Mofeed Digest: April 2024

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.

[MENAAlgeria | Bahrain |DjiboutiEgyptIraqJordan|Kuwait|Lebanon| LibyaMauritania|MoroccoOmanPalestineQatarSaudi ArabiaSyriaTunisiaUAE]


MENA

[Back to Top]

COVID-19 Parent Stress in Middle Eastern and North African Countries: Relations to Family Adjustment
Journal of Family Psychology, 1 April 2024
This article uses latent class analysis to identify subgroups of individuals based on combinations of stressful events experienced during the first two waves of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Closing the Loop: Exploring Food Waste Management in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) Region during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Sustainability, 30 April 2024
This article examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food waste generation and management approaches in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region during the recovery phase.


Algeria

[Back to Top]

View of Urban Uses Put to the Test by the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Algeria
Indonesian Journal of Social Science Research, 1 April 2024
This article examines the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the resilience and preparedness of Algeria’s urban infrastructure and facilities. 

Risk Factors for Chloramphenicol Resistance in Escherichia Coli Isolated from Poultry Meat in Biskra (Algeria)
Brazilian Journal of Animal and Environmental Research, 17 April 2024
This article reports that the excessive use of biocides during the COVID-19 outbreak in Algeria increased the probability of chloramphenicol E. coli resistance in poultry meat.


Bahrain

[Back to Top]

A Novel Approach to Designing Viral Precision Vaccines Applied to SARS-CoV-2
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2 April 2024
This article proposes a new approach to design an antiviral precision candidate vaccinating antigen for highly pathogenic viruses through its application to the design of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine antigens.


Djibouti

[Back to Top]

COVID-19 Vaccines as Boosters or First Doses: Simulating Scenarios to Minimize Infections and Deaths
medRxiv, 12 April 2024
This working paper examines samples from Russia and Djibouti to determine the optimal way to distribute a finite stock of COVID-19 vaccines between first or second doses for unvaccinated individuals and third doses (booster shots) for fully vaccinated individuals.  


Egypt

[Back to Top]

Investigating Vitamin D Status Following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection and Its Relationship with Long Coronavirus Disease 
The Egyptian Journal of Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis, 1 April 2024
This article evaluates vitamin D(25OHD) levels post-COVID-19 infection and its relation to persistent symptoms in long-term COVID-19.

Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Meningitis Following COVID-19 Vaccinations: A Systematic Review (P9-13.009)
Neurology, 9 April 2024
This article provides an overview of the current evidence on the incidence, classifications, clinical characteristics, management, and prognosis of meningitis following COVID-19 vaccination.

Post-COVID Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life Among Egyptian Hemodialysis Patients
Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis, 17 April 2024
This article examines the impact of COVID-19  on anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Egyptian hemodialysis (HD) patients.

The Role of Colchicine in the Management of COVID-19: A Meta-analysis 
BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 20 April 2024
This article assess the evidence around colchicine’s effectiveness in COVID-19 treatment.

The Pattern of Neurological Disorders Requiring Hospitalization During the COVID-19 Era: An Experience from Fayoum University Hospital, Egypt
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, 26 April 2024
This article examine the influence of COVID-19 vaccines mandated by the Egyptian government on neurological disorders.

Central Auditory Functions in Post-COVID-19 Adults; A Case-Control Study
The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology, 30 April 2024
This article evaluate the central auditory abilities in post-COVID-19 adults by using Central Auditory Tests (CATs). 


Iraq

[Back to Top]

The Severity of COVID-19 in Patients with Hematological and Solid Malignancies: a Sample from Medical City in Baghdad
Journal of the Faculty of Medicine Baghdad, 1 April 2024
This article analyzes severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections among patients with current or prior malignancies.

Menstrual Changes After COVID-19 Vaccination Among Menstruators of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Study from Erbil City, Iraq
PLOS Global Public Health, 4 April 2024
This article investigates the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual changes among menstruators in Iraq. 

Characterization of Genes Related to the Efflux Pump and Porin in Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia Coli Strains Isolated from Patients with COVID-19 After Secondary Infection
BMC Microbiology, 10 April 2024
This article determines the antimicrobial resistance profile of E. coli as a secondary bacterial infection in patients with COVID-19 and assesses the prevalence and characterization of genes related to efflux pumps and porin.

