Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is causing considerable lifestyle changes through barriers measures, lockdown and social distancing. These changes include: Preoccupation with Covid-19 pandemic news, sleep disturbances and eating habits changes. Aim: To assess the lifestyle changes after exposure to a risk of coronavirus contamination. Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study during November and December 2020 among adults tested for COVID-19 in Mahdia (Tunisia).To assess the life habits changes (sleep, physical exercises and diet), the compliance with barrier measures and preoccupation with COVID-19 pandemic news, a reliable tool was developed and pretested by experts at the department of Preventive and Community Medicine Results: A total of 277 participants were enrolled, the average age was 34.32 years ± 13.7. Among them 60.8% were women (sex-ratio = 0.51).Almost two thirds 62.2% were tested positive for Covid-19. Doctors presented 29.2% of the respondents. Among the study sample, 38.6% lived with elderly people. Approximately three quarters 77.8% reported an improvement in compliance with barrier measures. The majority 92.1% respected more the social distancing. As for hand washing and for mask wearing, 87.7% said to wash their hands more, and 95.3% were more concerned about wearing masks. A life habits change was observed among 16.7% of the respondents. Almost half of the participants 45.5% increased their physical activity, while 76.2% tried to get a healthy diet. Sleep disorders were registered among 48.7% of respondents. Preoccupation with the COVID news was observed in approximately half of the participants (57.8%). Conclusions: The COVID19 pandemic affected different aspects of our lives. Research related to lifestyle, social and behavioral studies are as important as those related to medical and biological science. Key messages: A life habits change was observed among 16.7% of the respondent, sleep disorder were registered among 48.7%, and 77.8% reported and improvement in applying barrier measures. Research related to lifestyle, social and behavioral studies are as important as those related to medical and biological science.

Background/Objectives: Healthcare workers (HCW) in primary care settings play a significant role in recommending vaccines to patients. We aimed to describe COVID-19 vaccination knowledge, attitudes, perception, and practices (KAPP) of HCWs in Tunisia and identify associated factors. Methods: We conducted a national cross-sectional survey (29 January to 3 February 2024) among HCWs in primary public healthcare centers using purposive sampling. Factors associated with good knowledge, positive attitude, and good practice, measured through Likert scales using face-to-face questionnaires, were identified using binary logistic regression. Results: We included 906 HCWs (mean age = 41.87 ± 8.89 years). In total, 37.75% (342/906) of HCWs had good knowledge and perception, 4.30% (39/906) had a positive attitude, and 24.9% (226/906) had good practices related to COVID-19 vaccination. Working in urban compared to rural areas was associated with good knowledge (aOR = 1.57, 95%CI = 1.12–2.21) and positive attitude (aOR = 4.94, 95%CI = 1.19–20.44) to COVID-19 vaccination. Physicians had better KAPP scores than other medical professionals. HCWs working in departments with high-risk patients were more likely to have good knowledge (aOR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.00–1.72). Positive attitude was also associated with being male (aOR = 2.97, 95%CI = 1.75–5.07) and having at least one non-communicable disease (aOR = 1.92, 95%CI = 1.14–3.23). Being male (aOR = 1.97, 95%CI = 1.35–2.88) and having more years of professional experience (aOR = 1.81, 95%CI = 1.29–2.52) were associated with good practice. Conclusions: Just over a third of HCWs in primary healthcare clinics had good knowledge of COVID-19 vaccination, while positive attitudes and good practices were low. Targeted interventions, particularly for HCWs with less professional experience working in rural settings, are needed to increase good practices and improve COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Tunisia.

Introduction: Health workers, as the first line of defence during infectious pandemic, are also one of the main vectors of coronavirus transmission. Preventing the spread of infection to and from caregivers relies on the effectiveness of personal protective equipment (PPE). This study aimed at assessing knowledge, attitudes and practices related to PPE use in a healthcare setting in the region of Mahdia (Tunisia). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on December 2020 among health care professionals (HCP) in the University Hospital Tahar Sfar Mahdia. The measurement tool was developed by specialists at the Department of Preventive Medicine after reviewing literature then pretested. Results: A total of 173 HCP were enrolled with an average age of 35 ±9.3 years. More than half of participants were females (64.7%), 32.9% were doctors and 34.7% were nurses. Among them, 35.8% have worked during a pandemic before. The level of good knowledge was 52%. The main sources of information for HCP were the Ministry of Health (63.6%), social network and media (58.4%). About 25.4% of HCP was satisfied by the preventive measures training received in the hospital. Half of HCP (54.3%) admitted that their knowledge related to the pandemic was not sufficient. While third of the HCP (31.8%) thought that it is necessary to wear the full PPE, 16.8% knew how to put on their PPE and 27.2% knew how to take it off. Conclusions: Taking into account knowledge, attitudes and practices related to PPE use allows the implementation of a strategy aimed at mastering the management of this equipment by health care workers. Key messages: Assessing the Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to the personal equipment among health care givers: 52%. Implementation of a strategy aimed at mastering the management of this equipment by health care workers.

Introduction: Identification of COVID-19 patients at high risk of mortality is crucial to improve patient management. Our study aimed to identify mortality risk factors at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), in Mahdia. Methods: We conducted a prospective study including patients admitted to the COVID-19 ICU at University Hospital Tahar Sfar Mahdia (September 2020 to February 2021). We used “The RAPID CORE CASE REPORT FORM” developed by the World Health Organization. Results: A total of 119 patients were included (60.5% male). The average age was 61.9 ± 12 years. During their stay, 51.8% of them had invasive ventilation, 31.3 % required vasopressors intake and 50.9% required a prone position. The mortality rate was 47.1%. Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and Health Care Associated Infections (HAI) were associated with a higher risk of mortality (64.9% vs 17.8%; p < 0.001 and 81.1% vs 18.2 %; p p p p < 0.001 respectively). Mortality was higher among intubated patients (79.7% vs 14.5%; p < 0.001). The mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHII) score were higher in deaths than in survivors ((15.02 ± 7.6 vs 10.63 ± 5.31; p = 0.02). Low oxygen saturation on admission was associated with a higher risk of mortality (91.1% ± 6.44 vs 86% ± 11.25; p = 0.004). Binary logistic regression showed increased odds of mortality with health-acquired infection (OR, 7.96 [95% CI, 2.28 - 27.7], severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (OR, 4.04 [95% CI, 1.11 - 14.73]) and invasive ventilation (OR, 12.23 [95% CI, 3.31 – 45.2]). Conclusion: Interventions preventing the risk factors are needed to improve the prognosis of Covid-19 patients.