Impact of the coronavirus disease on the mental health and physical activity of pharmacy students at the University of Zambia: a cross-sectional study

Mukosha

Meyer

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: Several vaccines have been developed and administered since coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic in March 2020. In April 2021, the authorities in Zambia administered the first doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca® COVID-19 vaccine. However, little is known about the awareness and acceptability of the vaccines among the Zambian population. This study was undertaken to address this starting with undergraduate pharmacy students in Zambia. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 326 undergraduate pharmacy students in Zambia using an online semi-structured questionnaire from 12th to 25th April 2021 and analysed using Stata version 16. Test of associations were undertaken using Pearson chi-square test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. The multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the determinants of awareness and acceptability. All statistical tests were performed at a 5% significance level and 95% confidence level. Results: Among 326 participants, 98.8% were aware of the COVID-19 vaccination programme but only 24.5% would accept the vaccine should it be made available to them. Awareness of the COVID-19 vaccine was influenced by religious beliefs (aOR=0.01, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.20, p=0.004). Being male (aOR=1.78, 95% CI: 1.05 to 3.02, p=0.034) and single (aOR=2.61, 95% CI: 1.04 to 6.55, p=0.041) was associated with higher odds of accepting the vaccine. Being unemployed (aOR=0.31, 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.66, p=0.002) was associated with lower odds of vaccine acceptancy. Barriers to acceptance of the vaccine were possible side effects (78.5%) and scepticism about its effectiveness to prevent COVID-19 (10.2%). Conclusion: There was significant vaccine hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccines among Zambian pharmacy students despite their awareness about the vaccines. Health authorities must work collaboratively with the Universities and other institutions to mitigate vaccine hesitancy, especially with pharmacy students a key part of the future healthcare workforce overseeing disease prevention strategies. These findings can help guide future interventions to address vaccine hesitancy to reduce future transmission rates of this virus.

“…Prior to conducting the study, a representative sample size of the population was calculated using Yamane's formula; n = (80). A margin of error of 5% and a population of 632 were used.…”

Section: Sample Size Calculationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Awareness and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines among Pharmacy Students in Zambia: The Implications for Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy

Mukosha

Meyer

et al. 2021

Preprint

Self Cite

“…32 Evidence has shown that University and College students were worried about their academic progress because of COVID-19 and the introduction of online learning. 33,34 Similarly, a study by Charles et al on alcohol abuse among college students during the COVID pandemic reported that students experienced significant educational disruptions as the pandemic interfered with their academic functioning. 35 This is because the closure of tertiary-level educational institutions suspended face-to-face teaching-learning sessions hence interrupting the regular flow of academic programs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…37 This can lead to an impact on the mental health and academic performance of the students. 4,26,33,38 Current study revealed that students' periods of clinical attachments were disrupted and shortened due to the pandemic. Similarly, another study reported that the clinical placements of nursing students were cancelled, despite the future nurses being among the frontline workers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…36 A majority of the student population were being left out in the pursuit of basic education, especially those facing financial challenges and lack of internet access. 33,34 A policy brief by the United Nations policy eluded that in ensuring learning continuity during the time of school closures, it became a priority for governments all over the world to turn to ICT, requiring teachers to move to online delivery of lessons. 42 In various countries, some ICT modalities have been used more than others, depending on education level, with variability across regions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of COVID-19 on academic activities of final year nursing students: a Zambian reflection

Mwila

Kalolo²,

Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol

et al. 2021

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Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had many impacts on the education sector. The pandemic has had negative impacts on the academic activities of nursing students globally. Therefore, we assessed the impact of the COVID-19 on final year nursing students’ academic activities in Lusaka and Mufulira districts of Zambia.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that employed quantitative methods using a structured questionnaire among 196 final year nursing students from 1August 2020 to 30 September 2020. Data were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 21.Results: A female predominance (67.9%) and a response rate of 86% were obtained. Many students strongly agreed (32.7%) and agreed (20.4%) that they did not complete their course work resulting in some concepts being poorly taught, 86.1% strongly agreed that they had delayed final examinations, and 51.5% strongly agreed that they did not do their clinical attachments. Students strongly disagreed (40.3%) that the e-library and wireless facilities in their school were well-stocked. Hence, this resulted in some students (40.3%) missing class lessons and assessments.Conclusions:The COVID-19 epidemic has negatively affected the academic activities of nursing students in Zambia. Ministries responsible for education must put in place measures that will mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the education sector. Schools must adapt to the changes in the way of conducting learning and assessment sessions. Finally, schools must improve on their e-library and wireless facilities to effectively support online learning.

“…The first cases are believed to have originated from the Wuhan City of China (Andersen et al, 2020;Banda, Neene, and Mudenda, 2020;Kasanga et al, 2020;Mudenda et al, 2020a;Ullah et al, 2021). COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that is usually transmitted through inhalation of the virus (Mudenda et al, 2021;Shrestha et al, 2020). Patients present with a dry cough, headache, fever, diarrhea, fatigue, difficulty in breathing, and chest pain (Huang et al, 2020;Mudenda, 2020;Phiri et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Second Wave of COVID-19 and Risk of the Third Wave: Factors Affecting the Continuous Transmission, Spread of, and Increased Mortality Associated With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

2021

EUROPEAN J ENV PUBLI

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The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) originated from China and spread globally within a short period. The spread of the first and second wave of COVID-19 were influenced by factors such as population density and weather changes. Areas that are densely populated have reported increased confirmed cases of COVID-19 compared to less populated areas. The main reason for this could be the fact that it is difficult to practice social distancing in overpopulated countries. With regards to temperature changes, most respiratory infections affect people when temperatures are low. This is exaggerated when there is increased air pollution in the environment. Economic factors have prevented countries to conduct a lockdown of epicentre towns and cities. This is in fear of an economic shut down because some cities are economic cornerstones of countries. Politically, most political leaders have failed to lockdown their countries for the fear of losing political support from their citizens. Further, some traditional and religious beliefs have also influenced the spread of COVID-19, thereby leading to increased morbidity and mortality globally. The spread of COVID-19 has been worsened by peoples negative perceptions and misinformation that COVID-19 is a myth, and thus relax to adhere to the recommended preventive measures. Besides, comorbidities, poor health-seeking behavior, and lack of vaccines, inadequate treatment modalities and test kits have worsened the failure to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiation and implementation of COVID-19 vaccination programs will help reduce the disease burden. However, there is need to improve the awareness and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines globally. Low COVID-19 vaccine acceptability and uptake due vaccine hesitancy have been reported globally. Hence, there is a need for continuous community sensitisation and education programmes and campaigns on the benefits of vaccines in containing disease outbreaks.