ABSTRACT
Background: Vaccinating children against COVID-19 is an essential public health approach for preventing infection in children and adults. This study aimed to explore parents' attitudes toward and the rate of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among children in Oman. Methods: This cross-sectional study used an online, self-administered questionnaire. The 9-item questionnaire was validated earlier and administered between June 2021 and May 2022. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. The parents received a pre-validated Google questionnaire. Responses from the parents of children younger than 11 years of age were accepted. Results: 384 participants completed the questionnaire, including 207 males (54%). The response rate was 86% (384/447). Of the 384 participants, 69% of the parents hesitated to vaccinate their children aged 1-11-year-old children). In parents of children aged 1–4 years, parental vaccination status was significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy (odds ratio [OR]: 0.116, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.044–0.306; p < 0.001). Additionally, vaccine hesitancy was significantly more common in mothers than in fathers (OR: 0.451, 95% CI: 0.240–0.848; p = 0.013). . Mothers of children were 77% more likely to be hesitant than fathers (.78, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.50–0.1.23; p = 0.283). Conclusion: Many parents hesitated to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Consequently, future awareness campaigns and strategies should target new vaccines. The results of our study show that the Arabic version of the 5-point Likert Scale for Vaccination Hesitancy is a valid and reliable tool.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
Background: The goal of this study was to investigate in-hospital mortality in patients suffering from acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) relative to the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and to determine if there are gender disparities in outcome.Methods: Between February 26 and September 8, 2020, patients having SARS-CoV-2 infection were enrolled in this retrospective cohort research, which was categorized by NLR levels ≥9 and <9. Findings: In total, 6893 patients were involved included of whom6591 had NLR <9, and 302 had NLR ≥9. The age of most of the patients in the NLR<9 group was 50 years, on the other hand, the age of most of the NLR ≥9 group patients was between 50 -70 years. The majority of patients in both groups were male 2211 (66.1%). The ICU admission time and mortality rate for the patients with NLR ≥9 was significantly higher compared to patients with NLR <9 . Logistic regression’s outcome indicated that NLR ≥9 (odds ratio (OR), 24.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 15.5–40.0; p<0.001), male sex (OR, 3.5; 95% CI: 2.0–5.9; p<0.001) and haemoglobin (HB) (OR, 0.95; 95% CI; 0.94–0.96; p<0.001) predicted in-hospital mortality significantly. Additionally, Cox proportional hazards analysis (B = 4.04, SE = 0.18, HR = 56.89, p< .001) and Kaplan–Meier survival probability plots also indicated that NLR>9 had a significant effect on mortality. Interpretation: NLR ≥9 is an independent predictor of mortality(in-hospital) among SARS-CoV-2 patients.Funding Information: There is no funding availed for this research.Declaration of Interests: There are no conflicting interests declared by the authorsEthics Approval Statement: The standing committee for health coordination and medical research at the Ministry of Health in Kuwаit approved the procedure and waived the need for informed consent (Institutional review board number 2020/1422).
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections , COVID-19ABSTRACT
Background: The aim of this study was to determine in-hospital mortality in patients presenting with acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and to evaluate for any differences in outcome according to gender. Methods: : Patients with SRS-CoV-2 infection were recruited into this retrospective cohort study between February 26 and September 8, 2020 and strаtified ассоrding tо the gender. Results: : In tоtаl оf 3360 раtients (meаn аge 44 ± 17 years) were included, of whom 2221 (66%) were mаle. The average length of hospitalization was 13 days (range: 2–31 days). During hospitalization and follow-up 176 patients (5.24%) died. Mortality rates were significantly different according to gender (p=<0.001). Specifically, male gender was associated with significantly greater mortality when compared to female gender with results significant at an alpha of 0.05, LL = 28.67, df = 1, p = 0.001, suggesting that gender could reliably determine mortality rates. The coefficient for the males was significant, B = 1.02, SE = 0.21, HR = 2.78, p < .001, indicating that an observation in the male category will have a hazard 2.78 times greater than that in the female category. Multivariate logistic regression confirmed male patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2had higher сumulаtive аll-саuse in-hоsрitаl mоrtаlity (6.8% vs. 2.3%; аdjusted оdds rаtiо (аОR), 2.80; 95% (СI): [1.61 - 5.03]; р < 0.001). Conclusions: : Male gender was an independent predictor of in-hospital death in this study. The mortality rate among male SARS-CoV-2 patients was 2.8 times higher when compared with females.