Transmission Dynamics and Control of COVID-19: A Mathematical Modelling Study

We look at the SQIRP mathematical model for new coronavirus transmission in Bangladesh and India in this study. The basic reproduction number of the SQIRP system is designed using the next cohort matrix process. The SQIRP system has asymptotically stable locally at an infection-free equilibrium point when the basic reproduction number is not more than unity and unsteady when the value is greater than unity. The SQIRP system is found to go through a backward bifurcation, which is a novel perspective for Coronavirus infection transmission. The infection-free equilibrium and endemic equilibrium are shown to be asymptotically stable globally using the Lyapunov function hypothesis and the invariance principle of Lasalle. A SQIRP system with backward bifurcation is explored using stochastic analysis. The ecological stochasticity in the appearance of white noise best describes the system's value. To verify the results, more numerical simulations are run © 2023 L&H Scientific Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved

EDUCATING DIVERSE PRE-HEALTH LEARNERS: USING VIRTUAL PRE-MEDICAL EDUCATION TO INCREASE CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION ABOUT COVID-19

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: In response to the need for innovative community engagement and pre-medical education, the COVID-19 STEM Community Education and Empowerment Internship program (CCEEI) was developed as a collaboration between six New York City medical schools and Mentoring in Medicine, a non-profit organization. This virtual program was attended by 1045 underrepresented in medicine (UriM), first-generation, and disadvantaged college and gap year students who were interested in medical and health careers, over the first three cohorts. Participants learned about COVID-19 and disparities, vaccine science, the roles of medicine and public health, and strategies for community education and empowerment. 1045 U.S. based students participated over three cohorts as well as additional students from around the world. DESCRIPTION: 4-8 sessions, each 2-4 hours long, each of which consisted of lectures (e.g. virology and pandemics, COVID-19 biology and prevention, how vaccines work, etc.) followed by interactive discussions. Learner assessment included mid-point survey, end of program survey, and post-30 day survey, and capstone projects presented during the final session of the program;capstones were intended to raise awareness of COVID-19 safety measures and vaccines to a lay audience. Examples included Tik Tok videos, infographics, PowerPoint presentations, etc. Each student received a certificate of acknowledgment for their participation in the COVID-19 STEM Education and Empowerment Internship. EVALUATION: Recruiting efforts were successful in providing this premedical program available to students from URiM backgrounds, 55% identified as Black or Latino and 97% were interested in health professional careers. Program evaluation consisted of aggregate learner assessments and administration of a mixed-method survey seeking participant perspectives. Program participants applied knowledge they gained and self-reported outreach to at least 13,499 people in their communities on COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination. Most frequent modes of communication included: TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. DISCUSSION / REFLECTION / LESSONS LEARNED: Program adjustments including curriculum changes were made based on mid-point, end-of-course, and post-surveys. There was an overwhelming response from students wanting to gain knowledge and be a part of outreach efforts to impact their communities. In the first session, many students shared in their e-poster personal impacts of COVID, ranging from loss of family and friends, and isolation experienced. There is much promise in reaching pre-medical students through a virtual education program as students reported gaining communication skills to address myths and vaccine hesitancy and felt empowered to use technology to share knowledge gained from the program with their networks.

Impact of the fear of Covid-19 infection on intent to breastfeed; a cross sectional survey of a perinatal population in Qatar.

OBJECTIVES: Infection control measures during the Covid-19 pandemic have focused on limiting physical contact and decontamination by observing cleaning and hygiene rituals. Breastfeeding requires close physical contact and observance of hygienic measures like handwashing. Worries around contamination increase during the perinatal period and can be expressed as increase in obsessive compulsive symptoms. These symptoms have shown to impact breastfeeding rates. This study attempts to explore any relationship between the Covid-19 pandemic and perinatal obsessive-compulsive symptomatology and whether the Covid-19 pandemic has any impact on intent to breastfeed. METHODS: A cross sectional survey of perinatal women attending largest maternity centre in Qatar was carried out during the months of October to December 2020. Socio-demographic information, intent to breastfeed and information around obsessive compulsive thoughts around Covid-19 pandemic were collected using validated tools. RESULTS: 15.7% respondents report intent to not breastfeed. 21.4% respondents reported obsessive-compulsive symptoms. 77.3% respondents believed the biggest source of infection was from others while as only 12% of the respondents believed that the source of infection was through breastfeeding and 15.7% believed the vertical transmission as the main source of risk of transmission. CONCLUSIONS: The rates of Obsessive-compulsive symptoms were increased and the rates of intent to breastfeed were decreased when compared with pre pandemic rates. The obsessive-compulsive symptoms and the intent to not breastfeed were significantly associated with fear of infection to the new-born. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms were not significantly correlated with intent to breastfeed and can be seen as adaptive strategies utilized by women to continue breastfeeding in the context of fear of infection.

Qatar Healthcare Workers' COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Attitudes: A National Cross-Sectional Survey.

Introduction: Healthcare workers are the critical frontline workforce of the COVD-19 pandemic and are considered a target group for vaccination. Hesitancy to vaccinate is a major concern that can jeopardize the vaccination programme. The hesitancy rates in the general population and healthcare workers (HCWs) vary globally, and more importantly, hesitancy in HCWs is of particular concern, as it can influence the wider population. Materials and Methods: The present study evaluated the vaccine hesitancy rate and its sociodemographic and attitudinal factors among the HCWs in the state of Qatar. We conducted a national cross-sectional survey using a validated hesitancy measurement tool between October 15 and November 15, 2020. A total of 7,821 adults above the age of 18 years out of the 2.3 million adult Qatari residents completed the survey. While majority of the participants were from the general public, 1,546 participants were HCWs. Sociodemographic data, along with attitudes and beliefs around COVID-19 vaccination, were collected from the respondents. Results: We found that 12.9% of the study participants showed vaccine hesitancy, defined as definitely or probably will not take the vaccine if offered, and 25.31% reported that they were unsure about the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. Female respondents were more hesitant toward the vaccine. Safety and efficacy concerns of vaccine were the significant predictors of vaccine hesitancy. The primary predictor for vaccine acceptance was a better understanding of the disease and vaccine. Discussion: Overall, 1 in 8 HCWs were reluctant to get vaccinated against COVID-19, mainly due to concerns about the vaccine's efficacy and safety. Education about the vaccine's safety and efficacy can potentially improve acceptance among healthcare workers.