The following digest summarizes the most important scholarly and policy publications, reports, and articles covering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the politics, economies, and societies of the Arab world. Mofeed Digest is produced by Mofeed Project Coordinator Serage Amatory.
[MENA | Algeria | Bahrain | Djibouti | Egypt| Iraq| Jordan| Kuwait| Lebanon |Libya| Morocco| Oman| Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia| Somalia| Sudan| Syria| Tunisia| UAE| Yemen]
MENA
U.S. and China Vaccine Diplomacy in the MENA Region
Modern Diplomacy, 7 November 2022
This article explores the Sino-American race to vaccinate the MENA region against the coronavirus, and the use of vaccine diplomacy as a tool of influence and power projection.
A Snapshot of the Experience of Dietitians During the COVID-19 Crisis in Five Arab Countries: Findings from a Regional Cross-Sectional Study
Nutrients, 19 November 2022
This article aims to assess the change in dietitians’ practices and duties in hospitals in five Arab countries (Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Algeria
Effects of Temperature and Relative Humidity on the COVID-19 Pandemic in Different Climates: A Study Across Some Regions in Algeria (North Africa).
Environmental Science & Pollution Research, November 2022
This article traces COVID-19 infections in fourteen Algerian cities with different climate patterns. Its objective is to investigate the relation between temperature and relative humidity on the one hand and COVID-19 incidence on the other.
Intention to Get COVID-19 Vaccination and Its Associated Predictors: A Cross-Sectional Study Among the General Public in Algeria
Vaccines, 24 November 2022
This article assesses the variables that go into the decision to receive or shun COVID-19 vaccines among the general public in Algeria.
Bahrain
Wind Speed, Heat Linked to Spread of COVID – Says Study
Gulf Digital News, 6 November 2022
This journalistic article reports on the findings of Bahrain study that suggested that wind speed and temperature may be connected to the spread of COVID-19. The study, titled “The relation between SARS-CoV-2 cases in Bahrain and meteorological parameters,” analyzed 27-months of data between 2020 and 2022.
Djibouti
Djibouti: Design, Implementation and Child-Sensitivity of Social Protection Responses to COVID-19
International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth, 1 November 2022
This article analyzes social-assistance responses to COVID-19 in Djibouti. It also draws lessons regarding shock-responsiveness and child-sensitive social protection. [Arabic]
Egypt
Egypt: Design, Implementation and Child-Sensitivity of Social Protection Responses to COVID-19
International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth, 1 November 2022
This article analyzes social-assistance responses to COVID-19 in Egypt and draws lessons regarding shock-responsiveness and child-sensitive social protection. [Arabic]
Consolidating Food Safety Measures Against COVID-19
Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, 2 November 2022
This article explores different measures to shield the food industry from contamination during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also suggests future preventive interventions, such as investing in bioactive natural products, lactoferrin, and chemically modified proteins in cleaning and safeguarding fresh food products from viral contamination.
Prevalence of Enteric Viruses in Wastewater in Egypt After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Journal of Water and Health, 7 November 2022
This article examines the possible link between modified hygiene habits in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic and the circulation of enteric viruses in wastewater. It found that the pandemic might have motivated improvements in hygienic habits which indirectly decreased the circulation of other viruses (such as Hepatitis A) in wastewater.
Attitude Towards COVID-19 Vaccination Among Healthcare Workers: A Cross Sectional Study from Egypt
BMC Health Services Research, 16 November 2022
This article assesses the variables informing the decision, among health-care workers in Egypt, to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
Multiple Sclerosis Patients’ Response to COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccination in Egypt
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, 17 November 2022
This article investigates the impact of COVID-19 infections on MS patients in Egypt, their willingness to receive vaccination, the percentage of vaccinated patients, and the potential adverse effects of different vaccines.
COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Rates and Predictors Among the Egyptian General Population and Healthcare Workers, the Intersectionality of Age and Other Factors
Scientific Reports, 18 November 2022
This article examines the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates and their predictors in Egypt. It reports that upper Egypt governorates (Faiyum and Giza) were outpacing Lower Egypt governorates in vaccination acceptance rates.
