scholarly journals Knowledge and Adherence to COVID-19 Preventive Measures: A Continental Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olabode E. Omotoso ◽  
Elizabeth F. Omotoso ◽  
Kehinde O. Paimo ◽  
John O. Teibo ◽  
Abolaji O. Olagunju
Keyword(s):  
Global Economy ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Professional Qualification ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Rural Dwellers

Background: The burden of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been on the rise since it was first reported in December 2019. COVID-19 has devastated global economy, public health, social interaction, and has claimed millions of lives globally within a few months. Due to the severe effect of some of the instituted guidelines on citizens and the economy, some of the policies in place to curtail the spread were receded. Hence, the present review aims to assess existing literature on the knowledge and adherence of Africans toward the COVID-19 preventive measures. Methods: Studies focused on Africans’ knowledge and adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures were selected using Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed databases. Preprints that have not been peer-reviewed, reviews, and non-COVID-19 studies were excluded. Results: All selected studies showed a satisfactory knowledge of respondents about COVID-19 but poor level of adherence to the preventive measures. Good knowledge and satisfactory level of adherence was common mostly among the clinical health workers, highly educated, and those with higher professional qualification, while poor knowledge and poor practice was observed mostly among rural dwellers, people of poor educational background, and those unable to read and write. Conclusion: This review identified a relatively good knowledge about COVID-19 from all the studies, however, the level of adherence to preventive measures was poor. We recommend that the populace adhere to the laid guidelines to ensure the spread of the virus is curbed while also enhancing the eradication of the pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19, adherence, knowledge, preventive measures, Africa

scholarly journals Mutational hotspots and conserved domains of SARS-CoV-2 genome in African population

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olabode E. Omotoso ◽  
Ayoade D. Babalola ◽  
Amira Matareek
Keyword(s):  
Global Economy ◽  
African Population ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Conserved Domains ◽  
Nucleocapsid Proteins ◽  
Genome Variability ◽  
Promising Strategy ◽  
Mutational Hotspots ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Complete Protein

Abstract Background Since outbreak in December 2019, the highly infectious and pathogenic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused over a million deaths globally. With increasing burden, the novel coronavirus has posed a dire threat to public health, social interaction, and global economy. Mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome are moderately evolving which might have contributed to its genome variability, transmission, replication efficiency, and virulence in different regions of the world. Results The present study elucidated the mutational landscape in the SARS-CoV-2 genome among the African populace, which may have contributed to the virulence, spread, and pathogenicity observed in the region. A total of 3045 SARS-CoV-2 complete protein sequences with the reference viral sequence (EPI_ISL_402124) were mined and analyzed. SARS-CoV-2 ORF1ab, spike, ORF3, ORF8, and nucleocapsid proteins were observed as mutational hotspots in the African population and may be of keen interest in understanding the viral host relationship, while there is conservation in the ORF6, ORF7a, ORF7b, ORF10, envelope, and membrane proteins. Conclusions The accumulation of moderate mutations (though slowly), in the SARS-CoV-2 genome as seen in this present study, could be a promising strategy to develop antiviral drugs or vaccines. These antiviral interventions should target viral conserved domains and host cellular proteins and/or receptors involved in viral invasion and replication to avoid a new viral wave due to drug resistance and vaccine evasion.

scholarly journals Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Future Challenges and Recommendations for Dental Settings

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. RV1-RV5
Author(s):  
Najmus Sahar ◽  
Pradeep Tangade ◽  
Vikas Singh ◽  
Surbhi Priyadarshini ◽  
Debashis Roy
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Review Article ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus outbreak is a contagious disease affecting the countries around the world. The quick advancing nature of pandemic has gripped the entire community making it a public health emergency. Infection control preventive measures are necessary to prevent it from further spreading. Medical practitioners, health care workers and Dentists are at high risk of acquiring and transmission of infection. The virus transmission occurs through respiratory tract, aerosols and droplets. Clinical manifestations of virus vary from mild to severe sickness. This review article mainly emphasizes on all the information collected to date on the virus, and future recommendations for dental settings to manage the further spread of this virus.

