Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Social, Mental, And Physical Health Impacts Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On People With Hiv: Protocol Of An Observational International Multisite Study, Yvette P. Cuca, Christine Horvat, Inge Corless, Craig Phillips, Álvaro José Sierra-Perez, Solymar Solís Báez, Emilia Iwu, Motshedisi Sabone, Mercy Tshilidzi Mulaudzi, Sheila Shaibu

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world, immunocompromised individuals such as people with HIV (PWH) may have faced a disproportionate impact on their health and HIV outcomes, both from COVID-19 and from the strategies enacted to contain it. Based on the SPIRIT guidelines, we describe the protocol for an international multisite observational study being conducted by The International Nursing Network for HIV Research, with the Coordinating Center based at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Nursing. Site Principal Investigators implement a standardized protocol to recruit PWH to complete the study online or in-person. Questions address demographics; …

Preadmission Testing For Covid-19 As A Screening Strategy: A Retrospective Chart Review From A Tertiary Hospital In Kenya, David Odada, James Ndai, Jemimah Kimeu, Jasmit Shah, Reena Shah

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020, hospitals and patient care facilities have faced challenges in protecting healthcare workers and patients from being exposed to the infection. The main challenge has been how exposure to COVID-19 can be controlled when asymptomatic patientscan transmit the infection. This study aims to evaluate pre-admission testing of COVID-19 in patients at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi as a screening strategy for understanding, preventing and controlling exposure to COVID-19.

Methods: This was a descriptive retrospective chart review study that analysed the incidence of COVID-19, incidental detection of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 …

Informing Healthcare Operations With Integrated Pathology, Clinical, And Epidemiology Data: Lessons From A Single Institution In Kenya During Covid-19 Waves, Allan Njau, Jemimah Kimeu, Jaimini Gohil, David Nganga

Pathology, East Africa

Pathology, clinical care teams, and public health experts often operate in silos. We hypothesized that large data sets from laboratories when integrated with other healthcare data can provide evidence that can be used to optimize planning for healthcare needs, often driven by health-seeking or delivery behavior. From the hospital information system, we extracted raw data from tests performed from 2019 to 2021, prescription drug usage, and admission patterns from pharmacy and nursing departments during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya (March 2020 to December 2021). Proportions and rates were calculated. Regression models were created, and a t-test for differences between …

A Qualitative Inquiry On Smokers’ Perceptions Of Smoking Cessation During Covid-19, Sajid Iqbal, Rubina Barolia, Kiran Iftikhar, Pammla Petrucka, Jeniefer Anastasi, Faris Farooq Saeed Khan, Naheed Feroz Ali

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: This qualitative exploratory study explores smokers’ perspectives regarding smoking cessation processes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: Purposive sampling was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with cigarette smokers visiting cardiac and pulmonary clinics at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Thematic analysis was performed to identify themes from the participants’ responses.
Results: Three themes emerged from the thematic analysis. These were smoking cessation facilitators, smoking cessation barriers, and COVID-19 impacts on smoking cessation. Awareness and education, threat of acquiring health problems, religious beliefs and family or support system behave as smoking cessation facilitators. While, role modeling, associating smoking to …

The Psychological Toll Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Private Practice Midwives In Indonesia And Its Relation With Perceived Knowledge And Individual Adaptability, Amelia Citra Kirana, Gracia Ivonika, Dewa Ayu Mirah Ardrini, Maria Stephani Dwitya, Ratih Ibrahim, Ray Wagiu Basrowi

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

COVID-19 had serious impacts on the lives and health of people across the globe. Due to the high-risk nature of their work midwives frequently report personal/professional adverse psychological impacts. However, there is a lack of studies examining the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on private practice midwives in Indonesia and beyond. This study examines the psychological impacts of the pandemic on private practice midwives in Indonesia, as well as its association with individual adaptability and perceived knowledge about COVID-19. A total of 423 private practice midwives, who were active practitioners during the pandemic, completed an online survey, comprising five …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Preparedness For Managing Pregnant And Postpartum Women With Covid-19 Among Nurse-Midwives In Kenya, Rose Maina, Rachel Kimani, James Orwa, Bernard Mutwiri, Carolyne K. Nyariki, Sheila Shaibu, Valerie Fleming

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Globally, maternal morbidity and mortality have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the high burden of maternal and neonatal mortality in Kenya prior to COVID-19, front line health workers, including nurse-midwives, must be competent to ensure continued quality maternal services. Knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 transmission influence nurse-midwives risk perception and ability to implement prevention strategies.

