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Parallel Session C : COVID-19

3rd Septermber, 2021.  

03.00 AM to 04.30 PM

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Chair


Dr Mohammad Mushtuq Husain BIO

Consultant, Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Planning (WBG),

IEDCR

Co-Chair


Dr. A B M Alauddin Chowdhury BIO

Head, Dept. of Public Health,

Daffodil International University

Dhaka

Moderator


Dr. Animesh Biswas BIO

Reproductive Health Specialist

03:07 PM to 03:14 PM

Bilkis Banu

Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health

Northern University Bangladesh

Preventive knowledge and behaviors to mitigate COVID-19: Urban and Rural comparison in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

View Abstract

Preventive knowledge and behaviors to mitigate COVID-19: Urban and Rural comparison in Dhaka, Bangladesh 


Bilkis Banu1, Sujana Haque Chawdhury1, Nasrin Akter1, Rashidul Alam Mahumud2, Sarder Mahmud Hossain1, Md. Ruhul Amin3 

1Department of Public Health, Northern University Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh 

2NHMRC clinical Trials Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 

3Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC), Dhaka, Bangladesh 


Background: The world inclusive of Bangladesh faces a severe and acute public health emergency due to COVID-19. This study was designed to facilitate pandemic management in Bangladesh. Purpose: To ascertain the preventive health behaviors to mitigate COVID-19 among people in urban and rural settings of Bangladesh. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional design and comprised a sample 800 participants drawn from rural and urban communities of Dhaka district, Bangladesh. Data were collected by using per-tested and semi-structured questionnaire through face-to-face interview method by maintaining the social distance. Analysis was performed by using uni-variate and multivariate techniques. Results: Approximately 71% and 78% of people had inadequate levels of COVID-19 preventive knowledge in urban and rural communities respectively. However, urban people (40%) had more moderate/good preventive health behaviors of COVID-19 than rural counterparts (28%). In urban setting, significant predictors for poor knowledge were lower monthly income (AOR=3.74), housewife as occupation (AOR=8.15); and for poor behavior were lower income (AOR=12.45). In rural setting, significant predictors for poor knowledge and behavior were lower education (AOR=7.76; AOR=4.22 respectively) and lower income (AOR=3.08; AOR=4.54 respectively). Conclusion: The magnitude of preventive knowledge and behavior were inadequate for both residents to combat this rapidly spreading COVID-19. Comprehensive health education and interventions should be planned with special focus upon identified predictors. 

Key words: Preventive, Health Behaviors, mitigate, transmission, COVID-19.

03:15 PM to 03:22 PM

Tania Najnin

Dept. of Public Health and Informatics,

Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and COVID-19 among households in rural Bangladesh

View Abstract

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and COVID-19 among households in rural Bangladesh


Tania Najnin1, Tajuddin Sikder1, Sariful Islam1, Sahadat Hossain1, Mahfuza Islam2

1Dept. of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University

2Environmental Intervention Unit, Infectious Disease Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh

 

Background: In Bangladesh as majority of the people lived in rural area, proper sanitation and hygiene practices is the most talked topic because it represent the total improvement and achievement of the country’s health sector. The prevention of the present pandemic (Covid-19) is also largely connected to the proper hygiene practice specially hand washing. Purpose: This analysis aimed to assess (1) the connectivity of sanitary and hygiene practices as an indicator for observed condition of human health in domestic environment, (2) household characteristics associated with hand washing, household waste management, child feces management and toilet condition (3) whether unsafe feces disposal and unhygienic conditions are associated with the health status and presence of diarrheal disease (4) the change of the lifestyle of rural people due to Covid-19 as well as their perception and knowledge about the pandemic. Method: This was a cross- sectional study to investigate personal hygiene knowledge and practices about safe water, sanitary condition and Covid-19 in rural Bangladesh. Pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire were used. Data were collated and analyzed descriptively. Result: The result showed that the participants in the study were evenly distributed by gender (33.22% males and 66.78% females). Majority of the respondents (92.36%) had good knowledge level on personal hygiene. Conversely, majority of them were noted with moderate to poor (17.28%) level of hygiene practices. Among the participants 28.24% think that there is a relation between the prevention of the pandemic and hygiene practice where 52.82% don’t know about the relationship between this two and 37.54% have some change in their lifestyle due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Poor sanitary condition is one of the leading causes to spread of many communicable diseases including diarrheal and other intestinal diseases which take many valuable lives. Lack of interest in attending cluster meetings, traditional knowledge, poverty, and lack of willingness were some of the factors impeding knowledge and hygiene practice.

