Mofeed Digest: October 2023

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 | EgyptIraqJordanKuwait| LebanonLibyaMorocco
PalestineQatarSaudi ArabiaSomaliaSudanSyriaTunisia]


MENA

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Vaccine Hesitancy of COVID-19 among Parents for Their Children in Middle Eastern Countries-A Systematic Review
Vaccines, 1 October 2023
This article examines the parental COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate, hesitancy, or refusal rate across Middle Eastern Countries, along with factors affecting such hesitancy.

COVID-19 Pandemic and the Labour Migrants in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Region
The Gender Hub, 12 October 2023
This article examines the economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gulf countries’ economies and migrant populations, with a particular focus on Sri Lankan labor migrants.

Lessons Learned From COVID-19 Lockdown: An ASPED/MENA Study on Lifestyle Changes and Quality of Life During Ramadan Fasting in Children and Adolescents Living With Type 1 Diabetes
Clinical Medicine Insights: Endocrinology and Diabetes, 19 October 2023
This article assesses the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the lifestyle and quality of life (QoL) of fasting children living with Type 1 Diabetes during Ramadan in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Factors Influencing the Trajectory of COVID-19 Evolution: A Longitudinal Study of 12 Asian Countries
medRxiv, 21 October 2023
This working paper examines the factors influencing the trajectory of COVID-19 evolution in 12 Asian countries, including Bahrain and Lebanon.

Family Communication as a Mediator between Family Resilience and Family Functioning under the Quarantine and COVID-19 Pandemic in Arabic Countries
Children, 27 October 2023
This article examines family communication as a mediator of the relationship between family resilience and family functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The countries in focus are Algeria and Iraq.

Refugee COVID-19 Protocol Adherence and NGO Staff Perceptions: Paternalism and Power in Humanitarian Assistance
Journal of International Humanitarian Action, 28 October 2023
This article utilizes data from 1466 interviews conducted with 468 different NGO staff in Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon to explore how paternalistic rhetoric operated in humanitarianism during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Risk Prevention and Public Compliance in MENA during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Economic Research Forum, 31 October 2023 
This working paper examines the association between people’s concern about contracting COVID-19 and their adoption of preventive measures.  It relies on 34,219 observations from five MENA countries: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia.


Algeria

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Outdoor Thermal Perception in the Semi-Arid Climate of Constantine, Algeria: A Field Survey during the Post-COVID-19
Building and Environment, 11 October 2023
This article assesses pedestrians’ thermal perception, in the semi-arid climate of Constantine, Algeria, with particular emphasis on the protocols implemented in public spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Bahrain

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Impact of the Pandemic—COVID-19 on Construction Sector in Bahrain
Artificial Intelligence and Transforming Digital Marketing, 4 October 2023
This article demonstrates that 60-90% of respondents have experienced disruptions to their construction projects  in Bahrain during the COVID-19 pandemic due to cash flow delays, interruptions in import material, and project deferrals. 

Media Consumption in the Kingdom of Bahrain: Analyzing the Effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic
SSRN, 7 October 2023
This working paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality and quantity of media consumption in Bahrain. 

Maternal Mental Health During and Before the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Cureus, 13 October 2023
This article compares the mental health status of pregnant women in Bahrain during the COVID-19 pandemic with observations from pregnancies in the same population before the pandemic to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 on expecting mothers. 


Egypt

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases: Clinical Characteristics and Relation to Anti-Rheumatic Therapy
The Egyptian Rheumatologist, 1 October 2023
This article examines the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 infection in patients with rheumatic diseases and investigates their relationship with antirheumatic therapy.

Comparative Genotyping of SARS-CoV-2 among Egyptian Patients: Near-Full Length Genomic Sequences Versus Selected Spike and Nucleocapsid Regions 
Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 4 October 2023
This article examines the molecular epidemiological landscape of COVID-19 in Egypt since the pandemic’s start and highlights discrepancies among three genotyping tools. 

The Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hepatitis B and C Elimination Programs in Egypt: Current Situation and Future Perspective
Egyptian Liver Journal, 4 October 2023
This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the capacity of the healthcare system, specifically with respect to Egypt’s viral hepatitis elimination program. 

Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Sleep Quality During COVID-19 Lockdown in Egypt: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey
Middle East Current Psychiatry, 6 October 2023
This article examines the prevalence of anxiety disorder and to evaluates sleep quality among Egyptian adults during the COVID-19 lockdown.

COVID-19 Prevention and Rehabilitation Related Knowledge and Practices among Egyptian Post-COVID-19 Patients
PLOS One, 6 October 2023
This article assesses the self-reported knowledge of specific disinfection measures among post-recovery COVID-19 patients and identifies the most requested knowledge items regarding COVID-19 prevention and rehabilitation measures.

Association between Breakthrough Infection with COVID-19 and Toxoplasma Gondii: A Cross-Sectional Study
Nature Scientific Reports, 17 October 2023
This article examines the association of post-COVID-19 vaccination breakthrough infection with Toxoplasma gondii infection, and the impact thereof on disease severity in Menoufia Governorate in Egypt. 

Genetic Clues to COVID-19 Severity: Exploring the Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1/CXCL12 rs2839693 Polymorphism in Adult Egyptians
BMC Infectious Diseases, 19 October 2023
This article assesses the potential association between the CXCL12 rs2839693 polymorphism and the severity of COVID-19 at Assiut University Quarantine Hospital in Egypt.


Iraq

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IgG Level of the Third Booster Dose for mRNA of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines among Iraqi Healthcare Workers
Medicine, 6 October 2023
This article assesses the immunogenicity of the third dose of the messenger ribonucleic acid BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and evaluates the effect of the third booster dose of messenger ribonucleic acid COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers in Iraq.

Immediate and Long-Term Adverse Events of COVID-19 Vaccines: A One-Year Follow-Up Study From the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Cureus, 25 October 2023
This article investigates the immediate and long-term adverse effects following the first and second doses of Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sinopharm vaccines, providing long-term insights.

The Role of miRNA20a and miRNA320 in Iraqi Patients with COVID-19: A Case–Control Study
Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics, 30 October 2023
This article examines the expression of miRNA-20a and miRNA-320 in 145 Iraqi COVID-19 patients and 145 healthy controls using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).


Jordan

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Risk Factors and Characteristics of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Jordan
Saudi Medical Journal, 1 October 2023
This article investigates the occurrence and identifies the factors contributing to hospitalization among individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in Jordan.

A Cross-Sectional Study Confirms Temporary Post-COVID-19 Vaccine Menstrual Irregularity and the Associated Physiological Changes among Vaccinated Women in Jordan
Frontiers in Medicine, 6 October 2023
This article investigates the physiological changes and irregularities in Jordanian women’s menstrual cycles after receiving vaccination against COVID-19.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine during COVID-19 Pandemic in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study
International Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 13 October 2023
This article examines Jordanians’ perspectives on complementary and alternative medicine uses during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A Model for Public–Private Partnership during the COVID‐19 Pandemic: Lessons from Biolab and Public Laboratories Working in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, 18 October 2023
This article examines the steps taken and the key lessons learned from the operationalization of COVID-19 testing at Biolab and public laboratories in Jordan over the course of the pandemic.

Status of Depression among University Students
Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 18 October 2023
This article assesses the prevalence of depression among university students in Jordan and its associated predictors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.


Kuwait

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‘It Is Just a Tweet … Do Not Take It Seriously!’ Humour Posts on Twitter during Coronavirus: The Case of Kuwait
Journal of Arab & Muslim Media Research, 31 October 2023 
This article investigates the negative implications of using humorous text, images, and video messages on Twitter in Kuwait during the COVID-19 pandemic. 


Lebanon

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Healthcare Workers’ Experiences of Workplace Violence: A Qualitative Study in Lebanon
Conflict and Health, 3 October 2023
This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis on healthcare workers’ experiences of workplace violence in Lebanon.

Psychometric Properties of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist among the Lebanese Population Exposed to the Beirut Explosion: A Cross-Sectional Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Behavioural Neurology, 3 October 2023
This article evaluates the psychometric properties of PCL-5 (PTSD checklist) and its efficacy in determining the prevalence of PTSD in a sample of Lebanese participants – in the wake of the Beirut Port blast and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination in a Complex, Multi-Crisis Context: A Qualitative Case Study of Lebanon’s Compounded Crises (2019–2023) 
Conflict and Health, 23 October 2023
This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut Port explosion, and the ongoing refugee crisis on the rates and incidence of gender-based violence in Lebanon. 