Household Disinfection Practices by Women Living in Egypt During the 2020 COVID-19 Lockdown and the Association of Information Sources and Suspected Bleach Toxicity
BMC Public Health, 19 November 2022
This article assesses the relationship between sources of information about the COVID-19 pandemic, household cleaning and disinfection practices among adult women living in Egypt, and the adverse effects of bleach toxicity during the nation-wide lockdown.
Characteristics of Suicidal Poisoned Patients Admitted to Tertiary Care Center During COVID-19 Pandemic
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, 22 November 2022
This article evaluates the characteristics patients who attempted suicide by poisoning and were admitted to a tertiary poison control center in Egypt (Tanta University Poison Control Center) during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. It also assesses COVID-related knowledge and attitudes among these patients to identify the factors that may aggravate the risk of suicide.
Iraq
Adverse Reactions of Different COVID-19 Vaccines Among Healthcare Professionals: A Qualitative Study in Mosul, Iraq
Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 1 November 2022
This article explores the perceptions, attitudes, and expectations of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in Mosul regarding COVID-19 vaccines.
The Mental Health and Well-Being of Internally Displaced Female Yazidis in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Realist Review of Psychosocial Interventions and the Impact of COVID-19
Global Mental Health, 4 November 2022
This article assesses the global evidence on psychosocial interventions for female survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, and how it applies to the context of the female Yazidi population in Iraq during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors also evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the effectiveness of the interventions.
Evaluation of the Immunological Efficiency for Some of COVID-19 Vaccines (Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinopharm) Among Vaccinated People of Wasit Province in Iraq
Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results, 7 November 2022
This article evaluates the immunological activity of approved COVID-19 vaccines in terms of serological tests for antibodies (IgG and IgM) for the study groups in Wasit Governorate in Iraq.
COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance and Its Associated Factors Among the Iraqi Population: A Cross Sectional Study
Patient Preference and Adherence, 17 November 2022
This article investigates COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Iraq, evident in the low inoculation rates in the country, where only 7.4% of the population was vaccinated at the end of July 2021.
Assessment of COVID-19 Vaccination Among Healthcare Workers in Iraq; Adverse Effects and Hesitancy
PLOS One, 18 November 2022
This article provides evidence showing the adverse effects associated with COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers in Iraq. It also examines the attitudes of healthcare workers who refused vaccination.
Jordan
Factors Affecting SARS-CoV-2 Variant Distribution in Military Hospitals in Jordan
Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, November 2022
This article assesses the prevalence of genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 during June-September 2021 by sequencing the full genome of 213 viral samples from Jordanian Royal Medical Services military hospitals.
Counselling of Non-Communicable Diseases’ Patients for COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Jordan: Evaluating the Intervention
Vaccine, 2 November 2022
This article examines the implementation of a one-to-one health counselling initiative in Jordan, exploring the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines by patients with non-communicable diseases. The study evaluates the impact of this intervention by analyzing the change in COVID-19 vaccine uptake .
COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic Growth in Jordan: Evidence from a Panel Cointegration Methodology
Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, 19 November 2022
This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on determinants of economic growth in Jordan, such as gross fixed capital formation, labor force, trade openness, economic freedom, and overall governance.
Awareness, Perceptions, and Attitude Regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Among Ophthalmologists in Jordan: Cross-Sectional Online Survey
Clinical Ophthalmology, 21 November 2022
This article investigates the awareness, perception and attitudes of ophthalmologists in Jordan towards COVID-19 and the infection control measures they introduced.
Impact of COVID-19 on Perinatal Mental Health Among Pregnant Mothers Infected with COVID-19, During the First Wave of the Epidemic in Jordan
Heliyon, 28 November 2022
This article examines baseline information regarding the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in the perinatal period, among mothers infected with COVID-19, during the first wave of the epidemic in Jordan. It also assesses anxiety among pregnant women infected with COVID-19.
The Influence of COVID-19 Lockdown in Jordan on Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy: A Case–Control Study
Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 30 November 2022
This article assesses the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown in Jordan on sight deterioration for patients with Diabetic Retinopathy whose care plans the pandemic disrupted.