Objective: We examined nurse-midwives’ knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness in managing pregnant and postpartum women with COVID-19 in Kenya.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 118 nurse-midwives between July 2020 and November 2020. A 31-item survey comprising 15 knowledge, …

Contact Dermatitis Due To Personal Protective Equipment Use And Hygiene Practices During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review Of Case Reports, Zouina Sarfraz, Azza Sarfraz, Muzna Sarfraz, Miguel Felix, Jonathan A. Bernstein, Luz Fonacier, Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Prolonged use of personal protective equipment (PPE) may lead to contact dermatitis during the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. This paper aims to identify the causative factors of contact dermatitis from PPE and hygiene practices.
Methods: The search was conducted adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A Delphi process was employed to ensure that the aims of this study were met. PubMed and Web of Science databases were systematically searched through September 12, 2021, using search terms: Contact dermatitis, case report, covid-19. The findings were tabulated as author/year, gender, age, presentation, cause, dermatological diagnosis, testing modality, provided treatment, symptom resolution …

Perceived Risk And Distress Related To Covid-19 In Healthcare Versus Non-Healthcare Workers Of Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study, Adeel Abid, Hania Shahzad, Hyder Ali Khan, Suneel Piryani, Areeba Raza Khan, Fauziah Rabbani

Medical College Documents

Background:
Healthcare workers (HCWs) have found themselves and their families more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. This puts them at a higher risk of psychological distress, which may compromise patient care. In this study, we aim to explore the risk perceptions and psychological distress between HCWs and non-healthcare workers (NHCWs) in Pakistan.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online self-administered questionnaire. Psychological distress was assessed through The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Comparisons were made between HCWs (front/backend, students/graduates) and NHCWs related to risk perceptions and stress levels related to COVID19. Following tests for normality (Shapiro–Wilk test), variables …

Industry 4.0 Technologies For The Manufacturing And Distribution Of Covid-19 Vaccines, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Muzna Sarfraz, Aminah Abdul Razzack, Shehar Bano, Sarabjot Singh Makkar, Sindhu Thevuthasan, Trissa Paul, Muhammad Khawar Sana, Nishwa Azeem

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: The evolutionary stages of manufacturing have led us to conceptualize the use of Industry 4.0 for COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), powered by Industry 4.0 technologies. Using applications of integrated process optimizations reliant on digitized data, we propose novel intelligent networks along the vaccine value chain. Vaccine 4.0 may enable maintenance processes, streamline logistics, and enable optimal production of COVID-19 vaccines.
Vaccine 4.0 framework: The challenge in applying Vaccine 4.0 includes the requirement of large-scale technologies for digitally transforming manufacturing, producing, rolling-out, and distributing vaccines. With our framework, Vaccine 4.0 analytics will target process performance, process development, process stability, compliance, …

The Conundrum Of Low Covid-19 Mortality Burden In Sub-Saharan Africa: Myth Or Reality?, Janica Adams, Mary J. Mackenzie, Adeladza Kofi Amegah, Alex Ezeh, Muktar A. Gadanya, Akinyinka Omigbodun, Ahmed Sarki, Paul Thistle, Abdhalah K. Ziraba, Saverio Stranges, Michael Silverman

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

The burden of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been substantially lower compared to other regions of the world. Extensive morbidity and mortality were not observed among countries in SSA during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. To explain this phenomenon, several hypotheses have been formulated, including the low median age of the population in most SSA countries, lack of long-term care facilities, cross-protection from other local coronaviruses, insufficient testing and reporting resulting in an undercounting of COVID-related deaths, genetic risk factors, or the benefit of early lockdowns that were extensive in many SSA countries. Early lockdowns …

When Covid-19 Enters In A Community Setting: An Exploratory Qualitative Study Of Community Perspectives On Covid-19 Affecting Mental Well-Being, Naureen Akber Ali, Anam Shahil Feroz, Noshaba Akber, Rida Feroz, Salima Nazim Meghani, Sarah Saleem

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased level of anxiety and fear among the general population related to its management and infection spread. Considering the relevance of present circumstances, we explored perceptions and attitudes of community members towards their mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Setting: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study using a purposive sampling approach, at two communities of Karachi, Pakistan.
Participants: In-depth interviews were conducted with community members including, young adults, middle-aged adults and older adults of both genders. Study data were analysed manually using the thematic analysis technique.
Primary outcome: The primary outcome is …

Mental Health Of Children And Adolescents Amidst Covid-19 And Past Pandemics: A Rapid Systematic Review, Salima Meherali, Neelam Punjani, Samantha Louie-Poon, Komal Abdul Rahim, Jai K. Das, Rehana A. Salam, Zohra S. Lassi

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: The COVID‑19 pandemic and associated public health measures have disrupted the lives of people around the world. It is already evident that the direct and indirect psychological and social effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic are insidious and affect the mental health of young children and adolescents now and will in the future. The aim and objectives of this knowledge-synthesis study were to identify the impact of the pandemic on children's and adolescent's mental health and to evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions employed during previous and the current pandemic to promote children's and adolescents' mental health.
Methodology: We conducted …

