Conference Proceedings of COVID-19 Pandemic and Public Health System

Why Does the Government of Vietnam Become Successful in The Fight Against the Covid-19 Pandemic from Legal Perspectives?

2022-02-25T00:29:34-07:00

In the hope of limiting the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and protecting human health rights, state governments currently endeavor to implement regulations and grant feasible policies to both people and organizations. By contrast to countries failing to prevent this pandemic, there were successful role models in this fight all around the world in 2020, one of which in Asia is Vietnam. The reality indicates that the ratio of reported casualties and infected cases in Vietnam was relatively low in 2020 in spite of the limited medical systems and the high population rate. A question is raised what Vietnam performed a miracle to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic effectively over the time. Currently, Vietnam encounters the fourth phase of the COVID-19 outbreak after the success achieved in the previous three phases. Therefore, the upcoming missions and strategies should be recommended for the Government of Vietnam to overcome current difficulties and maintain success in this fight. To clarify these issues, this study will use a mixed-methodology of qualitative and quantitative approaches to evaluate both past and current policies and measures implemented by the Government of Vietnam as well as public awareness in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Bad to Worse? Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health of Young Adults in Turkey

2022-02-25T00:06:41-07:00

The main aim was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among young adults in Turkey. We also aimed at identifying the social and psychological correlates of pandemic-related anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression symptoms in the 1720 participants were investigated using web-based survey versions of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scales and data on the social and psychological measures and socio-demographic data were also collected. The proportion of subjects screening positive for anxiety increased from 18.5% to 53.5%; for depression increased from 30.2% to 71.6%. After taking social and psychological factors into account, social media use and, COVID-19-related concerns, and gender were the strongest predictors of anxiety and depression during the pandemic. Although the findings of the current study may be prone to sampling and recall bias due to retrospective assessments through self-report measures, strikingly high anxiety and depressive levels require an immediate response aimed at reducing and treating the mental health risks that young adults face. The psychological burden of the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to overwhelm fragile mental health care systems around the world.

Why some Countries are more Resilient in South Asia to Confront COVID-19 Pandemic and Recovery?

2022-02-25T00:20:04-07:00

This study explores the regional pattern of association between health risk exposure and resilience outcome in South Asian countries with the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. This exercise unveils the elements of resilience that contribute to get prepared in confronting COVID-19 risk in South Asia, using secondary information and knowledge from the Governments, WHO, UNDP Human Development Index (HDI), European Commission’s COVID-19 Risk Index and the World Bank’s Air Connectivity Index. Methodology and scope of the paper differs from previous contributions from a holistic policy point of view, since human development, geo-demographic vulnerability, government effectiveness and socio-economic outcome variables are considered in context to the public health condition and epidemic risk at the national level. Based on statistical evidences, South Asian countries fall into three categories (i) high resilient with low pandemic impact (Maldives, Bhutan and Sri Lanka), (ii) Medium resilient having high impact (India and Bangladesh) and (iii) Low resilient but high impact (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal). Beyond resilience, this study also flags geo-demographic issues such as population density, geographical isolation either being island or landlocked mountainous countries and air travel connectivity as an influencing or barrier factors in spreading of epidemic disease. This paper serves the purpose of designing risk informed effective policy responses to constrain negative effects of future pandemic and similar infectious diseases and sensitize countries to get prepared for “build back better” as well.