scholarly journals Psychological Effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. 360-363
Author(s):  
Minyoung Sim
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Psychological Effects ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Loss Of Autonomy ◽  
The World ◽  
Secondary Stressors ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread across the world, reducing social interactions and causing substantial psychological distress and economic losses. This review summarizes the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of uncertainty, the loss of autonomy associated with preventive measures, and secondary stressors such as potential future economic losses.

scholarly journals Increases in Use of Psychiatric Sick Leave During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Healthcare Workers in a Municipality of Argentina. Observed Versus Expected Cases in 2020 compared to Historical data.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agustina M Marconi ◽  
Ursula S Myers ◽  
Alfredo M Retamar ◽  
Ivanna Jazmin Freddi ◽  
Rafael Zamora
Keyword(s):  
Sick Leave ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
The Novel ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Municipal Level ◽  
Wide Pressure

Abstract Background: The severe respiratory syndrome caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS CoV 2) has caused world-wide pressure on the healthcare workers attempting to treat millions of individuals ill with COVID-19, in addition to their regular duties. Aims: examine the use of psychiatric leave by Argentinian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic; explore differences by gender. Methods: analysis of “excess of psychiatric sick leave” in health workers at a municipal level for Buenos Aires, January- October 2020. We used historical cases of psychiatric sick leave (2015-2019) and those requested in 2020. The differences between gender were determined using difference in proportions among groups. Results: The excess of psychiatric sick leave in 2020 compared to historical data was 161.90%. The difference in proportion per sex showed a significant 59.34% towards female. Conclusions: healthcare workers in the Argentinian municipality of Vicente Lopez used significantly higher number of psychiatric sick leaves during pandemic. The higher rates of psychiatric sick leave used by female replicate findings of higher rates of psychological symptoms in female healthcare workers.

scholarly journals COVID 19: concerns and preparedness among healthcare workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 1044
Author(s):  
Gurkiran Kaur ◽  
Ankur Mohan ◽  
Mamta Mohan ◽  
Aprajita .
Keyword(s):  
Global Economy ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Item Questionnaire ◽  
The Family ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Skilled Staff

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Coronavirus is emerging as a major threat to the global economy and psychology. The survey aims to know the concerns and preparedness of healthcare workers in the region of Punjab.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> An online anonymous survey of 22 item questionnaire was conducted over 124 frontline medical professionals in the region. Linear snowball sampling was done.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The major bulk of the study population were doctors and psychological unpreparedness and fear of increased exposure and contracting infection to the family came out to be the main concerns. While lack of enough skilled staff, essential protective equipment, and adequate support from authorities came out to be major loopholes in management strategies of the novel coronavirus.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The authorities should provide enough encouragement and assistance mentally as well as in the form of diagnostic, protective, and remedial pieces of equipment. On the other hand, the up-gradation of preparedness plans cannot be ignored either.</p>

scholarly journals AI Chatbot Design during an Epidemic like the Novel Coronavirus

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gopi Battineni ◽  
Nalini Chintalapudi ◽  
Francesco Amenta
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Diagnostic Evaluation ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Healthcare Staff ◽  
Medical Specialist ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Since the discovery of the Coronavirus (nCOV-19), it has become a global pandemic. At the same time, it has been a great challenge to hospitals or healthcare staff to manage the flow of the high number of cases. Especially in remote areas, it is becoming more difficult to consult a medical specialist when the immediate hit of the epidemic has occurred. Thus, it becomes obvious that if effectively designed and deployed chatbot can help patients living in remote areas by promoting preventive measures, virus updates, and reducing psychological damage caused by isolation and fear. This study presents the design of a sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot for the purpose of diagnostic evaluation and recommending immediate measures when patients are exposed to nCOV-19. In addition, presenting a virtual assistant can also measure the infection severity and connects with registered doctors when symptoms become serious.

scholarly journals Predicting a Pandemic: testing crowd wisdom and expert forecasting amidst the novel COVID-19 outbreak

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emil O. W. Kirkegaard ◽  
Wael Taji ◽  
Arjen Gerritsen
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Crowd Wisdom ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
The Future ◽  
Future Events ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Individual

