Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Towards COVID-19 Among Social Workers of Bangladesh

Abstract: This study intended to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) toward the pandemic among the social workers of Bangladesh. Approximately 94% of them faced challenges working during COVID-19. They lacked knowledge regarding COVID-19 (0.62 ± 0.25). They also did not show enough practice. Attitudes were better than knowledge and practices. Respondents' gender, location, having vulnerable people at the home, educational attainment, and experiencing COVID-19 symptoms before were significantly associated with the overall KAP. In general, COVID-19 preparedness and response campaigns, and effective education, are required to ensure the competence of pandemic responses among this vital group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Public Organization Review is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Pregnancy with anxiety and depression during COVID-19 pandemic: a single centre study

Background: Corona-virus pandemic has become a major health problem worldwide. It evokes mental health disorders affecting the population globally, especially pregnant women and is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The aim of the study was to assess anxiety and depression in pregnant women during the Covid-19 pandemic. Material & Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Islami Bank Central Hospital Kakrail, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Pregnant women visiting the gynae& obs outpatient department, and women who had recently delivered in the gynae ward (in the past 15 days) were included in the study and asked to fill out a questionnaire. Results: A total of 152 patients were enrolled and analyzed in this study. Out of the total, 108 (71.05%) of the patients were less than 30 years, 38 (25.00%) were between 31 and 35 years old, and only 6 (3.95%) were older than 35 years. We found that 103(67.76%) of pregnant women had developed mental health disorders during this pandemic and there is a need to reform policies for the care and counseling of pregnant women as they are particularly susceptible. Conclusions: This study examined the mental health of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of the women thought COVID-19 could affect their pregnancy. Proper screening and diagnosis would bring early treatment to the needy thus preventing complications to both the mother and the newborn.

COVID-19 patients in Bangladesh: a qualitative investigation on social exclusions and stigmatization. (Special issue.)

The COVID-19 pandemic has snatched away the lives and livelihoods of many people throughout the world. The number of infected and death from SARS-CoV-2 has still been increasing in Bangladesh. The fear of the unknown, uncertainty, knowledge gap and high communicability have fed into the social stigmatization of COVID-19 patients and survivors. Considering the research gap, this study looks at how stigma and prejudice caused by COVID-19 are prevailing in Bangladesh. This research was carried out on purposively chosen 200 COVID-19 positive patients who were hospitalized in a government-run COVID-19 dedicated hospital in Dhaka from the end of March 2020 to August 2020. All ethical concerns were maintained during data collection. The qualitative approach was used for in-depth interviewing through telephone. The present study finds some phenomenal examples and experiences of marginalization and stigmatization due to the highly contagious nature of the virus among the patients, relatives, neighbors, health care workers etc. COVID-19 patients or their relatives are found to pass muchstigmatized life with a feeling of hopelessness. Even though many of the COVID-19 patients died, their family members are still bearing the brunt, making them stigmatized. The discourses of self-stigmatization, social harassment, treatment, prejudice, and stigmatized funeral etc., have been discussed critically.

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the Population Living in High- and Low-Density Gradient Areas in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in densely populated countries has been a topic of concern from the beginning of the pandemic. Evidence of community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 according to population density gradient and socio-economic status (SES) is limited. In June-September 2020, we conducted a descriptive longitudinal study to determine the community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in high- and low-density areas in Dhaka city. The Secondary Attack Rate (SAR) was 10% in high-density areas compared to 20% in low-density areas. People with high SES had a significantly higher level of SARS-CoV-2-specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies on study days 1 (p = 0.01) and 28 (p = 0.03) compared to those with low SES in high-density areas. In contrast, the levels of seropositivity of SARS-CoV-2-specific Immunoglobulin M (IgM) were comparable (p > 0.05) in people with high and low SES on both study days 1 and 28 in both high- and low-density areas. Due to the similar household size, no differences in the seropositivity rates depending on the population gradient were observed. However, people with high SES showed higher seroconversion rates compared to people with low SES. As no difference was observed based on population density, the SES might play a role in SARS-CoV-2 transmission, an issue that calls for further in-depth studies to better understand the community transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

