ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every sector in the world, ranging from the education sector to the health sector, administration sector, economic sector and others in different ways. Multiple kinds of research have been performed by research centres, education institutions and research groups to determine the extent of how huge of a threat the COVID-19 pandemic poses to each sector. However, detailed analysis and assessment of its impact on every single target within the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have not been discussed so far. We report an assessment of the impact of COVID-19 effect towards achieving the United Nations SDGs. In assessing the pandemic effects, an expert elicitation model is used to show how the COVID-19 severity affects the positive and negative impact on the 169 targets of 17 SDGs under environment, society and economy groups. We found that the COVID-19 pandemic has a low positive impact in achieving only 34 (20.12%) targets across the available SDGs and a high negative impact of 54 targets (31.95%) in which the most affected group is the economy and society. The environmental group is affected less;rather it helps to achieve a few targets within this group. Our elicitation model indicates that the assessment process effectively measures the mapping of the COVID-19 pandemic impact on achieving the SDGs. This assessment identifies that the COVID-19 pandemic acts mostly as a threat in enabling the targets of the SDGs.
ABSTRACT
Healthcare monitoring system in hospitals and other health institutes has increased significantly. In recent days healthcare monitoring systems with new technologies are becoming of great concern to countries all over the world. Nowadays IOT (internet of things) is such an emerging technology. Iot consists of various sensors and communication devices which are necessary tools for IOT based health monitoring systems. Among the various applications that Internet of Things (IoT) facilitated to the world, Health care and Health monitoring applications are most important. It also responded if any medical emergency was needed. IoT (Internet of Things) has brought a remarkable approach in healthcare during the global pandemic. The remote health surveillance monitors certain parameters of a patient using digital technology and allows a correct evaluation of health right at home. This brilliant internet revolution has not only minimized patient movement during COVID but also ensured smart healthcare for all ages. IoT heads to set up a strategic connection between the patient the doctors. The goal is to track the important health parameters such as - Blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose level etc. and evaluate the data to figure out any sort of medical emergency. From diagnosing heart disease to finding ICU bed availability in the nearest hospitals, digital technology is all set to assist. Using certain medical sensor devices web-based apps, the health data is passed to the portal from where concerned doctors can provide medical assistance. The data collection, transmission visualization can use a smartphone as a hub, thus making the operation smooth flexible. It is the most practical economical solution to people of all ages while avoiding direct contact preventing the spread of the virus. The wearable real-time health tracking devices privilege the elder citizen through continuous monitoring while ensuring immediate measures in case of emergency. In this paper, a review of IoT based smart health monitoring systems is presented. The latest innovative technologies used for IoT based smart health monitoring systems with their benefits and challenges have been discussed. This review's goal is to effectively and continuously monitor the multiple patients in a hospital ward and as well as remotely located patients so that it will ultimately reduce hospital operating costs, all other communication costs and improve the quality of health service. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
Background: The highly transmissible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has plagued the worldwide population with a continuous upward thrust of the death toll, which might be related to insufficient knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral (KAB) score, and public awareness. Objective: The current research sought to explore public awareness in terms of knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral responses toward COVID-19 and analyze its spreading pattern during the embryonic phase in Bangladesh. Methods: From March 19 to April 15 of 2020, seventeen planned questions were answered by the Bangladeshi respondents recruited through a simple snowball sampling technique. Informed consent from each participant was taken in the survey. Results: Out of the total participants (n = 1861), 34.65% were female, and 40.83% had an education level up to Junior School Certificate (JSC). Among all the demographic variables, the highest average knowledge, attitudes and behaviors scores (mean ± SD) were reported for 18-30 years age group (4.07 ± 1.01 out of 5;95% confidence interval, [CI] = 4.01-4.13;p<0.001), above 50 years age group (1.70 ± 0.64 out of 3;95% CI = 1.59-1.80;p< 0.001), and bachelor or higher degree group (2.64 ± 0.83 out of 4;95% CI = 2.57-2.70, p< 0.001), respectively. It was clearly depicted that the obtained knowledge score was associated with poor attitudes and behaviors. Conclusion: Education on basic health sciences as well as overwhelming campaign and publicity must be pointed at enhancing KAB scores towards COVID-19 in Bangladesh.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Here, we have shortly reported the recent updates on the disastrous progressions of the deadly delta variant and a virulent coinfection or post-COVID-19 infection of black fungus in India and its neighbouring countries. METHODOLOGY: We searched by utilizing appropriate keywords in Google Scholar, PubMed and other scholarly databases alongside several national and international newspapers to collect the latest data regarding the targeted topic. RESULTS: Recently, the delta variant is wreaking havoc in India, UK, and other countries around the globe and has also exhibited successful infections in around 20 to 55% of the people who have already recovered from COVID-19 originating from the different strains. Besides, a significant catch is the prevalence of 85.5% and 64.11% of Mucormycosis infections being co-morbid with COVID-19 and diabetes, respectively in South-Asian regions. CONCLUSIONS: To avert the emergence of an epidemic amid the pandemic, prompt actions from concerned authorities are warranted. Proper education on black fungus infection and associated risks from the COVID-19 and diabetes, adequate public awareness, and sufficient healthcare assistance to battle such fungal infections effectively should be ensured as quickly as possible.
