ABSTRACT
The primary goal of this study was to analyze COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Lahore College for Women University students (LCWU). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among LCWU students. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and processed using a Google Form. The data was analyzed statistically. Results: The total number of responses received was 114. According to our research, 98 percent of respondents were familiar with COVID-19, with 51.8 percent receiving information via social media. 68.4 percent thought the virus was contagious, 95.60 percent thought it was spread by respiratory droplets, and 24.8 percent thought the elderly and children were at risk. 93.9 percent of participants were aware of social/physical distancing and believed that it could help to prevent infection, 95.5 percent believed that cough and fever could be signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and 106 (93 percent) claimed that staying at home could help to prevent the disease from spreading. Conclusion: It was observed that the majority of individuals were aware of COVID-19, with 90% of the population knowing about it. There is an ever-increasing need for COVID-19 knowledge among the local populace. It will assist in the prevention of COVID-19 transfer with minimal secondary transmission. Extensive survey studies are needed to offer supporting evidence in the development and implementation of public health policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It would help to regulate and stop the spread of COVID-19 across the country. © Pakistan Academy of Sciences.
ABSTRACT
World over, the weather conditions are usually categorized as predictors of respiratory viral infections. This study uses a stepwise linear regression model to explore the effects of climate factors or weather factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed on the spread of COVID-19 in Lahore city (Pakistan). The study was conducted in Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, and the data regarding the cases of COVID-19 in the Lahore district was obtained from the Primary and Secondary Health Care Department Punjab, from 18th March 2020 to 25th August 2020 while the weather statistics were obtained from Environmental Protection Department, Lahore. A predictive model by regression was designed in which day-to-day humidity, wind speed, average temperature, and their impact on confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lahore were analyzed. The independent variables in the model were average temperature (C), humidity (%), wind (km/h) and the dependent variable was the number of daily established cases of COVID in Lahore. The result of the analysis shows the effectiveness of the proposed model and the impact of climate parameters on the assessment model. The study illustrates that the above model can be used to predict the future spread of COVID-19 based on the above-mentioned climate factors. As such, it proves as a useful modality to predict new cases for the government and other health agencies. © 2021, Giunti. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Extending studies of the adverse effects of SARS-2 coronavirus on general health consequences, this research explores complexities related to the mental health of the elderly as a result of pandemic-related stress. The study addresses this issue by using resilience theory to examine the effects of fear and exposure related to COVID-19 and depression. Besides, our study examines the moderating effects of self-efficacy in order to provide an understanding of how the coping abilities of the elderly may mitigate the effect of stress levels on mental health during pandemics. Our model is tested by analysing the survey data collected from Rawalpindi, a metropolitan city in Pakistan. The main results of the study confirm the positive association of pandemic-related fear and exposure virus with depression. However, self-efficacy shows a negative direct effect on depression, and the findings also confirm the moderation effect of self-efficacy on the fear of COVID-19 and depression, but the moderation effect of self-efficacy on COVID-19 exposure and depression is not supported. Based on the outcomes, some severe geriatric care policies that could weaken the pandemic-related fear, exposure to the virus, and depression are recommended.