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| Bahrain | Egypt| Iraq| Jordan| Lebanon| Morocco| Oman|
Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia| Sudan| Syria| Tunisia| UAE| Yemen]
MENA
Middle Eastern Nurses’ Views/Experiences of Work and Well-Being with the Support Measures During Past Disease Outbreaks and COVID-19: A Qualitative Systematic Review
BMC Nursing, 3 July 2023
This article investigates nurses’ perspectives and experiences of well-being support measures during previous pandemics and the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Muslims’ Religious Lives, Mental Health and Views of Government
Rice University’s Baker Institute, 5 July 2023
This article examines the impact of COVID-19 on the religious lives, mental health, and government views of Muslims and finds that religion took on new and outsized importance for Muslims across Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
Bahrain
Abdominal Imaging Findings in Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study
Cureus, 30 July 2023
This article examines abdominal imaging findings on both CT and ultrasound scans in cases with positive COVID-19 PCR tests performed at Salmaniyah Medical Complex in Bahrain and correlate these findings with patients’ demographics.
Egypt
A Comparison of COVID-19 Between Egypt and the United Kingdom
International Journal of Epidemiology and Health Sciences, 2 July 2023
This article investigates alternative explanations for the far poorer outcome that COVID-19 caused in the United Kingdom as compared to Egypt. The UK had over ten times the number of deaths per million, higher than the Egyptian rate.
Midterm Follow-Up of Healthy Young Adults with Moderate to Severe COVID-19: Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Disease Sequelae
The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology, 18 July 2023
This article investigates the pulmonary and extrapulmonary sequelae of moderate to severe COVID-19 in the midterm follow-up of healthy young adults.
Evaluation of Vitamin A and E Deficiency with Severity of SARS-COV-2 Disease: A Case–Control Study
The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology, 21 July 2023
This article examines the serum levels of vitamins A and E in COVID-19 patients to assess the COVID-19’s impact on vitamin deficiency.
Cognitive Impact on Patients with COVID-19 Infection
The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology, 26 July 2023
This article evaluates cognitive function, anxiety, and depression among patients with COVID-19.
Iraq
Depression and Generalized Anxiety as Long-Term Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 in Iraqi Kurdistan
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 7 July 2023
This article examines symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety and associated factors in the period following COVID-19 infection in patients in Kurdistan.
Biochemical Changes in Patients Infected with Coronavirus SARS-2 of Babylon Province, Iraq
International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Science, 19 July 2023
This article evaluates various biochemical alterations in patients who had contracted COVID-19 and were admitted to hospitals in the province of Babylon in Iraq.
Problems of Using Air Transport in the Period of COVID-19
Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 27 July 2023
This article examines the impact of standards and recommendations, particularly those adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), on the safety of passengers and crew, the efficiency and uniformity of air travel, and the protection of the environment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Study of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Positivity in Duhok City, Iraq
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 27 July 2023
The study investigates the positivity rate of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and associated factors in Duhok, Iraq.
The Impact of COVID-19-Pandemic on Psychological Health and Educational Status of the Dental Students from the Instructor and Student’s Viewpoints
Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 28 July 2023
This article investigates the psychological health and educational status of dental students who experienced the COVID-19 lockdown while enrolled in Iraqi colleges.
Jordan
The Psychological Role of COVID-19 in the Trend Towards the Digital Economy in Jordan
Journal for ReAttach Therapy and Developmental Diversities, 1 July 2023
This article examine the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic sectors in Jordan and the role of the pandemic in the transition to the digital economy.
The Inconspicuous Benefits of a Crisis in Shifting Perceptions of Country Image and Local Goods in Jordan
International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 5 July 2023
This article studies the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on maneuvering consumption decisions towards goods and encouraging the trial of local food goods in Jordan.
Food Safety Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Jordanian Women Handling Food at Home During COVID-19 Pandemic
PLOS One, 7 July 2023
This article investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of women food handlers in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Among the Population in Jordan
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 July 2023
This article assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in Jordan and to identify key factors affecting it, in addition to addressing lessons learned from the pandemic.
The Impact of Face Masks on the Communication of People with Hearing Impairment in Jordan During COVID-19
Cogent Arts & Humanities, 24 July 2023
This article shows that communication with either hearing impaired or hearing people in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic was made difficult due to the mask mandate.
Assessment of Construction Risks in Projects Funded by External Sources in Jordan During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Buildings, 25 July 2023
This article studies the challenges brought about to the construction sector by the COVID-19 pandemic and presents an assessment of 47 major risks affecting construction projects.
