Indiscriminate Use of Antibiotics for COVID-19 Treatment in South Asian Countries is a Threat for Future Pandemics Due to Antibiotic Resistance.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put enormous strain on the global public health and healthcare systems. Here we aimed to assess the prevalence and impact of indiscriminate use of antibiotics for COVID-19 treatment in south Asian countries. We observed the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in south Asian countries and other similar parts of the world. Along with vaccines, people in poor and developing countries have been taking antibiotics and some other medications without proper jurisdiction during the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. We all know that COVID-19 is a viral disease, and only a few patients might have bacterial co-infections. Therefore, the role of antibiotics is ambiguous in most COVID-19 cases. Consequently, the overuse of antibiotics would cause antimicrobial resistance that has the potential to become a 2-edged sword after the COVID-19 pandemic era. Our findings emphasize the judicious use of antibiotics in COVID-19 therapy, especially in poor and developing countries across the globe.

Increased suicidal behaviors among students during COVID-19 lockdowns: A concern of student's mental health in Bangladesh.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unprecedented natural event on life. The mental health of students has been impacted due to the long-term closure of educational institutions. The suicide rate had been significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous years among Bangladeshi students. Several COVID-19 responses might be responsible for this increased suicidality among students. Therefore, family members should give them mental supports to reduce additional burdens due to the pandemic. The government and non-government organizations can take suicide prevention programs such as awareness campaigns, student counseling, internet-based interventions, etc. Also, the authority should vaccinate students, teachers, and other staff to reopen the academic institutions on an urgent basis.

A nationwide dataset on the mental health of the Bangladeshi population due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The data presented here concerns the article entitled "Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among general Bangladeshi population: a cross-sectional study" [1]. This article represents a unique dataset on the mental health status among the Bangladeshi population during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected the data from April 15 to May 10, 2020, when the government of Bangladesh imposed lockdown and quarantine approaches. Total 672 (381 men, 291 women) responses were collected using Google survey tools (Google Forms) from the Bangladeshi population aged between 15-65 years. We obtained electronic consent from all participants to participate in this study and publish their anonymous data. We assessed people's sociodemographic profiles and different psychometric measures in this study. We used UCLA-8, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PSQI scales to assess loneliness, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance, respectively. This article provides a descriptive analysis of variables along with socioeconomic factors. The presented dataset gives a platform for future research for psychometric assessments of subjects using the above scales. We collected the survey data from the whole country regardless of socioeconomic factors. Therefore, policymakers of government and non-government organizations can use the data to develop different programs to promote the mental health of the Bangladeshi population.

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among Bangladeshi healthcare professionals: A cross-sectional study.

The COVID-19 has been spreading across the world since December 2019. The pandemic has created tremendous fear of death from infection and awful psychological pressure on healthcare professionals (HCPs). The measures of psychological effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Bangladeshi HCPs are unknown. The present study aimed to assess the mental health outcomes of Bangladeshi HCPs and associated risk factors. We conducted this cross-sectional study from July 15 to September 20, 2020. A total of 355 HCPs aged between 20 and 60 years residing in Bangladesh participated in this study. All the participants completed a self-administered questionnaire through Google Forms consisting of socio-demographic characteristics and mental health outcomes. We measure loneliness, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance using the UCLA loneliness scale-8, patient health questionnaire-9, 7-item generalized anxiety disorder scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index. The present study observed the prevalence of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance among HCPs were 89%, 44%, 78%, and 87%, respectively. The factors significantly associated with the development of mental health problems among HCPs were working environment, economic condition, education level, area of residence, marital status, gender differences, professional category, body mass index, and smoking habit. Moreover, we have seen significant correlations among the different mental health outcomes. In Bangladesh, a large portion of HCPs reported mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic incredibly impacted the psychological health of Bangladeshi healthcare professionals. Appropriate supportive programs and interventional initiatives might help the HCPs with mental health problems during and after this pandemic.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among general Bangladeshi population: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Mental health problems significantly increased worldwide during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. At the early stage of the outbreak, the government of Bangladesh imposed lockdown and quarantine approaches to prevent the spread of the virus, which impacted people's daily life and health. The COVID-19 pandemic has also affected people's economic status, healthcare facilities and other lifestyle factors in Bangladesh. We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among the Bangladeshi population. METHODS: We conducted an online cross-sectional survey among 672 Bangladeshi people aged between 15 and 65 years all over the country from 15 April to 10 May 2020. After obtaining electronic consent, we conducted a survey assessing people's sociodemographic profiles and psychometric measures. We used The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale-8, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess loneliness, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance, respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of loneliness, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance was estimated at 71% (mild: 32%, moderate: 29%, severe: 10%), 38% (mild: 24%, moderate: 11%, severe: 3%), 64% (mild: 30%, moderate: 17%, severe: 17%) and 73% (mild: 50%, moderate: 18%, severe: 5%), respectively. In Bangladesh, the key factors associated with poor mental health during COVID-19 were female sex, unemployment, being a student, obesity and living without a family. The present study also identified statistically significant interrelationships among the measured mental health issues. CONCLUSIONS: A large portion of respondents reported mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. The present study suggests longitudinal assessments of mental health among Bangladeshi people to determine the gravity of this issue during and after the pandemic. Appropriate supportive programmes and interventional approaches would address mental health problems in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic.