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 | Egypt| Iraq| Jordan| Lebanon| Libya| Morocco| Palestine| Saudi Arabia| Somalia| Sudan]
MENA
Examining the Effects of the COVID-19 Epidemic Shocks on Life Expectancy in Selected African Countries: A Tripartite Analysis
The Nigerian Health Journal, July-September 2024
This study investigates the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on life expectancy in Nigeria, Egypt, and Algeria by exploring the effects of various pandemic-related indices.
The Impact Of COVID-19 On Health Service Utilization In Sub-Saharan Africa—A Scoping Review
BMC Global & Public Health, 7 August 2024
This scoping review synthesizes the available evidence of health-service utilization (HSU) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Djibouti and Somalia, during the pandemic, focusing on types of studies, changes in HSU compared with the pre-pandemic period, and changes among specific patient groups.
Challenges Of Distance Learning Encountering Nursing Students After The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study From The Middle East
BMC Nursing, 17 August 2024
This study assess the challenges faced by nursing students during this transition, exploring key issues, recommending strategies, and analyzing their impact on student perceptions.
The Impact Of COVID-19 On Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder In Gulf Countries: A Narrative Review
Cureus, 21 August 2024
This narrative review examines the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence, severity of symptoms, and accessibility of treatment for OCD in Gulf countries.
Egypt
Breaking Points: Exploring the Well-Being of Egyptian Social Workers Amid Covid-19
Clinical Social Work Journal, 12 August 2024
This study uses a cross-sectional web-based survey to assess the prevalence rates of anxiety, stress, sleep quality, and overall well-being in a sample of 216 social workers employed in public medical facilities in Egypt during the COVID-19 epidemic. It also investigates the factors that influence their well-being.
Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Of Egyptian Medical Students Towards Healthcare Workers’ Recommended Vaccines: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey
BMC Medical Education, 14 August 2024
This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HCWs’ recommended vaccines among medical students and interns in Egypt.
Relation Between Vitamin D And COVID-19 In Egyptian Patients
The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine, 16 August 2024
This study investigates whether there is a connection between the amounts of Vitamin D produced by patients from Egypt and the severity of COVID-19, as well as the consequences of the deficit.
Impulsivity and Its Association with Depression and Anxiety in the Normal Egyptian Population Post COVID-19 Pandemic
Medicina (Kaunas), 22 August 2024
This study evaluates the impulsivity incidence and its correlation with anxiety and depression following COVID-19 infection between November 2022 and June 2023.
Role Of ACE2 And TMPRSS2 Polymorphisms In Clinical Severity And Outcomes Of COVID-19 In Egypt
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine, 27 August 2024
This study evaluates possible associations between severity and outcome of COVID-19 and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2285666 in the ACE2 gene and SNP rs2070788 in the TMPRSS2 gene.
Iraq
Evaluation Of The Role Of Some Micrornas In Corona Virus-19 Infection In Sample Of Iraqi Patients
Modern Medicine, 19 August 2024
The study, involving 20 SARS CoV patients, finds that elevated microRNA levels, specifically miR-23a over-expression and miR-195-F1gene down-regulation, could serve as potential diagnostic factors for COVID-19 infections, potentially aiding in early detection.
An Overview Of The Experience Of Iraqi COVID-19 Patients, And The Role Of The Pharmacists During Their Infection
Pharmacy Practice, July-September 2024 (Published 24 August)
This study examines the experiences of Iraqi COVID-19 patients and highlights the role of pharmacists during their infection.
Jordan
Incidence Of Narcolepsy Symptoms After Taking COVID-19 Vaccines: A Jordanian Cross-Sectional Study
Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research, 31 July 2024
This study investigates the relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines and the incidence of narcolepsy symptoms in the Jordanian population.
A Comprehensive Analysis Of Public Satisfaction: Community Pharmacists’ Pandemic Preparedness In Jordan
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 5 August 2024
This study assesses public contentment with community pharmacists’ readiness for the pandemic.
