Mofeed Digest (September 2022)

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| Libya| Morocco| Oman| Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia| Somalia| Sudan| Syria| Tunisia| UAE| Yemen] 

MENA

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Arab Human Development Report 2022: Expanding Opportunities for an Inclusive and Resilient Recovery in the Post-COVID Era 
UNDP, September 2022  
This report provides an assessment of what it will take to get human development back on track in the Arab States region in the post-pandemic (COVID-19) era. It tackles the pandemic’s impacts on structural vulnerabilities in the Arab States region and its effects on the human development indices of those states. [Arabic]

Key Considerations for Integrating COVID-19 Vaccination Services: Insights from Iraq and Syria for the MENA Region
Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform, September 2022 
This article draws on evidence from academic literature and consultations with partners working in the COVID-19 response to review current integration efforts and explore potentially effective ways to integrate COVID-19 vaccination into other services in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Exploring Enablers and Barriers toward COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Arabs: A Qualitative Study
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, September 2022 
This article explores public beliefs and views towards COVID-19 vaccination in different Arab countries and the effect of confidence in the healthcare system, misinformation, and scientific approaches adopted to mitigate COVID-19 on how individuals are following the recommended preventative actions including vaccination.

COVID-19 Pandemic, Real Effective Exchange Rate and Foreign Direct Investment Inflows: Evidence from Morocco, Turkey and Egypt
International Journal of Applied Economics, Finance and Accounting, 5 September 2022 
This article studies the impact of real effective exchange rate (REER) volatility in different exchange rate arrangements for the 1990–2020 period and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to Morocco, Turkey, and Egypt.

SARS-CoV-2 Chronological Genomic Evolution and Epidemiology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region as Affected by Vaccination, Conflict and Socioeconomical Disparities: A Population-Based Cohort Study 
BMJ Public Health Emergency Collection, 8 September 2022 
This article describes the chronological genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and its impact on public health in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Validation and Cultural Adaptation of the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) Questionnaire in Arabic Language Widely Spoken in a Region with a High Prevalence of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 8 September 2022 
This article aims to validate a version of the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) tool in Arabic. The study investigates Arab-speaking parents’ views regarding COVID-19 vaccination of their children.

Perceptions of COVID-19 Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment Strategies among People in Seven Arab Countries: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Infection and Public Health, 10 September 2022 
This article aims to assess prevention, treatment, degree of symptoms, and sources of information among patients with COVID-19 in Arab countries.

Economic Trouble in Five Non-Oil Arab Countries
Strategic Comments, 13 September 2022 
This article discusses the economic shocks induced by the COVID-19 pandemic in five non-oil exporters in the Arab States region, namely Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. The article studies the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global energy and food markets and how those disruptions were manifested in these countries. 

Assessment of Commitment to Healthy Daily Habits and Diets, Preventive Measures, and Beliefs about Natural Products Utilization during COVID-19 Pandemic in Certain Population in Egypt and Saudi Arabia
Pharmacy Practice, 23 September 2022 
This article aims to assess the commitment of participants in Saudi Arabia and Egypt towards healthy daily habits, preventive measures, healthy food habits, and beliefs about natural products as Immunostimulants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parental Health Beliefs, Intention, and Strategies about COVID-19 Vaccine for Their Children: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from Five Arab Countries in the Middle East
Vaccine, 23 September 2022 
This article aims to explore the parents’ health beliefs, intentions, and strategies towards the COVID-19 vaccine for their children among Arab population.

Digitalisation: What’s Needed in Business Responses to COVID-19 in MENA
Economic Research Forum, 25 September 2022 
This article reports evidence on how different sectors in the Middle East and North Africa have been responding to disruptions in the global business environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus is particularly on firms’ adoption of digital technologies, as well as policies that might encourage greater digitalization as an essential business strategy to mitigate the consequences of COVID-19 for the economy.

Bahrain

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Implementing Artificial Intelligence-Based COVID-19 Chatbot in the Kingdom of Bahrain
International Journal of Intelligent Systems and Applications in Engineering, 30 September 2022 
This article studies the role of Chatbots in helping the Bahraini healthcare sector minimize operational costs and improve the quality and speed of healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Egypt

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Assessment of COVID-19 Impact on Sustainable Development Goals Indicators in Egypt Using Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, September 2022 
This article assesses indicators of specific Sustainable Development Goals in reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 by conducting several questionnaire surveys among experts in Egypt. The scope of this research is limited to addressing poverty alleviation, hunger abatement, healthcare promotion, sustainable economic growth, and climate change mitigation. 

Love of Life: Role of Positive and Negative Traits among Egyptian Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Mankind Quarterly, 1 September 2022 
This article aims to study the role of negative and positive traits among Egyptian students during the COVID-19 pandemic by developing a model of love of life (LOL) as a component of subjective well-being (SWB). A sample of 309 Egyptian college students responded to the following scales: Love of Life, self-esteem, SWB, positive and negative affect, and suicidality.

COVID-19 Food Policy Response Monitor for Egypt
IFPRI Egypt, 19 September 2022 
This article compiles Egypt’s food policies during the COVID-19 pandemic and features the  “Food Policy Response Monitor” which is a tool that provides an overview of key food policy responses in a tabular format and is updated regularly.

Assessment of COVID -19 Associated Coagulopathy and Multiple Hemostatic Markers: A Single Center Study in Egypt
Infection, 22 September 2022 
This article aims to evaluate COVID-19-associated coagulopathy and DIC among patients of Upper Egypt. It studied 106 COVID-19 patients and 51 apparently healthy controls.

Impact of Obesity and Its Associated Comorbid Conditions on COVID-19 Presentation
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy, 28 September 2022 
This article aims to evaluate the impact of obesity and its related complications on the course of COVID-19 in Egyptian patients.

Iraq

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Disease Severity and Efficacy of Homologous Vaccination among Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Delta or Omicron VOCs, Compared to Unvaccinated Using Main Biomarkers
Journal of Medical Virology, 27 August 2022 
This article aims to establish the clinical severity of COVID-19 caused by Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants among patients who either attended or were admitted to hospitals in Iraq and to compare the effectiveness of Pfizer and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines (single or double doses).

Role of Oxidative Stress in Pathogenesis and Severity of COVID-19 Infection: Case-Control Study in Iraq
Journal of Life and Bio Sciences Research, 7 September 2022 
This article aims to investigate oxidative stress in patients with mild and severe COVID-19 in Iraq.

Long COVID-19 Prevalence among a Sample of Infected People in Erbil City
Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 9 September 2022 
This estimates the prevalence of residual symptoms among a sample of people infected with COVID-19 who survived and recovered in Erbil city and assesses the relation between the severity of the disease and post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nurses Mental Health Status in Iraq
Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 28 September 2022 
This article assesses the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on 1000 nurses in Iraq using the depression anxiety stress scale (DASS21).

Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 as Diagnostic Markers for COVID-19 Infection
Iraqi Journal of Science, 30 September 2022 
This article investigates the probable link between Matrix Metalloproteinase and COVID-19 by studying 58 COVID-19 patients and 30 apparently healthy individuals matched in terms of age and sex in Iraq.