Physical Activity Reduces Depression Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Jordan
Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health, 25 July 2023
This article assess mental health status by measuring depression and investigating the effect of physical activity in lessening the mental health burden among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan.
Suicide Trends in Jordan in Correlation with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Forensic Medicine Perspective
Cureus, 29 July 2023
This article examines suicide trends among Jordanians during the COVID-19 pandemic and assesses their correlation with demographic data, including gender, age, marital status, and the method used for suicide, from a forensic medicine perspective.
Lebanon
Cerebrovascular Disease in Patients with COVID-19 Infection: A Case Series from Lebanon
Annals of Medicine & Surgery, 1 July 2023
This article reports 18 cases of acute stroke occurring in the setting of COVID-19 infection, including 11 ischaemic strokes and 7 hemorrhagic strokes identified in a Lebanese tertiary hospital.
Physical Activity Levels and Predictors During COVID-19 Lockdown Among Lebanese Adults: The Impacts of Sociodemographic Factors, Type of Physical Activity and Work Location
Healthcare, 21 July 2023
This article assesses physical activity (PA) levels and ITS predictors among Lebanese adults during the COVID-19 lockdown while comparing classical statistics to machine learning models.
Evolution of COVID-19 Infection Characteristics in a Lebanese Cohort of Inpatients During Different Pandemic Periods
Pathogens and Global Health, 23 July 2023
This article describe COVID-19 patients characteristics, laboratory and imaging results, and the different outcomes of patients admitted to the Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital over a period of 9 months.
Morocco
Self-Medication During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in North Central of Morocco: Prevalence, Causes, and Associated Factors
Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products, 29 June 2023
This article examines the prevalence, sources of information, causes, and risk factors of self-medication during the COVID-19 pandemic period in North Central Morocco.
Oman
The Differential Mediating Roles of Resilience in the Relationship Between Meaningful Living and Stress Among College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Nature Scientific Reports, 19 July 2023
This article investigates the differential mediating roles of resilience in the relationship between the presence of and search for MIL (meaning in life), and stress among Omani college students amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Palestine
The Reluctance to the Vaccine, Mental Health, Fear of COVID-19 and Quality of Life Among Palestinians: An Exploratory Comparative Study in Different Geographical Areas
Journal of Public Mental Health, 28 July 2023
This article examines the effect of mental health in terms of depression, anxiety, stress, fear of COVID-19 and quality of life (QoL) on the reluctance to be vaccinated in a population of Palestinian adults living in occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.
Qatar
Auto-Immunoproteomics Analysis of COVID-19 ICU Patients Revealed Increased Levels of Autoantibodies Related to the Male Reproductive System
Frontiers in Physiology, 14 July 2023
This article investigates two independent cohorts of 97 COVID-19 patients: a discovery cohort from Qatar and a replication cohort from New York, utilizing high-throughput KoRectly Expressed (KREX) Immunome protein-array technology.
Population Immunity of Natural Infection, Primary-Series Vaccination, and Booster Vaccination in Qatar During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational Study
eClinicalMedicine, 19 July 2023
This article examines population immunities in Qatar between July 1, 2020, and November 30, 2022, to discern generic features of the epidemiology of COVID-19.
Saudi Arabia
Characteristics of Re-Admitted Adult Patients Infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 After Initial Hospitalization at King Salman Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Medical Journal, 1 July 2023
This article examines the clinical characteristics and possible risk factors associated with re-hospitalization within 30 days of discharge among adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection.
COVID-19 and Its Implications for the Expatriate Communities in Saudi Arabia
Archives of the Balkan Medical Union, 6 July 2023
This article examines the issues expatriates face during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on the people living in Saudi Arabia.
Utilization of Telemedicine During COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: A Multicenter Study
Cureus, 7 July 2023
This article reports the statistics on telemedicine utilization and satisfaction across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during COVID-19.
Imbalanced Salivary Electrolytes, COVID-19 Severity, and Dysgeusia
Signa Vitae, 8 July 2023
This article investigates the effects of COVID-19 infection on saliva volume, pH, zinc, and inorganic components (sodium, potassium, calcium) compared to healthy saliva features and assesses the association between these salivary properties and COVID-19 disease severity.
COVID-19 Conceptual Modeling: Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study
JMIR Formative Research, 11 July 2023
This article analyzes the data of all COVID-19–positive cases admitted to the researchers’ hospital, the initial wave of the pandemic, and the time interval during which local policies and clinical guidelines were constantly updated to mitigate the local effects of COVID-19, minimize mortality, reduce intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and ensure the safety of health care providers.
