Acceptability for COVID-19 vaccination: perspectives from Muslims.

This study aims to assess COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among Muslims in Malaysia. A cross-sectional internet-based survey was to determine acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine. Other influential factors, namely socio-demographics, COVID-19 experience, self-perceived level of religiosity, support in immunization, COVID-19 immunization attitudes, and health fatalistic beliefs (measured using the Helpless Inevitability Subscale of the Religious Health Fatalism Questionnaire, RHFQ-HI) were investigated. The majority reported a definite intent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine (57.3%; 95% CI 55.0-59.6) followed by a probable intent (42.7%; 95% CI 40.4-45.0%). COVID-19 immunization attitudes measured by attitudinal barriers to vaccination scores were found to be the strongest influence of COVID-19 vaccination intent, whereby participants who have lower attitudinal barrier scores reported higher COVID-19 vaccination intent (OR = 6.75 ; 95% 5.20-8.75). Although religious health fatalism was not significantly associated with vaccination intent, a significantly higher proportion of participants with score 4-9 (61.9%) in the RHFQ-HI reported intent to receive COVID-19 vaccine than those with a score of 10-20 (53.5%), p < .001. Intervention for people with skeptical attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination is warranted.

Escalating progression of mental health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from a nationwide survey.

Since the first nationwide movement control order was implemented on 18 March 2020 in Malaysia to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, to what extent the uncertainty and continuous containment measures have imposed psychological burdens on the population is unknown. This study aimed to measure the level of mental health of the Malaysian public approximately 2 months after the pandemic's onset. Between 12 May and 5 September 2020, an anonymous online survey was conducted. The target group included all members of the Malaysian population aged 18 years and above. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used to assess mental health. There were increased depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms throughout the study period, with the depression rates showing the greatest increase. During the end of the data collection period (4 August-5 September 2020), there were high percentages of reported depressive (59.2%) and anxiety (55.1%) symptoms compared with stress (30.6%) symptoms. Perceived health status was the strongest significant predictor for depressive and anxiety symptoms. Individuals with a poorer health perception had higher odds of developing depression (odds ratio [OR] = 5.68; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.81-8.47) and anxiety (OR = 3.50; 95%CI 2.37-5.17) compared with those with a higher health perception. By demographics, young people-particularly students, females and people with poor financial conditions-were more vulnerable to mental health symptoms. These findings provide an urgent call for increased attention to detect and provide intervention strategies to combat the increasing rate of mental health problems in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Virtual Group Exercises and Psychological Status among Community-Dwelling Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Feasibility Study.

Social isolation, magnified by the restriction of movement order during the COVID-19 pandemic, may lead to negative psychosocial health impacts among community-dwelling older adults. We, therefore, aimed to evaluate recruitment rates, data collection, and group exercises conducted through virtual technology among individuals aged 60 years and over in Malaysia. Participants were recruited from the Promoting Independence in Seniors with Arthritis (PISA) pilot cohort through social media messaging. A four-week course of virtual group exercise was offered. Anxiety and depression were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) during the last attended follow-up of the cohort study (pre-pandemic), pre-intervention, and post-intervention. Exercise adherence was recorded using diaries with daily entries and attendance to the virtual group exercise sessions were also captured electronically daily. The outcomes of interest were changes in anxiety and depression scores from baseline to pre-intervention (pandemic-related) and post-intervention (virtual exercise related). Forty-three individuals were recruited. A significant increase in anxiety scores from baseline to pre-intervention was observed. Comparisons using repeated-measures analysis of variance between those who attendance ≥14 and <14 group exercise sessions revealed no between-within subject differences in depression scores. There was a 23% dropout rate in the post intervention survey and 60.5% of diaries were returned. Virtual group exercises could be conducted among older adults residing in a middle-income country, though recruitment would have been limited to those with internet access.