Knowledge, Practice, and Attitude Toward COVID-19 Among Physicians in Jordan and Palestine: Cross-Sectional Study
International Journal of General Medicine, 30 November 2022
This article reports on the knowledge, practices and attitudes of physicians in Jordan and Palestine towards COVID-19.
Kuwait
The Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders Among the Students of Kuwait University After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Research Square, 8 November 2022
This working paper investigates the prevalence of common mental disorders among the students of Kuwait University during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show a moderate level of mental disorders among participants. About 17% of the participants exhibited high levels of mental disorders; those disorders were moderate for 42.6% of the participants.
Cost of In-patient Management of COVID-19 Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Kuwait
medRxiv, 22 November 2022
This working paper attempts to determine the total cost of COVID-19 in-patient management in Kuwait. It uses patients’ records to obtain sociodemographic information and data on patients’ length of stay and discharge status.
Lebanon
Medical Waste Management in Lebanon and Impact of COVID-19
Health Care Waste Management and COVID-19 Pandemic, 13 November 2022
This article provides an overview of healthcare waste generation rate and management in Lebanon during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also analyzes the country’s existing waste management policies and regulations.
Anxiety Among Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic in Lebanon: The Importance of the Work Environment and Personal Resilience
Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 17 November 2022
This article assesses anxiety and its predictors among a sample of healthcare workers at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it evaluates the association between psychological resilience and anxiety.
Libya
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Hospitalization Among Vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough Infection After Dose Sparing Strategies in Libya: A Cohort Study
PLOS One, 3 November 2022
This article reports the findings of a study investigating the trends of SARS-CoV-2 infection severity, hospitalization rate, and mortality for patients who received a single-dose of one of the three licensed vaccines in Libya.
Morocco
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The Evolution of the Global COVID-19 Epidemic in Morocco and Understanding the Different Therapeutic Approaches of Chitosan in the Control of the Pandemic
Polymer Bulletin, 21 November 2022
This article traces the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco — the virus’s pathophysiology and its ability to cripple the immune system. The article also provides an overview of the country’s treatments and measures to deal with and prevent COVID-19 infections.
COVID-19 National Lockdown in Morocco: Impacts on Air Quality and Public Health
General Directorate of Meteorology, Morocco & Hassan II University, 22 November 2022
This article compares air quality in the Moroccan cities Casablanca and Marrakech, before the pandemic and during the lockdown. It examines whether the COVID-19 lockdown may have saved lives by decreasing air pollution more than it did by preventing fresh infections.
Oman
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Adverse Cutaneous Reactions Reported Post COVID-19 Vaccination in Al Buraimi Governorate, Sultanate of Oman
Dermatologic Therapy, 13 September 2022
This article evaluates the incidence and various patterns of cutaneous side effects reported post COVID-19 vaccination in Al Buraimi Governorate in Oman.
Investigation on Factors Causing Construction Delay and their Effects on the Development of Oman’s Construction Industry
EUREKA: Physics and Engineering, 29 November 2022
This article examines the factors, causes and effects responsible for construction delay in Oman, especially due to health and safety concerns and restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Palestine
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The Impact of Financial Performance on Firm’s Value During COVID-19 Pandemic for Companies Listed in the Palestine Exchange (2019–2020)
An-Najah University Staff Journal, November 2022
This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 on the financial performance of companies listed in the Palestine Exchange (19-20), in terms of return to assets, equity and company value.
Knowledge, Practice, and Attitude Toward COVID-19 Among Physicians in Jordan and Palestine: Cross-Sectional Study
International Journal of General Medicine, 30 November 2022
This article reports on the knowledge, practices and attitudes of physicians in Jordan and Palestine towards COVID-19.
Qatar
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The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Electricity Consumption and Electricity Demand Forecasting Accuracy: Empirical Evidence from the State of Qatar
Energy Strategy Reviews, November 2022
This article investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on electricity consumption in Qatar. The analysis makes use of three machine learning models.
Protection from Previous Natural Infection Compared with mRNA Vaccination Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Severe COVID-19 in Qatar: A Retrospective Cohort Study
The Lancet Microbe, 11 November 2022
This article compares the immunity gains resulting from SARS-COV-2 infection versus those from the BNT162b2 (Pfizer–BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccines in Qatar.
