scholarly journals Assessment of Depression Severity During Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Among the Palestinian Population: A Growing Concern and an Immediate Consideration

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamzeh Al Zabadi ◽  
Thair Alhroub ◽  
Noor Yaseen ◽  
Maryam Haj-Yahya
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Moderate Degree ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Depression Prevalence ◽  
Normal Degree

Background: Aggressive quarantine and lockdown measures were implemented as protective public health actions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Assessing the psychological effects associated with these measures is an important attempt to inform local policymakers in an early stage. Yet little is known about these effects, specifically depression, among the Palestinians. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of depression among the Palestinian community during this pandemic.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey throughout social media (Facebook and Instagram) was carried out using an anonymous online questionnaire. The validated and standardized depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS) was used to measure depression severity. A snowball technique recruiting the general public living in Palestine was conducted. Data were collected between 6 and 16 April 2020, which corresponded to the middle interval of strict massive lockdown in Palestine on 22 March to 5 May 2020. Multinomial logistic regression model was developed to predict depression severity.Results: About 2,819 respondents filled out the questionnaire. Depression prevalence was (57.5%; n = 1,621). Out of them, 66% had mild/moderate severity, and 34% had severe/extremely severe degree. Depression severity was negatively associated with age {mild/moderate degree [OR (95% CI) = 0.98 (0.97–0.99)] and severe/extremely severe [OR (95% CI) = 0.96 (0.94–0.97)]} degrees compared with normal degree. Males were significantly less likely to have higher depression than females {mild/moderate degree [OR (95% CI) = 0.69 (0.57–0.85)] and severe/extremely severe [OR (95% CI) = 0.52 (0.40–0.86)]} degree. However, those who reported having inadequate food supply and lesser monthly incomes were more likely to have a higher degree of depression as compared with normal degree. Single persons were significantly more likely to have mild/moderate depression than those in a relationship [OR (95% CI) = 1.31 (1.05–1.64)].Conclusions: High depression prevalence (57.5%) among the Palestinian community during the COVID-19 pandemic is a growing public health concern. It is essential to provide psychological counseling and treatment during and after the pandemic for the targeted people at high risk (young age/female gender) who were affected psychologically. Strategic long-term policy to address pandemic ramifications, including depression, by implementing comprehensive interventions taking into account socioeconomic disparities, vulnerability, and inequities, is crucial to emerge from this crisis in Palestine.

scholarly journals Are normoglycaemic individuals at risk of depression? The depression-dysglycaemic phenotype from a European population-based cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Cuschieri ◽  
Julian Mamo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Phenotypic Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Depression Prevalence ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Depression is a chronic non communicable disease. It is a growing public health concern with established links with a number of co-morbidities, including diabetes mellitus. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression at a population level, establish the depression sub-population phenotypic characteristics while exploring for links between depression and a spectrum of glycemic abnormalities. Methods A nationally representative cross-sectional study was conducted in Malta between 2014 and 2016. Participants were categorized into different sub-populations according to their glycaemic status. Depression prevalence rates and phenotypic characteristics for each sub-population were established. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify links with depression. Results Depression was prevalent in 17.15% (CI 95%: 16.01 – 18.36) with a female predominance. Those with known (as opposed to newly diagnosed) diabetes had the highest depression prevalence when compared to other glycemic sub-groups. These also exhibited a significant link with self-reported depression. However, at a population level, depression was mostly prevalent within the normoglycaemic sub-population. Conclusions The study confirms the strong link between diabetes and depression, especially, in a high risk dysglycaemic population. Of public health concern is the high depression occurrence within the normoglycaemic sub-population, which attributed for the majority of the Maltese population. In order to reduce the impact of mental health on the population, physicians may consider implementing depression screening clinical tools as part of their routine health check-ups at primary care level, irrespective of the glycaemic status of their patients.

