Volume 11, number 1, July 2023
Browse
Item Dynamics of import of pharmaceutical products into Maldives : a policy perspective analysis(Research Development Office, The Maldives National University, 2024) Najeeb, Fazeel; ފަޒީލް ނަޖީބުThis article analyses some of the import dynamics of pharmaceutical products imported into Maldives. The objective is to inform policy discussion and development in this area. The analysis relied on import statistics and relevant regulatory authorities’ data. The research finds that Maldives is heavily dependent on a single country for access to medicine (importing pharmaceutical drugs), and concludes that it is desirable to reduce this dependence as a matter of policy aimed at ensuring access to medicine and medicine security.Item Perceptions of Leprosy in the Maldives : a cross-sectional study(Research Development Office, The Maldives National University, 2023-07) Moosa, Sheena; Abdul Raheem, Raheema; Ali, Sheeza; Saleem, Sana; Rasheed, Ryan Shah; ޝީނާ މޫސާ; ރަހީމާ އަބްދުއްރަހީމް; ޝީޒާ އަލީ; ސަނާ ސަލީމް; ރަޔަން ޝާހް ރަޝީދުThe aim of the study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding leprosy. A cross sectional survey of a nationally representative sample was implemented among the resident adult population (18 years and above) across the islands of Maldives. The survey sample size estimated was 1181 and a total of 1024 respondents completed the survey accounting for a response rate of 86.7%. The questions to measure indicators of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding leprosy were adopted from existing validated instruments used for leprosy KAP studies. The findings show a low level of knowledge with a mean of 3.5 in the KAP measure, where the maximum score is eight. However, the attitude and practices score does not indicate a high level of negative attitudes and practices (below the mid-point). The mean score of EMIC-CSS is 12, slight inclination towards less negative attitudes (EMIC-CSS scale scores ranges from zero = no negative attitudes, to 30 = most negative attitudes). The mean score of SDS is 8.9 indicating moderate level of negative practices (SDS scale scores ranges from zero = no negative practices to 21 = most negative practices). As Leprosy in the Maldives is no longer a public health burden, and the disease prevalence is extremely low, it has created a situation where there is very little awareness and correct knowledge about the disease among the public as well as health care workers. The attitudes and practices from the family and community are not at alarming levels in terms of stigma and social distancing. However, the low level of knowledge raises the concern that cases may be missed and as patients may be missed as they may not seek healthcare for early diagnosis and treatmentItem Stability of values and opinions during the COVID-19 crisis: panel study data from the Maldives(Research Development Office, The Maldives National University, 2023-07) Musthafa, Hawwa Shiuna; ހައްވާ ޝިއުނާ މުސްތަފާ; Moosa, Sheena; ޝީނާ މޫސާ; Riyaz, Aminath; އާމިނަތު ރިޔާޒު; Raheem, Raheema Abdul; ރަހީމާ އަބްދުލް ރަހީމްThe underlying assumption of the present COVID-19 crisis is that it can profoundly change the public values and opinions during its various phases leading to permanent societal and economic changes. This research is part of a longitudinal study of values in a crisis during the different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The same set of respondents from the wave 1 of Values in Crisis (VIC) survey of May 2020 (n=1026) were invited to participate in wave 2 in November 2021, achieving a response rate of 60.0% (n=615). To check the stability of values, Kendall’s tau-b coefficient was used to estimate the correlation coefficient to measure the strength of association of selected variables. These include national pride, political orientation, faith, social trust, financial satisfaction, work-life balance, satisfaction with life and social relations, health, trust in institutions, and social cohesion. The main findings indicate that, during the two years of the crisis, values and opinions remained largely stable in the Maldives. The research concludes with reflections drawn and opens avenues for debate for social science practitioners expecting drastic changes in people’s values and opinions due to the COVID-19 crisis.