Attitudes and Practices of the Public Toward Precautionary Measures Post-COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 11 July 2023
This article assesses the practices and attitudes of the general population towards COVID-19 after the removal of precautionary and preventive measures in Saudi Arabia.
Factors Affecting Hospitalization Length and in-Hospital Death Due to COVID-19 Infection in Saudi Arabia: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis
International Journal of General Medicine, 12 July 2023
This article examines the factors that influence hospital stay lengths and in-hospital deaths from COVID-19 infections.
COVID-19 Contact Tracing Experience at a Tertiary Healthcare Center in Saudi Arabia
Cureus, 15 July 2023
This article examines the contact tracing experience at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH&RC) which collaborated with the Infection Control and Health Information Technology Affairs (HITA) to create an automated COVID-19 contact tracing tool specifically for HCWs who worked at the institute.
Repurposing the Oncolytic Virus VSV∆51M as a COVID-19 Vaccine
Frontiers in Bioengineering & Biotechnology, 17 July 2023
This article evaluates the VSV∆51M-RBD vaccine’s exhibited safety, immunogenicity, and the potential to serve as a safe and effective alternative or complementary platform alongside current COVID-19 vaccines.
Public Anxiety, Attitudes, and Practices Towards COVID-19 Infection in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Healthcare, 21 July 2023
This article investigates the anxiety, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) towards COVID-19 infection in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
Coronavirus and Co-Infections: A Saudi Arabian Perspective
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 22 July 2023
This article discusses the significance of SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, as well as the MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia, with particular reference to global transmission and/or emergence of new variants.
Prevalence and Impact of Comorbidities in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A Study from Saudi Arabia
The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology, 25 July 2023
This article examines the prevalence of comorbidities and their impact on the outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients admitted to a large tertiary Saudi Arabian hospital.
Anxiety Level and Coping Methods Related to the Coronavirus Pandemic Among Female University Students in Aljouf Region, Saudi Arabia
The Open Public Health Journal, 25 July 2023
This article examines anxiety levels and coping methods related to the COVID-19 pandemic among female Saudi university students.
Sudan
COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Pregnant Women: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Sudan
Frontiers in Public Health, 17 July 2023
This article examines COVID-19 vaccination update and its predictors among 623 pregnant women attending Gadarif maternity hospital in eastern Sudan.
Syria
“In general people aren’t excited about the vaccine…”: Frontline Perspectives on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy across Syria
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 25 July 2023
This article examines COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, drawing on 37 semi-structured interviews with frontline health workers and service-users across Syria’s major military areas of control.
The Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Families of Children With Cancer in the Low-income Setting
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 27 July 2023
This article investigates the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on families of children with cancer in a low-income setting in Syria.
Tunisia
Comparative Reconstruction of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Three African Countries Using a Mathematical Model Integrating Immunity Data
medRxiv, 8 July 2023
This working paper examines COVID-19 mortality in Tunisia, Senegal and Madagascar and presents a susceptible–exposed–infected–recovered model for COVID-19 infections.
UAE
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Knowledge and Perception Among Medical Students in Ajman United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study
Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, 1 July 2023
This article assesses the COVID-19 related knowledge, practice and attitudes amongst medical students at Ajman University in the United Arab Emirates.
E-Assessment During the Coronavirus Outbreak from the Perspective of Undergraduate at the University of Sharjah, UAE
International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 4 July 2023
This article examines how undergraduates from the faculties of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and health sciences at the University of Sharjah in the UAE felt about using electronic assessment at the time of COVID-19.
COVID-19 and Distribution Centres Operations: The Impacts and Counter Measures
Heliyon, 5 July 2023
This article employs a multiple-case methodology to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chains in the UAE.
Teachers’ Resilience and Burnout in the United Arab Emirates: Teaching Through the COVID- 19 Pandemic
Knowledge E, 28 July 2023
This article investigates the factors which expatriate teachers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) identified as influencing their resilience and burnout one year from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yemen
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward COVID-19 Prevention in Yemen: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Frontiers in Public Health, 10 July 2023
This article investigates the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Yemeni participants in a study in Aden toward the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 – Dengue Fever Coinfection: A Case Report
International Journal of Pathogen Research, 17 July 2023
This article examines data about COVID-19–dengue fever coinfection and related deaths in Hodeidah, Yemen, where both infections cause high mortality rates.
COVID-19 Vaccination Personas in Yemen: Insights from Three Rounds of a Cross-Sectional Survey
Vaccines, 21 July 2023
This article examines the demographic and socio-economic characteristics associated with willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19. It also analyzes the link between beliefs associated with COVID-19 vaccines and willingness to be vaccinated.