scholarly journals Are normoglycaemic individuals at risk of depression? The depression-dysglycaemic phenotype from a European population-based cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Cuschieri ◽  
Julian Mamo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Phenotypic Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Depression Prevalence ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Depression is a chronic non communicable disease. It is a growing public health concern with established links with a number of co-morbidities, including diabetes mellitus. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression at a population level, establish the depression sub-population phenotypic characteristics while exploring for links between depression and a spectrum of glycemic abnormalities. Methods A nationally representative cross-sectional study was conducted in Malta between 2014 and 2016. Participants were categorized into different sub-populations according to their glycaemic status. Depression prevalence rates and phenotypic characteristics for each sub-population were established. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify links with depression. Results Depression was prevalent in 17.15% (CI 95%: 16.01–18.36) with a female predominance. Those with known (as opposed to newly diagnosed) diabetes had the highest depression prevalence when compared to other glycemic sub-groups. These also exhibited a significant link with self-reported depression. However, at a population level, depression was mostly prevalent within the normoglycaemic sub-population. Conclusions The study confirms the strong link between diabetes and depression, especially, in a high risk dysglycaemic population. Of public health concern is the high depression occurrence within the normoglycaemic sub-population, which attributed for the majority of the Maltese population. In order to reduce the impact of mental health on the population, physicians may consider implementing depression screening clinical tools as part of their routine health check-ups at primary care level, irrespective of the glycaemic status of their patients.

Black fungus or mucormycosis: a cross-sectional knowledge assessment among the Bangladeshi health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Humayun Kabir ◽  
Md. Kamrul Hasan ◽  
Mamunur Rahman ◽  
Shimpi Akter ◽  
Golam Ishraque Chowdhury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
P Value ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Workers

‘Black fungus’ or ‘Mucormycosis’ is an emerging public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise of black fungus cases here in Bangladesh among the COVID-19 infected persons has been raised reasonable alarming conditions among health care workers along with the general people. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate black fungus knowledge of Bangladeshi health care workers aiming the issue could be managed readily by the health care systems. A cross-sectional study was carried out among the Bangladeshi health care workers from May 25, 2021, to June 5, 2021. As COVID-19 restriction existed countrywide, data were collected via a semi-structured online questionnaire by following convenient and snowball sampling methods. The main outcome variable of this study was the black fungus knowledge score; was measured by a six items’ questionnaire. The other studied variables included socio-demographic, workplace, COVID-19, and health-related information of the respondents. The t-test and one-way ANOVA test were performed to investigate the association between the black fungus knowledge score and the studied variables. This study found 422 responses from the health care workers of Bangladesh. Among the respondents, nearly half of them (45.26%) were doctors (n= 191); where the nurses (n=161) were 38.15%, and other health care workers (n=70) were 16.59%. This study found that the black fungus knowledge mean scores of health care workers were significantly associated with seniority (p=0.001), gender (p-value = 0.012), profession (p <0.001), death of friends and family members due to COVID-19 (p=0.049), and, etc. Moreover, the gender, income, job type, and marital status of the respondents were also found to be significantly associated with the mean scores of several items of the black fungus knowledge questionnaire. Proper knowledge of health care workers regarding any emerging public health issues is considered as a sine qua non-indicator of implementing the health care system readily. This study emphasized the black fungus knowledge of the health care workers along with other associated factors. The study's findings could help the policymakers to mitigate the mucormycosis and other infectious diseases emergencies in the post-COVID-19 situation, where the wave of the pandemic was surging continuously.

scholarly journals How Public Health Professionals View Mandatory Vaccination in Italy—A Cross-Sectional Survey

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 580
Author(s):  
Erica Pitini ◽  
Valentina Baccolini ◽  
Annalisa Rosso ◽  
Azzurra Massimi ◽  
Corrado De Vito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Mandatory Vaccination

In response to the decline in child vaccination coverage and the subsequent occurrence of large vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, in 2017 Italy introduced a new law that made ten vaccines mandatory for children aged 0–16 years. The policy change initiated an ongoing debate among the general public, as well as in the political arena and the scientific community, over this major public health concern. Hence, we conducted a survey aimed at assessing Italian public health professionals’ attitudes towards and opinions on mandatory vaccination. A validated online questionnaire was administered to 1350 members of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health. Among the 1044 responders (response rate 77%), a large majority were in favour of the Italian mandatory vaccination law (91%) and against its repeal (74%). Nevertheless, according to our sample, maintaining a high level of vaccination coverage without the need to mandate would be preferable, and thus efforts to promote vaccine confidence and proactive vaccine uptake are still needed.

