scholarly journals A cross-sectional study of COVID-19 impacts in culturally and linguistically diverse communities in greater Western Sydney, Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
William Mude ◽  
Clement Meru ◽  
Carolyne Njue ◽  
Rebecca Fanany

Abstracts Background This study explored the experiences of people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in Greater Western Sydney, Australia, in selected livelihood items during COVID-19 and the perceived impacts of the pandemic on their lives. Methods A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data between 25 August and 30 September 2020 among CALD communities in Greater Western Sydney. Information was collected on respondents’ experiences in selected livelihood items, including housing, finances, safety, accessing social services and activities, finding work, food, clothing, and relationships during COVID-19 and the pandemic’s perceived impact on their lives. Descriptive and non-parametric statistics were used to analyze the data. Results One hundred and ninety-eight participants were included in the study, 45.5% male and 54.5% female. Many respondents reported their experience in the selected livelihood items as “worse” during COVID-19 at the time of the study. The feeling of safety was most disrupted, with 56% of respondents rating their experience as “worse”. This experience was followed by accessing social support group activities, with 50% of respondents stating their experience of using this service had worsened. The experience of accessing social services and financial situation was rated as “worse” by 41% of respondents. Experience in finding work, housing, and attending schools were all rated as “worse”. The median perceived impact of COVID-19 among respondents who rated their experience in the selected livelihood items as “worse” were statistically higher than those who rated their experience as the “same”. Respondents’ characteristics also predicted the perceived impact of COVID-19. Unemployed respondents were 3.53 (95% CI: 1.16–10.73, p = 0.026) times more likely to perceive the impact of COVID-19 on their lives as “high” compared to employed respondents. Conclusions The finding demonstrates that the “high” number of respondents had the same situation as before COVID-19 and highlights the level of resilience exhibited by CALD communities in the Australian context. It also suggests that services in Australia were good during the pandemic. However, enhanced policy and initiatives designed to meet the CALD population’s needs are required, particularly in the areas most reported to have been disrupted by changes associated with COVID-19.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2971-2974
Author(s):  
Pavan Kumar K ◽  
Sudhakar P Reddy

Background: In India, 42 million people are suffering from thyroid disorders, out of which hypothyroidism is most common with a prevalence of 5.4%. It is more prevalent among females with the male-female ratio being 1:6. Hypothyroidism is a clinical syndrome resulting from a deficiency of thyroid hormones, which in turn results in a generalized slowing down of metabolic processes. Impaired metabolism can be compared with vitiation of Agni causing Agnimandhya according to Ayurveda. Agnimandhya further hampers the formations of Ahara Rasa and consecutive Dhatus Nirmana, diminishing the metabolism, thereby causing features similar to hypothyroidism. The objective of the Study: To assess the impact of diet & lifestyle on the prevalence of Hypothyroidism in Females. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional survey study. A total of 150 female subjects were selected for the study. With the help of a validated pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire, the interview was conducted on female subjects diagnosed with Hypothyroidism to assess the impact of diet and lifestyle on the prevalence of Hypothy- roidism in and around Mysuru city. Result: In the survey study, the majority of the hypothyroidism diagnosed subjects followed unhealthy daily regimes and the majority percentage of them practised unwholesome diet, food habits and lifestyle. Diet and lifestyle have a direct influence on the occurrence of hypothyroidism. Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is a metabolic disorder is mainly caused by Agni Mandhya and Rasa Pradoshaja as a result of faulty diet and lifestyle. One should follow Dincharya, Rutucharya and other Ayurveda principles to protect the Agni and thereby prevent Hypothyroidism. The practice of Ahita Ahara Vidhi and Ahita Vihara in the manifestation of Agnimandhya, followed by the development of features of hypothyroidism was substantiated by the result of the survey. Keywords: Hypothyroidism; Diet; Lifestyle; Agnimandhya; Rasa Pradoshaja Vikara.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1120-1133
Author(s):  
José Magano ◽  
Diogo Guedes Vidal ◽  
Hélder Fernando Pedrosa e Sousa ◽  
Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis ◽  
Ângela Leite

This cross-sectional study aims to determine the psychological factors that contribute to the perceived impact of COVID-19 on travel using a convenience sample (N = 1122) from the general population to whom instruments assessing the perception of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on travel, anxiety, fear, phobia, risk perception, and stress were applied. The participants were mainly female (65.6%), had not attended university, and who were professionally active, with a mean age of around 30-years-old (M = 31.91, SD = 13.76, Min = 18, Max = 81). The perceived impact of COVID-19 on travel correlates with all of the psychological variables, mainly in terms of the emotional fear of COVID-19. Together with the perceived risk of COVID-19, social phobia due to COVID-19, and COVID-19 stress contamination, these variables explain 20% of the perceived impact of COVID-19 on travel variance. The relationship between COVID-19 stress socio-economic consequences and the perception of the pandemic’s impact on travel is moderated by the emotional perceived risk of COVID-19. Fear and perception of this risk explain the impact of the COVID-19 on travel in pandemic times, suggesting that the psychological impact of fear and anxiety induced by the pandemic needs to be handled as a public health priority.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248684
Author(s):  
Hridaya Raj Devkota ◽  
Tula Ram Sijali ◽  
Ramji Bogati ◽  
Meraj Ahmad ◽  
Karuna Laxmi Shakya ◽  
...  

