scholarly journals Predictors of black fungus fear during the COVID-19 pandemic among the Bangladeshi health workers: a cross-sectional study

Author(s):  
Md. Kamrul Hasan ◽  
Humayun Kabir ◽  
Mamunur Rahman ◽  
Anjan Kumar Roy ◽  
Dipak Kumar Mitra

Background: Raised of mucormycosis or black fungus cases middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, fear associated with black fungus may turn out to be a terrifying public health issue. This study aimed to assess the association between the fear and knowledge of black fungus and other determinants among healthcare workers in Bangladesh. Methods: From 25th May 2021 to 5th June 2021, a cross-sectional study was carried out among healthcare workers. For data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic, a semi-structured online questionnaire was used followed by convenient and snowball sampling methods. A multivariable linear regression model was fitted to assess the association between the fear and knowledge of black fungus and other determinants. Results: A total of 422 healthcare workers participated in this study. The results indicated that with the increased knowledge score of black fungus, the average score of black fungus fear was significantly increased (β = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.50, p <0.001). Alongside, the respondents having insomnia had a higher score of black fungus fear compare to not having insomnia (β = 3.91, 95% CI: 2.49, 5.33, p <0.001) significantly. The gender, profession, and death due to COVID-19 of friends and family members had a significant effect on black fungus fear score increment. Conclusion: Even in the COVID-19 pandemic, the black fungus fear among healthcare workers may hinder their quality of life. Our study findings recommend an emphasis on the mental health aspects and ensure support to the healthcare workers so that they can tackle the ongoing situation with lesser frictions. Keywords: Mucormycosis, black fungus, COVID-19, fear, knowledge, insomnia, health workers.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amina M. Al Marzouqi ◽  
Michael E. Otim ◽  
Heba H. Hijazi ◽  
Leena S. Kehail ◽  
Ramsha A. Kamal

Abstract Objectives: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a global health pandemic that continues to have an impact on many aspects of everyday life. This study investigates the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) related to COVID-19 among healthcare workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: This study uses a cross-sectional study design. The original data were collected using an online questionnaire distributed via a Google Forms link. Participants were healthcare workers currently working in the UAE healthcare facilities and recruited using snowball sampling. The questionnaire collected information on demographic variables and COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practice.Results: In total, the sample of 107 healthcare workers completed the survey. About 92% of the participants worked in public institutions, 87% were from Dubai, and 673% were female. The majority were aged 31–40 years (34.6%), and 43% were radiographers. 66.4% held bachelor’s degrees and Indian nationalities were (28%) and the Philippinos were (28%). Most (90.7%) participants knew the absence of fever did not mean that the virus could not transmit from an infected person, and 84.1% agreed that wearing general medical masks prevented one from contracting COVID-19. However, only 36.4% strongly believed that wearing a well-fitting face mask was effective. In addition, only 15.9% reported confidently managing patients with symptoms of COVID-19, and 54.2% reported that they were afraid of contracting the virus from patients. Almost half of the participants avoided patients who had symptoms of COVID-19. Conclusion: Overall, healthcare workers’ COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices for healthcare workers in UAE healthcare facilities was very high. However, we found gaps in awareness regarding the spread of the pandemic. Our study recommends that providing healthcare workers with education programs and counseling services would help increase their confidence in treating patients with COVID-19.


Author(s):  
Hope Inegbenosun ◽  
Clement Chinedu Azodo ◽  
John Chukudi Anionye ◽  
Collins Usunobun Inegbenosun ◽  
Obinna Chukwunwike Njoku