Validity and Reliability of the Arabic Fear of COVID-19 Scale in Lebanese People during the Pandemic 
Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 9 October 2023
This article reports the findings of a Lebanon-based study aiming to cross-culturally adapt and validate the ‘Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S)’ into the Arabic language.  


Libya

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Assessment of Thyroid Function and Biochemical Markers among COVID-19 Libyan Patients
Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 30 September 2023This article assesses thyroid function tests (TFT) in Libyan outpatients with COVID-19 as well as the possible association between them and some routine hematological, inflammatory, and biochemical markers. 


Morocco 

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Neutralising Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Give Important Information on COVID-19 Epidemic Evolution in Rabat, Morocco, March 2020-February 2021 
African Health Sciences, 11 October 2023
This article examines the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) for a sample of members of armed forces based in Rabat, Morocco.

Vaccination, Treatment, and Containment Policy to Reduce the Effects of the COVID‐19 Pandemic in Morocco
African Development Review, 17 October 2023
This article presents a susceptible–exposed–infected–quarantined–removed (SEIQR) dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model to evaluate the macroeconomic effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic.


Palestine

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COVID-19 Booster Prioritization in the West Bank: A Survey Experiment among Bedouins, Refugees, and the Majority Group
Frontiers in Public Health, 4 October 2023
This article examines to what extent Bedouins, internally displaced Palestinians (refugees) and majority-group members (non-refugees, non-Bedouins, settled) in the West Bank prioritize COVID-19 booster shots for their own group over other groups.

Assessing the Prevalence, Predictors, and Consequences of Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Emergency Nurses in Palestine During the COVID-19 Pandemic
SAGE Open Nursing, 11 October 2023
This article assesses the prevalence, predictors, and consequences of secondary traumatic stress among emergency nurses in Palestine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Labour Market Impact of the COVID‐19 Pandemic in the West Bank
Labour, 19 October 2023
This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on men’s labor supply in the West Bank and Gaza, both the extensive (participation) and intensive (hours of work) dimensions. 


Qatar

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Turning Point in COVID-19 Severity and Fatality during the Pandemic: A National Cohort Study in Qatar
BMJ Public Health, 4 October 2023
This article assesses the evolution of COVID-19 severity and fatality in a unique setting that applies rigorous and standardized criteria for defining severe COVID-19 outcomes throughout the pandemic in Qatar.

Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience of Healthcare Workers in Qatar
Frontiers in Public Health, 19 October 2023
This article evaluates the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare professionals in Qatar.

Association between Pregnancy and Severe COVID-19 Symptoms in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study
PLOS Global Public Health, 23 October 2023
This article investigates the association between pregnancy and COVID-19 symptoms in Qatar. 


Saudi Arabia

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The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Islamic Health Insurance Market Returns: Empirical Evidence from Saudi Arabia 
The Indonesian Capital Market Review, 1 October 2023
This article examines the impact of COVID-19 on the Cooperative Health Insurance (CHI) Market in Saudi Arabia by applying the Event Study Methodology. 

Simulation of COVID-19 Epidemic from Potential Viral Loads in Saudi Arabian Wastewater Treatment Plants
medRxiv, 2 October 2023
This working paper  proposes a mathematical model to infer the epidemic dynamics from the possible density of SARS-CoV-2 viral load in wastewater. 

Long-Term Impact of Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Quarantine on Eating Habits Changes among Adult Residents of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Frontiers in Nutrition, 5 October 2023
This article examines the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and physical quarantine on eating habits after quarantine among Riyadh city residents in Saudi Arabia.

Post-COVID-19 Fatigue and Health-Related Quality of Life in Saudi Arabia: A Population-Based Study 
Frontiers in Public Health, 5 October 2023
This article examines the prevalence of PCF (post-acute COVID-19 Fatigue) and its associated factors, and the HRQoL (Health-related quality of life) among COVID-19 survivors in Saudi Arabia.

