Browsing by Author "Oliver C. Ezechi"

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    Open Access
    COVID-19, economic problems, and family relationships in eight Middle East and North African countries
    (Wiley Online Library, 2022) MahaElTantawi1; MorenikeOluwatoyinFolayan2; NourhanM.Aly; Brandon Brown; Oliver C. Ezechi; Benjamin Uzochukwu; Yousef Khader; Ola B. AL-Batayneh; Nuraldeen Maher AL-Khanati; Dina Y. Attia; Passent Ellakany; Maher Rashwan; AnasShamala; Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga; Annie L. Nguyen
    Objective The aim was to assess the reported family relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic and the association between these relationships and individual, interpersonal, and country-level income in eight Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. Background COVID-19 causes fear of infection, loss of loved ones, and economic problems that may affect family relationships. Methods Data were collected from eight MENA countries using an online survey (July–August 2020). The dependent variable was change in family relationship during COVID-19, and the independent variables were individual, interpersonal, and country-level factors represented by sociodemographic factors, COVID-19 status, financial impact (whether participants lost or had reduced wages) and country income. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results There were 1854 responses, mean (SD) age of 30.6 (9.9) years, 65.8% were female, 3.4% tested COVID-19 positive, and 20.8% reported lost/reduced wages. Family relationships were more likely to improve or remain unchanged (84.3%) for participants who had a history of COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.25, 10.01]). However, family relationships were more likely to not improve for those who knew someone who died of COVID-19 (AOR = 0.76, 95% CI [0.58, 0.99]) and those with lost/reduced wages (AOR = 0.69, 95% CI [0.52, 0.94]).
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    Open Access
    Sex differences in the experience of COVID-19 post-traumatic stress symptoms by adults in South Africa
    (BMC Psychiatry, 2022) Ntombifuthi P. Nzimande; Maha El Tantawi; Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga; Richmond Opoku-Sarkodie; Brandon Brown; Oliver C. Ezechi; Benjamin S. C. Uzochukwu; Passent Ellakany; Nourhan M. Aly; Annie Lu Nguyen; Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan
    Background The COVID-19 pandemic has created multiple mental health challenges. Many residents in South Africa face pre-existing elevated levels of stress and the pandemic may have had varying impacts on sub-populations. The aims of this study were to determine: 1) the factors associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and 2) sex differences in the factors associated with PTSS in adults residing in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Study participants aged 18 years and above, were recruited for this cross-sectional study through an online survey implemented from June 29, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The outcome variable was PTSS; explanatory variables were sex at birth, COVID-19 status, social isolation and access to emotional support. Confounders considered were age, education level completed and current work status. Logistic regressions were used to determine the association between the outcome and explanatory variables Outcomes There were 489 respondents. Among all respondents, those who were older (AOR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95 – 0.99) and had access to emotional support from family and relatives (AOR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.14 – 0.53) had significantly lower odds of PTSS. Respondents who felt socially isolated had higher odds of PTSS (AOR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.08 – 1.27). Females had higher PTSS scores and higher odds of PTSS compared to males (AOR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.41-3.39). Females (AOR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.08 – 0.95) and males (AOR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.59) who had access to emotional support had significantly lower odds of PTSS than those who had no support. Females (AOR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04 -1.27) and males (AOR: 1.19; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.59) who felt socially isolated had higher odds of PTSS compared to those who did not feel socially isolated. Interpretation Compared to males, females had higher scores and higher odds of reporting PTSS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to emotional support ameliorated the odds of having PTSS for both sexes, while feeling socially isolated worsened the odds for both sexes.