Key words: Sanitation, Hygiene, Attitude, Practice, Covid-19

03:23 AM to 03:30 PM

Dr. Mohammad Kamruzzaman Khan

Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine,

Mymensingh Medical College, Bangladesh

Tracking side effects of COVID-19 vaccines in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh

View Abstract

Tracking side effects of COVID-19 vaccines in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh


Dr. Mohammad Kamruzzaman Khan1, Dr. Jannatul Ferdous1, Dr. Suraiya Akhter1, Dr. Asalin Mussaffa Esha2, Mohidul Islam2

1Department of Community Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College, Bangladesh

2Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh

 

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has turned into a worldwide human tragedy. On arrival of corona vaccine many people are ambivalent because they fear possible side effects from vaccination. Objective: This study was designed to track the side effects after first and second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines used in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Methods: This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted during February to June, 2021 among 293 purposively selected vaccine recipients. Data were collected by face to face interview of the vaccine recipients using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: It was found that 217 (74.1%) vaccine recipients had side effects after first dose while 162 (55.3%) had side effects after second dose. The difference in occurrence of side effects of first and second dose was statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Pain on the injection site was present in 172 (58.7%) vaccine recipients after first dose and in 142 (48.5%) after second dose. Fever was prevalent in 98 (33.4%) after first dose and in 61 (20.8) after second dose. Headache was in 61 (20.8%) and in 22 (7.5%) after first and second dose respectively. Thirty one (10.6%) vaccine recipients had loose motion after first dose and 26 (8.9%) had this after second dose. First dose of vaccination caused nausea in 28 (9.6%) and second dose caused it in 16 (5.5%) vaccine recipients. Joint pain was prevalent in 24 (8.2%) after first dose and in 15 (5.1%) after second dose. Conclusions: Commonly experienced side effects of the Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine were pain in the injection site, fever, headache, diarrhoea and joint pain. Most of the people tolerated these side effects and did not use medicine.

Key words: Side effects, COVID-19 vaccine, Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

03:31 PM to 03:38 PM

Md. Saiful Islam

Department of Public Health and Informatics,

Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh

Post-COVID symptoms and depression related conditions among individuals who had recovered from COVID-19: Findings from a cross-sectional study in Bangladeshq

View Abstract

Post-COVID symptoms and depression related conditions among individuals who had recovered from COVID-19: Findings from a cross-sectional study in Bangladesh


Md. Saiful Islam

Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh


Background: COVID-19 has impacted individuals’ lives both physically and mentally. In Bangladesh, initial treatment (self-administered, hospitalized), post-COVID symptoms and whether COVID-19 led to changes in the mental status of people recovered from COVID-19 are not known. This study aimed to examine these in people who had recovered with COVID-19 in Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1002 individuals who had recovered from COVID- 19 (60% male; mean age=34.7±13.9; age range=18-81 years) over a one-month period (September 11 to October 13, 2020). A self-reported online questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographics, lifestyle, COVID-19 symptoms (during and beyond COVID-19), medication (self or doctor-prescribed) and depression (assessed using the PHQ-9). Variables that significantly differed in bivariate analysis were included in multiple logistic regression analysis and reported as the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Bonferroni-corrected p-values (p<.003) were implemented for all statistical tests to protect the results from type-Ⅰ error. Results: About 21% of people were hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection and associated factors of hospitalization included middle-aged/older adults, lower socioeconomic status (SES) and persistent symptoms. 24% self-medicated with over-the-counter medicine when they were first diagnosed with COVID- 19 and its associated factors emerged being lower SES and having persistent COVID-19 symptoms. A minority (20%) reported they experienced persistent COVID-like symptoms after recovering from COVID-19. The most reported persistent symptoms were diarrhea (12.7%) and fatigue (11.5%). The upper SES, fear of infection, hospitalization and self-medication were significantly associated with persistent symptoms. 48% were categorized as having moderate to severe depression. Based on multiple logistic regression, depression during COVID-19 was positively associated with lower SES, moderate/poor health, sleep disturbances, asthma/ respiratory problems, and fear of re-infection. Conclusions: The findings suggest a need for appropriate interventions for individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 to promote physical and mental wellbeing.