Taking countermeasures to protect against future events requires predicting what the future will be like. In late 2019, a novel coronavirus known as NCov-2019 emerged in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to most countries in the world. Anticipatory responses by civilians facing the crisis have included self-isolation measures, extreme stockpiling of food or medical supplies, and other forms of preparation to meet the expected crisis. However, no consensus exists as to the accuracy of civilian expectations, nor toward the relative value of different informational sources used by citizens to build these expectations (e.g. mainstream news as opposed to an educational background in virology). In the present study, we used an online survey (n = 333 in final sample) to collect individual characteristics and general knowledge regarding viruses and the novel coronavirus, in addition to their forecasts for the various outcomes expected to result from it in the near future. This will allow for the individual correlates of accurate forecasting to be known by 2021, which could prove important for assigning relative weights to forecasts for other events in the future.

scholarly journals COVID-19; Plague of the 21st Century; Situation Update

2020 ◽  
pp. 11-21
Author(s):  
Mirza Zain Baig ◽  
Zaitoon Zafar ◽  
Abeer Aziz ◽  
Umme Hani Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Global Economy ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Medical Infrastructure

The first known case of COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus now known as SARS-CoV-2 occurred in Wuhan, China in late December 2019. In a matter of a few months, it has spread globally to infect more than 500, 000 people and has caused more than 20,000 deaths. It was officially declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization (WHO). To date, it has strained medical infrastructure, stagnated global economy and given rise to social stigma, fear, and racism. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of our current knowledge and understanding of this new disease.

scholarly journals Elderly individuals living by themselves: knowledge and measures to prevent the novel coronavirus

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darlene Mara dos Santos Tavares ◽  
Nayara Gomes Nunes Oliveira ◽  
Gianna Fiori Marchiori ◽  
Mariana Silva Freitas Guimarães ◽  
Lenniara Pereira Mendes Santana
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Objective: to describe the occurrence of COVID-19 and the health services used by elderly individuals living by themselves; identify the knowledge held by elderly individuals regarding the transmission, signs and symptoms of COVID-19, as well as factors associated with poor knowledge of preventive measures according to sociodemographic and clinical variables. Method: cross-sectional survey conducted by telephone or mobile with 123 elderly individuals living by themselves in the Health Macro-Region of Triângulo Sul in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Descriptive analysis was performed along with bivariate and multiple linear regression (p<0.05). Results: most elderly individuals did not present COVID-19 signs and symptoms (97.5%), were aware of how it is transmitted (86.6%), and of its signs and symptoms (90.8%). The elderly individuals were familiar with four preventive measures on average. After social distancing began, 85.7% of them left home and implemented three preventive measures on average, the most frequent of which was the use of face masks (99.0%). Being a man (p=0.001), 80 years old or older (p=0.045), and having fewer years of schooling (p=0.010) were associated with having less knowledge regarding the COVID-19 preventive measures. Conclusion: the elderly individuals were knowledgeable on COVID-19, but did not implement all the preventive measures. Male elderly individuals living by themselves with a low educational level are more vulnerable to COVID-19.

scholarly journals Immunity Boosting measures during COVID– 19

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-42
Author(s):  
Tuba Tanveer ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Global Level ◽  
Human Race ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Disease Epidemics

Viral pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan, China, in 2019 was observed and a novel coronavirus was identified as the cause of this outbreak. COVID-19 was the official term given by the World Health Organization and announced this on February 11, 2020 publicly. Corona virus spreads through person to person contact. The novel corona virus has taken a few months to sweep the globe, there are certain questions that are impossible to fathom as the disease rages. As the vaccine for Covid-19 is not yet discovered, the virus is being controlled from spreading worldwide through numerous strategies. Therefore, noticing the virulence of this virus several preventive measures have been taken at a global level to protect the human race. One of the effective measures in controlling the spread of respiratory disease epidemics is maintaining social distance and, therefore, can be used as a way to reduce its spread. Improving the immune power of a person is another crucial measure adopted to obviate its spread. AYUSH system of medicine is performing a central role in the contribution of meliorating the immune system of a person. Variety of herbal combinations have proven to perform the same function. The very first and easy way to boost the immunity and kill the virus, is to drink warm water throughout the day. It is further also advised to take steam once a day. 30 minutes of daily practice of Yogasana, Pranayama and meditation contributes in boosting immunity. Also using Dhaniya, Haldi, Jeera and Lahsun in cooking helps. It is also advised to use Half teaspoon Haldi with 150 ml of Hot milk, once or twice a day. Consuming Chyavanprash 10 mg in the morning is equally helpful.

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