Effectiveness Of Standard Precautions In The Prevention Of Covid-19, Tazeen Saeed Ali, Shah Zeb, Asghar Ali, Zahir Munir, Sumia Andleeb Abbasi

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: COVID-19 is the novel pandemic that has caused exponential deaths worldwide and damaged health care systems of developed as well as developing regions. Many of the HCWs across the countries are getting affected by this infection and losing their lives.
Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the level of compliance with SPs for the prevention of COVID-19 transmission among HCWs and identify its associated factors.
Methods: An analytical cross sectional study was conducted on 877 HCWs in nine different tertiary care hospitals of Sindh. HCWs were retrieved using universal sampling. Data was collected using self-reporting questionnaire. …

Nursing Education Amidst Covid-19: Obstacles And Way Forward, Farida Bibi Mughal, Nasreen Rafiq, Bibi Hajira Irshad Ali

School of Nursing & Midwifery

No abstract provided.

Promoting Positive Birth Experiences: Supporting Pregnant And Lactating Women During The Covid-19 Crisis, Marina Baig, Shelina Bhamani, Zohra Kurji, Lumaan Sheikh, Rozina Karmaliani

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, in January 2020. While international organizations and governments strive to strengthen the world’s emergency response mechanism to combat the pandemic, the public in general faces anxiety and fear. One of the most vulnerable groups is pregnant and lactating women. The pandemic has given rise to many apprehensions about the state of their health and well-being as well as that of their unborn or newly born child. A live Facebook session was conducted by a group of experts from a private university in Karachi, Pakistan, …

Maternal And Newborn Care During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Kenya: Re-Contextualising The Community Midwifery Model, Rachel Kimani, Rose Maina, Constance Shumba, Sheila Shaibu

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Peripartum deaths remain significantly high in low- and middle-income countries, including Kenya. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted essential services, which could lead to an increase in maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, the lockdowns, curfews, and increased risk for contracting COVID-19 may affect how women access health facilities. SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that requires a community-centred response, not just hospital-based interventions. In this prolonged health crisis, pregnant women deserve a safe and humanised birth that prioritises the physical and emotional safety of the mother and the baby. There is an urgent need for innovative strategies to prevent the …

Challenges In Teaching Palliative Care Module Virtually During Covid-19 Era, Shanaz Hussein Cassum, Khairunnisa Mansoor, Amina Hirji, Amber David, Amina Aijaz Khowaja

School of Nursing & Midwifery

With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the global community, routine activities of universities, offices, and industries have been hindered. People are being forced to rethink the ways of working virtually from home for providing education, business, and health services in this social distancing during the COVID era. This sudden shift also posed challenges of online teaching in a private university, in urban Karachi, Pakistan. The Aga Khan University, School of Nursing and Midwifery recently conducted an online palliative care module using a virtual learning environment and Microsoft Teams for Trainee Nurse Interns. Although the first experience of online teaching and learning …

Covid-19: The New Corona Virus Upsetting Our World, Rafat Jan, Edwin Van Teijlingen

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Maternal Health Challenges During Covid-19 And Way Forward, Muskaan Dosani, Salima Muhammad Farooq, Shahnaz Shahid Ali

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly every country around the globe. Although every individual is at risk of getting the virus, maternal, fetal and newborn clients face specific and potentially unknown challenges which can make them highly compromised. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the maternal health challenges faced by women during COVID-19 and to propose possible strategies using the socio-ecological model (SEM) to promote the physical, social, and mental well-being of women and their infants during the perinatal period. SEM can be used as a framework to plan and implement strategies focusing on health promotion and disease …

Reflections: Bravo Breastfeeding Mother! A Covid Positive Mother And Midwifery Instinct, Rafat Jan

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Insight Into Covid-19 Responses And Initiatives From Pakistan, Salima Farooq, Sonia Ijaz Haider, Saima Sachwani, Yasmin Parpio

School of Nursing & Midwifery

The coronavirus pandemic is a rapidly evolving outbreak that has tremendously distressed people worldwide. The paper aims to present some key rapid responses and initiatives to COVID-19 undertaken in Pakistan. The information has been gathered by reviewing material and documents pertinent to COVID-19 in the context of Pakistan. The incidences of COVID-19 cases are gradually increasing; however, the case fatality rate is relatively lower in Pakistan as compared to developed countries. The government has taken massive actions, in terms of lockdowns, quarantine homes, testing facilities, closure of schools, and mass gatherings at places, to combat COVID-19. However, the measures seem …

Telehealth: An Important Player During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Naureen Akber Ali, Adeel Khoja

School of Nursing & Midwifery

No abstract provided.