Understanding Olfactory Dysfunction in the COVID-19 Era: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Survey of the Saudi Community
Frontiers in Public Health, 5 October 2023
This article assesses the current level of knowledge regarding smell dysfunction during COVID-19 in the Saudi community.

Conflict Occurrence and Preferred Management Styles among ICU Nurses during the First Wave of COVID‐19 Pandemic: A Cross‐Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia
Nursing in Critical Care, 9 October 2023
This article examines the occurrence, type, and intensity of conflict and preferred management styles among ICU nurses in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of the Saudi Population toward COVID-19 Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Study
Medicine, 13 October 2023
This article evaluates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the Saudi Arabia population towards COVID-19 vaccination. 

The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Uptake Among Patients Visiting a University Hospital in Saudi Arabia 
Curues, 14 October 2023
This article examines the uptake of annual influenza vaccination from 2019 to 2021 among patients attending an outpatient clinic of a University Hospital in Saudi Arabia, and assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on influenza vaccination rates. 

Physical Activity Levels among Saudi’s Children and Adolescents Who Had COVID-19 Infection 
Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 16 October 2023
This article examines the levels of physical activity conducted by children and adolescents aged 7-17 years in Saudi Arabia who had had a COVID-19 infection.

Analyzing COVID-19 Vaccination Side Effects among the Adult Population in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Cureus, 16 October 2023
This article investigates the symptoms experienced after COVID-19 vaccination, especially among those who received three vaccine doses.

Impact of COVID-19 Vaccinations on Menstrual Bleeding
Cureus, 20 October 2023
This article assesses the effect of the COVID-19 vaccine on women’s menstrual bleeding in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. 

Post-COVID-19 Vaccination Infection Among Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Cureus, 23 October 2023
This article evaluates the effectiveness of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines in preventing breakthrough COVID-19 infections, and it assesses the possible risk factors and outcomes of post-vaccination infection.

Stigma and Inequality in the Management of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19)- Patients among Healthcare Providers in Saudi Arabia and Associated Beliefs: A Cross-Sectional Study 
Journal of Infection and Public Health, 26 October 2023
This article examines the discrimination and inequality in treating COVID-19 patients and the associated beliefs among healthcare workers (HCWs) during the pandemic.

Innovation and Thought Leadership by Women in Healthcare during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Saudi Journal of Health Systems Research, 26 October 2023
This article examines the innovation and thought leadership of women in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines against ICU Admission during Omicron Surge in Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study
BMC Infectious Diseases, 31 October 2023
This article examines COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in obviating the need for ICU admission for patients infected with the Omicron variant in Saudi Arabia.

Non-Operative Treatment for Simple Acute Appendicitis (NOTA) in Children during the COVID-19 Era: New Lessons from the Pandemic
Nature Scientific Reports, 31 October 2023
This article examines the cost-effectiveness and outcome of NOTA (Non-Operative Treatment for Simple Acute Appendicitis) during the COVID-19 pandemic and compares it to single-incision pediatric endo-surgery appendectomy (SIPESA). 


Somalia

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Exploring Hematological Parameters and Their Prognostic Value in Adult COVID-19 Patients: Insights from Mogadishu, Somalia
Advances in Hematology, 3 October 2023
This article assesses hematological changes in COVID-19 patients at several hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia. 


Sudan

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Evaluating the Triage of Suspected COVID-19 Cases
Open Access Emergency Medicine, 18 October 2023
This article evaluates the triage process for suspected COVID-19 cases in the emergency settings of Khartoum’s hospitals.


Syria

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The Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Families of Children With Cancer in the Low-Income Setting
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 1 October 2023
This article investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families of children with cancer in a low-income setting in Syria. 

Stress, Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life among the Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic in Syria: A Multi-Center Study
Annals of General Psychiatry, 16 October 2023
This article evaluates the levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress among Syrian healthcare workers and their quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Tunisia

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First Case of SARS-CoV-2-Induced Eosinophilic Fasciitis
Modern Rheumatology Case Reports, 31 October 2023
This article reports the first case of Eosinophilic Fasciitis, possibly triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection, in a 45-year-old Tunisian woman with severe widespread muscle pain noticed one month after a COVID-19 infection.