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BackgroundCOVID-19 has become a global pandemic with a high growth rate of confirmed cases. In Bangladesh, both mortality and affected rates are increasing at an alarming rate. Therefore, more comprehensive studies of the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 are required to control this pandemic. PurposeThe present study aimed to compare and analyze the sex-specific epidemiological, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and other information of confirmed COVID-19 patients from the southeast region in Bangladesh for the first time. Methods385 lab-confirmed cases were studied out of 2,471 tested samples between 5 June and 10 September 2020. RT-PCR was used for COVID-19 identification and SPSS (version 25) for statistical data analysis. ResultsWe found that male patients were roughly affected compared to females patients (male 74.30% vs. female 25.7%) with an average age of 34.86 {+/-} 15.442 years, and B (+ve) blood group has been identified as a high-risk factor for COVID-19 infection. Workplace, local market, and bank were signified as sex-specific risk zone (p < 0.001). Pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases were identified among the patients. Less than half of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in the southeast region were asymptomatic (37.73%) and more prevalent among females than males (male vs. female: 36.84% vs. 40.51%, p = 0.001). ConclusionsThe findings may help health authorities and the government take necessary steps for identification and isolation, treatment, prevention, and control of this global pandemic.
RESUMO
Objective: To identify the acceptance of the vaccine based on factors influencing the vaccination program and the side effects from vaccinated people. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of 1 529 Bangladeshi adults (≥18 years) was conducted between 17 April, 2021 and 26 April, 2021. Statistical analysis of the data included Chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: In total, 67.04% of the participants were willing to accept a COVID-19 vaccine, and 45.00% of them in our study had already received. Overall Bangladeshi people were more likely to accept COVID-19 vaccine if the vaccine reduces risk of infectious disease and has no associated health risk after receiving it. Among the respondents, religions, education level, living area (urban), belif that vaccines protect against infectious diseases and vaccines do not have health-related risk and vaccination was significantly associated with the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines. Conversely, people's perception on development of natural immunity rather than receiving vaccines was also positively reflected. More than half (57.41%) reported minor side effects such as fever, muscle pain and headache after getting vaccine shots. Conclusions: This study revealed that the acceptance rate was influenced by socio-demographic and health-related characteristics and people are not afraid of this vaccine if they faced minor side effects after receiving it. These findings might help the government and policymakers of Bangladesh to implement necessary steps to accomplish this vaccination program effectively.