Stigma and its associated factors among patients with COVID-19 in Dhaka City: evidence from a cross-sectional investigation.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a significant disease pandemic. Dhaka City alone has contributed about one-third to the total COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh. Globally, patients with infectious diseases, including COVID-19, experience stigma. There was no quantitative estimate of stigma experienced by patients with COVID-19 in the country. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of stigma and its associated factors among patients with COVID-19 in Dhaka. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 respondents aged 18 years or older who had been hospitalized or had stayed at home and were tested negative 15 days to 6 months before the day of data collection. Data collection was done through in-person and telephone interviews using a semi-structured survey questionnaire. A 15-item COVID-19-related stigma scale questionnaire was used to assess stigma. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of stigma. Results: More than half (53.1%) of the respondents experienced stigma when they were COVID-19 positive. Females were at a 3.24 times higher risk of experiencing stigma than their male counterparts. Respondents from the 60+ age group and 40-59 age group were 63.0% and 48.0% less likely to experience stigma than those from the 18-39 age group. Non-hospitalised patients had 1.67 times higher odds of facing stigma than those hospitalised. Conclusions: This study reported a high prevalence of stigma among the patients with COVID-19 in Dhaka City. The current evidence base of stigma experience among patients with COVID-19 offers a solid foundation for creating effective strategies and policies and designing appropriate interventions to counter stigma, which will improve the psychological well-being of patients with COVID-19 in Bangladesh.

Depression, anxiety and stress among people infected with COVID-19 in Dhaka and Chittagong cities.

Background: Covid-19 is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by novel coronavirus 2019. Many individuals have suffered or are experiencing psychological symptoms due to feelings of isolation, insecurity and instability triggered by Covid-19. This study aimed to explore the perceived psychological distress and associated factors among people infected with Covid-19 in Dhaka and Chittagong cities. Methods: Using the face-to-face interview method, a survey was conducted from 23 April to 22 May 2021 on a questionnaire on depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21), socio-demographic, economic and health factors. Among those who had ever been infected with Covid-19, a total of 2092 respondents (1180 from Dhaka and 912 from Chittagong) were randomly selected and interviewed. χ 2 test for independence of attributes was employed to observe the association of various socioeconomic, cultural, demographic and health factors with psychological distress. Moreover, multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the factors that contributed to psychological distress. Results: Among participants from Dhaka, of three mental health conditions, the prevalence was higher for anxiety (80.0%), followed by stress (64.2%) and depression (59.8%), respectively. Anxiety was also more prevalent (57.3) among respondents in Chittagong, followed by depression (47.7%) and stress (39.5%). As the coexistence of symptoms, 52.8% of respondents in Dhaka, 34.4% in Chittagong experienced depression, anxiety and stress simultaneously. Moreover, in both Dhaka and Chittagong, all three psychological symptoms were strongly correlated in pairs. Multivariate analysis revealed that the most consistent factors associated with mild to moderate (MM), and severe to extremely severe (SES) depression were respondents from Chittagong who were illiterate or primary educated (OR = 0.166, CI: 0.076-0.364 for MM and OR = 0.041, CI: 0.013-0.131 for SES), male (OR = 0.999, CI: 0.666-1.496 for MM and OR = 0.395, CI: 0.249-0.625 for SES), single (OR = 0.393, CI: 0.157-0.982 for MM and OR = 0.121, CI: 0.049-0.303 for SES) and married (OR = 0.403, CI: 0.177-0.916 for MM and OR = 0.075, CI: 0.033-0.167 for SES), had a family of size ≤ 4 (OR = 0.253, CI: 0.140-0.458 for MM and OR = 0.114, CI: 0.059-0.218 for SES) and a family of size 5-6 (OR = 0.151, CI: 0.084-0.272), and no family members at risk being infected with Covid-19 (OR = 0.699, CI: 0.487-1.002 for MM and OR = 0.332, CI: 0.199-0.522 for SES). The analysis yielded similar findings for the other two mental health subscales, such as anxiety and stress. For respondents in Dhaka, the effect of factors other than sex on psychological distress was the opposite in Chittagong. Overall, psychological distress during the outbreak was greater among respondents in Dhaka than in Chittagong if respondents were not classified based on various characteristics. Conclusion: This study showed that in both Dhaka and Chittagong, a substantially large portion of Covid-19-infected respondents experienced all three psychological distress (e.g., depression, anxiety and stress). Regardless of the dissimilarity between the results in Dhaka and Chittagong, better mental health support was needed for women in both cities.