The Modern Techniques in Spatial Analysis to Isolate, Quarantine the Affected Areas and Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Epidemic
Iraqi Journal of Science, 30 September 2022 
This article reflects on techniques in spatial analysis utilized in Iraq to control viral spreading, optimize health capabilities and protection teams, and limit population movement to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Jordan

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Public Perception of Pharmacist's Role during COVID-19 Outbreak in Jordan
Jordan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1 September 2022 
This article reports on a positive public perception toward the pharmacist role in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic and calls on expanding the role of the pharmacist to be more engaged in providing different health services during disasters or normal conditions.

SARS-CoV-2 Seroepidemiological Investigation in Jordan: Seroprevalence, Herd Immunity, and Vaccination Coverage. A Population-Based National Study
International Journal of General Medicine, 5 September 2022 
This article estimates the population-based seropositivity, herd immunity, and vaccination coverage at the fourth wave of seroprevalence epidemiological COVID-19 investigations in Jordan.

Sources of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Jordan: Self-Reported Approach
Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, 6 September 2022 
This article explores the sources of COVID-19 infection in Jordan and investigates the effects of demographic factors and the adherence to preventive measures on household transmission.

Inequalities in Jordan Before and After the Pandemic
Economic Research Forum, 6 September 2022 
This report provides an overview of inequalities in Jordan, before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report focuses on inequality in expenditure as a proxy for income inequality and on inequality in educational outcomes and opportunities as a proxy for inequalities in capabilities.

Returning to Schools After COVID-19: Identifying Factors of Distance Learning Failure in Jordan from Parents’ Perspectives
Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 9 September 2022 
This article aims to evaluate the distance learning experiences of Jordanian parents after their children returned to school due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Related Stigma, Empathy and Intention for Testing in Jordan
PLOS One, 12 September 2022 
This article aims to establish the prevalence of COVID-19-related stigma and its association with empathic responding, in addition to exploring predictors of stigma and testing intention among Jordanian people.

The First Detection of Pneumocystis Jirovecii in Asthmatic Patients Post-COVID-19 in Jordan
Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 16 September 2022 
This article aims to determine if Pneumocystis Jirovecii detection occurs in asthma patients following the incidence of COVID-19 in a Jordanian cohort.

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Vulnerable Groups: Syrian Refugees in Jordan
Vaccines, 28 September 2022 
This article aims to assess the willingness of Syrian refugees in Jordan to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan were invited through social media to complete the survey between January and March 2022.

Kuwait

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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Routine Immunization in State of Kuwait: Short-Term Disruption With Rebound in Vaccination Utilization
AJPM Focus, 11 September 2022 
This article explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine immunization in Kuwait along 4 abbreviated time frames. 

Lebanon

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Movement under State and Non-State Authorities during COVID-19: Evidence from Lebanon
SSM Population Health, September 2022 
This article proposes that non-state armed groups may make different decisions than state governments in response to public health challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws upon the case of Hezbollah in Lebanon to investigate whether movement levels differed between areas with Hezbollah private governance in comparison to other areas of Lebanon.

Variations in COVID-19 Vaccine Attitudes and Acceptance among Refugees and Lebanese Nationals Pre- and Post-Vaccine Rollout in Lebanon
Vaccines, 15 September 2022 
This article evaluates variations in attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines and factors associated with vaccine acceptance among refugees and Lebanese nationals accessing 60 International Medical Corps-supported health facilities through two cross-sectional surveys pre- and post-vaccine rollout.

Implementation of a Pharmacovigilance System in a Resources-Limited Country in the Context of COVID-19: Lebanon’s Success Story
Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science, 15 September 2022 
This article describes the implementation of an effective national pharmacovigilance system in Lebanon in the context of COVID-19, within a limited resources setting and with the absence of a guaranteed funding.

Libya

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Association Between ABO Blood Group System and COVID-19 Severity: Case-Control Study From Libya
American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 7 September 2022 
This article reports the findings of a study conducted on Libyan participants to further investigate the association between the ABO blood group system and COVID-19 severity.

Morocco 

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EP06.01-010 Clinical Outcomes after Hypo Fractionated Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Morocco
Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 1 September 2022 
This article reports the outcomes of patients treated by Hypo fractionated radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Greater Casablanca Region in Morocco.

Social Medias in Increasing Anxiety around COVID-19 in Morocco
European Psychiatry, 1 September 2022 
This article studies how the exposure to publicized information about the COVID-19 pandemic might have generated psychiatric disorders among Moroccans, in particular anxiety and absence of well-being.

Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used against COVID-19
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 15 September 2022 
This article identifies the medicinal plants used by the Moroccan population in the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

Emergency Remote Learning in Morocco as a Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Students’ Perspectives
Learning: Research and Practice, 20 September 2022 
This article explores the experience of Moroccan university students with emergency remote learning (ERL) during the COVID-19 lockdown. It found that insecurity, the absence of intimacy, technical issues, and unfairness were the main hurdles that negatively influence participants’ online learning process.

Smallholder Farmer Aptitudes and Perceptions about the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Agriculture in Morocco during the Lockdown
Moroccan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 21 September 2022 
This article captures the perceptions of Moroccan smallholder farmers from three agricultural regions regarding the effects of COVID-19 on their farming practices and social well-being.

Monetary Policy Under Uncertainty: The Case of COVID-19 Health Crisis in Morocco
European Journal of Business and Management Research, 27 September 2022 
This article analyzes the conduct of Morocco's monetary policy in the context of the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 health crisis.

Oman

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Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses in Oman Toward Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination
Oman Medical Journal, September 2022 
This article investigates the relationship between attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines and disapproval of the policy of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination among unvaccinated physicians and nurses in Oman.

Factors Associated with Coping Strategies Due to COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Stressors among Omani Adults
Oman Medical Journal, September 2022 
This article examines stressors and coping strategies adopted by Omani adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore the relationships between coping strategies and sociodemographic characteristics.

Adverse Cutaneous Reactions Reported Post COVID-19 Vaccination in Al Buraimi Governorate, Sultanate of Oman
Dermatologic Therapy, 13 September 2022 
This article evaluates the incidence and various patterns of cutaneous side effects reported post COVID-19 vaccination in Al Buraimi Governorate in Oman.

Palestine

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Effects of COVID-19 on Domestic Tourism in the West Bank, Palestine: A Case Study of Nablus City
An-Najah Staff Publications, September 2022
This article investigates the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic tourism in Nablus City located in the West Bank of Palestine.

COVID-19 Vaccination in the Gaza Strip: A Cross-Sectional Study of Vaccine Coverage, Hesitancy, and Associated Risk Factors among Community Members and Healthcare Workers
Conflict and Health, 9 September 2022 
This article explores the challenges impeding vaccination efforts against COVID-19 in the Gaza strip and estimates the coverage of COVID-19 vaccination and the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among residents there.

Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression among Palestinian University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study during COVID-19 Pandemic
Middle East Current Psychiatry, 19 September 2022 
This article measures the prevalence of anxiety and depression among university students in Palestine and explores the association between anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Symptomatic Dry Eye in Nurses in Palestine during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Arab American University Digital Repository, 21 September 2022 
This article assesses the prevalence and associated factors of dry eye disease among hospital nurses in the North West Bank during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evaluation of Using Computer Assisted Telephone Interview Mode of Data Collection in the Time of COVID–19 Pandemic—Palestine Case
The Implementation of Smart Technologies for Business Success and Sustainability, 25 September 2022
This article introduces the adoption of the CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interview) mode of data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine and explains the main differences between CATI and CAPI (Computer-assisted personal interviewing) modes in household surveys in particular.

Qatar

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Variations in Respiratory Syncytial Virus Activity Following the Relaxation of COVID-19 Restrictions in Qatar
Journal of Travel Medicine, 17 September 2022 
This article reports that the remarkable variations in RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) transmission dynamics during the relaxation of COVID-19 measures in Qatar in late 2020 and 2021 could be mainly attributed to the number of international arrivals and the introduction of RSV from different regions.

Saudi Arabia

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SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection Rate and Outcomes in Saudi Arabia: A National Retrospective Study
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, September 2022 
This article utilizes comorbidities, vaccination status, SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, and demographics data to profile participants who were reinfected with SARS-CoV-2 in Saudi Arabia. It reports that diabetes, HIV, obesity, and working in health care were associated with reinfections.

Seroprevalence of Community-Acquired Atypical Bacterial Pneumonia among Adult COVID-19 Patients from a Single Center in Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Medical Journal, 1 September 2022 
This article investigates the seroprevalence of the community-acquired bacterial that causes atypical pneumonia among confirmed COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia.

Sleep Impact of Pandemic COVID-19 Crisis on University Students in Saudi Arabia and Associated Factors
European Psychiatry, 1 September 2022 
This article aims to assess sleep effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students in Saudi Arabia.

Factors Affecting the Decision Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination in the Saudi Public in the Central Region
Cureus, 7 September 2022 
This article evaluates the factors and motivators that may affect the Saudi Arabian population's decision to get COVID-19 vaccination.

Changes in Physical Activity during COVID-19 Pandemic among Saudi Arabians: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study
Health Science Reports, 12 September 2022 
This article investigates patterns of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic among adults residing in Saudi Arabia.

Assessment of COVID-19 Symptoms Distribution According to Tobacco Products Consumption and Khat Chewing: A Potential Antinociceptive Role of Nicotine Among COVID-19 Patients
International Journal of General Medicine, 15 September 2022 
This article assesses the distribution of COVID-19 symptoms according to the consumption of tobacco products and khat chewing among samples of Saudi Arabian individuals.

The Cost-Effectiveness of Requesting a Complete Blood Count (CBC) in the Management of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia
Healthcare, 15 September 2022 
This article assesses the cost-effectiveness of requesting a complete blood count (CBC) for COVID-19 patients, as opposed to ordering a COVID-19 antibody titer in Saudi Arabia.

Mortality Predictors Among COVID-19 Elderly in Taif, Saudi Arabia
Infection and Drug Resistance, 17 September 2022 
This article identifies determinants of COVID-19-related death in geriatric patients in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Evaluation of Short-Term Symptoms Associated with COVID-19 Vaccines Used among Adolescents in Saudi Arabia
Cureus, 18 September 2022 
This article assesses the short-term side effects of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccinations against COVID-19 among teenagers in Saudi Arabia.

Effect of Helmet Noninvasive Ventilation vs Usual Respiratory Support on Mortality Among Patients with Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Due to COVID-19
Journal of the American Medical Association, 20 September 2022 
This article evaluates whether helmet noninvasive ventilation compared with usual respiratory support reduces mortality in patients in Saudi Arabia with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Internet Traffic in Saudi Arabia 
Journal of King Abdulaziz University, 20 September 2022 
This article analyzes internet traffic characteristics in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic and explores the impact of the pandemic on internet usage patterns.

COVID-19 Vaccine Had a Significant Positive Impact on Patients with SARS-COV-2 during the Third (Omicron) Wave in Saudi Arabia
Journal of Infection and Public Health, 21 September 2022 
This article reports the findings of a retrospective study of infected COVID-19 patients during the third (Omicron) wave in a hospital in Saudi Arabia. It finds that Omicron variant symptoms among infected patients are generally milder compared to other variants and that prior COVID-19 vaccination may limit disease severity and need for hospitalization.

Assessment of Perceived Risk and Precautionary Behavior toward COVID-19 Pandemic Using the Health Belief Model, Saudi Arabia
Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, 21 September 2022 
This article identifies behavioral responses of the health sciences university students in Saudi Arabia during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and studies risk perceptions using the health belief model (HBM).

Assessment of Postgraduate Online Medical Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 23 September 2022 
This article provides qualitative and quantitative assessments of post-graduate online medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Hospital Pharmacists’ Awareness and Perspective toward the Management of COVID-19 Pandemic in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Pharmacy Practice, 23 September 2022 
This article investigates Saudi Arabian hospital pharmacists’ awareness of important facts about the COVID-19 disease and their source of information, as well as their perception.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome among Medical Students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
International Ophthalmology, 24 September 2022 
This article estimates the prevalence of computer vision syndrome (CVS) among university medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after establishing remote learning during COVID-19 pandemic and compares settings of electronic device usage and patterns of CVS protective measures applied by students before and during this pandemic.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Pharmacy Education in Saudi Arabia
International Journal of Health Sciences Research, 26 September 2022 
This article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacy teaching in Saudi Arabia. The authors reflect on their experience during the pandemic at King Saud University and discuss specific elements of the pharmacy school curriculum, including classroom instruction, laboratory work, and experiential learning.

Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 on Saudi Families and Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Saudi Arabia: A National Perspective
Frontiers in Public Health, 27 September 2022 
This article explores the challenges, anxiety levels, and concerns of children with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Somalia

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Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibodies among the Paediatric Population in Mogadishu, Somalia 
Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 15 September 2022 
This article determines the level of immunoglobulins against COVID-19 circulating in children in Mogadishu and to evaluates other potential risk factors.

Prevalence of Acute Kidney Injury in COVID-19 Patients- Retrospective Single-Center Study
Infection and Drug Resistance, 17 September 2022 
This article determines the prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in COVID-19 patients in Mogadishu and explores the relationship between inflammatory markers, the severity of lung involvement, and acute kidney injury in COVID-19 patients.

Sudan

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Challenges of Online Medical Education in Khartoum Sudan during COVID-19 Pandemic 2021
Research Square, 12 September 2022 
This working paper investigates the challenges of online medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic in Khartoum.

Adherence to COVID-19 Vaccine among Health Care Providers in Merowe Hospital in Rural Area at North Sudan
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 26 September 2022 
This article assesses the adherence to COVID-19 vaccines among health care providers in Merowe hospital in North Sudan.