Key words: Post-COVID symptoms; depression; self-medication; hospitalization; sleep disturbances

03:39 PM to 03:46 PM

Pham Mai Thi Ngoc Huyen

Department of Bioinformatics, Asian University for Women,

Chittagong, Bangladesh

Identification of potential drug targets to treat COVID-19 patients

View Abstract

Identification of potential drug targets to treat COVID-19 patients


Pham Mai Thi Ngoc Huyen, Jannatul Bakya and Mohammad Manir Hossain Mollah 

Department of Bioinformatics, Asian University for Women, Chittagong-4000, Bangladesh


Background: The emergence of Covid-19 is a cause of death for millions of people worldwide due to the cytokine storm. Therefore, we decided to work on potential drug targets for Covid-19 by understanding the biological nature of genes that are related to the infection of SARS patients. Objective: This study aimed at understanding gene expression, pathway, and network in order to find potential drug targets for the treatment of Covid-19. Methods: We identified genes which are differentially expressed in three gene sets, GSE30589, GSE33267, and GSE47963 using GEO2R with log2FC <-1.5 for down regulated genes and log2FC >1.5 for up regulated genes. Next, we found common differentially expressed genes for pathway analysis using the “Gene Set enrichment Analysis” tool in Webgestalt and did network construction using String and Cytoscape. Then we identified the crucial genes in the pathways and hub genes in the network for drug targets. After that, we prepared and did molecular docking using Pymol and PyRx to identify the drugs with good binding affinity. Results: We found 41 common differentially expressed genes. Among them, 8 genes cytokine-cytokine interaction pathways and 9 hub genes. We also found 33 drugs as potential targets. After docking, there were two drugs with good binding affinity: Deleobuvir binds to IFNL3 (Kd=2.75208 x 10-7) and Dasabuvir binds to IFNL3 (Kd=4.48006 x 10-7). Additionally, the two drugs: Gemfibrozil and Ibudilast, which interact with IL-6 (Kd= 1.82521 x 10-4 and Kd= 1.31895 x 10-4) can suppress the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines so they also have potential for reducing the severe inflammation symptoms in Covid19 patients. Conclusions: Deleobuvir, Dasabuvir, Gemfibrozil, and Ibudilast can be potential drug targets for the treatment of Covid19.

 

Key words: Covid19, SARS, Deleobuvir, Dasabuvir, Gemfibrozil, and Ibudilast

03:47 PM to 03:54 PM

M. Tasdik Hasan

Public Health Foundation, Bangladesh (PHF, BD), Dhaka and

Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom

Prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

View Abstract

Prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study


M. Tasdik Hasan1,2, Sahadat Hossain3, Farhana Safa4, Afifa Anjum3, Abid Hasan Khan3, Kamrun Nahar Koly5, Syeda Fatema Alam6, Md. Abdur Rafi7, Vivek Podder8, Tonima Islam Trisa5, Rhedeya Nury Nodi1, Dewan Tasnia Azad9, Fatema Ashraf1,6, S.M Quamrul Akther6, Helal Uddin Ahmed10, Simon Rosenbaum11, Graham Thornicroft12

 

