ABSTRACT
Background So far, studies have not been performed regarding skin damage owing to protective measures against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by health staff in Iran. Therefore, the present study was performed to assess skin damages owing to protecting measures against COVID-19 among health workers in Hamadan City located in the west of Iran. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 273health staff working in hospitals affiliated to Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. The inclusion criteria were health personnel working in hospitals involved in the care and treatment of patients with COVID-19 in the city of Hamadan. The authors used a researcher-developed questionnaire to gather data. All the analyses were done using Stata version 14-2. P value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results The most common skin signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in health staff were dryness, redness, and itch, representing in 83.78, 53, and 40.99% of hospital staff, respectively. All participants used hand disinfectants, with a frequency in the range of 1-5 times in 29.33% and more than 20 times in 19.79% of them. Using a mask for more than 6h in daily practice was significantly associated with skin dryness (P=0.007), skin redness (P=0.001), scaling (P=0.019), and skin pain (P=0.005). Conclusion The findings showed that the prevalence of skin damages related to using protective equipment is high, and simple interventions may help preserve health workers to care for patients infected by COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Background: Recent data from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) confirm that diabetes, along with advanced age, is an important risk factor for adverse prognosis. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the status of COVID-19 prevention behaviors and related beliefs among diabetic patients in Hamadan province using protection motivation theory (PMT).
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: The prevalence of the Covid-19 epidemic in Iran is associated with many psychological and social effects. This study aimed to examine the association between COVID-19 media literacy and the fear of COVID-19 among students during the coronavirus crisis. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional was conducted on 300 students of Hamadan Universities which were selected with a multistage sampling method. To collect the data, the COVID-19 media literacy scale (C-19MLS) and the fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S) were used. Data were obtained using the SPSS software Version 23 and descriptive statistics, T-test, ANOVA, Chi-square, Pearson Correlation test, and regression analysis test were used. Results: As the study results, the mean score of the Fear of COVID-19 was 11.88 ± 4.34;also, the mean score of COVID-19 media literacy was 71.64 ± 11.36, respectively. The Fear of COVID-19 had a negative and significant correlation with the dimensions and total COVID-19 media literacy (P <0.001). Based on the simple linear regression analysis results, COVID-19 media literacy (β=-0.23) and usage of social media apps (β=0.58) were identified as predictors of the fear of COVID-19. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the COVID-19 media literacy was inadequate in participants. Also, COVID-19 media literacy was related to the Fear of COVID-19. Therefore, designing and implementing educational interventions to empower students in the field of media literacy related to COVID-19 and media consumption regime seems to be necessary to help reduce anxiety and stress and increase the immune system against COVID-19. © 2022, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: Maternal COVID-19 infection has been reported to be associated with an increase in the rates of C-sections. However, studies have not reported this association consistently. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted regarding this issue. Methods: We identified all publications up to January 2021 in databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. In addition, we reviewed gray literature and conference proceedings. The pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) measured from eligible studies were used as random effect estimates of association among studies. Heterogeneity testing using I-2 statistics was performed to assess variance between the studies. Results: The pooled estimates of OR did not report a significant association between COVID-19 and the risk of cesarean section, respectively (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 0. 4 to 3.64). There was low heterogeneity among the studies reporting the risk of diseases associated with cesarean section among children based on OR (I-2 =12.7%, P= 0.333). The P-values for Begg's and Egger's regression were 0.573 and 0.555, respectively. Conclusion: While we did not find an association between COVID-19 and increased rates of cesarean sections, we cannot exclude a type II error;therefore, additional studies, including large cohort studies by controlling confounding variables, should be performed in the future.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: There are a limited number of studies about COVID-19 during delivery and postpartum. Case Presentation: A 38-years-old G3p2 woman at 35 weeks and 4 days of gestation was referred with the chief complaints of dyspnea, cough, headache, and fever. Pharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was negative for COVID-19;however, in chest Computed Tomography (CT) angiography, ground glass was observed in the basal lobe of the left lung. The infant was born via cesarean section with a gestational age of 36 weeks and an Apgar score of 8/9. No infant document was found about COVID-19 and other infections in several days after delivery. The patient died eight days after the onset of symptoms due to cardiovascular collapse. Discussion: we reported the first postpartum maternal death with COVID-19 and a healthy baby with no evidence of COVID-19 and a gestational age of 36 weeks. Conclusion: Physicians should be aware that pregnant women with symptoms of respiratory infection and pulse negative PCR test should be followed for infection with COVID-19. This infection may lead to maternal death.