Syria

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The Effects of Type III Traumatic Stressors of the Protracted Conflict and Prolonged COVID-19 on Syrians Internally Displaced: A Validation Study of Type III Continuous Traumatic Stressors and Their Impact
International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, September 2022 
This article aims to validate the type III continuous traumatic stress model assumptions and assess the effect of intersected traumas of civil war and COVID-19 stressors on internally displaced Syrian people.

Syndromic Surveillance of Respiratory Infections during Protracted Conflict: Experiences from Northern Syria 2016-2021
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, September 2022 
This article investigates the trends of Early Warning and Response Network (EWARN) reported influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) in northern Syria between 2016 and 2021 and the potential impact of COVID-19.

Guillain–Barré Syndrome Associated with COVID-19: Two Cases from a Public Hospital in Damascus, Syria
Case Reports in Medicine, 2 September 2022 
This article reports on two cases of COVID-19 complicated with Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) from a public hospital in Damascus, Syria.

Tunisia

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Gender Differences in Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) in Tunisian Population
Journal of Innovations in Medical Research, September 2022 
This article investigates whether gender influences the clinical presentation and/or the outcome of COVID-19 in the Tunisian population.

COVID-19 Prophylaxis with Doxycycline and Zinc in Health Care Workers: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1 September 2022 
This article assesses the efficacy of a combination treatment of doxycycline and zinc in the primary prevention of COVID-19 infection in Tunisian health care workers compared with two control groups.

The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Secondary School Teachers in Sfax, Tunisia : Anxiety Disorders
European Psychiatry, 1 September 2022 
This article determines the prevalence and the factors for anxiety during the COVID-19 period among high school teachers in Sfax, Tunisia.

Effect of COVID-19 on the Ambient Air Pollution in Tunisia during 2020 and 2021 Years
Journal of Community Medicine and Health Solutions, 2 September 2022 
This article shows that the gradual limitation of industrial activity and automobile traffic in Tunisia caused by COVID-19 pandemic protective measures have been accompanied by an apparent decrease in air pollution and air quality index in Tunisian regions, especially in the north and the center.

Perception of Tunisian Public Health Practitioners on the Role of Primary Health Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 5 September 2022 
This article describes public health experts’ perceptions of the implication of Primary Health Care on managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia.

Women Entrepreneurs in Tunisia within the Context of the COVID-19: Constraints, Dilemmas and Resilience Behavior
Procedia Computer Science, 10 September 2022 
This article examines the resilience behaviors of women entrepreneurs (WE) in Tunisia during the COVID-19 crisis. The authors explore this question through the life stories of nine women entrepreneurs.

Impact of Cardiorespiratory Rehabilitation Program on Submaximal Exercise Capacity of Tunisian Male Patients with Post-COVID-19: A Pilot Study
Frontiers in Physiology, 28 September 2022 
This article evaluates the impact of a cardiorespiratory rehabilitation program (CRRP) on submaximal exercise capacity through the 6-min walk test (6MWT) data in post-COVID-19 Tunisian patients.

UAE

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Characteristics of Admissions to a Tertiary Psychiatric Hospital during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Observational Study
Oman Medical Journal, September 2022 
This article studies the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the socio-demographic and clinical profiles of patients who were admitted to a tertiary psychiatric hospital in the UAE during 2020 compared with the corresponding period in 2019, and evaluates the effect of the pandemic on the mental healthcare system.

Parents’ Views on the Acceptability of a COVID-19 Vaccine for Their Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in Abu Dhabi-United Arab Emirates
Vaccine, 9 September 2022 
This article  investigates parents’ attitudes and beliefs regarding the COVID-19 vaccine in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It finds that the acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccine is high among parents.

Experiences of Work-Related Stress Among Female Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: A Qualitative Study in the United Arab of Emirates
Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 21 September 2022 
This article explores the lived experiences of work-related stress among female healthcare workers in United Arab of Emirates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Viral Loads in Stool Samples and Nasopharyngeal Swabs from COVID-19 Patients in the United Arab Emirates
PLOS One, 22 September 2022 
This article investigates COVID-19 viral load trends in stools and nasopharyngeal swabs in the UAE and explore their correlation with multiple demographic and clinical factors.

The effect of lockdowns and distant learning on the health-related behaviours of school students in the United Arab Emirates
BMC Primary Care, 27 September 2022 
This article assesses the effects of the lockdown and remote learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the health-related behaviors of school students in the UAE.

Assessment and Evaluation of Psychological Status of Undergraduate College Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in the United Arab Emirates
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 30 September 2022
This article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological status of undergraduate university students in the UAE in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Mofeed Digest (August 2022)

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 | Comoros | Djibouti | Egypt| Iraq| Jordan| Lebanon| Libya| Morocco| Oman| Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia| Somalia| Sudan| Syria| Tunisia| UAE| Yemen] 

MENA

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Putting MENA’s Pathogenic Variants on the Global Map
KAUST, August 2022
This article reports on the work of KAUST bioscientists to place some of the genetic information of the SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in Saudi Arabia on the global map. The scientists also identified a link between disease severity and the virus’s nucleocapsid protein.

COVID-19 Policy Responses in the Arab Region: Limited Fiscal Space and Lack of Effective Social Protection Systems
UN ESCWA, August 2022
This report sheds light on social protection interventions as part of wider fiscal support measures implemented by governments in the Arab region to cushion the repercussions of the pandemic on private households. It focuses on intra- and cross-regional differences in social protection spending using information and figures of public announcements issued by governments and tracked by the COVID-19 Stimulus Tracker of the ESCWA.

COVID-19 and the Gendered Impacts on Adolescent Wellbeing: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study of Locally Adapted Measures in Ethiopia, Jordan, and Palestine
eClinical Medicine, 3 August 2022
This article explores relationships between gender, COVID-19 vulnerability, social protection, and adolescent wellbeing in three diverse contexts: Ethiopia, Jordan, and Palestine.

Women’s Employment and Care Work in MENA during the Pandemic
Economic Research Forum, 16 August 2022
This article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s employment and gender disparities in the MENA region. It shows that the experience of the pandemic underscores the persistent gender inequality in unpaid care work in MENA, and the necessity of redressing gender norms underlying this inequality to allow women equal employment opportunities.

How the COVID Vaccine Rollout Exposed Inequality in the Middle East
Middle East Eye, 19 August 2022
This article shows how the pandemic and the subsequent rush towards vaccination underscored the tremendous gap between rich countries and poorer countries and also the immense inequities that exist between countries and regions themselves. The article points to the Middle East as the region where inequities have been most intense.

COVID, Care and the City: Perspectives from MENA
London School of Economics, 22 August 2022
This article inquires whether the interval of COVID-19 produced particular challenges and practices in the MENA region, and how these shifted over the period 2020-2022. The authors draw on contributions related to different urban centers including those in Lebanon, Egypt, and Tunis, and with a special focus on Palestine and Palestinians in Lebanon.

