Factors associated with willingness to take COVID-19 vaccine among pregnant women at Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia: A multicenter institution-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease has spread worldwide since late 2019. Vaccination is critical in controlling this pandemic. However, vaccine acceptance among pregnant women is not well-studied. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics at Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021. About 510 study subjects were selected using a systematic random sampling technique from August 25 to September 10/2021. Data collection was done by using an interviewer-administered, structured questionnaire. Epi-info 7.2 was used to enter data and then exported to SPSS version 25 software for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. Variables with a p-value < 0.2 in the bivariable analysis were entered into the multivariable analysis to control for possible confounders. Statistical significance is determined using an adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) at a p-value of < 0.05. RESULTS: Of 510 participants, 211 (41.4%) were willing to take COVID-19 vaccines. Maternal age ≥ 35 years (AOR: 5.678, 95% CI: 1.775-18.166), having contact history with COVID-19 diagnosed people (AOR: 7.724, 95% CI: 2.183, 27.329), having a pre-existing chronic disease (AOR: 3.131, 95% CI: 1.700-5.766), good knowledge about COVID-19 vaccine (AOR: 2.391, 95% CI: 1.144, 4.998) and good attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine (AOR: 2.128, 95% CI: 1.348) were significantly associated with the outcome variable. CONCLUSIONS: The willingness to take COVID-19 vaccine among pregnant mothers was low. Age, contact history with COVID-19 diagnosed people, chronic disease, knowledge, and attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine were factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine willingness. To enhance the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, the government with different stakeholders should strengthen public education about the importance of getting COVID-19 vaccine.

Incubation Period of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Novel Coronavirus 2 that Causes Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has currently become a major global public health problem. The prevalence of COVID-19 has increased rapidly worldwide. Because there is no effective COVID-19 vaccine available yet, it is increasingly important to understand the average incubation period of severe acute respiratory syndrome novel coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, to design appropriate preventive and control strategies. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to estimate the pooled average incubation period of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted a systematic electronic web-based search of online databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and the World Health Organization Hinari portal. We included peer-reviewed research studies written in the English language on the incubation period of SARS-CoV-2 using pre-defined quality and inclusion criteria. STATA version 15 statistical software was used to analyze the data. Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal quality assessment tool for observational studies was utilized to evaluate the included studies. We extracted relevant data and presented in a tabular form. The I 2 test was used to assess heterogeneity across studies. Funnel plot asymmetry and Egger tests were used to check for publication bias. The final effect size was determined by applying a random-effects model. RESULTS: Our search identified 206 studies, amongst which 18 studies, representing 22,595 participants were included in the final analysis. The pooled average incubation period of SARS-CoV-2 was 5.7 days (95% CI, 5.1-6.4). Subgroup analyses by geographic location showed that the pooled average incubation period of SARS-CoV-2 was 6.1 days (95% CI, 5.34-6.94) in China and 4.54 (95% CI, 3.9-5.2) in other countries (Singapore, South Korea, and globally). CONCLUSIONS: The pooled average incubation period of SARS-CoV-2 was about 6 days. The longest incubation period was observed in China. Global health initiatives as well as local health planners should consider this average incubation period when designing optimal prevention and control strategies for SARS-CoV-2. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2020; 81:XXX-XXX).