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has been creating a panic and distressing situations among the entire population globally including Nepal. No study has been conducted assessing the psychological impact of this pandemic on the general public in Nepal. The objective of this study is to assess the mental health status during COVID-19 outbreak and explore the potential influencing factors among the population attending the hospital fever clinics with COVID–19 symptoms. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May—June, 2020 with a sample of 645 participants aged 18 and above in 26 hospitals across Nepal. Telephone interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire along with a validated psychometric tool, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21) scale. The metrics and scores of symptoms and their severity were created and analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association of potential covariates with outcome variables. Results The prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress were 14%, 7% and 5% respectively. In reference to Karnali, participants from Bagmati province reported higher level of anxiety (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.31–9.06), while stress (OR 4.27, 95% CI 1.09–18.32) and depressive symptoms (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.05–9.23) observed higher among the participants in Province 1. Women were more at risk of anxiety (OR 3.41, 95% CI 1.83–6.36) than men. Similarly, people currently living in rented houses reported more stress (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.05–8.43) and those living far from family reported higher rates of depressive symptoms (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.03–11.46). Conclusion The study identified increased prevalence of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms during the initial stage of COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal. Considering the findings, there is urgent need to develop and implement appropriate community-based mental health programs targeting individuals who have had COVID-19 symptoms and who are prone to develop adverse mental health outcomes.


2021 ◽  
pp. 276-282
Author(s):  
Noon Abubakr Abdelrahman Kamil ◽  
Salma Elmukashfi Eltahir Mohammed ◽  
Yasir Ahmed Mohammed Elhadi ◽  
Mohamed Babiker Musa ◽  
Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi ◽  
...  

Background: The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has impacted many aspects of life. Several studies have investigated the effect of this pandemic on academic activities. Yet, no studies addressed the impact of COVID-19 on students in Sudan. This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on Sudanese undergraduate pharmacy students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire delivered to undergraduate pharmacy students. Results: A total of 137 students responded to the survey. The majority were female (74.5%) and were students in private colleges (60.6%). Majority of the students (95.0%) were affected by COVID-19 crisis and about half of the respondents (54.0%) were depressed and 85.4% reported a decreased level of concentration. In spite of these challenges, majority of our respondents were still motivated (85.3%) to continue their education on campus. Conclusion: Despite unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacy students in Sudan are motivated to continue their studies, and they want the traditional teaching model to resume. It is time to invest more in education and rethink delivery of pharmacy education in Sudan during public health emergencies. There is no better time than now.


BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e018736 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Julián Escario ◽  
Anna V Wilkinson

ObjectiveLimited research has examined the association between smoking among schoolteachers and student smoking. This paper seeks to assess whether smoking visibility on school grounds among schoolteachers is associated with student smoking. We examine both smoking behaviour and the number of cigarettes consumed.MethodsWe use a school-based cross-sectional survey carried out by the Spanish Government’s Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs. A total of 27 503 students between 14 and 18 years of age completed an anonymous survey in 2013. Count data regressions were used to assess the association between observed teacher smoking and adolescent smoking behaviour.ResultsHigh levels of visibility of teacher smoking on school grounds increased the odds of being a smoker among students (OR=2.09 and OR=1.64, for the highest levels of visibility), but the impact on the quantity of cigarettes smoked, although positive, was not significant.ConclusionTeacher smoking on school grounds is associated with student smoking behaviour. Consequently, smoking policies designed to prevent adolescent smoking should address this important social environment.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e019954 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abida Malik ◽  
Hafsah Qureshi ◽  
Humayra Abdul-Razakq ◽  
Zahra Yaqoob ◽  
Fatima Zahra Javaid ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to explore the impact of workplace dress code policies and guidance that may influence inclusivity and opportunities in the workplace.DesignQuantitative, self-completion cross-sectional survey.SettingBritish Islamic Medical Association conference.ParticipantsEighty-four female medical healthcare professionals with a range of ethnicities and wide geographical coverage.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe study reports on the experiences of female Muslim healthcare professions wearing the headscarf in theatre and their views of the bare below the elbows (BBE) policy. Percentage of positive answers and their respective 95% CIs are calculated.ResultsThe majority of participants agreed that wearing the headscarf was important for themselves and their religious beliefs (94.1%), yet over half (51.5%) experienced problems trying to wear a headscarf in theatre; some women felt embarrassed (23.4%), anxious (37.1%) and bullied (36.5%). A variety of different methods in head covering in operating theatres were identified. The majority of respondents (56.3%) felt their religious requirement to cover their arms was not respected by their trust, with nearly three-quarters (74.1%) of respondents not happy with their trust’s BBE uniform policy alternative. Dissatisfaction with the current practice of headscarves in theatre and BBE policy was highlighted, with some respondents preferring to specialise as GPs rather than in hospital medicine because of dress code matters. The hijab prototype proposed by the research team also received a positive response (98.7%).ConclusionsOur study suggests that female Muslims working in the National Health Service (NHS) reported experiencing challenges when wearing the headscarf in theatre and with BBE policy. The NHS needs to make its position clear to avoid variations in individual trust interpretation of dress code policies. This illustrates a wider issue of how policies can be at odds with personal beliefs which may contribute to a reduction in workforce diversity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elzabeth Girma Kefeni ◽  
Walelegn Worku Yallew