Modeling the Transmission Dynamics of COVID-19 Among Five High Burden African Countries    
Clinical Epidemiology, 26 August 2022
This article aims to understand the transmission dynamics of the coronavirus and its variants in five African countries, including South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and Libya. The authors project that for the next 30 years, there will be around 86 million infected individuals and millions of deaths only in those five countries.

First, Do No Harm? The World Health Organization in the MENA Region
Arab Center Washington D.C., 26 August 2022
This article reflects on the successes and the failures of the World Health Organization in the MENA region during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies challenges facing the WHO in the region including the exodus of health professionals, resource-poor health facilities, and a lack of specialized resources for women, children, refugees, people with disabilities, the elderly, and nomadic groups.

Algeria

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Rapport D’Enquête pour L’Evaluation de L’Impact Socio-Economique de la Pandémie COVID-19 sur les Entreprises en Algérie
UNDP, 23 August 2022
This article reports the findings of a survey assessing the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses in Algeria.

Bahrain

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Long Term Detection and Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater in Bahrain
Journal of Hazardouz Materials Advances, August 2022
This article reports on a long-term quantification study in Bahrain to investigate the incidence of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Epidemiological Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection
International Journal of Infectuous Diseases, August 2022
This article reports on the findings of a retrospective epidemiological study of 1362 COVID-19 reinfection cases in Bahrain between April 2020 and July 2021. The authors analyzed differences in disease severity and reinfection characteristics among various vaccination statuses: fully vaccinated, interrupted vaccination, one-dose vaccination, post-reinfection vaccination, and unvaccinated.

Demographic and Viral-Genetic Analyses of COVID-19 Severity in Bahrain Identify Local Risk Factors and a Protective Effect of Polymerase Mutations
medRxiv, 16 August 2022
This working paper analyzes paired viral sequencing and non-genetic host data to understand host and viral determinants of severe COVID-19 infections. The authors estimated the effects of demographic variables specific to the Bahrain population and found that the impact of health factors is largely consistent with other populations.

Maternal COVID-19 Disease and COVID-19 Immunization
Cureus, 23 August 2022
This article evaluates the immune response and vertical transmission of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) antibodies in vaccinated, expectant mothers infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and studies the sequelae. The study was conducted on pregnant women at Bahrain Defense Force Hospital from March 2021 to September 2021.

Comoros

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COVID-19 : L’Engagement Communautaire des Femmes au Cœur de la Réponse aux Comores
World Health Organization, 25 July 2022
This article highlights the role of women communities in the Comoros in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Djibouti

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Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Djibouti
The Borgen Project, 3 August 2022
This article examines the impact of the protective measures enacted by the Djiboutian government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on food security, income, unemployment, and women.

Egypt

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Post COVID-19 Firm-Level Government Support in Egypt: Uneven Allocation and Unequal Effects
Economic Research Forum, August 2022
This article explores the allocation and effectiveness of government support to firms in Egypt. Government support has helped mitigate the effects of COVID-19, with a significantly larger, favorable impact on smaller, younger and private firms.

Prevalence of COVID-19 in Egyptian Children with Hemoglobinopathies and Inherited Anemias
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, August 2022
This article examines the prevalence of COVID-19 cases among children with hemoglobinopathies and other inherited anemias living in El-Minya Governorate, Egypt, who are at high risk of exposure to infection.

Modelling the Fourth Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Egypt
Journal of Mathematics and Computer Science, 11 August 2022
This article studies the dynamics of COVID-19 in Egypt using machine learning algorithms and the epidemiological model SEIR. Among the machine learning models studied, two models showed promising results (SVR, SEGPR).

Comorbidities and Outcomes among Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 in Upper Egypt
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, 12 August 2022
This article aims to evaluate the impact of comorbidities in COVID-19 patients on the outcome and to determine predictors of prolonged hospital stay, requisite for intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

SARS-CoV-2 Genome Variations and Evolution Patterns in Egypt: A Multi-Center Study
Scientific Reports, 25 August 2022
This article reports on the study of 110 diagnosed positive COVID-19 patient’s samples collected from Kasr Al-Aini Hospital and the Children Cancer Hospital Egypt between May 2020 and January 2021. The viral genomes were sequenced by next generation sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis was performed to understand viral transmission dynamics.

Iraq

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The Role of Influenza Vaccination in the COVID-19 Infection: Impact on Incidence and Severity in Iraq
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 4 August 2022
This article examines the role of the influenza vaccination in COVID-19 infections. It shows that influenza vaccination could be linked to better clinical outcomes and a lower COVID-19 severity score, without significant effect on the infection rate.

Analysis of Proinflammatory Cytokines in COVID -19 Patients in Baghdad, Iraq
Archives of Razi Institute, 10 August 2022
This article investigates the proinflammatory cytokines in patients with COVID -19 in Baghdad, Iraq. The most common clinical symptoms were cough, fever, and headache, while sore throat, gastrointestinal symptoms, chest pain, and loss of taste and smell were less common in COVID -19 patients.

Reinvigorating Medical Student Mentorships in Neurosurgery during the Pandemic: Lessons Learned from Iraq
Surgical Neurology International, 12 August 2022
This article discusses the Baghdad neurosurgery mentorship during the COVID-19 pandemic with notable comparison to the mentorship preceding the pandemic.

Contributing Factors in Whether Displaced Households Want to Receive Humanitarian Information from Humanitarian Actors: Iraq Multi-Cluster Needs Assessment
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16 August 2022
This article investigates factors related to desire of displaced households to receive humanitarian information. The authors show that the desire to receive humanitarian information was related to whether household members were unemployed due to COVID-19, displacement status, and walking time to reach the nearest health care facility and marketplace.

Measurement of the Serum Level of Leucine-Rich Alpha-2-Glycoprotein-1 in Hospitalized Iraqi COVID-19 Patients
Journal of Contemporary Medical Sciences, 26 August 2022
This article reports on the findings of a study aimed to assess Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 biomarker serum level in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Disease Severity and Efficacy of Homologous Vaccination among Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Delta or Omicron VOCs, Compared to Unvaccinated Using Main Biomarkers
Journal of Medical Virology, 27 August 2022
This article aims to establish the clinical severity of COVID-19 caused by Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants among patients who either attended or were admitted to hospitals and to compare the effectiveness of Pfizer and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.

The Impact of COVID-19 Quarantine on Physical Activities in Basra, Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Emerging Investigators, 30 August 2022
This article aims to determine the level of physical activity of the residents of Basra (the second-largest province in Iraq) during the COVID-19 quarantine according to sex, age, educational level, marital status, occupational/educational status, and health status.

Jordan

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Drivers of the Acceptance Of COVID-19 Vaccines in Jordan: The Moderating Role of a Pre-Existing Health Condition
Journal of Positive School Psychology, August 2022
This article investigates the drivers influencing the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in Jordan and examines the moderating role of pre-existing health conditions.

The Impact of an Educational Workshop on Counteracting Hesitancy toward the COVID-19 Vaccine among Pharmacy Students in Jordan
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 4 August 2022
This article investigates the effect of clinical pharmacist-led education on counteracting hesitancy toward the COVID-19 vaccine and thus on the willingness to take it by pharmacy students in Jordan.

