Abstract:

Digital applications, which can be easily accessible through android mobiles or tablets, were highly helpful for the front-line Covid workers. Numerous Digital applications were developed during the Covid pandemic, which helped in contact tracing, consultations, vaccine registration, and other related information specifically for Covid-19. Health workers in the Urban Primary Health Centres were the gross root health care workers who were frequently utilised in the Covid relief work. The objectives of the study were to assess the Pre & Post-test level of Knowledge and attitude on digital applications (Covid-19) among health workers, to assess the impact of the awareness programme on Covid 19 digital applications, to find the correlation between the level of Knowledge and attitude on digital application (Covid-19) A quantitative research approach of pre-experimental one group pre & post-test design was adopted. 30 Health workers from Urban Primary Health Centres, Chennai, were selected through a non-probability convenient sampling technique. The Knowledge was assessed through a structured questionnaire & attitude was assessed through a 5-point Likert scale developed by the investigators. The study presented 7.4 & 0.9 as the mean difference for Knowledge & attitude, respectively and found significance at p ≤ 0. 05. There was a positive correlation between Knowledge and attitude with ‘r’ value of 0.06 and found significant relation at p ≤ 0.01. The awareness programme developed was found effective among the health workers, and they could utilise the digital applications without doubt and hesitancy after the awareness programme developed by investigators.

References:

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[12] Parajuli, J., Mishra, P., Sharma, S., Bohora, K. B., Rathour, P. S., Joshi, J., ... & Chaudhary, A. (2020). Knowledge and Attitude about Covid 19 among Health Care Workers Working in Seti Provincial Hospital. J Nepal Health Res Counc, 466-471.

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[14] Huynh, G., Nguyen, T. N. H., Vo, K. N., & Pham, L. A. (2020). Knowledge and attitude toward Covid-19 among healthcare workers at District 2 Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 13(6), 260.

[15] Ejeh, F. E., Saidu, A. S., Owoicho, S., Maurice, N. A., Jauro, S., Madukaji, L., & Okon, K. O. (2020). Knowledge, attitude, and practice among healthcare workers towards Covid-19 outbreak in Nigeria. Heliyon, 6(11), e05557.

Abstract:

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as wearing a facemask in public, effective hand hygiene, cough etiquette, physical distancing, and voluntary self-isolation are critical in the prevention and control of Covid-19. This study was carried out to assess compliance with NPIs against Covid-19 among undergraduate students at the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit 600 students for this cross-sectional study. Data was collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 25. The mean age of students was 22.0 ± 3.3 years. Overall, 340 (56.7%) respondents had a good knowledge of NPIs against Covid-19, 395 (65.8%) had a positive attitude towards NPI, majority, 345 (90.8%), had poor compliance with of NPIs. The student’s level of study (p=0.009) and faculty (p=0.002) were statistically significantly associated with their knowledge of NPIs. This study showed fair knowledge, and an encouraging positive attitude but sub-optimal compliance with NPIs in the prevention and control of Covid-19 among the undergraduate students studied. The University of Benin authority should institute measures aimed at the continuous education of undergraduate students on the importance of compliance with NPIs targeted against Covid-19.

References:

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[17] Ogboghodo, E. O., Osaigbovo, I. I., Obaseki, D. E., Nneka Okwara, O. H., Omo-Ikirodah, O. T., Adio, F., Ehinze, E. S., 2021, Community mitigation strategies for coronavirus disease 2019: An assessment of knowledge and adherence amongst residents of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Niger Postgrad Med J., 28(1):14-21, DOI: 10.4103/npmj.npmj_321_20.

[18] Owhonda, G., Onyekwere, N., Kanee, R. B., Maduka, O., Nwadiuto, I., Okafor, C., Chibianotu, O., Aigbogun, E. O., 2021, Community Awareness, Perceptions, Enablers and Potential Barriers to Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) in the Covid-19 Pandemic in Rivers State, Nigeria. Biomed J Sci & Tech Res, 36(5):28984-28995, DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2021.36.005928.

[19] Ajayi, A. D., Gaknung, B. K., Gotodok, K. H., Shaba, V. L., Okpe, C. O., 2021, Assessment of Knowledge and Compliance with Covid-19 Safety Precautions and Protocols in Federal Medical Centre Bida, Niger State-Nigeria. World Journal of Innovative Research, 10(4):26-35, DOI: 10.31871/WJIR.10.4.13.

[20] Nnama-Okechukwu, C. U., Chukwu, N. E., Nkechukwu, C. N., 2020, Covid-19 in Nigeria:
Knowledge and compliance with preventive measures. Soc Work Public Health, 1;35(7):590-602, DOI: 10.1080/19371918.2020.1806985.

[21] Tsegaw, M., Mulat, B., Shitu, K., 2022, Risk perception and preventive behaviours of Covid-19 among university students, Gondar, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 8;12(4): e057404, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057404.