ABSTRACT
Aims: Throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the role of students in transmitting the infection has received special attention aiming at protecting the younger generation against COVID-19 and other known respiratory diseases. This research aimed to specify factors related to Covid-19 preventing behaviors in high school students. Instrument & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 2852 students aged 13 to 18 in Hamadan in 2020. Participants were selected using the multistage cluster sampling method. The data were collected with a researcher-made EPPM questionnaire. Data were analyzed statistically by Stata 14.2 software using the Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Findings: The vast majority of students (67.02%) were in the danger control response phase. The response efficacy (77.3%) and perceived efficacy (75.3%) had the highest percentage of the mean from the maximum obtainable score among constructs of the model. There was a significant difference between categories of the EPPM model with doing healthy behaviors. Moreover, the proportion of doing health behaviors was significantly higher in students in the danger control phase. Conclusions: The predominance of the perceived threat of COVID-19 on the perceived efficacy affects preventive health behaviors. Therefore, a theory-based behavioral modification program can be developed based on gender among high school students. Higher grade students and poor socioeconomic status require intense educational interventions to modify their hygienic behaviors. © 2021, the Authors.
ABSTRACT
Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, China, and has since then spread worldwide, resulting in a large number of hospitalizations and deaths. To the best of our knowledge, the study about the mental health status (depression, anxiety, and stress) among high school students during COVID-19 has not been performed in Iran. Objective: This study was performed to investigate rates of anxiety, depression, and stress among high school students during the pandemic of COVID- 19. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among high school students (12-18 years) from 30 April until 1 June 2020, in Hamadan City, west of Iran. In total, 2852 students contributed to the present study. Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) was used in this study. Statistical analyses were conducted in STATA 14 with a significant level of 0.05. Results: The present study showed that although stress status was normal among most high school students (70.3%), the status of anxiety and depression was high. The boys had reported a higher proportion of normal status of depression (51.62% vs. 44.97%), anxiety (31.71% vs. 26.91%), and stress (77.66% vs. 66.10%) compared to the girls. Also, students in grades 7-9 had reported a higher percentage of normal status in all three dimensions of stress, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion: These findings suggest that as rates of depression and anxiety are high, schoolage children may benefit from policymakers and other authorities' active role.
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has been associated with many psychological and social effects, followed by a rise of fake news and false information about the condition. This study's main aim was to deeply understand people's experiences and precise opinions about social media information on COVID-19. This qualitative study was conducted to examine the COVID-19 social media literacy using the content analysis. Participants in the study were 20 people from Hamadan Province, Iran. Data were analyzed using the MAXQDA software version 2010. Considering the results for the volume of social media literature about COVID-19, 21 subcategories and five categories were obtained. The five categories included purpose with three subcategories such as,sales for economic gain", constructedness with five subcategories such as profiteering,advertising companies", audience with one subcategory such as,all people", format with five subcategories such as, highlighting the disease consequences", and lifestyles with seven subcategories such as, drinking alcohol". Familiarity with individuals' views based on culture and context for designing and planning educational literacy programs for media skills and competence in the new media age for distinguishing between fake and credible COVID-19 media messages and critically evaluating media content for all people is essentialespecially in the new media infodemic ecosystem. The themes obtained in the study can be used for designing educational interventions and appropriate assessment tools as well as promoting health media literacy in the field.
ABSTRACT
Aims Health workers are at high risk of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and preventive behaviors play an important role in reducing the incidence and deaths of this infection. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors and its Related Beliefs among Health Workers of Hamadan province using the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM). Instruments & Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 950 health workers in Hamadan, in 2020 who were selected by multistage random sampling method. The data were collected using a questionnaire including demographic information and EPPM constructs. Data were analyzed in STATA 14 using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation test. Findings Behaviors of avoiding contact with others and frequent hand washing with soap and water with 97.8% and 95.3%, respectively, had the highest frequency among health personnel. The condition of EPPM constructs was evaluated at a relatively favorable level. Also, 46.0% of health personnel were involved in the risk perception process. Conclusions It is necessary to improve the level of perceived self-efficacy of employees and also to emphasize the effectiveness of the recommended strategies in the prevention of Covid-19 disease. Copyright © 2020, ASP Ins.
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to predict the preventive behaviours of healthcare workers (HCWs) towards COVID-19 based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). This cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted on 761 HCWs in Hamadan, Iran, using multi-stage random sampling. The preventive behaviours against COVID-19 among HCWs were assessed at a relatively desirable level. Based on the PMT, threat and coping appraisal were predictors of protection motivation to conduct COVID-19 preventive behaviours (P<0.001). The intention was also predictive of COVID-19 preventive behaviours (P<0.001). Consideration of personnel's self-efficacy and their knowledge regarding the effectiveness of protective behaviours in designing staff training programmes are recommended.