Attitudes towards COVID-19 Booster Vaccines, Vaccine Preferences, Child Immunization, and Recent Issues in Vaccination among University Students in Jordan
Vaccines, 4 August 2022
This article explores attitudes toward recent issues in vaccination among university students in Jordan. The authors inquired about COVID-19 vaccine preferences, factors affecting COVID-19 vaccine preferences, child vaccination, and booster vaccines.

Regional Connectivity Drove Bidirectional Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the Middle East during Travel Restrictions
Nature Communications, 15 August 2022
This article investigates the relative contributions of regional and intercontinental connectivity to the source-sink dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 for Jordan and the Middle East.

Active Safety Surveillance of Four Types of COVID-19 Vaccines: A National Study from Jordan        
Clinical Drug Investigation, 23 August 2022
This article aims to investigate and compare the incidence, nature, severity, and predictors of adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) with COVID-19 vaccines.

Jordan: COVID-19 Impact on Micro-Businesses and Landless Labourers - Final Report (August 2022)
REACH, 29 August 2022
This article focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (lockdown measures and restrictions, and their economic impacts) on agricultural microenterprises, income-generating activities, and income-diversification activities in Jordan. The enterprises and activities selected for this study correspond to four specific occupational groups: farming micro-businesses, food processing micro-businesses, artisanal micro-businesses, and landless laborers.

Kuwait

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Aggression and Violence during the Lockdown Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kuwait
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 18 August 2022
This article investigates whether there are significant sociodemographic differences in reported cases of physical and verbal aggression, anger, hostility, and violence among 815 Kuwaiti residents during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Children's Oral Health and Caregiver's Attitude towards Teledentistry: A Kuwait based study
Journal of Population Therapuetics and Clinical Pharmacology, 24 August 2022
This article aims to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on children's oral health and caregiver's attitude towards teledentistry in Kuwait.

Lebanon

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Effect of COVID-19 on Mental Health among the Young Population in Lebanon
L'Encéphale, August 2022
This article investigates the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms related to insomnia, depression, and anxiety, and identifies risk factors contributing to psychological stress in the Lebanese young population during COVID-19 pandemic.

Older Adult Syrian Refugees and COVID-19 in Lebanon
Norwegian Refugee Council, 2 August 2022
This joint report by the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University in Beirut explores the challenges faced by older Syrian refugees in Lebanon during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Fighting COVID-19 in a Multicrisis Context: The Case of Lebanon
Community, Economy and COVID-19, 24 August 2022
This article studies the way in which the pandemic was successfully managed in the short term in Lebanon, but also how the lack of sustainable policies, low government trust, and limited monetary means led to an economic catastrophe and eventual large-scale spread of COVID-19.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic, Financial Wellness, and Online Teaching on Schoolteachers’ Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Lebanon
International Journal of Clinical Research, 26 August 2022
This article aims to assess stress, anxiety, and depression levels among Lebanese schoolteachers based on the COVID-19 outbreak, the Lebanese economic crisis, and online education.

Menstrual Health and Period Poverty in Lebanon during Economic Crisis: A Qualitative Analysis of the Challenges and Recommendations
Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 26 August 2022
This article aims to explore stakeholder's perspective on the Lebanese public health policy regarding menstrual health, the evolving challenges it faces in the context of the current economic collapse and the COVID-19 pandemic, and to suggest recommendations for solutions.

COVID-19 Mortality Surveillance in Lebanon
Scientific Reports, 27 August 2022
This article documents the Lebanese experience of COVID-19 mortality surveillance and provides an analysis of the epidemiological characteristics of confirmed deaths.

Libya

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Labour Market Access for Migrants in Libya and the Impact of COVID-19
International Labour Organization, August 2022
This report aims to advance the understanding of (1) migrants’ access to employment and the role of labor intermediaries, (2) employment characteristics and conditions of migrant workers, and (3) the impact of COVID-19 on migrant’s ability to access the labor market in Libya and to sustain their livelihoods.

Morocco 

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Prevalence and Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19 Patients in Casablanca: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Cureus, 9 August 2022
This article aims to determine the prevalence of digestive symptoms among COVID-19 patients in Casablanca and to assess the correlation between these symptoms and disease severity.

Analysis and Dynamics of a Mathematical Model to Predict Unreported Cases of COVID-19 Epidemic in Morocco
Computational and Applied Mathematics, 20 August 2022
This article aims to study the mathematical modeling of undetected cases of the novel coronavirus in Morocco.

Real-world Study of the Effectiveness of BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) COVID-19 Vaccine in the Kingdom of Morocco
BMC Public Health, 20 August 2022
This article reports the findings of a retrospective cohort study to determine real-world BBIBP-CorV vaccine (Sinopharm) effectiveness against serious or critical hospitalization of individuals RT-PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the first five months of BBIBP-CorV use in Morocco.

Phylogeography and Genomic Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant in Morocco
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 30 August 2022
This article reports on the analysis of a total of 2130 genomes of the delta variant circulating around the world in order to monitor the evolution of these variants in Morocco. Authors also included 164 Moroccan delta variant sequences in their analysis.

Oman

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Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine’s Acceptability amongst Health Care Workers in Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Infection and Public Health, August 2022
This article aims to estimate the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers in Oman.

Oman's COVID-19 Publication Trends: A Cross-Sectional Bibliometric Study
Public Health in Practice, August 2022
This article aims to assess the COVID-19 research output in Oman.

Reverse Immigration Effects for Expatriates in Oman During the COVID-19 Pandemic Shock
International Advances in Economic Research, 15 August 2022
This article investigates whether the COVID-19 pandemic shock had a negative impact on expatriates in the host country (Oman), and it identifies heterogeneous effects among different ethnic groups.

COVID-19 WhatsApp Sticker Memes in Oman
Discourse and Society, 31 August 2022
This article examines the form and function of personalized COVID-19 WhatsApp sticker memes created and shared as social laments by citizens in Oman.

Palestine

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The Palestinian Health-Care Providers’ Perceptions, Challenges and Human Rights-Related Concerns during the COVID-19 Pandemic
International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 11 August 2022
This article aims to explore health-care providers’ perceptions, perspectives, challenges, and human rights-related concerns during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Palestine.

Severe Chest Imaging Findings of Coronavirus Disease from March to November 2020 in Palestine
European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 16 August 2022
This article aims to provide a thorough analysis of imaging manifestations of patients infected with severe COVID-19 in Palestine.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies among Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated Adults in the West Bank: Results of a Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
Vaccines, 17 August 2022
This article aims to assess the seroprevalence rate among a random sample of Palestinians residing in the West Bank region of Palestine, especially among those who were not vaccinated and not diagnosed. The authors also measured the percentage of adult Palestinians who accepted to get vaccinated across gender and age groups.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Perception Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination among the General Population of Gaza Strip-Palestine
International Journal of Clinical Science and Medical Research, 22 August 2022
This article aims to assess the knowledge, attitude and the beliefs perception regarding COVID -19 and vaccination among a convenience sample of general Palestinian adults. 