Anxiety Disorder in Jordan during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
Jordan Medical Journal, 27 August 2024
This study examines the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder among university students in Jordan and its relationship with different socio-demographic factors and coronavirus-related anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lebanon
Characteristics Of Medically Attended Influenza Infection Across Age Groups Before The COVID-19 Pandemic In Lebanon
Journal of Infection and Public Health, 14 August 2024
This study assesses the burden of medically attended influenza at a tertiary medical center in Lebanon to describe the demographics, risk factors, and outcomes prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Libya
The Impact Of The COVID-19 Pandemic On Conflict And Health System–Related Violent Events In Libya: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis
Health Policy Open, 20 August 2024
This study uses interrupted time series analyses to examine the impact of the pandemic on violent and non-violent political events—including health system-related violence—in Libya, which has been experiencing a protracted conflict since 2014.
Morocco
COVID-19 Lockdowns And Children’s Access To Justice: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis Of Moroccan Court Filings
Child Protection and Practice, August 2024 (Published 25 July 2024)
To investigate the effect of the national lockdown on children’s access to justice in Morocco, this study employs interrupted time series analysis of publicly available court filings (N = 77,335) pertaining to child protection from January 1st to December 31st 2020 spanning the pre-lockdown, lockdown, and post-lockdown periods.
Palestine
Genetic Polymorphisms of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 1 (ACE1) and ACE2 Associated With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome COVID-19 in the Palestinian Population
Cureus, 24 August 2024
This study investigates four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ACE1 and ACE2 genes, three for ACE1 (rs4343, rs4342, rs4341) and one for ACE2 (rs2285666), in patients with COVID-19 among the Palestinian population.
Saudi Arabia
Awareness and Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines Among the Residents of Bisha in Saudi Arabia
Cureus, 6 August 2024
This study explores the awareness and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among residents of Bisha, Asir province. It examines sources of information, healthcare providers’ influence, and community engagement initiatives.
Feasibility and Effectiveness of Remote Learning for Students with Learning Disabilities During the Pandemic
Learning Disabilities, 7 August 2024
This study examines the feasibility and effectiveness of Remote Learning (RL) for students in Saudi Arabia with learning disabilities (LD) during the Covid19 pandemic.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Saudi Parents’ Perceptions Toward Their Children’s Oral Health: A Cross-Sectional Study
Cureus, 18 August 2024
This study assesses the attitude of Saudi parents toward their children’s oral health and dental treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Impact Of COVID-19 Vaccination Side-Effects On Work Attendance Among Saudi Healthcare Workers
Infectious Disease Reports, 19 August 2024
This cross-sectional, survey-based study investigates the severity of side-effects from Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) mRNA (Pfizer, Moderna), viral vector DNA (Oxford-AstraZeneca, J&J/Janssen), inactivated virus (Sinopharm, Sinovac), and other vaccines among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia, focusing on their impact on work attendance.
Somalia
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COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake And Factors Associated Among Pregnant Women In Mogadishu, Somalia
Infection and Drug Resistance, 27 August 2024
This study estimates COVID-19 vaccine uptake and factors associated with it among pregnant women in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Assessment Of Non-Adherence To Anti-TB Drugs And Associated Factors Among Patients Attending TB Treatment Centers During COVID-19 Pandemic In Mogadishu, Somalia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Infection and Drug Resistance, 27 August 2024
This study assesses the rate and determinants of non-adherence to TB treatment among patients at TB centers during the first wave of the pandemic in Somalia.
Sudan
The Socioeconomic Impact Of COVID-19 In Sudan: Results From The Sudan High-Frequency Survey On COVID-19, 2020
Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 12 August 2024
The study uses descriptive and analytical statistical analysis. It finds that about 98% of the population heard about the coronavirus. However, the measures taken to limit the spread of the virus were more practiced in Khartoum than in other regions.