ABSTRACT
Healthcare professionals are the crucial and influencing source of information for vaccines and their communication among patients and communities that can accelerate successful vaccination in a country. This cross-sectional study was one of the first and foremost ones in Bangladesh to observe the basic perception and attitudes towards vaccination against COVID-19 among the healthcare workers (HCWs) - doctors, interns, nurses, ward boys, cleaners, and medical technologists of major COVID-dedicated hospitals. The cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in February 2021 among 550 HCWs to assess the perception and attitude towards vaccination against COVID-19. The study participants were targeted as the priority group for COVID-19 vaccination, working in two major COVID-dedicated hospitals, Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital (HF-center), and Sheikh Russel National Gastro-liver Institute and Hospital (SR-center) in Dhaka, Bangladesh during the pandemic. The questionnaire was structured with a three-point scale of responses from 'true', 'false', and 'do not know'. The responses were calculated on point-score as +1 for the correct response, -1 for the wrong response, and 0 for 'do not know' with an overall highest and the lowest possible score of +5 to -5. Absolute (n) and relative frequencies (%) were presented for qualitative variables, while quantitative variables were presented as mean (+/- standard deviation). Chi-square test was done for univariate analysis of qualitative variables and Student's t-test for quantitative variables. With the 95.27% response rate, including 204 males and 320 were female and the male: female ratio was 1: 1.56. The majority of the participants were doctors (45.8%) followed by nurses (27.9%), and MLSS (26.3%) respectively. The respondents were between 18 to 64 years of age with a mean of 36.17+/-10.94 years. Most of the respondents (95.99%) responded correctly about the cost-free availability of a vaccine against COVID-19 in the country, 87.40% preferred vaccination as safe and effective. Again 29.77% HCWs think the vaccine might not be safe or effective due to emergency authorization. Only 38.93% of respondents could respond correctly about the necessity of vaccines for children, 31.10% think the vaccination was not required instead of natural immunity. The positive perception and attitude of the frontline HCWs in COVID-dedicated hospitals in Bangladesh are crucial which will positively influence motivation and wide acceptance among the general population for the attainment of the nationwide vaccination program, and adopt effective strategic modification to minimize the gaps for a low-middle income country like Bangladesh with its resource constrain.
ABSTRACT
Globally, a spectrum of infectious disease outbreaks like SARS in 2013, Ebola in 2014, MERS in 2015, and currently COVID-19, have affected us in the early phase of this century and coerced the people across the world to search the adamant control measures to avert the pandemic by any means. Unfortunately, high economic costs and resource-limitations, especially in low-and middle-income countries, restrict the adoption of the epidemic control measures in most cases. Since late December of 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been creating a breakneck public health concern worldwide. Currently, there is no effective drug to tackle the COVID-19 infection or vaccine yet to be approved. An old-age concept, herd immunity might be a prospective option in this uncertain situation to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. A minimum fraction of people need to be immunized through vaccination or previous infection to attain the herd immunity base that may build an obstacle to free the community from the disease. The insusceptible or indirectly immunized people can act as an invisible shield to impede the epidemic's dispersion anymore.
ABSTRACT
Background: The world has been passing the most critical time of the century with the COVID-19 pandemic since late December 2019, and numerous people, including a significant portion of health care providers, got the infection and are still sacrificing their lives.