ABSTRACT
Introduction COVID-19-related stigma is the level of stigma associated with being involved with the pandemic. It has been reported that a significant number of healthcare workers experienced anxiety, depression, stigmatization, physical violence, harassment during the COVID-19 pandemic;even the families of the healthcare workers were victims of discrimination and stigmatization. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of COVID-19-related stigma among the healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia and to assess the COVID-19-related stigma, its associated factors, and burnout correlate. Methods Web-based, self-administered questionnaire has been sent to healthcare workers' official emails through the internal communication department in the targeted hospitals. It includes the COVID-19-related stigma-validated scale "E16-COVID19-S” and two questions relative to the full Maslach Burnout Inventory assessing the burnout. The required sample is 377 based on the sample size calculation with a response rate of 50%. Results A total of 407 responses were received from the targeted population. Of them, 49.4% scored high on the COVID-19-related stigma scale. The correlation between the COVID-19-related stigma and burnout was found to be moderately positive and statistically significant (rs = 0.515, p= <0.001). Conclusion It has been found that gender, workplace capacity, ever taking COVID-19 test during the pandemic had a significant impact on scoring high on the COVID-19-related stigma scale. Moreover, there is a correlation between being stigmatized during the pandemic and being burned out.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To assess the distribution of COVID-19 symptoms according to the consumption of tobacco products and khat chewing among samples of Saudi Arabian individuals. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. Data was collected online via a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire measured demographic variables, COVID-19 symptoms and vaccination, comorbidities history, tobacco product consumption, and khat chewing. In addition, logistic regression was performed to assess the association between the clinical presentation of COVID-19 with tobacco product consumption and khat chewing. Results: A total of 1026 subjects were recruited. The mean age of the participants was 31 years, and more than half were male (53%). Among the reported tobacco product consumption, hookah smoking was more frequently reported as a currently consumed tobacco product (14.3%), followed by cigarette smoking (11.5%) and chewing tobacco (3.8%). Thirteen percent (134) were khat chewers at the time of recruitment. The odds of reporting five symptoms or more were higher among patients who have never been tobacco product consumers (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.15-2.35) while accounting for khat chewing, age, vaccination status, and history of comorbidities. Nonetheless, the difference in symptom distribution with khat chewing status was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The findings of the current investigation suggest the presence of a potential impact of nicotine toxicity in masking pain among the subjects infected with COVID-19. Therefore, it is possible to hypothesize that, with the potential masking effect of nicotine, infected smokers may be less likely to suffer from the symptoms and seek official healthcare services, including diagnostic services.
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Purpose: The purpose behind this research work is to distinguish “the right to education” as a statutory right from “the access to education” as a socio-political reality. This distinction is analysed in the context of Covid-19 and its impact upon the education system in India. The research work throws light upon the digital divide in India and the drastic repercussions on economically underprivileged households. Methodology: The methodology adopted for this research work is documentary literature review. It is exploratory as well as suggestive of the changes in the status quo. This study involves research and analysis based upon primary sources like statutes, national and international instruments, survey reports and judgments delivered by the Courts studied through case analysis. Findings: The findings of this study indicate discriminatory impact of digitalization in education sector. The current policy used by the Indian government lacks implementation is premature in its application and doesn’t take in account all of its stakehold ers. The digitalization policy also presupposes certain financial capacity and digital adaptability for every individual which is impossible for those who do not have the financial or technological means to benefit from it. Originality: The topic is original in its treatment as it does not merely discuss the existence of a right but it evaluates the flexibility of that right in situations of unprecedented emergencies such as the Covid-19 pandemic. © 2021, RJ4All Publications. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Scrub typhus has rarely been reported as a cause of acute febrile illness with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) among children from northern India plains. The diagnostic dilemma is further enhanced when the children do not present with any rash or an eschar. Three such children (12 year old female girl, three year old female child and two year old male child) with severe scrub typhus presenting with AKI, ARDS and multi-organ dysfunction are described in this case series. All were successfully managed with doxycycline and supportive management. This series highlights the importance of early diagnosis and treatment with a low-cost drug like doxycycline based on high index of clinical suspicion and appropriate investigations in a case of paediatric scrub typhus.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed various stresses on individuals and communities. Coping with sudden, tense, demanding situations during an infectious disease outbreak requires self-efficacy. Increasing the public's self-efficacy for preventive and control measures is important in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was aimed at evaluating the self-efficacy and associated factors of students at a public university in the southwest region of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional study, and a snowball sampling method was used to recruit participants. Data were collected from the beginning of April to the end of June 2020 using an online questionnaire. A total of 761 students were included in the study. The participants' demographic data were collected, and self-efficacy was analyzed using the General Self-efficacy Scale. The results showed that self-efficacy for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic was moderate in almost half of the students but was low in approximately 25% of the participants. There were statistically significant associations between self-efficacy regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and gender, college type, marital status, and family income (p < 0.05). However, the participants' self-efficacy was not associated with age, residence, or history of chronic illness. In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, most students had either moderate or low self-efficacy. Certain demographic variables were positively associated with self-efficacy as perceived by the students. These findings provide data central to the development of self-efficacy initiatives. They may also be useful for the effective implementation of public health preventive behavior programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pure & Applied Microbiology is the property of Dr. M. N. Khan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is an extremely infectious disease and has already infected almost three million persons in more than two hundred countries. Based on our current knowledge of this virus and in the absence of a vaccine, this article is an attempt to pro-pose ways to prevent, treat and control COVID-19 virus, using linear lipid molecules such as sodium stearate (a major component of ordinary bar soap) for hand sanitization, mouth wash, gargling, steam inhaling and as lungs inhaler along with zinc and copper to trap and inactivate COVID-19. Sunbathing will boost desperately needed a good immune sys-tem. The ancient Indian techniques of Yoga (Developing inherent power in a balanced manner), Pranayama (Retention and Extension of the breath), Jal-Neti (Nasal irrigation by saline water) and Havan (Holy fire ritual) will also help in controlling this epidemic (COVID-19) of gargantuan proportions.