Correlation between user activity at different rooftop typologies in residential buildings in a compact urban context

The scarcity of public open space has compelled urbanites to use residential rooftops as an interaction space. In Dhaka, rooftops are used for various social and recreational purposes which has extensively increased due to COVID-19 restrictions. During this period, few rooftops are used frequently while few are less occupied. Hence, the study identifies different variables that impact rooftop activities and finds correlations between them using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The study further shows the direction for accelerating the use of rooftops as an interaction space in residential buildings. Highlights for public administration, management and planning: Rooftops represent important places of public life in Dhaka. The variables that affect the social and recreational activities of residential rooftop space are analysed. Statistically significant correlations were found between rooftop occupied by various services and number of activities, floor dampness and number of activities, the rooftop occupied by various services and a comfort zone with a pleasant view, parapet height and number of activities, and parapet height and safety. The paper sets recommendations for designing and managing rooftop spaces. © 2022 Sharif Tousif Hossain et al., published by Sciendo.

Status and view toward COVID-19 and mental health among vulnerable group: A cross-sectional rapid survey among rickshaw pullers of Bangladesh

Bangladesh has experienced the hardest coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impact on the socioeconomic sector. The underprivileged group, rickshaw pullers, faced extreme situations due to the pandemic. This rapid cross-sectional study was conducted among 190 rickshaw pullers of Dhaka city. Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) survey was carried out to evaluate their view and COVID-19 response level. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Statistical analyses such as Kruskal–Wallis or Mann–Whitney U tests, Spearman’s rank correlation, the linear regression model, Chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test were performed where appropriate. The majority of them rated the high impact of COVID-19 on their income and mental health. Age, living with family, accommodation type, income, and COVID-19 infection history were found as associating factors with these impacts. A large number of the study population demonstrated low knowledge level (42.63 percent), moderate attitude level (57.37 percent), and moderate practice level (58.95 percent) toward COVID-19 and the vaccination. Positive attitude could reduce their mental health concern due to the pandemic. The study population mostly used their surrounding people as the main source of COVID-19 information. However, digital media have played a crucial role to disseminate authentic information. Ensuring better socioeconomic conditions can help these highly vulnerable people to be effectively prepared and respond against the pandemic. © 2022 Weston Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.

Antibody responses after Oxford AstraZeneca (Covishield) vaccine among healthcare workers in Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Oxford AstraZeneca (Covishield) vaccine is the 1st vaccine administered in Bangladesh to prevent the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The antibody response after 1st and 2nd doses of this vaccine was assessed in health care workers of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. Blood sample was collected from healthcare workers (teachers, clinicians and medical staff) after 28 days of 1st vaccination and 14 days after 2nd vaccination. Quantitative post-vaccination antibody responses were measured using the chemiluminescent immunoassay, ADVIA Centaur (Siemens, Munich, Germany) SARS-CoV-2 IgG (COV2G) assay (output index was 1.00). Vaccine related antibody was found in 126 (41%) participants after 1st dose of AstraZeneca vaccine. After 2nd dose of vaccine, reactive level of antibody was found in 172 (93%) participants. Antibody responses were significantly higher in previously infected participants compared to participants who had no history of previous COVID-19 after 1st dose (51.92+or-50.85 vs 23.67+or-41.07, p=0.001) as well as 2nd dose of vaccine (64.12+or-97.76 vs 35.04+or-64.84, p=0.001). No difference in antibody response was observed among participants with or without comorbidities. Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine induces a strong immune response after two doses of vaccination.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Volatility of Bangladeshi Stock Market: Evidence from GJR-GARCH Model

The enormous sway of COVID-19 on the international financial market has been felt across the globe. The financial markets of Bangladesh have also been similarly affected by the global epidemic and experienced a significant increase in volatility. To scrutinise the connection between COVID-19 and the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) indices' return and instability, this study uses data of the DSE from February 2014 to September 2021. A comparative examination of the return and instability of the stock indices of the DSE has also been done considering the outbreak of the current COVID-19 situation. After using the GJR-GARCH (1,1) model, this review uncovers that the outbreak of COVID-19 has a statistically positive noteworthy association with the DSE stock indices' instability, which increases the market's volatility. Traders' fear and the rising frequency of COVID-19 reported patients could cause this. Besides, according to this study, COVID-19 shows a substantial positive linkage with stock market returns that increases the market's return. An appealing valuation, lower interest rates in the banking channel, economic rebound following the closure to prevent coronavirus transmission, improved remittance inflows, and a return of export revenues could all have contributed to this outcome. In addition, the findings also reveal that all market indices are in a mean-reverting phase.