COVID-19 Vaccine Protection Among Children and Adolescents in Qatar
The New England Journal of Medicine, 17 November 2022
This article assesses the real-world effectiveness of the BNT162b2 vaccine against infection with COVID-19 among children and adolescents in Qatar.
Saudi Arabia
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COVID-19 Vaccine Had a Significant Positive Impact on Patients with SARS-COV-2 During the Third (Omicron) Wave in Saudi Arabia
Journal of Infection and Public Health, November 2022
This article reports that the Omicron variant’s symptoms in Saudi Arabia are generally milder compared to infections by other variants. It finds that COVID-19 vaccination may lessen the severity of the symptoms and decrease hospitalizations.
Evaluation of Knowledge on the Preventive Practice of COVID-19 Among Middle-Aged Adults in Saudi Arabia – A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Based Study
Official Journal of the Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences, November 2022
This article evaluates knowledge on COVID-19 prevention practices among middle-aged adults in the Riyadh region in Saudi Arabia.
Evaluate the Side Effect Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine on Adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Medical Journal, 1 November 2022
This article investigates the side effects of Pizer- BioNTech mRNA (BNT162b2) and Spikevax (mRNA- 1273) COVID-19 vaccines on adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Burnout Among Emergency Nurses During COVID-19 Pandemic at Hail Governmental Hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, 1 November 2022
This article evaluates burnout among emergency nurses at Hail Governmental Hospitals in the KSA during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Anxiety and Depression Among Physical Therapists in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
BMC Medical Education, 1 November 2022
This article reports the findings of study that surveyed physical therapists in Saudi Arabia for anxiety and depression during and/or because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Factors that Contributed to Burnout Among Intensive Care Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Constructivist Grounded Theory
Australian Critical Care, 8 November 2022
This article aims to examine intensive care nurses’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia to develop insights into the factors that cause burnout.
Age/BMI is a Stronger Predictor of Death in COVID-19 Patients than Age Alone: A Pilot Study
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 10 November 2022
This article examines how age and BMI together affect death rates in COVID-19 by studying a cohort of 206 Saudi COVID-19 patients and using data on age, BMI, hospitalization, comorbidities, and death.
The Relationship Between Nurses’ Risk Assessment and Management, Fear Perception, and Mental Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia
Frontiers in Public Health, 10 November 2022
This article examines the impact of fear and risk assessment management on nurses’ mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.
COVID-19 Vaccination in Saudi Arabia: A Mini Literature Review
International Journal of Nursing and Health Care Research, 11 November 2022
This article reviews around 180 recent publications to understand the Saudi community’s views, perceptions and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination.
The Registered Nurses amid COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study
Nursing Open, 15 November 2022
This article investigates the experiences of registered nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in a government hospital in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia.
Coping With Diabetes During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Saudi Arabia: Lessons Learned in the Post-Pandemic Era
Cureus, 15 November 2022
This article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in Saudi Arabia on access to medications, adherence to prescribed use, lifestyle, and quality of life among diabetes patients.
Adverse Events Following Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines in Saudi Arabia
Scientific Reports, 15 November 2022
This article compares adverse events between the two main COVID-19 vaccines used in Saudi Arabia (Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca) using telemedicine technology.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Patients Infected with COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia
Vascular Health and Risk Management, 19 November 2022
This article assesses the prevalence of cardiovascular-disease (CVD) risk factors among COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia based on the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), and evaluates the association of CVD risk factors with clinical outcomes.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on the Prognosis, Morbidity, and Mortality of Patients Undergoing Elective and Emergency Abdominal Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study in a Tertiary Center, Saudi Arabia
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 25 November 2022
This article evaluates the emergency experience and delay of elective abdominal surgical intervention at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital from October 2019 to October 2020, with a focus on post-operative morbidity and mortality before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hesitancy Towards the COVID-19 Vaccine Among Health Care Practitioners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
F1000Research, 28 November 2022
This article measure willingness and hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines among health care practitioners in Saudi Arabia.