The Role of Vitamin D Against COVID-19 Infection, Progression and Severity
Human Antibodies, 10 April 2024
This article examine the function of vitamin D and nutritional defense against COVID-19 infections, progression, and severity. 

Systemic and Cutaneous Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines in Iraq, A Cross-Sectional Study
Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 11 April 2024
This article assess the cutaneous and systemic side effects of COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer/BioNTech, Oxford/AstraZeneca, and Sinopharm) in Iraq.

Immediate Adverse Reaction and SARS-CoV-2 Anti-Spike Receptor Binding Domain IgG of COVID-19 Vaccines Among Health Staffs
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 15 April 2024
This article elucidates the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2-IgG antibodies for COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare staff in Duhok province.

Public Engagement with Pictures and Videos About COVID-19 Vaccination on Social Media: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Developing Country
International Journal of Healthcare Management, 19 April 2024
This article examines the relationship between social media engagement and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination in Iraq. 

Predictors of Mortality Among Critical COVID-19 Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in the Sulaimani Governorate in 2021, Iraq
Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences, 24 April 2024
This article examines the risk factors that predict the mortalities of critical COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit in Sulaimani in 2021.

COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance Among Visitors of Erbil Primary Health Care Centers
Diyala Journal of Medicine, 25 April 2024
This article investigates the rate of uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and examines the most frequent reasons behind acceptance or refusal in Erbil, Iraq. 


Jordan

[Back to Top]

The Impact of Russo-Ukrainian War, COVID-19, and Oil Prices on Global Food Security
Heliyon, 4 April 2024
This article examines the impact of volatile oil prices, the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic on food supply’s global import and export dynamics.

Impact of COVID-19 Infections and Vaccination on Menstrual Cycle Symptoms in the South of Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, 10 April 2024
This article assesses the impact of COVID-19 infection and vaccines on menstrual symptoms in Jordan.

The Impact of COVID-19 Disease on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes Among Birthing Women in Jordan
Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 13 April 2024
This article examines the impact of COVID-19 on maternal and neonatal outcomes among birthing women in Jordan.

Food Safety and Personal Hygiene Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Jordanian Mothers in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey
International Journal of One Health, 15 April 2024
This article evaluates Jordanian mothers’ understanding, beliefs, and behaviors toward food safety and personal hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Intimate Partner Violence and Quality of Life Among Mothers in Jordan During COVID-19 Era
PLOS One, 16 April 2024
This article examines the correlation between intimate partner violence [IPV] and the quality of life [HRQoL] of mothers in Jordan during the COVID-19 era.

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis on the Jordanian Higher Education System
PLOS One, 19 April 2024
This article investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on E-learning in Jordanian higher education. 


Kuwait

[Back to Top]

Viral Etiology of Severe Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in SARS-CoV-2 Negative Hospitalized Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kuwait 
Heliyon, 17 April 2024
This article examines the etiology of infections from SARS-CoV-2 negative patients hospitalized with severe lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in Kuwait during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Lebanon

[Back to Top]

Following the COVID-19 Playbook and Battling Another Infodemic: Conspiracy Beliefs Around Human Monkeypox Among the Lebanese Population
Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 11 March 2024
This article assesses the extent of endorsement of MPX conspiracy beliefs among the Lebanese population and to identify its associated factors in light of similar conspiracies surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak.

A Cross-Sectional Study of University Students’ Mental Health and Lifestyle Practices Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
PLOS One, 16 April 2024
This article assesses university students’ mental health, specifically depression, anxiety, and stress, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant by SYBR Green-Based RT-qPCR
Biology Methods and Protocols, 27 April 2024
This article proposes a COVID-19 detection protocol that is  potentially faster, simpler, and more cost-effective than the genome sequencing-based method.

The Effects of Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM) Implemented During the COVID‐19 Pandemic: An Overview of Systematic Reviews
Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods, 29 April 2024
This article reviews the effectiveness and unintended health and socioeconomic consequences of public health and social measures aimed at reducing the scale and risk of transmission of COVID-19.


Libya

[Back to Top]

Digital Health Implementation Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Journal Of Clinical Practice and Medical Case Report, 21 March 2024
This article examines the significance and feasibility of teledentistry in diagnostic dentistry in Libya, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

Complications Following COVID-19 Infection or Vaccination in Libyan International Medical University Students and Their Families
Alqalam Journal of Medical and Applied Sciences, 24 March 2024
This article examines the important associations between SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccination, and possible complications at the Libyan International Medical University in Benghazi. 