1Public Health Foundation, Bangladesh (PHF, BD), Dhaka, Bangladesh; 

2Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom

3Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh; 

4Department of Public Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Canada

5International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh

6Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

7Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

8Tairunnessa Memorial Medical College and Hospital, Gazipur, Bangladesh

9Jashore Medical College, Jashore, Bangladesh; 

10National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

11School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

12Centre for Global Mental Health and Centre for Implementation Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London

 

Background: In addition to risking their physical well-being, frontline physicians are enduring significant emotional burden both at work and home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and to identify associated factors among Bangladeshi physicians during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods and design: A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted between April 21 and May 10, 2020. Outcomes assessed included demographic questions, COVID-19 related questions, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: The survey was completed by 412 Bangladeshi physicians. The findings revealed that, in terms of standardized HADS cut-off points, the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among physicians was 67.72% and 48.5% respectively. Risk factors for higher rates of anxiety or depressive symptoms were: being female, physicians who had experienced COVID-19 like symptoms during the pandemic, those who had not received incentives, those who used self-funded PPE, not received adequate training, lacking perceived self-efficacy to manage COVID -19 positive patients, greater perceived stress of being infected, fear of getting assaulted/humiliated, being more connected with social media, having lower income levels to support the family, feeling more agitated, less than 2 hours of leisure activity per day and short sleep duration. All these factors were found to be positively associated with anxiety and depression in unadjusted and adjusted statistical models. Conclusions: This study identifies a real concern about the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Bangladeshi physicians and identifies several associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the vulnerability of the physicians in this extraordinary period whilst they are putting their own lives at risk to help people infected by COVID-19, health authorities should address the psychological needs of medical staff and formulate effective strategies to support vital frontline health workers.

Key words: COVID-19, Bangladesh, physicians, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms

03:55 PM to 04:02 PM

Dr. Unnati Rani Saha

Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam,

Nederland

Hospital Record Review Study of Covid-19 Positive Patients’ during first wave in Bangladesh

View Abstract

Hospital Record Review Study of Covid-19 Positive Patients’ during first wave in Bangladesh


Dr. Unnati Rani Saha1, Dr. Abu Jamil Faisel2, Prof. Shah Monir Hossain3 and Prof Fazlur Rahman4

1Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam

4Centre for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

 

Background: An outbreak of Covid-19 was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Since then it has spread all over the world and poses a serious threat to population health. In Bangladesh, the first case was identified in March 8, 2020 with at peak in April-May called as the first wave. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to obtain an insight of the hospital admitted positive Covid-19 patients’, signs/symptoms, co-morbidity, complications, treatment, hospital stay and outcome. The resulted conclusion may provide lessons learned in hospital management of Covid-19 positive patients. Methods: A total of 60 admission sheets were randomly selected from each of the 10 participating Hospitals in Bangladesh. We reviewed the admission records of the death cases as well. The study sample includes 600 Covid-19 positive and 118 death cases. We performed descriptive statistics to explore the risk factors of outcomes recovered versus death cases. Results: Study findings suggest poor hospital record keeping for Covid-19 patients that limit statistical analysis. However, the descriptive analyses suggest that fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle pain, and loss of sense of taste or smell were the most common symptoms. Patients older than 50 years were at risk of death. Patients with pre-existing condition hypertension or diabetes were 2 times more likely to die whereas patients with kidney disease were 5 times more likely to die. Oxygen saturation levels below 90 it revealed significantly higher risks for deaths. Conclusions: Hospital patient record keeping system needs to be improved- arrangements for case record keeping and periodical reviewing system. Monitoring oxygen saturation levels remain important to reduce death. Patients with pre-existing condition it also remains important for special care. More research is needed to provide specific recommendations for quality improvement of clinical care of Covid-19 positive cases.

Key words: Covid-19, infectious disease, Bangladesh

04:03 PM to 04:17 PM

Q/A Session

04:18 PM to 04:30 PM

Sum up by the Chair and Co-Chair

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