Qatar

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The Association between Tobacco Use and COVID-19 in Qatar           
Preventive Medicine Reports, August 2022                                                               
This article aims to determine the prevalence of tobacco use among COVID-19 patients in Qatar, and to examine the relationship between tobacco use and hospitalized COVID-19 (non-severe and severe), and quantify its risk factors.

Barriers to Practicing COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors among Migrant Workers in Qatar: A Qualitative Study during the First Wave of the Pandemic
International Journal of Public Health, 4 August 2022
This article aims to identify the limitations facing MACWs (Manual and Craft Workers) in Qatar towards practicing the COVID-19 preventive measures and thereby designing behavioral change strategies.

Cardiovascular Risks and Outcome in COVID-19 Positive Patients with Cardiovascular Disease Attending Primary Health Care Corporation in Qatar: A Retrospective Cohort Study
MayoClinic Proceedings - Innovations, Quality & Outcomes Journal, 8 August 2022
This article aims to report whether cardiovascular diseases increase the risk for hospitalization and further complications in COVID-19 patients in Qatar

Protection of Omicron Sub-Lineage Infection Against Reinfection with Another Omicron Sub-Lineage
Nature Communications, 9 August 2022
This article aims to investigate immune protection of infection with one sub-lineage against reinfection with the other sub-lineage in Qatar during a large BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron wave, from December 2021 to March 2022.

Immune Protection Against SARS-CoV-2 Re-Reinfection and Immune Imprinting
medRxiv, 24 August 2022
This working paper from Qatar provides evidence that having two SARS-CoV-2 infections, one with a pre-Omicron variant followed by one with an Omicron subvariant, elicits stronger protection against future Omicron-subvariant reinfection than having had only one infection with an Omicron subvariant.

Dynamics of Anti-S IgG Antibodies Titers after the Second Dose of COVID-19 mRNA and non-mRNA Vaccines in the Manual and Craft Worker Population of Qatar
medRxiv, 25 August 2022
This working paper aims to generate evidence on long-term anti-S IgG antibodies titers and their dynamics in individuals in Qatar who have completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination schedule. 

Saudi Arabia

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Physical Activity Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviours among Adolescents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prior to and during COVID-19 Restrictions
Journal of Obesity, 2 August 2022
This article investigates the factors associated with physical activity (PA) prior to and during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) among middle school students in Jeddah, KSA.

Outcome after Single Dose of ChAdOx1 Vaccine Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection at 16 Weeks Post-Vaccination among Healthy Adults in Saudi Arabia
Annals of Saudi Medicine, 4 August 2022
This assesses the rate of subsequent infection and immunogenicity of a single dose of ChAdOx1 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infections at 16 weeks post-vaccination in a sample of healthy and young participants in Saudi Arabia.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Infection Control Measurement during COVID-19 Pandemic among Dental Assistant in Hafar Al-Batin, Saudi Arabia
International Journal of Innovative Research in Medical Science, 5 August 2022
This article assesses knowledge and awareness about infection control measurement during the COVID-19 pandemic among dental assistants in Hafar Al-Batin in Saudi Arabia.

Transmission and Cleaning Misconception during the COVID-19 Pandemic Time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Cureus, 7 August 2022
This article aims to investigate the knowledge and attitude of the public in Saudi Arabia toward the concept of surface decontamination during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Attitudes of Public-School Teachers towards E-learning in Saudi Arabia
Arab World English Journal, 10 August 2022                                                           
This investigates the attitudes of Saudi public-school teachers towards e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and documents their views concerning its advantages and disadvantages.

Monkeypox Caused Less Worry than COVID-19 among the General Population during the First Month of the WHO Monkeypox Alert: Experience from Saudi Arabia
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 11 August 2022                                      
This article assesses the Saudi public's perception, worries, and vaccine acceptance for Monkeypox and COVID-19 during the first month of announcement by the World Health Organization.

Seroprevalence and Longevity of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Antigen-IgG among Health Care Workers in a Large COVID-19 Public Hospital in Saudi Arabia: A Prospective Cohort Study
PLOS ONE, 12 August 2022
This article aims to describe the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia and to perform 8 months longitudinal follow-up (FU) to assess the duration of detectable IgG. It also aims to explore the risk factors associated with positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG.

Determinants of Post-COVID-19 Conditions among SARS-CoV-2-Infected Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Diseases, 23 August 2022                                                                                   
This article describes the incidence of post-COVID-19 conditions among the general population of Saudi Arabia.

Knowledge, Attitude and Barriers toward COVID-19 Vaccine among Adults in Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2021, Web-Based Study International Journal of Advanced Research, 26 August 2022
This article aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and barriers toward COVID-19 vaccine among Saudi adults in the Eastern Province.

The Impact of Ramadan during COVID-19 Confinement on Weight, Dietary, and Lifestyle Habits in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study        
BMC Public Health, 30 August 2022                                                                           
This article aims to investigate the influence of COVID-19 lockdown measures during Ramadan fasting on weight change in 481 participants in Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence of Depression and Its Associated Factors among Patients with Confirmed COVID-19 in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 30 August 2022
This article aims to evaluate the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among confirmed patients with COVID-19 in Makkah in Saudi Arabia.

Clinical Characteristics, Outcomes and Prognostic Factors for Critical Illness in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
International Journal of General Medicine, 31 August 2022                                
This article aims to correlate clinical and laboratory characteristics of hospitalized COVID-19 patients to disease outcome in Saudi Arabia. 

Somalia

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Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Female Sexual Function in Women with Female Genital Mutilation
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 18 August 2022 
This article evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on female sexual function in women with female genital mutilation (FGM) in Somalia.

Sudan

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Labor Market: The Case of Sudan 
Economic Research Forum, August 2022                                                                   
This article shows how workers in Sudan suffered from temporary or permanent layoffs/suspensions (without pay), delays in wage payment, reduced earnings or delayed payments, and changes in personal net monthly wage during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provides policy recommendations to increase government support to manage the impact of COVID-19 on the labor market and the provision of social protection for workers in Sudan and MENA countries.

Syria

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Knowledge and Attitudes about Influenza and the Common Cold in Syria Post COVID-19: A Qualitative Study  
Annals of Medicine and Surgery, August 2022
This article estimates the level of knowledge regarding the common cold and the influenza diseases among the Syrian population during the COVID-19 pandemic. It shows that the public still cannot distinguish between the two diseases.

Another Crisis in the Sorrowland: COVID-19 in Northeast Syria
Journal of Global Health, August 2022
This article discusses the realities of COVID-19 infections and vaccination in the context of the conflict in north east Syria. It shows how refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps and informal settlements have some of the greatest risks for infectious disease spread.

The Quality of Syrian Healthcare Services during COVID-19: A HEALTHQUAL Approach
Frontiers in Public Health, 11 August 2022
This article evaluates the perceived healthcare service quality in Syria during the COVID-19 pandemic based on hospital type (public and private). The authors argue that crowdedness environment, medical staff availability and their low salaries, pricing policies as well as the health insurance system, are to blame for the low perceived quality.