Comparative Analysis of COVID-19 Serological Testing Methods to Polymerase Chain Reaction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
medRxiv, 19 April 2024
This working paper reviews 13 studies including one from Libya to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests in diagnosing COVID-19.


Mauritania 

[Back to Top]

Health Workforce Strategies During COVID-19 Response: Insights from 15 Countries in the WHO Africa Region
BMC Health Services Research, 15 April 2024
This article examines the health workforce governance strategies applied by 15 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.


Morocco 

[Back to Top]

Seroepidemiological Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Responsiveness and Associated Factors in the Vaccinated Community of the Casablanca-Settat Region, Morocco
Nature Scientific Reports, 3 April 2024
This article evaluates SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity within a provincial cohort to understand the magnitude of the humoral response against the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and to inform evidence-based public health decisions. 

Comparative Study of the Severity of COVID-19 Infection Between Female and Male Patients
Nigerian Medical Journal, 21 April 2024
This article compares the severity of COVID-19 infection between males and females in terms of clinical, biological, radiological, and evolutionary aspects.

Prevalence of the Protective OAS1 rs10774671-G Allele Against Severe COVID-19 in Moroccans: Implications for a North African Neanderthal Connection
Archives of Virology, 25 April 2024
This article assesses whether OAS gene variants were associated with the severity of COVID-19 in the Moroccan population.


Oman

[Back to Top]

Digital Transformation in Omani Higher Education: Assessing Student Adoption of Video Communication during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Informatics, 19 April 2024
This article examines the factors that influenced students’ acceptance and use of different online communication services as the primary tool for learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Factors Associated with Anxiety-Related Symptoms in Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 in Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
Nature Scientific Reports, 29 April 2024
This article examines the prevalence of anxiety-related symptoms and their covariates among children and adolescents in Oman during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Palestine

[Back to Top]

Online Teaching in Times of COVID-19 in India and Palestinian Universities: Challenges and Antidotes
Journal of Informatics Education and Research, 1 April 2024
This article investigates the challenges connected to online instruction experienced by Indian and Palestinian universities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Well-Being Among Arab Teachers in Israel during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study
Multicultural Education Review, 15 April 2024
This article examines how Arab teachers in Israel were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by evaluating their well-being during that period. 


Qatar

[Back to Top]

The Association Between Lifestyle Factors and COVID-19: Findings from Qatar Biobank
Nutrients, 3 April 2024
This article investigates the correlation between COVID-19 susceptibility and various factors, including age, gender, body mass index, smoking status, education level, dietary patterns, supplement usage, among other factors.

Short-Term Side Effects of BNT162b2 Vaccine in Primary Care Settings in Qatar: A Retrospective Study
Frontiers in Public Health, 9 April 2024
This article investigates short-term side effects among recipients of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine in Qatar.

Post-COVID-19 Syndrome, Who at Risk and Why: An Insight from Qatar 2022
Frontiers in Public Health, 11 April 2024
This article assesses the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and predictors of post-COVID-19 Syndrome in Qatar in 2022.

Effectiveness of Two and Three Doses of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Against Infection, Symptoms, and Severity in the Pre-Omicron Era: A Time-Dependent Gradient
Vaccine, 14 April 2024
This article seeks to identify patterns in the protection provided by the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines against a spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection symptoms and severities.

Assessing the Variation in COVID-19 Severity Among the Different Nationalities Living in Qatar
Cureus, 24 April 2024
This article examines disparities in COVID-19 severity among individuals of different nationalities in Qatar.


Saudi Arabia

[Back to Top]

Durability of COVID-19 Humoral Immunity Post Infection and Different SARS-COV-2 Vaccines
Journal of Infection and Public Health, 12 March 2024
This article evaluates the longitudinal measurement of SARS-CoV-2 IgG spike protein antibodies in healthcare workers after COVID-19 infection and after receiving the first and second vaccine doses. 

Learned Lessons and New Normal in Education after the COVID-19 Pandemic from Saudi K-12 Teachers’ Perspective 
Journal of Information Technology Education: Research, 14 March 2024
This article evaluates successful e-learning experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. 

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Toward the Novel Coronavirus Infection in Dental Laboratories in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences, 1 April 2024
This article assesses dental technologists’/technicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practice during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. 