Abstract Despite the quick urban population growth increased volume of wastes, including human excreta, which demands an expanded need of infrastructure, solid institutional setup and communities' engagement for management of safe disposal of excreta, arrangement of such basic social services has not developed as per the rate of population growth. Mostly, communal latrines are inclined towards an absence of cleanliness, as they accommodate many people beyond their capacity, filling up septic tanks quickly. A community-based cross-sectional study conducted in 817 randomly selected communal latrine user households, five focus group discussions and four key informant interviews were analysed. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to discover the impact of different factors on the use of communal latrines. The findings revealed that the rate of communal latrine use in Addis Ababa was about 79.8%. Unhygienic conditions, latrine emptying challenges, extreme smell, number of family units sharing the same squats, and latrine designs for the aged and children were identified as barriers to latrine utilization. This study suggests that, in parallel with the continued investments to increase access to sanitary facilities in the city, the management and behavioural change part has likewise to be stressed for better use and sustainability.


Author(s):  
Hyeonjin Kang ◽  
Miyoung Lee ◽  
Sun Joo Jang

Social jetlag (SJL) refers to an asynchrony between one’s chronotype and social working hours, which can be detrimental to health. The current SJL situation in shift nurses who work in dysregulation is poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate SJL during night shifts and identify the predictors of sleep quality in rotating shift nurses. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 on a sample of 132 shift-working nurses from two general hospitals in South Korea (the response rate was 88.8%). The SJL was measured with the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire, and sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Verran and Snyder–Halpern Sleep Scale. Data analysis was mainly based on a multiple regression, to identify SJL’s influence on nurses’ sleep quality. The average SJL during night shifts was 2 h and 3 min, and the average sleep duration during night shifts was 6 h 10 min. Multiple regression analysis revealed that SJL, day-shift fatigue, and sleep quality during night shifts affected nurses’ sleep quality. These variables accounted for 24.7% of the variance in overall sleep quality. The study concluded that overall sleep quality can increase with decreasing day-shift fatigue, decreasing SJL, and increasing sleep quality on night shifts.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Chegini ◽  
Mohammad ASGHARI JAFARABADI ◽  
Edris KAKEMAM ◽  
Ali JANATI

Abstract Background There is growing interest in examining the factors affecting the reporting of errors by nurses. However, little research has been conducted into the effects of perceived patient safety culture and leader coaching behavior of nurses on the intention to report errors.Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 256 nurses in the emergency departments of 18 public and private hospitals in Tabriz, northwest Iran. Participants completed the self- administered questionnaires and the data was analyzed using linear regression analysis.Results Overall, 43% of nurses had an intention to report errors; 50% of respondents reported that their nursing managers demonstrated high levels of coaching. With regard to patient safety culture, areas of strength and weakness were “Teamwork within Units” (PRR = 66.80%) and “Non-punitive response errors” (PRR = 19.66%). Regression findings highlighted a significant association between an intention to report errors and patient safety culture (B=0.123, CI 95%: 0.005 to 0.328, P = 0.026), leader coaching behavior (B=0.172, CI 95%: 0.066 to 0.347, P = 0.004) and nurses’ educational status (B=0. 787, 95% CI: -.064 to 1.638, P = 0.048). Conclusions Further research is needed to assess how interventions addressing patient safety culture and leader coaching behaviors might increase the intention to report errors.


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