Contrasting Hygiene-Related Gastrointestinal Infections and Stress-Related Diseases at a Primary Health Care Facility within a Sub-Saharan African City: Before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Autor:	Tetteh-Quarcoo PB; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box KB 4236, Ghana., Afutu E; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box KB 4236, Ghana., Wiafe-Ansong M; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box KB 4236, Ghana.; Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box KB 4236, Ghana., Kotey FCN; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box KB 4236, Ghana.; FleRhoLife Research Consult, Teshie, Accra P.O. Box TS 853, Ghana., Dayie NTKD; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box KB 4236, Ghana., Donkor ES; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box KB 4236, Ghana., Ahenkorah J; Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box KB 4236, Ghana., Udofia EA; Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box KB 4236, Ghana., Ayeh-Kumi PF; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box KB 4236, Ghana., Dzudzor B; Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box KB 4236, Ghana., Asiedu-Gyekye IJ; University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box KB 52, Ghana.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) [Diseases] 2022 Dec 22; Vol. 11 (1). Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Dec 22.
DOI:	10.3390/diseases11010002
Abstrakt:	Background: With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, protocols such as social distancing and upscaling of hygiene practices were implemented to limit the spread of the disease. Meanwhile, along with COVID-19 came stress due to restrictions on movement, trade and transport, and closure of schools, among others. Aim: This study compared the prevalence of hygiene-related gastrointestinal infections and stress-related diseases before (March 2019-February 2020) and during (March 2020-February 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: This was a retrospective single-center review of deidentified patient data from the Korle Bu Polyclinic, Accra, Ghana. Results: Comparing the pre-COVID-19 era to the COVID-19 era, there was a statistically nonsignificant change in the number of cases and prevalence of gastroenteritis and enteric fever ( p = 0.084 and 0.081, respectively), although for gastroenteritis, the prevalence was higher for the pre-COVID-19 era compared to during COVID-19 by 1.8 per 1000 cases, while that of enteric fever was higher during the COVID-19 era compared to the pre-COVID-19 era by 1.0 per 1000 cases. Of the stress-related diseases, statistically significant increases in the prevalence of anxiety disorders ( p = 0.028), insomnia ( p = 0.001), and headache ( p = 0.010), were noted, with 2.3, 5.5, and 2.4 per 1000 cases, respectively. There were more female cases than male cases recorded for depression ( p = 0.001), headache ( p = 0.010), and hypertension ( p = 0.001) during the pandemic, and these were statistically significant. Conclusion: During the pandemic, a significant increase in the prevalence of stress-related diseases was observed. However, a statistically nonsignificant change was recorded for gastrointestinal infections, with females reporting more of these disorders. Consequently, it is important to strengthen the capacity for managing stress-related conditions alongside diseases that cause pandemics when they arise.
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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