scholarly journals Are normoglycaemic individuals at risk of depression? The depression-dysglycaemic phenotype from a European population-based cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Cuschieri ◽  
Julian Mamo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Phenotypic Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Depression Prevalence ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Depression is a chronic non communicable disease and its control constitutes a growing public health concern given its links with a number of co-morbidities, including diabetes mellitus. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression at a population level, establish the depression sub-population phenotypic characteristics while exploring for links between depression and a spectrum of glycemic abnormalities. Methods A nationally representative cross-sectional study was conducted in Malta between 2014 and 2016. Participants were categorized into different sub-populations according to their glycaemic status. Depression prevalence rates and phenotypic characteristics for each sub-population were established. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify links with depression. Results Depression was prevalent in 17.15% (CI 95%: 16.01 – 18.36) with a female predominance. Those with known (as opposed to newly diagnosed) diabetes had the highest depression prevalence when compared to other glycemic sub-groups and exhibited a significant link with self-reported depression. However, at a population level, depression was mostly prevalent within the normoglycaemic sub-population. Conclusions The study confirms the strong link between diabetes and depression, especially, in a high risk dysglycaemic population. Of public health concern is the high depression occurrence within the normoglycaemic sub-population, which constitutes the majority of the total Maltese population. Given the high prevalence of depressive illness in the population and in order to reduce the impact of mental health on the population, physicians may consider implementing depression screening clinical tools as part of their routine health check-ups at primary care level, irrespective of the glycaemic status of their patients.

scholarly journals Perception of mucormycosis infection among Bangladeshi healthcare workers: an exploratory cross-sectional study in the year following the COVID-19 pandemic

2022 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Humayun Kabir ◽  
Md. Kamrul Hasan ◽  
Mamunur Rahman ◽  
Shimpi Akter ◽  
Golam Ishraque Chowdhury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Fungal Infection ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Monthly Income ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Mucormycosis, a severe fungal infection, is an emerging public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the perception of mucormycosis among Bangladeshi healthcare workers. Results An exploratory cross-sectional study was carried out among the Bangladeshi healthcare workers from May 25, 2021, to June 5, 2021. The study found 422 responses from the healthcare workers of Bangladesh. Among the respondents, nearly half of them (45.26%) were doctors (n = 191). This study explored that the healthcare workers’ mucormycosis perception scores were significantly associated with their age, gender, profession, monthly income, marital status, job type, and death of friends and family members due to COVID-19. Conclusions This study emphasized the healthcare workers’ mucormycosis perception along with other associated factors. The findings could help policymakers to mitigate mucormycosis and related infectious diseases emergencies in the post-COVID-19 situation.

scholarly journals Telework during the COVID-19 epidemic in Portugal and determinants of job satisfaction: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mafalda Sousa-Uva ◽  
António Sousa-Uva ◽  
Marta Mello e Sampayo ◽  
Florentino Serranheira
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background Telework satisfaction is a Public Health concern, intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, and its determinant factors may be related with the negative health effects of teleworking. However, there is still little research exploring this issue. This study aimed to characterize telework during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Portugal and to identify the major predictors of telework satisfaction. Methods This is a cross-sectional study aimed at all teleworkers working in Portugal, during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic. Data were collected through a Google Forms platform online questionnaire distributed by a snowball method on social networks. Descriptive statistics included crude and relative frequency data. The associations between sociodemographic characteristics, self-perceived health, organization of working time, concentration at work, work-life balance, work disconnection, working conditions, and organizational demands (flexibility and organizational trust based on E-work Life Scale) with telework satisfaction were estimated through logistic regression. Results This study included 1004 participants. Teleworkers satisfaction levels were high (69%). Better concentration at work (OR = 1.54; 95%CI 1.01–2.34); the satisfaction with the balance between work life and extra work when teleworking (OR = 1.79; 95%CI 1.17–2.74); and higher work flexibility (OR = 2.26; 95%CI 1.46–3.49) were good predictors of greater levels of satisfaction with telework. However, its major predictors were the company’s trust in teleworkers (OR = 4.50; 95%CI 2.89–7.02) and feeling good in the workspace at home (OR = 3.72; 95%CI 1.46–9.49). Conclusions Our findings point that work environment and organizational culture play a crucial role in affecting telework satisfaction. More studies are needed to monitor telework satisfaction and its effects on physical and mental health, so that Public and Occupational Health (and Safety) can be able to identify and implement the best interventions that allow promoting individual health and foster a healthy work environment for teleworkers.

scholarly journals Factors associated with hypertension in Pakistan: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0246085
Author(s):  
Muhammad Riaz ◽  
Ghazala Shah ◽  
Muhammad Asif ◽  
Asma Shah ◽  
Kaustubh Adhikari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Case Control Studies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Health Related