Rare case of Pneumoperitoneum in Nonintubated COVID-19 Patient 
Clinical Case Reports, 19 August 2022
This article reports the rare case of a 50-year-old female patient with COVID-19 presented to the emergency department at Aleppo University Hospital where supplementary oxygen is delivered via noninvasive face mask ventilation and where X-ray imaging confirmed the existence of pneumoperitoneum.

Tunisia

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Navigating through the COVID-19 Pandemic: Unfinished Learning in Primary and Secondary Education in Tunisia
Journal for International Comparative and Multicultural Education, 3 August 2022
This article sheds light on the different measures taken in Tunisia to curb learning loss during the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the challenges facing Tunisian students and the government.

Hospital Bed Capacity Across in Tunisia Hospital during the First Four Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Analysis
medRxiv, 25 August 2022
This working paper aims to analyze bed occupancies for public hospitals and time delay response from the health care system in regard to the epidemiological situation in Tunisia during the first four waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

UAE

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The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Customers’ Spending Behavior in the United Arab Emirates
International Journal of Business Management, August 2022                            
This article examines the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer spending behavior in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It finds that the spending behavior of UAE residents during the pandemic has not changed much compared to the pre-pandemic period, despite that some have lost a portion of their income.

A Review of the Environmental Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
Environmental Challenges, August 2022                                                                  
This article reviews the environmental implications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic at the individual and community levels in the UAE. It found that the positive effects include improved air quality and reduced contamination of public spaces with pollutants, while negative effects include poor disposal of medical plastic waste and facemasks and the rise in unhygienic health practices amongst residents of the UAE.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Physical Therapy Undergraduates and Their Families. A Qualitative Study from the United Arab Emirates
International Journal of General Medicine, 1 August 2022                                   
This article explores the physical activities of advanced undergraduate physical therapy students and their families during the COVID-19 lockdown and discusses how participants helped promote and maintain their own and their family’s physical health during the pandemic. It also identifies what knowledge and skills from their physical therapy studies the students utilized during the lockdown.

Human Albumin Solution Utilization Patterns Prior and During COVID-19 Pandemic in United Arab Emirates: Time to Develop and Implement National Guideline on Prescribing and Utilization                                                                      
Narra Journal, 1 August 2022                                                                                       
This article identifies albumin utilization patterns in a multi-specialty private hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), before and during the COVID-19 epidemic in the country. It demonstrates the importance of reconsidering the prescribing strategies for albumin administration.

Pulmonary Thromboembolism in COVID-19 Patients on CT Pulmonary Angiography - A Single-Centre Retrospective Cohort Study in the United Arab Emirates                                                                                                              
Journal of Surgery and Research, 26 August 2022
This article aims to identify the prevalence and distribution of pulmonary thromboembolism in COVID-19 infected patients at Shiekh Khalifa Medical City in the UAE. 

Genomic Epidemiology and Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in the United Arab Emirates                                                                                   
Scientific Reports, 29 August 2022                                                                              
This article aims to characterize the epidemiology, transmission pattern, and emergence of variants of concerns (VOCs) and variants of interests (VOIs) of SARS-CoV-2 in the UAE, followed by the investigation of mutations associated with hospitalized cases.

Yemen

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Detection of Short-Term Side Effects of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study in a War-Torn Country                                               
Pragmatic and Observational Research, 25 August 2022                                     
This article identifies the type and frequency of short-term side effects following 48 hours of the first shot of the chAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in Yemen.

Click the link for a full transcript of “What We Need To Talk About When We Talk About Taiwan.“

The Likelihood of Invasion

In stark terms, Oriana Skylar Mastro, a center fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, believes there’s a 100% chance China will use some sort of force against Taiwan in the next five years. For the last twenty years, China has been making concerted efforts to modernize its military and increase its capabilities not only to assert force against Taiwan, but to deter intervention from the United States.

In the majority of scenarios, the United States wins in a conflict with China over Taiwan. But the United States also carries a distinct geographic disadvantage. The distance across the Taiwan Strait between the island and mainland China is approximately 100 miles, which is roughly the distance between Richmond, Virginia and Washington D.C. If China moves quickly, PRC forces could take Taiwan before U.S. forces have time to move into position.

When considering possible outcomes in Taiwan, it is equally important to consider the motivations driving Beijing’s ambitions. The leadership on the mainland has been planning and thinking about how to retake Taiwan since 1949. With the modernized capabilities coming online, the balance of power has shifted in China’s military favor, and the cost-benefit calculus favors Beijing’s ambitions. The long-term planning stage is now reaching its end, and the prospects of direct action are increasing.

The View from Taipei

Political leaders in Taiwan recognize the growing danger they face across the Strait. In Larry Diamond’s assessment, the end of Hong Kong's autonomy and the suppression of the “one country, two systems” model, the rising military incursions into Taiwan's air defense identification zone and coastal waters, and the whole rising pace of Chinese military intimidation has sobered Taiwan and visibly impacted Taiwanese public opinion.

Concerningly though, while the political elite recognize the real and present danger of the situation, polling of the general Taiwan public suggests that the vast majority of citizens still feel like an attack or an invasion by China is unlikely. Similar majorities suggest that they would be willing to fight in Taiwan’s defense, but volunteering for military service remains at a minimum.

To maximize safety, Taiwan needs to find ways to strengthen itself in its ability to defend, resist, and deter China, while still avoiding any appearance of moving toward permanent independence or any other action that could be deemed by Beijing as a provocation, says Diamond.

What the United States Can Do

When it comes to the defense of Taiwan, the strategic crutch hobbling the United States is geography. Most of the U.S. Pacific forces are not in Asia. The majority are in Hawaii and California, as well as a few bases and airfields in Japan. To be able to effectively deter China, the U.S. needs far greater forward deployed military capability in order to be able to either stop or stall the movement of Chinese troops into Taiwan, says Mastro.

Taiwan needs greater onshore military deterrence capabilities as well. One such strategy is the “porcupine approach,” which increases the number of smaller mobile lethal weapons. By Larry Diamond’s assessment, increased citizen participation in military training is also crucial, with an emphasis on weapons training and urban defense tactics. The U.S. could support these aims by overhauling the current system for weapons procurement to speed up the production and delivery of weapons systems not just for Taiwan, but to the benefit of U.S. defense and other contingencies as well. Working with leadership to create strategic stockpiles of food, and energy should also be a priority, says Diamond.

The U.S. also needs to put much more effort into its diplomatic efforts on behalf of Taiwan. Many U.S. allies and partners are reluctant to ostracize China because of economic ties and concerns over sparking their own conflict with China in the future. A key ally in all of this is Japan. If Japan fights with the United States on behalf of Taiwan, it is a guaranteed win and enough to effectively deter China. But much more needs to be done much more quickly in order to secure those guarantees and present them in a convincing way to Beijing.

“The clock is ticking,” Larry Diamond says. “And the problem is we don’t know how fast it’s ticking. “Taiwan is moving in the right direction. But we need to move faster than we're moving.”