Abstract:

The Covid-19 pandemic has emerged as a gendered phenomenon in several ways, with women reporting greater risk aversion, perceived chances of infection and fear of family members getting sick compared to men. The present study aimed to investigate gender differences in fear of Covid-19 and compliance to preventive behaviour during the pandemic among young adults in the metropolitan cities of India. Although India has been one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic, this remains an under-investigated area here. Data was collected from 159 participants (79 men and 80 women) on two variables: fear, measured by the Fear of Covid-19 Scale, and compliance, measured by the Preventive Behaviours Questionnaire. The results indicated no gender differences for both variables, thereby, rejecting the hypothesis of the study that women will be more fearful and compliant than men. Further, a content analysis designed to identify the reasons for low compliance among participants who reported the least levels of adherence to preventive Behaviours found the main factors to be high rates of vaccination and the presence of Covid fatigue. The lack of gender differences found in the study necessitates further research but may potentially be partly attributed to the severity of the pandemic in the country, supplemented by similar levels of exposure to information about the pandemic among men and women. The lack of gender differences in fear may explain the lack of differences found for compliance. Implications and strategies for tackling factors driving low compliance to preventive Behaviours are discussed.

References:

Abstract:

Measures taken to curtail the spread of the Covid-19 virus in Nigeria were very stringent. The lockdown, among others, affected businesses and households, as individuals found ways to cope with the measures. This study used the qualitative method to collect data from 30 participants in Lagos and Ibadan, and purposive sampling was used among consenting participants. The in-depth interview guide was used in data collection. The data were analyzed using NVivo 12 plus. Findings show the effect of lockdown order on daily life, family, and income flow. Compliance with Covid-19 protocol was differentiated, as most of the participants comply with the lockdown order but had difficulties with facemasks and physical/social distances order. We recommend that to halt other waves of Covid-19, the preventive protocol should be adhered to.

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Abstract:

Covid 19 pandemic created a high mortality risk among the elderly population, and it also affected more in the case of elderly with disabilities and elderly people those who have pre-existing comorbidities. The studies conducted worldwide have ingeminate the high risk for medical aid and increased cases of death rates in the national level in various countries that are dealing with Covid 19 pandemic. One of the shocking news is that 86% of all death among the elderly population have been reported in two countries, namely Colombia and Chile. In the case of Peru, 70 percent of the death which was reported due to Covid 19 was among elderly people. In this study, the author highlights the impacts of Covid 19 among the elderly with a disability, especially concentrating on their mental health aspects. The world is made up of work pressure, stressful life situations, and family responsibilities creating difficulties in taking care of elderly people with disabilities. During the Covid 19 pandemic, elderly people with disabilities faced a lot of changes in their life situations, especially the care and support they received and problems associated with the satisfaction of basic needs. The elderly with disability represent a chosen cluster of high-hazard issues for the growing Covid-19 with a greater chance of impairment. So, among older people with disabilities, mental health issues are also higher than in other age groups. Early prediction and personalized care and management must be provided to the elderly with disabilities.

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Abstract:

The Coronavirus disease has spread widely and infected several people. Given the severity of the illness, a nationwide lockdown was imposed to stop the spread of Covid-19. All these constraints may have had an impact on eating habits, sleep status, physical activity, and stress, resulting in a worsening lifestyle among the people. The study aims to assess the impact of Covid-19 on lifestyle-related behaviour and the factors influencing changes in lifestyle behaviour among the population. A cross-sectional survey of the 380 participants using simple random sampling was conducted in the urban field practice area, Mysuru, Karnataka, using a validated questionnaire. The data were entered into MS Excel, followed by analysis using SPSS version 26. The results for the Covid-19 before and after lifestyle scores were analyzed, and values were subtracted to provide the mean difference scores for each item. Using the paired t-test or Wilcoxon test, the differences in continuous variables between the two groups were evaluated. The criterion for statistical significance was fixed at p < 0.05. In this study, general eating behaviour (44.7% vs. 65.7% significantly improved, physical activity (32.3% vs. 3.4%) declined, stress (29.2% vs. 47.8%) and screen time (27.8% vs. 60.2%) increased. Behaviours such as smoking (7.3% vs. 3.1%) and alcohol consumption (37.6% vs. 16.3%) decreased, whereas approximately half of the study participants gained weight (43.6 %). This study will serve as a solid basis for creating recommendations for suitable lifestyle modifications at this time.

References:

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[17].  Hu Z, Lin X, Chiwanda Kaminga A, Xu H. 2020 Aug 25. Impact of the Covid-19 Epidemic on Lifestyle Behaviors and Their Association with Subjective Well-Being among the General Population in Mainland China: Cross-Sectional Study. J Med Internet Res. 22(8): e21176.

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Abstract:

The Covid- 19 pandemic has ravaged the whole world. It has affected humankind and disturbed the daily lives of people. There have been many voices about the pandemic from the medical care people as well as ordinary people. Women who are the subaltern in society have been voiceless. In Nigeria, the media commentators on the pandemic have been males. The female voice has not been heard in the public sphere such as in the media. Newspaper sources have been used essentially to cover some of the events during Covid- 19 lockdown in Nigeria.  The purpose of this study is to report the non-representation and non-inclusion of women in the decision process as well as in the overall public sphere of Nigerian society and how to include them in the public sphere and the society’s decision process. The study adopted the content analysis of two selected newspapers’ reportage of events during the Covid-19 lockdown using a qualitative research approach.  Two Nigerian online newspapers were analyzed. The study found that Nigerian women’s voices were not heard in the discourse on Covid-19. Almost all the newspapers in Nigeria did not have women in the discursive space about Covid-19. Nigerian women should be given a voice in the discussion about Covid-19 or any other related health pandemic in the future so that they could be sensitized about the danger inherent in any pandemic. The policy-making body should have women representatives to make it inclusive and show that women are not marginalized in society.

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