Background High blood pressure is an important public health concern and the leading risk factor for global mortality and morbidity. To assess the implications of this condition, we aimed to review the existing literature and study the factors that are significantly associated with hypertension in the Pakistani population. Methods We conducted several electronic searches in PubMed, ISI Web of Science, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Scopus, Elsevier, and manually searched the citations of published articles on hypertension from May 2019 to August 2019. We included all studies that examined factors associated with hypertension regardless of the study design. To assess the quality of the research, we used the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. We also conducted meta-analyses using the DerSimonian & Laird random-effects model to collate results from at least three studies. Results We included 30 cross-sectional and 7 case-control studies (99,391 participants country-wide) in this review and found 13 (35.1%) to be high-quality studies. We identified 5 socio-demographic, 3 lifestyle, 3 health-related, and 4 psychological variables that were significantly associated with hypertension. Adults aged between 30–60 years who were married, living in urban areas with high incomes, used tobacco, had a family history of hypertension, and had comorbidities (overweight, obesity, diabetes, anxiety, stress, and anger management issues) were positively associated with hypertension. On the other hand, individuals having high education levels, normal physical activity, and unrestricted salt in their diet were negatively associated with hypertension. Conclusion We found several socio-demographic, lifestyle, health-related, and psychological factors that were significantly (positively and negatively) associated with hypertension. Our findings may help physicians and public health workers to identify high-risk groups and recommend appropriate prevention strategies. Further research is warranted to investigate these factors rigorously and collate global evidence on the same.

scholarly journals Thinness as Major Underlying Problem Among Adolescents of Northeast India

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Mondal
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Northeast India ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Rural Regions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
S Model ◽  
Model Approach

Background: Undernutrition is a major public health concern in many of the developing countries of Asia. Due to immense population size, socioeconomic disparities, illiteracy and inadequate access to health facilities prevalence is very high in India. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of age-sex specific thinness (low BMI-for-age) among adolescents residing in rural regions in India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study has conducted among 1165 adolescent (602 boys; 563 girls) aged 10-18 years of Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India. Anthropometric measurements were height and weight obtained and BMI (weight/height2, kg/ m2) was calculated. The prevalence of thinness was assessed using newly proposed age-sex specific cut-offs of Cole et al. The data were analyzed using chi-square, ANOVA and Least Mean and Square (L,M and S) model approach. Results: Prevalence of overall thinness is 49.10% (51.16% boys, 46.89% girls) among rural adolescents. The boys are found to be more sufferer than girls in the different thinness grades include mild (grade I; 27.41% vs. 27.11%), moderate (grade II; 14.62% vs. 12.08%) and severe (grade III; 9.14% vs. 8.70%) (p>0.05). The age and sex specific smooth percentile curves of BMI were derived using L,M and S model approach for further evaluation of nutritional status. Conclusion: The existence of high prevalence of thinness among adolescents indicates nutritional deprivation among rural Indian adolescents. There is an urgent need of appropriate nutritional intervention program to address the public health problem related to undernutrition especially among nutritionally vulnerable segments of adolescents residing in rural regions to ameliorate the nutritional status DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i1.8922    J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(1):39-47

Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on the Physical Activity and Lifestyle of Medical Students of University of Lahore

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 2175-2177
Author(s):  
Khadija Ghafoor Quraishi ◽  
Mian Ali Raza ◽  
Sadaf Waris ◽  
Fahad Tanveer ◽  
Ashfaq Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Low Level ◽  
High Level ◽  
The University

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has become a foremost health concern, many countries have ordered lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19 due to which many Universities are closed and students are taking lectures online, Pakistan is also one of the countries in which lockdown was imposed, the aim of this study is to examine the level of physical activity and lifestyle of medical students from University of Lahore (UoL) during COVID-19. Aim: To determine the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on the physical activity and lifestyle of medical students of University of Lahore. Materials: Sample size included 151 medical students from the University of Lahore, study was pure cross-sectional and convenient sampling technique was used, data was collected through online questionnaire which contained question from IPAQ-SF to estimate the physical activity and lifestyle of observed University students. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results: The results showed that from the population of 151 medical students of University of Lahore 75 students (49.7%) reported Low level of physical activity, while 44 students (29.1%) students reported Moderate level of physical activity, and 32 students (21.2%) reported high level of physical activity. Conclusion: Majority of the medical students showed Low level of physical activity, 49.7% in the last 7 days during COVID-19 pandemic. Medical students of University of Lahore showed a decrease in their overall physical activity level. Keywords: COVID-19, lockdown, Medical students, Physical activity

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