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection rate and mortality among Nigerian health care workers appear to be on the increase. Aside from health workers, it has caused millions of infections and deaths worldwide.  This study determined the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of nursing and midwifery students towards COVID-19 in a North-Eastern Nigerian state.Methods: A total of 156 respondents were involved in this institutional-based cross-sectional study, conducted after the lockdown period. A total of 17 questions were used to assess the KAP with knowledge appraised with 12 questions, attitudes with 2 questions, and practices with 3 questions.Results: The majority of the students (53.80%) possessed a good level of knowledge regarding COVID-19, while 40.4% had fair knowledge regarding COVID-19 with only 5.80% having poor knowledge of COVID-19. The mean knowledge of COVID-19 in this study was 9.40±1.353 with an overall 78% correct answer rate. A vast majority of the respondent (82.7% and 98.1%) had strong confidence in Nigeria and believed that the pandemic will soon be over, respectively. Only a few avoided large gatherings of people (30.8%) with the vast majority reporting to have worn a mask when going out (84.6%) and washing their hands with running water and soap frequently as recommended (73.1%). In multiple logistic regression analyses, the COVID-19 knowledge score (OR: 0.39-0.40, 95%CI: 0.26 – 0.62, P<0.05) was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of negative preventive practices towards COVID-19.Conclusions: The participants in this study showed good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices toward COVID-19. There is still a need to strategize and implement periodic educational interventions and training on infection control practices among healthcare workers including students. 


Author(s):  
Ognjen Brborović ◽  
Hana Brborović ◽  
Iskra Alexandra Nola ◽  
Milan Milošević

Introduction: Every procedure in healthcare carries a certain degree of inherent unsafety resulting from problems in practice, which might lead to a healthcare adverse event (HAE). It is very important, and even mandatory, to report HAE. The point of HAE reporting is not to blame the person, but to learn from the HAE in order to prevent future HAEs. Study question: Our aim was to examine the prevalence and the impact of culture of blame on health workers’ health. Methods: A cross-sectional study on healthcare workers at two Croatian hospitals was conducted using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (PSC). Results: The majority of PSC dimensions in both hospitals were high. Among the dimensions, Hospital Handoffs and Transitions and Overall Perceptions of Safety had the highest values. The Nonpunitive Response to Error dimension had low values, indicating the ongoing culture of blame. The Staffing dimension had low values, indicating the ongoing shortage of doctors and nurses. Discussion: We found inconsistencies between a single-item measure and PSC dimensions. It was expected that Frequency of Events Reported (PSC dimension) relates to Number of Events Reported (single-item measure). However, in our study, the relations between these pairs of measures were different between hospitals. Our results indicate the ongoing culture of blame. Healthcare workers do not report HAE because they fear they will be punished by management or by law.


2020 ◽  
pp. 002076402097244
Author(s):  
Carlos Arturo Cassiani-Miranda ◽  
Adalberto Campo-Arias ◽  
Andrés Felipe Tirado-Otálvaro ◽  
Luz Adriana Botero-Tobón ◽  
Luz Dary Upegui-Arango ◽  
...  

Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, the fear of infection increases and, with it, the stigma-discrimination, which makes it an additional problem of the epidemic. However, studies about stigma associated with coronavirus are scarce worldwide. Aims: To determine the association between stigmatisation and fear of COVID-19 in the general population of Colombia. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out. A total of 1,687 adults between 18 and 76 years old ( M = 36.3; SD = 12.5), 41.1% health workers, filled out an online questionnaire on Stigma-Discrimination and the COVID-5 Fear Scale, adapted by the research team. Results: The proportion of high fear of COVID-19 was 34.1%; When comparing the affirmative answers to the questionnaire on stigma-discrimination towards COVID-19, it was found that the difference was significantly higher in the general population compared to health workers in most of the questions evaluated, which indicates a high level of stigmatisation in that group. An association between high fear of COVID-19 and stigma was evidenced in 63.6% of the questions in the questionnaire. Conclusion: Stigma-discrimination towards COVID-19 is frequent in the Colombian population and is associated with high levels of fear towards said disease, mainly people who are not health workers.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faisal Alnemer ◽  
Raed Aljohani ◽  
Abdulrahman Alajlan ◽  
Mohammad Aljohani ◽  
Ibrahim Alozaib ◽  
...  

