trained). METHODS Multi-country cross-sectional survey was conducted among PHWs who participated in COVID-19 pandemic in 10 countries at EMR. Online questionnaire that included demographic information, KAP regarding COVID-19 pandemic was distributed among HCWs. Scoring system was used to quantify the answers, bivariate and Multivariate analysis performed to compare FETP-trained with non-FETP trained PHWs. RESULTS Overall, 1337 PHWs participated, with 835 (62.4%) < 40 years of age, and 851 (63.6%) males. Of them, 423 (31.6%) had FETP, including that 189 (44.7%) had advanced level, 155 (36.6%) intermediate and 79 (18.7%) basic level training. Compared with non-FETP trained, FETP trained were older, having higher KAP scores. FETP participation was low in infection control, and PH laboratories. KAP mean scores for intermediate level attendees are comparable to advanced level. CONCLUSIONS FETP-trained are having better KAP than non-FETP PHWs. Expanding the intermediate level, maintain the Rapid Response training and introduce the laboratory component are recommended to maximize the benefit from FETP. Infection control, antimicrobial resistance and coordination are areas where training should include.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Samy
- Communicable Disease Control Department, Preventive sector, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Faris Lami
- Community and Family Medicine, University of Baghdad, Iraq
| | | | - Mohannad Al Nsour
- Global Health Development (GHD)|The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), Amman, Jordan
| | - Alaa Eid
- Preventive sector, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Yousef S Khader
- Department of Public Health, Jordan University of Science & Technology
| | - Salma Afifi
- Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, Preventive sector, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Maisa Elfadul
- Public Health Institute, Federal Ministry of Health, Sudan
| | - Yasser Ghaleb
- Field Epidemiology Training Program, Ministry of Public Health and Population, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Hajer Letaief
- National Observatory of New and Emerging Diseases, Tunis, Tunisia
| | | | - Aamer Ikram
- National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Hashaam Akhtar
- Yusra Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yusra Medical and Dental Collage, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Hana Ahmad Taha
- Global Health Development (GHD)|The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), Amman, Jordan
| | - Reema Adam
- Public Health Institute, Federal Ministry of Health, Sudan
| | | | - Sami S Almudarra
- Field Epidemiology Training Program, Saudi Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Hassany
- National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hanaa Abu El Sood
- Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, Preventive sector, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
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Lami F, Rashak HA, Khaleel HA, Mahdi SG, Adnan F, Khader YS, Alhilfi RA, Lehlewa A. Iraq experience in handling the COVID-19 pandemic: implications of public health challenges and lessons learned for future epidemic preparedness planning. J Public Health (Oxf) 2021; 43:iii19-iii28. [PMID: 34651194 PMCID: PMC8660009 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Iraq has been exceptionally challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the already exhausted healthcare system. Objectives To describe the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 in Iraq, the government’s response to the pandemic, and provide recommendations for further action. Methods A desk review of secondary data using the available reports on the epidemiological situation in Iraq as well as official governmental sources was conducted. Results The major surge in the number of COVID-19 cases occurred in the first week of June and continued to increase dramatically until mid-October when a significant decrease happened. With a few exceptions, the reproductive number R has been consistently above 1. Patients aged 30–39 years (25.6%) were the most affected, while those aged 60–69 years (26.7%) had the highest deaths rates. Iraq tried to contain the pandemic through several regulations: border control, enforcing curfew, mask-wearing, and social distancing, COVID-19 isolation centers, expanding lab capacity, contact tracing, as well as several supportive economic measures. However, the extent of implementing these regulations is questionable. Conclusion Additional administrative and scientific measures with special emphasis on handling mass gathering, coordination with media and better training of healthcare workers particularly on infection prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faris Lami
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad 10047, Iraq
| | - Hiba Abdulrahman Rashak
- Surveillance Section, Communicable Diseases Control Center, Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Baghdad 10047, Iraq
| | - Hanan Abdulghafoor Khaleel
- Head of the Surveillance Section, Communicable Diseases Control Center, Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Baghdad 10047, Iraq
| | - Sinan Ghazi Mahdi
- Head of Communicable Diseases Control Center, Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Baghdad 10047, Iraq
| | - Firas Adnan
- Al-Karkh Health Directorate, Public Health Department, Ministry of Health, Baghdad 10047, Iraq
| | - Yousef S Khader
- Professor of Epidemiology, Medical Education and Biostatistics, Department of Community Medicine, Public Health and Family Medicine/Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Riyadh A Alhilfi
- Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Baghdad 10047, Iraq
| | - Asaad Lehlewa
- Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Baghdad 10047, Iraq
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Ghaleb Y, Lami F, Al Nsour M, Rashak HA, Samy S, Khader YS, Al Serouri A, BahaaEldin H, Afifi S, Elfadul M, Ikram A, Akhtar H, Hussein AM, Barkia A, Hakim H, Taha HA, Hijjo Y, Kamal E, Ahmed AY, Rahman F, Islam KM, Hussein MH, Ramzi SR. Mental health impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare workers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a multi-country study. J Public Health (Oxf) 2021; 43:iii34-iii42. [PMID: 34642765 PMCID: PMC8524602 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic are under incredible pressure, which puts them at risk of developing mental health problems. