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Introduction Despite the implementation of countermeasures and mass vaccination programs, the COVID-19 pandemic incidence was a vital public health concern. This study aimed to explore the dynamics of COVID-19 cases and assess the association of COVID-19 pandemic epidemiological data with meteorological factors in Hiroshima Prefecture compared to Japan. Methods We analyzed COVID-19 pandemic data in Japan's Hiroshima Prefecture from January 16, 2020, to May 9, 2023. Meteorological factors were examined at different time frames, and Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated for COVID-19 variables and variants based on GISAID whole genome analysis. Results Hiroshima Prefecture reported 816,788 COVID-19 cases and 1,371 fatalities, with a city-to-rural case ratio of 0.97:1. Infection rates were 17.42% for Japan and 15.83% for Hiroshima. Gender-wise, the ratio was 99:1, and the 30-39 age group in Hiroshima had the highest cases (15.5%). Among all meteorological factors, daily and 14-day average wind speed showed a weak correlation with incidence (-0.1954, P < 0.01; 0.3669 P < 0.01), fatalities (-0.1148, P < 0.01; -0.2232 P < 0.01), and incidence rate (-0.2042, P < 0.01; -0.3751, P < 0.01), respectively. Clade GRA was most frequent (39.7%), and among 61 variants, B.1.1.7, AY.29, and BA.1.1.2 were predominant. Precipitation was associated significantly with the Alpha variant (0.3373, P<0.01), while the Delta variant (0.2934, <0.05) weakly correlated with humidity. Conclusion COVID-19 pandemic trends in Hiroshima Prefecture paralleled Japan's, yet with lower incidence and fatalities compared to most prefectures. Significant associations were found between meteorological factors and COVID-19 metrics, including incidence, fatalities, incidence rate, and mutations in Hiroshima.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, are a significant global public health concern. Family members or friends who serve as caregivers significantly contribute to supporting cancer patients without formal medical training. In most cases in Bangladesh, women perform caregiving activities with household responsibilities and lack adequate support from the family and healthcare systems; consequently, they face a significant burden as caregivers. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of combined mobile health (mHealth) psychoeducation and the Benson relaxation technique (BRT) on the caregiving burden among female informal caregivers of cancer patients in Bangladesh. METHODS: We shall conduct a prospective, open-label, two-arm (1:1), randomized controlled trial in a hospital, focusing on the burden of informal female caregivers of cancer patients in Bangladesh. The combined intervention will be delivered to the intervention group through mHealth starting April 2024 and will span six months. Participants' data will be collected through face-to-face interviews using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Bangla Short Instrument. Outcomes will be assessed at the baseline, midline, and endline. We shall employ descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The t-test or Mann-Whitney U test will be used to compare continuous variables. Additionally, a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance will be employed to evaluate the outcomes. RESULTS: Participant enrollment began in January 2024, and recruitment is ongoing. The results of this study will be disseminated through publications and conferences. No external professional writers were involved in writing this manuscript. CONCLUSION: This study addresses the gap in the assessment of combined interventions for caregiver burden in Bangladesh. These outcomes may provide valuable insights into caregivers' well-being, caregiving responsibilities, and the potential for integrated interventions to reduce the burden, especially among women. If effective, we recommend the national integration of psychoeducation and BRT using mHealth.