Epidemiological comparison of the first and second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Dhaka, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study among suspected cases

Many countries have been seen two wave patterns of reported cases of coronavirus diseases. Still, a limited number of studies compared the epidemiological attributes of the first wave and second wave of coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. This study was carried out to compare the epidemics of two waves in Bangladesh. This observational study data of suspected cases was collected from June 2020 to April 2021 from a local authorized diagnostic center. From June 27, 2020, to July 27, 2020, was considered as the first wave and from March 20, 2021, to April 20, 2021, was considered a second wave. This period was determined because of observing the highest number of positive cases during that period. Out of 21,359 cases, including 2429 (11.37%) individuals in the first wave and 4989 (23.36%) individuals in the second wave had RT-PCR test for disease confirmation. Among them, 315 people in the first wave and 630 in the second wave were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Male were more vernalized to the positive case, including 204 (64.8%) and 421 (66.8%) during the first and second waves, respectively. People under 41 found 56.2% positive cases during the first wave while it was 65.6% in the second wave. We also found 128 positive cases among international travelers. In conclusion, a large extent of different epidemiological attributes was found in the second wave compared to the first wave of the outbreaks.

Anosmia with or without ageusia as a presenting symptom in COVID-19 positive patients: a single center study at Dhaka in Bangladesh

Background: The loss of smell and taste in COVID-19 patients is now acknowledged as one of the disease's primary symptoms.

The clinical status and hospital outcome of COVID-19 patients: a temporary COVID-19 care hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Background: In this study our main goal is to evaluate the clinical status and hospital outcome of COVID-19 patients in Bangladesh.

Women’s Beauty Parlor Entrepreneurship as a Social Change Activity for Ethnic Workers amid Covid-19

This study entails in-depth interviews with women entrepreneurs who own beauty parlors in Dhaka, to understand whether they perceive their entrepreneurship as a social change activity entailing empowerment and social inclusion for ethnic women workers. In other words, this study tries to understand why a large proportion of ethnic women are employed in beauty parlors of Dhaka by examining the perspective of women beauty parlor owners who employ them. Only Dhaka is considered in this study as most high-end beauty parlors are located in Dhaka. The interviews indicate that the owners perceive their entrepreneurship as a social change activity entailing empowerment that positively impacts the lives of their women workers regardless of ethnicity. According to the respondents, the motivation for creating employment for ethnic women workers is driven by the need to empower them;social inclusion plays no role in generating employment for ethnic women workers. The findings also show that women beauty parlor owners are countering patriarchal structuring by employing ethnic women workers. The study was conducted post Covid-19 so it takes into account the impact of the pandemic. © 2021, Institute of Economic Sciences. All rights reserved.

Psychological status of mass people in the capital city of Bangladesh during COVID-19: Do home quarantine challenges matter?

This study aimed to identify the impact of home quarantine challenges on the psychological status of mass people during Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the capital city (Dhaka) of Bangladesh. A highly organized questionnaire was created in "Google Form" and given to respondents at random via multiple social media sites, including WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Messenger. However, a sample size of 208 people was taken and analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Analysis of a Moment Structures software. Analysis showed that home quarantine challenges are positively related to the psychological status and home quarantine challenges have a significant impact on psychological status during COVID-19. In Bangladesh, the major challenges to home quarantine are lack of consciousness, lack of medical support, and the possibility of losing their current jobs. This study provides insight into the challenges of home quarantine and the psychological status of Bangladeshi people. The findings may be helpful for policymakers in identifying necessary measures to overcome these challenges. Only Dhaka division was taken out of seven divisions in Bangladesh to conduct this study, which might be difficult to generalize the findings of this study. Thus, in the future, it is suggested that more respondents from other divisions need to be covered.

Insights into the first seven-months of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: lessons learned from a high-risk country.

South Asian countries have been struggling to control the COVID-19 pandemic despite imposing months of lockdown and other public health measures. This review aims to describe the epidemiological features and shortcomings in public health preparedness to tackle COVID-19 as well as derive lessons from these events in the context of Bangladesh. We have shown that an increase in human mobility was evident throughout the lockdown period. Over 20,000 frontline health workers were affected, and more than 2100 unofficial deaths possibly linked with COVID-19 diagnosis were reported. Males were disproportionately affected in terms of infection (71%) and death (77%) than females. Over 50% of infected cases were reported among young adults (20-40-year age group). After seven months into the pandemic, a downward trend in laboratory test positive percentage was seen, although the number of new deaths per day remained largely unchanged. We believe our findings, observations and recommendations will remain as a valuable resource to facilitate better public health practice and policy for managing current and future infectious disease like COVID-19 in resource-poor developing countries.

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown (general holiday) on air quality of Dhaka City.

