Intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine and its health belief model (HBM)-based predictors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The purpose of the research was to pool the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and its health belief model (HBM)-based predictors, which is helpful for decision-makers and program managers around the globe. The relevant database was searched and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) appraisal checklist was used to evaluate the studies. I2 test and funnel plot was utilized to check heterogeneity and publication bias, respectively. DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model was used. The overall pooled intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine globally was 67.69%. Higher levels of perceived susceptibility (AOR = 1.85), perceived severity (AOR = 1.45), perceived benefits (AOR = 3.10), and cues to action (AOR = 3.40) positively predicted the intention; whereas high level of perceived barrier negatively predicted it (AOR = 0.53). Health beliefs influenced COVID-19 vaccine intention globally. This implies that individuals need sound health education and publicity about vaccines before vaccination.

Incidence of Death and Its Predictors of COVID-19 in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: A Retrospective Follow Up Study.

Background: Risk factors associated with COVID-19 incidence of death would aid to notify the most favorable management strategies, hang about undecided, Moreover, studies regarding this issue are limited in Ethiopia and no region-wise study is conducted. Hence, the study investigated the COVID-19 incidence of death and its predictors in the Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based retrospective survey was conducted at all Amhara regional state COVID-19 treatment centers from 13 March 2020, through 13 January 2022. Epidata version 3.1 and STATA version 14 were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Linearized survey analysis in a stratified Cox regression model was fitted to identify independent risk factors. P-value with 95% CI for hazard ratio was used for testing the significance at alpha 0.05. Results: A total of 28,533 study participants were analyzed in this study. Of these, 2873 (11.2%) died and 25,660 (88.8%) were recovered from COVID-19. The death rate was 11.78 per 1000 person-days of observation with a median survival time of 32 days with IQR [12, 44]. Patients with co-morbidities (AHR = 1.54: 95% CI: 1.51-1.55), patients with age <5-year (AHR = 1.69: 95% CI: 1.78-1.81) and patients with age 60+ years (AHR = 2.91: 95% CI: 1.79-3.99), patients with asymptomatic diseases condition (AHR =1.15: 95% CI: 1.01-1.19), and being male (AHR = 1.22: 95% CI: 1.18-1.27) were independent significant risk factors of death from COVID-19. Conclusion: A relatively high incidence of death from COVID-19 was found in this study. Significant risk factors were identified as patients with age <5 years, patients with age 60+ Years, being male, patients having at least one comorbid condition, and patients with asymptomatic disease conditions. These factors should be taken into consideration for a strategy of quarantining and treating COVID-19 patients.

The Trend of Malaria Cases, Positivity Rate, and Determinant Factors in the Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia: A Mixed Method.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the trend of malaria cases and test positivity rate and explore determinant factors in the Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. METHODS: A mixed study design (retrospective record data review and case study) was employed among 67 malaria officers from all zones in the region by using proportional allocation and the 1995 to 2020 malaria document review. 1995 to 2020 trend analysis was conducted using RStudio-1.2.5033. Vignette Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were used to dig the possible factors for malaria case buildup using the purposive sampling technique, and a qualitative content analysis was used. RESULTS: The overall mean test positivity rate (TPR) was 21.9%, and about 80% of the land of the region was malarious, and 68% of the population was at risk of malaria in the study area from the data records of 1995 to 2020. The year 2012 to 2016 had the peak confirmed malaria cases, while the year 2016 to 2018 dramatically reduced followed by an increase in 2019/2020. The vignette FGDs identified that poor performance on Larval Source Management (LSM) and net utilization, no stock of some antimalarial medicine and supply, quality of malaria diagnosis services, the low commitment of leaders, and climatic anomalies facilitated surge of the disease in 2019/2020. No real accountability at all levels, low coverage of targeted vector control interventions, resource constraint, data quality and use for informed decision making, security issues and Internally Displaced Population (IDP) in various parts of the country, and the COVID-19 pandemic were the possible causes for case buildup. CONCLUSIONS: This result revealed that the malaria incidence rate showed a remarkable decline. However, the average TPR was 21.9%. Hence, it provided the ongoing feedback, mass fever test and treatment, training to health professionals, and ongoing supportive supervision (SS) and mentorship, improved net utilization and indoor residual spraying (IRS) operation and close follow-up and conducted sensitization workshop, spot messages were transferred through mass media, and temporary case treatment and prevention centers at farm sites established may surpass the threshold of malaria.