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among HCWs responding to COVID-19 and its associated factors. Methods A multi-country cross-sectional study was conducted during July–August 2020 among HCWs responding to COVID-19 in nine Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries. Data were collected using an online questionnaire administered using KoBo Toolbox. Mental problems were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results A total of 1448 HCWs from nine EMR countries participated in this study. About 51.2% were male and 52.7% aged ≤ 30 years. Of all HCWs, 57.5% had depression, 42.0% had stress, and 59.1% had anxiety. Considering the severity, 19.2%, 16.1%, 26.6% of patients had severe to extremely severe depression, stress, and anxiety, respectively. Depression, stress, anxiety, and distress scores were significantly associated with participants’ residency, having children, preexisting psychiatric illness, and being isolated for COVID-19. Furthermore, females, those working in a teaching hospital, and specialists had significantly higher depression and stress scores. Married status, current smoking, diabetes mellitus, having a friend who died with COVID-19, and high COVID-19 worry scores were significantly associated with higher distress scores. Conclusions Mental problems were prevalent among HCWs responding to COVID-19 in EMR. Therefore, special interventions to promote mental well-being among HCWs responding to COVID-19 need to be immediately implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasser Ghaleb
- Ministry of Public Health and Population, Yemen Field Epidemiology Training Program, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Faris Lami
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Mohannad Al Nsour
- Global Health Development (GHD), The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), Amman, Jordan
| | | | - Sahar Samy
- Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Yousef S Khader
- Professor of Epidemiology, Medical Education and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Abdulwahed Al Serouri
- Ministry of Public Health and Population, Yemen Field Epidemiology Training Program, Sana'a, Yemen
| | | | - Salma Afifi
- Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Maisa Elfadul
- Public Health Institute, Federal Ministry of Health, Department of Research, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Aamer Ikram
- National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Hashaam Akhtar
- Yusra Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yusra Medical and Dental Collage, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Huda Hakim
- Department of Community Medicine, Al-Majmaah University, AL-Majmaah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Hana Ahmad Taha
- Health Protection and Promotion, Global Health Development (GHD), Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network, Amman, Jordan
| | - Yasser Hijjo
- Clinical Pharmacy, Public and Tropical Health Programs, University of Medical Sciences & Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Ehab Kamal
- Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Fazalur Rahman
- Medical Unit 1 Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Khwaja Mir Islam
- Afghanistan Field Epidemiology Training Program, Global Health Development (GHD), Afghanistan
| | | | - Shahd Raid Ramzi
- Al-Rusafa Health Directorate, Public Health Department, Ministry of Health, Baghdad, Iraq
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Lami F, Elfadul M, Rashak HA, Al Nsour M, Akhtar H, Khader YS, Hussein AM, Naciri M, Samy S, Ghaleb Y, Taha HA, Aljanabe AH, Ali NA, Zayer RH, Ikram A, Rahman FU, Khan MM, Adam R, Ahmed AY, Afifi S. Risk Factors of COVID-19 Critical Outcomes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Multicountry Retrospective Study . JMIR Public Health Surveill 2021; 8:e32831. [PMID: 34736222 PMCID: PMC8929409 DOI: 10.2196/32831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The establishment of empirical evidence in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) necessitates the implementation of wide-scale studies to describe the demographic, clinical features, and severity profile of COVID-19 patients. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the patterns of COVID-19 severity and mortality in seven countries and to determine the risk factors of COVID-19 severity and mortality. METHODS This multi-country study was based on a retrospective review of medical records of hospitalized patients confirmed to have COVID-19. This study included data from Iraq, Pakistan, Sudan, Somalia, Morocco, Egypt, and Yemen. All demographic and clinical data were extracted from hospital records (paper files) by trained data collectors. RESULTS A total of 4141 patients were included in this study from seven countries. Comorbidities were reported by nearly half of the patients, with hypertension (HT) (24.7%) and diabetes (22.7%) being the most common. Older age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart diseases were significantly associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality. Ever smoking and renal diseases were significantly associated with severity but not mortality, while male gender, respiratory diseases, and malignancy were significantly associated with mortality but not severity. CONCLUSIONS The study confirmed the role of comorbidities and demographic features on the severity and mortality of COVID-19. Understanding the contributing factors ensures attentive care and informs clinical management of patients with poorer prognoses in the early stages of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faris Lami
- University of Baghdad, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Baghdad, IQ
| | - Maisa Elfadul
- University of Medical Sciences amd Technology ,Sudan, Federal Minstry of Health, Airport avenue,, Khartoum, SD
| | | | - Mohannad Al Nsour
- Global Health Development (GHD), The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), Amman, JO
| | - Hashaam Akhtar
- Yusra Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yusra Medical and Dental Collage, Islamabad, PK
| | - Yousef S Khader
- Department of Community Medicine, Public Health and Family Medicine/ Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Amman, JO
| | | | - Mariam Naciri
- Research Center Biotechnology, Biodiversity and Environment (BIOBIO), Laboratory of Biodiversity, Ecology and Genome, Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, Rabat, MA
| | - Sahar Samy
- Communicable disease control department - Preventive Sector, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, EG
| | - Yasser Ghaleb
- Ministry of Public Health and Population, Yemen Field Epidemiology Training Program, Sana'a, YE
| | - Hana Ahmad Taha
- Global Health Development (GHD)
- Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network, Health Protection and Promotion, Amman, JO
| | | | | | - Raheem Hussein Zayer
- Al-Rusafa Health Directorate, Public Health Department, Ministry of Health, Baghdad, IQ
| | | | - Fazal Ur Rahman
- Medical Unit 1 Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, PK
| | | | - Reema Adam
- Federal Ministry of Health, Directorate of Emergency and Humantarian actions, Khartoum, SD
| | | | - Salma Afifi
- Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, EG
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