The use of topical olive oil (OO) for skin health is common among Saudis and worldwide. Therefore, this cross-sectional study is aimed at assessing the use of topical OO for skin health among Saudis in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was administered to Saudis at four different malls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 401 participants were enrolled in the study. The results showed that the average knowledge score of the participants was 3.4±0.3 (out of 5) and 87% had fair knowledge. The top source of knowledge among the participants was friends/relatives. In the attitude section, the average score was 4.1±0.5 (out of 5). Females had a higher attitude score 4.2±0.5 as compared to males 4±0.5 (P=0.03). The most common reason for using topical OO among the participants was skin moisturizing (73%). Female gender was the only significant factor associated with the use of topical OO (P < 0.001). The use of topical OO for skin health is highly prevalent in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Therefore, more awareness of the benefits and adverse effects of topical OO use is required especially from health educational organizations. The preliminary results of this study suggest further research with a larger sample in an academic setting across the nation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 05 (04) ◽  
pp. 035-039
Author(s):  
Navya N. ◽  
Rashmi Kundapur ◽  
N. Udaya Kiran

Abstract Introduction: Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a global public health issue and is the major contributory factor for the burden of heart disease, stroke, renal failure, premature mortality and morbidity worldwide. Objective : 1. To determine the community prevalence of hypertension.2. To Assess the Household Awareness Of hypertension.3. To study the pattern and regularity of treatment in hypertensives. Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out in 40 Households of Grama-Kshema Project in Kuthar and Manjanady villages (semi urban ) which belong to the field practice area of K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Mangalore. A structured Questionnaire was used to collect data. Questions on awareness were scored and analyzed. Result: The community prevalence of hypertension among the households surveyed was 9.6 percent out of which 12.5 % were female and 5.9 % were male. Among them 46.7% were in the age group 51-70 years, 40% in the age group 31-50 years and 13.3% in the age group above 70 years.40 % of hypertensive visit their doctor on monthly basis.66.7% of the hypertensives visit private dispensary for their treatment and follow up. 93.3% are on anti-hypertensives of which 33.3 % use calcium channel blockers. Awareness scoring showed that 40% had poor score and 37.5 % average score. Conclusion: In the present study the prevalence of hypertension was found to be low. Among those diagnosed of hypertension, majority of them were females. Most of the hypertensive's visit private dispensaries on monthly basis. Awareness of Hypertension among the households was poor.


Author(s):  
Shalaw Faris Ahmed ◽  
Jamal Kareem Shakor ◽  
Titi Rahmawati Hamedon ◽  
Dlovan Mohammed Fatel Jalal ◽  
Dlzar Omer Qadir

Introduction: Needle-stick and sharp injuries (NSSI) pose a serious problem and a major risk of work-related transmitted diseases among healthcare workers. The extent of NSI in the Kurdistan region / Iraq hospitals has been unknown. The factors related to NSIs among healthcare workers were evaluated in the present study. The main purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of NSI and its associated factors among the respondents. Material and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 randomly selected healthcare staff with a working experience of at least 1 year in the hospital. The study location is a surgical specialist hospital-cardiac center, situated in Erbil/Iraq. The self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic, employment and individual characteristics, as well as data on NSSI, suffered in the past 12 months. Results: The majority of participants (34%) were in the 30 to 35year age group. Most were male (60.7%), married (61.3%), have at least degree qualification (89%). The prevalence of NSSI was 67%. Needle stick was the main frequent of NSSRs (66%). Needle recap was all the time done among health workers 104 (69%), they almost use both hands for recap 136 (91%). Education, working environment satisfaction, sleeping quality of the health staff have been considered the main indicators of NSSI. Conclusion: The rate of NSSI was considered high in this study compared to the rates in many developing countries. Arrangement schedules for work and sleeping of staff could decrease the NSSI rate.