A worldwide pandemic of COVID-19 has forced the Government of Bangladesh to implement a lockdown during April-May 2020 by restricting people's movement; shutdown of industries and motor vehicles; and closing markets, public places, and schools to contain the virus. This type of strict measures caused an outcome, the reduction of urban air pollution, around the world. The present study aims to investigate the reduction of the concentration of pollutants in the air of Dhaka City and the reduction of the Air Quality Index (AQI). Necessary time-series data of the concentration of PM2.5, NO2, SO2, and CO have been collected from the archive of the Air Quality Monitoring Station of the US Embassy in Dhaka and Sentinel-5P. The time-series data have been analyzed by descriptive statistics, and AQI was calculated following an appropriate formula suggested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) based on the criteria pollutants. The study found that the concentrations of PM2.5, NO2, SO2, and CO during April-May 2020 have been reduced by 26, 30, 07, and 07%, respectively, compared with the preceding year's concentrations. Moreover, the AQI has also been reduced by about 35% on average during the lockdown period than the same times of the previous year. However, the magnitude of pollution reduction in Dhaka is lower than in other cities and countries globally, including Delhi, Sao Paulo, Wuhan, Spain, Italy, the USA. The main reasons may include, among others, the poor implementation of lockdown (especially in the first week of April and the second fortnight of May), pre-existing pollution, transboundary pollution, incineration of solid waste, etc. This study will help policymakers figure out how to regulate pollution sources and improve the air quality of Dhaka.

Prevalence of mental health symptoms and its effect on insomnia among healthcare workers who attended hospitals during COVID-19 pandemic: A survey in Dhaka city.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the high workload, risk of infection, and safety issues for family members may pose a threat to the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) working in hospital settings. The study aimed to find out the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and insomnia symptoms were among HCWs, as well as the factors related to these mental health issues. METHODS: We conducted an online survey of HCWs employed in Dhaka city from June 6 to July 6, 2020. Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder, the depression module of the Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Insomnia Severity Index, respectively. The related factors of anxiety, depression, and insomnia symptoms were identified using three regression models. RESULTS: This research included responses from 294 HCWs (mean ± standard deviation age: 28.86 ± 5.5 years; 43.5% were female). Anxiety, depression, and insomnia symptoms were found in 20.7%, 26.5%, and 44.2% of HCWs, respectively. The variable financial difficulties was commonly found as an associated factor for anxiety, depression, and insomnia symptoms. Female HCWs were more prone to mental health symptoms and insomnia compared to male HCWs (Adjusted odds ratio- AOR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.27-3.79). The depression symptoms among HCWs were found to be a factor for insomnia (AOR = 6.321, 95% CI = 3.158-12.650). CONCLUSION: In the current pandemic, the high prevalence of mental health symptoms among HCWs indicates that this occupational group being associated with increased mental distress. Increasing financial support for HCWs and providing support to female workers in care facilities could help to alleviate the burden of mental illness. Supportive, training, and educational strategies, particularly through knowledge and communication platforms, could be recommended to the care facilities, which can reduce the burden of mental health symptoms among HCWs.

Relationship between COVID-19 infection rates and air pollution, geo-meteorological, and social parameters.

Like all infectious diseases, the infection rate of COVID-19 is dependent on many variables. In order to effectively prepare a localized plan for infectious disease management, it is important to find the relationship between COVID-19 infection rate and other key variables. This study aims to understand the spatial relationships between COVID-19 infection rate and key variables of air pollution, geo-meteorological, and social parameters in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The relationship was analyzed using Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model and Geographic Information System (GIS) by means of COVID-19 infection rate as a dependent variable and 17 independent variables. This study revealed that air pollution parameters like PM2.5 (p < 0.02), AOT (p < 0.01), CO (p < 0.05), water vapor (p < 0.01), and O3 (p < 0.01) were highly correlated with COVID-19 infection rate while geo-meteorological parameters like DEM (p < 0.01), wind pressure (p < 0.01), LST (p < 0.04), rainfall (p < 0.01), and wind speed (p < 0.03) were also similarly associated. Social parameters like population density (p < 0.01), brickfield density (p < 0.02), and poverty level (p < 0.01) showed high coefficients as the key independent variables to COVID-19 infection rate. Significant robust relationships between these factors were found in the middle and southern parts of the city where the reported COVID-19 infection case was also higher. Relevant agencies can utilize these findings to formulate new and smart strategies for reducing infectious diseases like COVID-19 in Dhaka and in similar urban cities around the world. Future studies will have more variables including ecological, meteorological, and economical to model and understand the spread of COVID-19.