The Impact of Workload During Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Clinical Laboratory Workforce in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Journal of Nature and Science of Medicine, 1 April 2024
This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 workload on the clinical laboratory workforce in Riyadh.

Geographical Distribution of COVID-19 Infection Across Saudi Arabia 
Russian Journal of Infection and Immunity, 1 April 2024
This article evaluates the spread and escalation of the COVID-19 outbreak in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the distribution of the infected population with a special emphasis on geographical spread and seasonal variations.

COVID-19 and Its Impact on Back Pain in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia
Cureus, 2 April 2024
This article investigates the association between COVID-19 infection and lower back pain among Saudi and foreign adults who had positive COVID-19 tests in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia.

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Pattern of Fractures in Taif City, Saudi Arabia
Cureus, 5 April 2024
This article examines the change in the pattern of fractures in Taif City, Saudi Arabia, during and before the COVID-19 curfew period.

Utilizing Video Conferencing with Families of Critically Ill Non-COVID-19 Patients During the Pandemic Curfew
Journal of Global Health Reports, 5 April 2024
This article assess the satisfaction of critically ill non-COVID-19 patients and their families with video conferencing as a means of communication during the COVID-19 curfew.

Dynamic Patterns and Predominance of Respiratory Pathogens Post-COVID-19: Insights from a Two-Year Analysis
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 8 April 2024
This article assesses the types and prevalence of respiratory infections in Saudi Arabia across two years following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nurse Educator’s Experiences and Challenges with Online Teaching: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
Heliyon, 15 April 2024
This article examines nursing educators’ experiences with online-only teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

COVID-19 Hierarchical Classification Using a Deep Learning Multi-Modal
Sensors, 20 April 2024
This article proposes a deep learning multi-modal to diagnose COVID-19 and differentiate it from other kinds of pneumonia and normal lungs, potentially enhancing the radiological diagnostic process.

Trends and Patterns of ICU Referrals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from the National Saudi Medical Appointments and Referrals Centre
Research Square, 30 April 2024
This working paper examines the epidemiology and patterns of ICU referrals across all regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. 


Syria

[Back to Top]

Study of the Radiological Evaluation of Corona and Its Complications in Damascus Hospital (Al-Mujtahid)
Research Square, 17 April 2024
This working paper, based on a study conducted in Damascus Hospital (Al-Mujtahid), examines the basic clinical and radiological aspects of COVID-19.


Tunisia

[Back to Top]

Increased Rheumatoid Factor Production in Patients with Severe COVID-19
Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 4 April 2024
This article investigates the association between Rheumatoid Factor isotypes (IgM, IgA, and IgG) and different clinical presentations of COVID-19 in a series of Tunisian patients.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 N Protein Using AgNPs-Modified Aligned Silicon Nanowires BioSERS Chip
RSC Advances, 16 April 2024
This article presents the different steps for the design of a sensing chip capable of detecting the coronavirus nucleocapsid protein (N protein) in spiked phosphate-buffered solutions and real samples of human blood serum.

Effects of a Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Programme on Submaximal Exercise in Tunisian Patients with Long-COVID19: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Biology of Sport, 25 April 2024
This article evaluates the effect of an ambulatory cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program on the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) data of long COVID-19 patients.

Lessons Learned from Coronavirus Disease 2019 by Tunisian Dentists
Cerrahpaşa Medical Journal, 26 April 2024
This article examines the epidemiological and psychological consequences of COVID-19 on Tunisian dentists.


UAE

[Back to Top]

Physicians’ Perceptions Regarding the Role of Vitamin D in COVID-19 Management: A Qualitative Study
Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, 1 April 2024
This article examines physicians’ perceptions regarding the role of Vitamin D in adjuvant therapy for COVID-19 patients. 

Evaluating the Potential Mediating Role of ADAMTS13 Activity in the Relationship Between Obesity and the Severity of COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Medicine, 12 April 2024
This article investigates the link between body mass index (BMI), Obesity, and COVID-19 outcomes among patients in the UAE. 

Could Anemia Impact the Severity of Infections? COVID-19 as an Example
F1000 Research, 18 April 2024
This working paper assesses the influence of anemia on COVID-19 severity, ICU admission, and mortality rate in hospitalized patients in the UAE.

COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Menstrual Disorders among Reproductive Age Women in the UAE
Journal of Women’s Health and Development, 25 April 2024
This article investigates the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the prevalence and nature of menstrual abnormalities among vaccinated females of reproductive age living in the UAE.