Author(s):  
Dorcas Serwaa ◽  
Anthony Baffour Appiah ◽  
Richard Wodag-Seme ◽  
Charles Nkansah ◽  
Selasie Ahiatrogah

Background: Healthcare workers’ have increased risk of contracting the deadly COVID-19 pandemic due to their exposures to infected persons and their specimens. Ghana, like many other countries, has felt the devastating effects of this virus; it was therefore prudent to assess the levels of knowledge, perception and practice of Ghanaian healthcare providers on the current pandemic.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study enlisted 979 healthcare workers’ in Ghana from 1st Apr to 20th Nov, 2020, via self-reported questionnaire. SPSS version 22.0 was used for the analysis. Responses were summarized using frequency and proportions. A chi-square test was utilized to test for association at significant level of p <0.05.Results: Out of the 979 healthcare workers recruited, 56.4% had good knowledge and 59.5% displayed good perception on the novel COVID-19 while 63.1% of them effectively practiced the expected precautionary measures. Age (p=0.001), gender (p=0.034) and profession (p<0.001) significantly affected the practice of precautionary measure among the health personnel. The respondents’ perceptions towards the pandemic were significantly linked to their age (p<0.001), gender (p=0.043), profession (p<0.001), type of occupation (p=0.001) and source of information (p=0.006). Also, knowledge significantly related to good practices but did not influence the perception of HCWs.Conclusions: The current study identifies that more than half of HCWs in Ghana have sufficient knowledge, perception, and practice of precautionary measures; however, it elucidates some significant concerns about the knowledge gap in this COVID-19 outbreak. There is an obvious need for progressive in-service training programs for the health workers to broaden their scopes on the risks and preventive measures. 


Author(s):  
Alsheikh GYM ◽  
◽  
Bin-Ghouth AS ◽  
Al-Ammary SS ◽  
Alhaddadi AAS ◽  
...  

Background: Occupational health is a neglected public health issue among healthcare workers in developing countries like Yemen and they may expose them to various forms of hazards, which have had negative consequences on their wellbeing and performance at work. Objective: The study aims at exploring the forms of occupational health hazards prevalence and methods to mitigate these hazards among Health Care Workers (HCW) in governmental hospitals in Mukalla city. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study conducted among health workers in the main hospitals in Mukalla city in Hadhramout province in eastern Yemen. The sample size is calculated statistically as 366 workers from different categories including doctors, nurses and lab technicians. A sample of 391 workers were selected randomly who were distributed to be representative and proportional to the size of each professional category. Results: The prevalence of biological hazards among the healthcare workers accounted for 298 (76%) whereas the non-biological hazards accounted for 306 (78%). The most prevalent biological hazards are needle prick injury (80%) followed by exposure to contact with contaminated material (75%), while the most frequent non-biological hazards are back pain (79%) followed by extra-time work (72%). In logistic regression age, gender and duration of work and professional category have significant association with exposure of health workers to biological hazards while only gender is the only variable associated with non-biological hazards. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of occupational hazards (biological and non-biological) among health workers in hospitals of Mukalla city. A prevention and infection control and patient safety programs are highly recommended in Mukalla hospitals to save health workers and patients.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Arturo Cassiani-Miranda ◽  
Isabel Álvarez-Solorza ◽  
Adalberto Campo-Arias ◽  
Yinneth Andrea Arismendy-López ◽  
Andrés Felipe Tirado-Otálvaro ◽  
...  

AbstractThe COVID-19-related stigma towards healthcare workers negatively influences their performance and job satisfaction, and well-being. The frequency of COVID-19-related stigma towards healthcare workers and its associated factors has not been sufficiently investigated. The objective was to determine the frequency and variables associated with COVID-19-related stigmatisation towards health workers in emerging-age university adults in Mexico. Analytical and cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire in 1,054 students between 18 and 29 years of age. Demographic variables, religiosity, fear of COVID-19 and stigma-discrimination related to COVID-19 towards healthcare workers were analysed. The latter was set as the dependent variable, while demographic variables, religiosity and high fear of COVID-19 were the independent variables. For the association between the variables, a binomial and logarithmic generalised linear model was designed to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios. The proportion of high stigma-discrimination was 12.4%, and this was associated with a high fear of COVID-19 (APR 1.51, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.23). The main limitations were the cross-sectional nature, social desirability bias, non-probabilistic sampling. The results highlight the importance of establishing programmes to reduce COVID-19-related stigmatisation towards healthcare workers.


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