Providing Pharmacy Services During the Coronavirus Pandemic in Saudi Arabia
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences, 28 November 2022
This article reports 28 recommendations made by an expert working-group appointed by the Saudi Society of Clinical Pharmacy (SSCP) to conceptualize and manage the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 and Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases, Local Clinic Experience in Saudi Arabia
Archives of Rheumatology & Arthritis Research, 30 November 2022
This article examines how COVID-19 affects the progression of inflammatory rheumatic disorders (IRDs), as well as how various IRDs, and their treatment, may alter immunological functions in COVID-19 patients.
Somalia
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Incidence of Deep Venous Thrombosis in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Isolated De Martini Hospital Mogadishu Somalia
International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, October 2022
This article assesses the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in COVID-19 patients at De Martini Hospital Mogadishu, Somalia, who underwent of period of isolation connected to their infection.
Sudan
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Workplace Violence Against Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Public Health Challenges, 2 November 2022
This article investigates the scale and patterns of workplace violence against healthcare workers in Sudan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Proportion and Determinants of COVID-19 Infection Among Medical Doctors in Sudan, 2020: A Cross-Sectional Survey
PLOS One, 4 November 2022
This article attempts to identify and assess the factors associated with COVID-19 infection among medical doctors in Sudan.
Beliefs and Barriers of COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy Among Sudanese Healthcare Workers in Sudan: A Cross Sectional Study
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 18 November 2022
This article examines hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers in Sudan, using conventional sampling by way of online-based cross-sectional surveys.
Syria
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“They cannot afford to feed their children and the advice is to stay home. How‥?”: A Qualitative Study of Community Experiences of COVID-19 Response Efforts Across Syria
PLOS One, 4 November 2022
This article explores community perspectives of COVID-19 and health authority responses across the Syrian government-controlled areas (GCA), autonomous administration-controlled areas (AACA), and opposition-controlled areas (OCA).
Tunisia
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COVID-19 Infection in an Intensive Care Unit in Tunisia: Risk Factors of Mortality
Archives of Community Medicine and Public Health, 26 October 2022
This article identifies mortality risk factors among patients in Tunisia at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Mahdia.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome After COVID-19 Vaccines: A Tunisian Case Series
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 18 November 2022
This article attempts to identify the epidemiological and clinical features of Guillain-Barré Syndrome — which is associated with COVID-19 vaccines — among patients in Tunisia.
UAE
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An Evaluation of Non-Communicable Diseases and Risk Factors Associated with COVID-19 Disease Severity in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: An Observational Retrospective Study
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 3 November 2022
This article examines the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and their correlation with COVID-19 disease severity among patients infected in Dubai.
Prevalence, Knowledge and Potential Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptability Among University Students in the United Arab Emirates: Findings and Implications
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 16 November 2022
This article evaluates the prevalence, knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines among university students in the United Arab Emirates.
COVID-19 Case Management Outcomes Amongst Diabetes and Hypertensive Patients in the United Arab Emirates: A Prospective Study
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 30 November 2022
This article examines the prevalence of diabetes, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes among patients admitted for COVID-19 treatment in the UAE, with or without a concurrent pre-admission diagnosis of diabetes.
Yemen
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High Seroprevalence of Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Among Healthcare Workers 8 Months After the First Wave in Aden, Yemen
PLOS Global Public Health, 9 November 2022
This article reports on Médecins Sans Frontières-MSF’s efforts to conduct serological screening using rapid tests for asymptomatic staff at the MSF Aden Trauma Center in Yemen to determine the SARS-CoV-2 antibody seropositivity.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perception Towards COVID-19 Among Medical Students in Yemen: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Infectious Disease Reports, 14 November 2022
This article examines the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) towards COVID-19 among Hadhramout University Medical Students in Yemen from 15 June to 26 June 2020.
Changes in Drug Demand When a Pandemic Coincides with Other Outbreaks in a War Zone Country: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study
Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 22 November 2022
This article evaluates the patterns of demand for prescription and nonprescription drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws on the reported experiences of pharmacists in Yemen, a conflict-zone country.