Factors Affecting the Financial Performance of Islamic Banks in Pakistan

This research aims to evaluate the internal factors influencing the performance of Islamic banks in Pakistan. There are currently five Islamic banks in operation, and data from all five have been used to analyze their performance from 2008 to 2021. The data was collected from the State Bank of Pakistan. To examine financial performance, this study used return on assets (ROA) and returns on equity (ROE) as proxies, and considered both internal attributes (such as liquidity, bank size, asset quality, capital adequacy ratio, operational efficiency, and assets management) and external factors (such as macroeconomic indicators like GDP growth and inflation rate). Ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation is employed to examine the relationship among variables. The estimation findings suggest that all of the internal factors have a strong association with banks' performance. Bank size and asset quality were found to have a positive and significant association with ROA, while asset quality and assets management were associated positively with ROE. Additionally, during the Covid-19 pandemic period, banks' size and liquidity were found to adversely affect ROA of Islamic banks, while operational efficiency had a positive impact.

Impact of COVID-19 on the contagion effect of risks in the banking industry: based on transfer entropy and social network analysis method

Based on the daily stock closing price data of 14 A-share listed banks in China from January 2009 to June 2021, this paper makes a comparative analysis of the contagion effect of risks in the banking industry before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. Based on the transfer entropy method, this paper calculates the correlation network matrix of inter-bank risk contagion effect and empirically studies the contagion effect of risks in the banking industry before and after the outbreak by using social network analysis method, depicting the network structure of systemic risk contagion in Chinese banking industry. This study found that the risk of inter-bank system increased significantly after the outbreak and the key nodes of bank risk contagion have also changed before and after the outbreak;state-owned banks are less risky, joint-stock banks and local financial institutions are riskier, and the contagion effect of risks between banks is asymmetric.

Indirect effects of COVID-19 pandemic on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services in Pakistan.

Background: COVID-19 is having many impacts on health, economy and social life; some due to the indirect effects of closure of health facilities to curb the spread. Closures were implemented in Pakistan from March 2020, affecting provision of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services. Aims: To appraise the effects of containment and lockdown policies on RMNCH service utilization in order to develop an early response to avoid the catastrophic impact of COVID-19 on RMNCH in Pakistan. Methods: Routine monitoring data were analysed for indicators utilization of RMNCH care. The analysis was based on Period 1 (January-May 2020, first wave of COVID-19); Period 2 (June-September 2020, declining number of cases of COVID-19); and Period 3 (October-December 2020, second wave of COVID-19). We also compared data from May and December 2020 with corresponding months in 2019, to ascertain whether changes were due to COVID-19. Results: Reduced utilization was noted for all RMNCH indicators during Periods 1 and 3. There was a greater decline in service utilization during the first wave, and the highest reduction (~82%) was among children aged < 5 years, who were treated for pneumonia. The number of caesarean sections dropped by 57%, followed by institutional deliveries and first postnatal visit (37% each). Service utilization increased from June to September, but the second wave of COVID-19 led to another decrease. Conclusion: To reinstate routine services, priority actions and key areas include continued provision of family planning services along with uninterrupted immunization campaigns and routine maternal and child services.

An empirical analysis on COVID-19: Lockdown impact on Nigerian economy

Objective of this study is to analyze the lockdown effect on economic activities in Nigeria as the lockdown response measure to COVID-19 pandemic claim to pose a serious and potentially long-term socio-economic threat to individuals households businesses as well as public sectors in Nigeria. This study considered four regions in Nigeria (Northwest North-Central South-South and Southeast) and adopted a quantitative research approach which entails systematic evaluation of individuals’ behavior towards an unprecedented economic shock and their response to the manner in which the situation might unfolds by lifting the lockdown measure in Nigeria. This is achievable with a systematic random sample and a well-structured survey questionnaire. All these regions experienced the imposition of lockdown measure by their respective state authorities. The results indicated that most socio-economic challenges including job loss increase social vices rise in poverty level fall in economic activities as well as fall in the level of GDP faced by individuals was not a resultant of the lockdown. Consequently, authority’s inefficiency was also challenged in spite of their efforts to mitigate and control the emerging economic consequences faced by households during the lockdown periods. The study recommends that lifting of lockdown would be the best action for the government to take for socio-economic resilience. The study also revealed that both public and individuals need to establish democratic preferences and trust on health professionals or experts. Further to this government should decide on effective measures needed to contain the continuous spread of the virus especially through development of research based and healthcare institutions.

A-One Health Approach on the Evaluation of COVID-19 Risk Perception and Factors Associated with the COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Nigeria, West Africa (preprint)

Background Effective elimination of the COVID-19 pandemic is dependent on the COVID-19 vaccines that are readily available and acceptable to the public. This study evaluated the COVID-19 risk perception and factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Nigeria.Methods A cross-sectional online survey with a structured questionnaire employing a Snowball sampling method was administered among Nigerian adults from the beginning of COVID-19 mass vaccination in March 2021 till December 2021. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and multivariable regression. Participants’ general knowledge regarding COVID-19, willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccines, perception of seriousness, susceptibility of COVID-19 were assessed.Results From the 402 responses received, the mean age of the respondents was 35.1 ± 11.9 years, with the majority being males (288 (71.6%)) and non-health workers (349 (86.8%)). Overall, COVID-19 knowledge was good, with a mean score of 6.2 ± 0.19 (range 0–8) and a COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate of 65.67%. We found a consistent positive relationship between respondents’ COVID-19 knowledge and their willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccines. Respondents who believed that the 5G network is not the cause of COVID-19 were two times more likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine (aOR 2.38; 95%CI 1.05–5.36; p = 0.04). Furthermore, our comparisons of respondents’ age groups and marital status revealed higher odds of being willing to accept COVID-19 vaccines among respondents who were age 50 ≥ years old (aOR 7.35; 95% CI: 1.69–31.93; p = 0.008) and those who were singles (aOR 4.39; 95% CI: 1.86–10.33; p = 0.001), respectively. However, non-healthcare workers with high income and educational status were unwilling to accept COVID-19 vaccines. Surprisingly, although 303 (75.4%) of the respondents believed COVID-19 is a severe disease, only 119 (45.1%) are confident of contracting the COVID-19 should they fail to adhere to infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.Conclusion the study revealed that the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine varied across demographic characteristics, level of education, income and employment status, and perceived severity and susceptibility to COVID-19. We recommend continuous public health education on the risk of COVID-19 and the vital role vaccine will play in ending this pandemic.