ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: A massive amount of formal and informal information about Covid-19 has become a challenge during the pandemic. Therefore, health literacy (HL) development is more important than ever to prepare society for emergent conditions. This study aimed to determine the relationship between health literacy and Covid-19 preventive behaviors in Hormozgan, Iran. Material and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on participants over 15 years of age who resided in Hormozgan Province, Iran. A total number of 1,292 valid answers were obtained from participants selected through a convenience sampling during December 2021-January 2022. The data were collected using reliable and valid questionnaires including: The Health Literacy Instrument for Iranian Adults (a common standard questionnaire in Iran) and the researcher-made Covid-19 preventive behaviors questionnaire. Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analysis were used for data analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics®, version 26.0. Results: The mean age of participants was 36.78 ± 10.44 years and their age ranged between 15 and70 years. Among all participants, 45.7% had a high HL and 94.3% reported to have good Covid-19 preventive behaviors. The results showed a significant relationship between behavior and health literacy with age, gender, marital status, education level and source of information. The multiple linear regression findings showed that health literacy was a predictor of the preventive behaviors (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: The present study showed that HL is a predictor of Covid-19 preventive behaviours. Also, HCWs were regarded as the most widely used sources of Covid-19 information. Monitoring is also recommended to improve the quality of online health-related information and increase the HL of content producers. © 2023, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: About a year after the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the results of the studies conducted to investigate the effectiveness of interferon (INF) compounds in this disease were contradictory.Objectives: This study was carried out to examine the safety and efficacy of a treatment protocol containing INF-beta-1b, hydroxy-chloroquine, and Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) in patients with severe COVID-19.Methods: In this open-label, randomized controlled trial, severe cases of COVID-19 were included. Patients were eligible if they had epidemiological and radiological evidence compatible with COVID-19 or a positive polymerase chain reaction result and their disease was severe. They were randomly allocated into a control group that received the standard regimen (hydroxychloroquine and Kaletra) and an intervention group that received INF-beta-1b treatment and the standard treatment regimen. Then, the two groups were compared in terms of in-hospital mortality, intubation, length of hospital stay, oxygen saturation, and lactate dehydrogenase before and after the intervention.Results: A total of 91 cases of severe COVID-19 were enrolled for analysis [intervention (n = 47) and control (n = 44)]. The length of hospital stay in the intervention group was significantly longer than in the control group (13.21 +/- 6.88 vs. 10.52 +/- 5.77 days;P = 0.047). The mortality rate did not significantly differ between the intervention and control groups (19.15% and 13.64%, respectively;P = 0.509). The intubation rate did not significantly differ between the intervention and control groups (12.76% and 11.36%, respectively;P = 0.838).Conclusions: The use of INF-beta-1b-containing treatment regimens does not reduce mortality and intubation rates among patients with severe COVID-19. Furthermore, it might even increase the severity of the disease and the length of hospital stay for some pa-tients;therefore, it is not recommended to use INF-beta-1b in severe cases of COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Background: According to recent reports during the COVID-19 pandemic, malariaendemic regions have a significantly lower COVID-19 case and mortality rate than those malaria-non-endemic. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of COVID-19 in malarious areas of southern Iran and the incidence of disease in people previously infected with malaria. Materials and Methods: We conducted an ecological study during the Covid-19 epidemic period in a malaria-endemic area, Hormozgan province, by including all critically ill patients with Covid-19 admitted to hospitals in different counties. The malaria cases were matched in the Covid patient's list. Also, the cumulative incidence and mortality rate of the Covid-19 were calculated in all counties. Results: The results show that malaria-endemic regions have a lower cumulative incidence and mortality rate than the others. Moreover, it was found that people with a history of malaria were not infected with Covid 19. Conclusion: It seems that malaria endemicity may positively affect the lower incidence and mortality rate of COVID-19 in malaria-endemic regions. However, further studies must be carried out to confirm the hypothesis that malaria reduces the risk of Covid-19 in other parts of the world. © The Author(s) 2021;All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: Due to the pandemic, COVID-19 cases and deaths are increasing unexpectedly and precipitately. More importantly, asymptomatic carriers could infect healthy people through sneezing, coughing, and talking. Therefore, mask usage is required to prevent and control COVID-19. Objectives: This study was aimed at examining the knowledge, attitude, and performance levels (KAP) of the Iranian population regarding mask usage to prevent and control the COVID-19 outbreak during a one-month period from early April to early May 2020.