ABSTRACT
Objective: The current study intends to look at how COVID-19 pandemic affected parenting practices during COVID-19 in Pakistan and if the children were exposed to more abuse and neglect at home. Study Design: A quantitative design survey. Place and Duration of the Study: Data was collected from parents visiting outpatient departments (OPDs) in four hospitals of Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi in three months from July to September 2020. Material and Methods: A quantitative design survey was used, and data (N=923) were collected using a self-administered COVID-19 Parenting Response Scale (α = 0.74). Results: The primary responsibility of taking care of children rested with mothers in most of the cases. Ratio of severe disciplinary practices like shouting, yelling, cursing, and slapping children was increased significantly during the lock down as the anger and frustration in the parents also mounted. This effect was more pronounced in families from lower socioeconomic groups as well as for those who suffered income loss during COVID-19. Conclusion: Financial and emotional stress caused by COVID-19 exacerbated the already difficult parenting practices. Ultimately children suffered more violence at the hands of parents. In Pakistani society there is little awareness on building one‟s capacity on good parenting and little availability of such trainings. There is a need to understand implications for good parenting and create awareness of positive parenting methods.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study intended to look at how people were receiving information on COVID-19, how children spent time during the COVID-19 pandemic and if the screen time for children had increased during the pandemic. Study Design: The study was descriptive in nature and a quantitative Place and Duration of the Study: Data was collected from parents visiting OPDs in four hospitals of Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi in three months from July to September 2020. Material and Methods: Quantitative survey design was used, data (N=923) were collected using self-administered scale and checklist. Results: Most of the information about COVID-19 was received either through TV (50.8%) or through online social media (33.6%). Most children were spending their time either playing (32.2%) or watching cartoons/movies (19.6%). Screen time of children in the lockdown period was increased. 87.4% children used screens for at least 2 hours per day during the lock down whereas 69.1% used screen for more than 2 hours before COVID-19. Most often used devices were mobile/tablet/PC in 64.2% whereas TV was viewed 34.9% of the time. Conclusion: Most COVID-19 related information was gathered online, and a large proportion of children spent their time in front of screens. There is a need to understand the serious implications of increased screen time for children and to develop effective strategies to reduce screen time of the children.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To characterize the clinical outcome of COVID-19 patients following discharge from the hospital. Study design: Prospective cohort study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Infectious Diseases, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi from 1st May to 31st August 2020. Methodology: Ninety six patients were included, age over 23 years and had a confirmed COVID-19 on PCR. At the time of admission and on discharge, in-hospital data were recorded. The demographic information, symptoms, complete blood count, inflammatory markers, and chest X-ray noted. Results: Diabetes (50%) and Ischemic heart disease (50%) were the most frequent comorbidities. The majority of patients (75%) improved their X-ray findings after being discharged from the hospital. At the time of discharge, 75% of the patients expressed fatigue;none of the patients developed a fever. There was a substantial significant difference in tiredness reported at discharge and in the fourth week. Significant variations in shortness of breath and oxygen consumption were also found between tiredness indicated at discharge and the fourth week. The majority of lab values were within normal limits. Conclusion: Most patients gradually improved after receiving appropriate treatment and supportive care in the hospital and later at home. The most prevalent and prolonged symptom reported by most patients was fatigue. By the fourth week, most symptoms had ameliorated significantly.