Reward Practices, Job Satisfaction, and Employee performance at Innwa Bank Limited ( Nay Htet Linn, 2023)

The main objectives of this study are to identify extrinsic and intrinsic reward practices, to examine the effect of these practices on employee job satisfaction and to analyze the effect of job satisfaction on employee performance at Innwa Bank Limited. A sample of 93 respondents out of total 243 employees from branches in Yangon were collected by sample random sampling method. This study applied both descriptive statistics and regression analysis as methods to analyze the data. The results indicated that all respondents have demonstrated moderate level of perception regarding the extrinsic and intrinsic factors offered by the Bank. According to multiple regression, only intrinsic factors significant factors effect on job satisfaction of employee. However, among four intrinsic factors, three factors of responsibility, recognition and development opportunities have a positive effect on job satisfaction. In addition, job satisfaction also had effect on employee performance. Based on the findings, Innwa Bank should prioritize the increase in intrinsic reward by giving proper responsibilities, formulating employee recognition programs and providing the employee training and development programs, and providing opportunities for skill development and career growth to enhance employee job satisfaction and employee performance. Furthermore, management team of the bank should regularly review compensation packages, benefits and promotion policy to maintain employee job satisfaction

Factors Influencing on Digital Payment Adoption by Retailers (Thal Nay Zar Linn, 2022)

The main intentions of this study are to identify the influencing factors on retailer’s attitude towards digital payment adoption, and to determine the influencing factors on subjective norms of a retailer in digital payment adoption. Furthermore, this study investigates the influencing factors on behavioural control of retailers and examines the effect of attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control on actual usage of digital payments. Structured questionnaire with 5-point Likert scale is used to collect from 377 retailers by using simple random sampling method. This study found that including perceived ease of use, compatibility, observability and risk, all influencing factors have a significant positive effect on attitude of the retailers. Based on findings, peer influence, influence of customers and influence of suppliers, all influencing factors have a significant positive effect on subjective norms of the retailers. Based on studies, self-efficacy, resource facilitating conditions, and technology facilitating conditions have a significant positive effect on perceived behavioural control of the retailers. It is also found that attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavior controls are significantly positive effect on actual usage of digital payment of the retailers. Managements of digital payment service providers should pay attention to those factors to get actual usage of digital payment of the retailers. Digital payments have been adopted by a huge number of retailers because mobile technology is well advanced and widely utilized. They should also set incentive program for retailers. When retailers register to digital payments, service providers should support necessary equipment such as handset, and card readers to retailers by installments

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 PCR Positivity Despite Anti-viral Treatment in Immunodeficient Patients

PURPOSE: COVID-19 infection in immunodeficient individuals can result in chronically poor health, persistent or relapsing SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity, and long-term infectious potential. While clinical trials have demonstrated promising outcomes using anti-SARS-CoV-2 medicines in immunocompetent hosts, their ability to achieve sustained viral clearance in immunodeficient patients remains unknown. We therefore aimed to study long-term virological outcomes in patients treated at our centre. METHODS: We followed up immunocompromised inpatients treated with casirivimab-imdevimab (Ronapreve) between September and December 2021, and immunocompromised patients who received sotrovimab, molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid), or no treatment from December 2021 to March 2022. Nasopharyngeal swab and sputum samples were obtained either in hospital or in the community until sustained viral clearance, defined as 3 consecutive negative PCR samples, was achieved. Positive samples were sequenced and analysed for mutations of interest. RESULTS: We observed sustained viral clearance in 71 of 103 patients, none of whom died. Of the 32/103 patients where sustained clearance was not confirmed, 6 died (between 2 and 34 days from treatment). Notably, we observed 25 cases of sputum positivity despite negative nasopharyngeal swab samples, as well as recurrence of SARS-CoV-2 positivity following a negative sample in 12 cases. Patients were then divided into those who cleared within 28 days and those with PCR positivity beyond 28 days. We noted lower B cell counts in the group with persistent PCR positivity (mean (SD) 0.06 (0.10) ×109/L vs 0.22 (0.28) ×109/L, p = 0.015) as well as lower IgA (median (IQR) 0.00 (0.00-0.15) g/L vs 0.40 (0.00-0.95) g/L, p = 0.001) and IgM (median (IQR) 0.05 (0.00-0.28) g/L vs 0.35 (0.10-1.10) g/L, p = 0.005). No differences were seen in CD4+ or CD8+ T cell counts. Antiviral treatment did not impact risk of persistent PCR positivity. CONCLUSION: Persistent SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity is common among immunodeficient individuals, especially those with antibody deficiencies, regardless of anti-viral treatment. Peripheral B cell count and serum IgA and IgM levels are predictors of viral persistence

Prevalence of Depression and its Associated Factors Among Adults during Third Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia, 2021

Malaysia recently entered third-wave of COVID-19 pandemic starting from October 2020 to end of January 2021. Therefore, objective of our study was to identify the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among adults during third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. A total of 1468 Malaysian adults participated in this cross-sectional web-based survey. A standardized questionnaire was generated using the Google Form, and the link was shared through social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp. Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ-9) was used to assess the levels of depression. Among 1468 participants, 320 (22 %) and 358 (24.6 %) indicated to have moderate to severe depression during third-wave of COVID-19 in Malaysia. Multiple predictors were identified that contributed to depression. These included female gender, family’s source income affected by the pandemic, do not perform exercise, victim of abuse and those with family and/or friends infected with COVID-19 virus. COVID-19 pandemic had caused the implementation of lockdown and physical distancing in Malaysia and nations across the globe. The pandemic had brought serious negative impacts on mental health of the adults especially depression especially during third wave of pandemic. The findings of our study suggested that new interventions or strategies are needed to be developed to address the severity of depression among Malaysian adults

School and community driven dengue vector control and monitoring in Myanmar : study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial

DATA AVAILABILITY : No data are associated with this article.BACKGROUND : Dengue is the most common and widespread mosquito-borne arboviral disease globally estimated to cause >390 million infections and >20,000 deaths annually. There are no effective preventive drugs and the newly introduced vaccines are not yet available. Control of dengue transmission still relies primarily on mosquito vector control. Although most vector control methods currently used by national dengue control programs may temporarily reduce mosquito populations, there is little evidence that they affect transmission. There is an urgent need for innovative, participatory, effective, and locally adapted approaches for sustainable vector control and monitoring in which students can be particularly relevant contributors and to demonstrate a clear link between vector reduction and dengue transmission reduction, using tools that are inexpensive and easy to use by local communities in a sustainable manner. METHODS : Here we describe a cluster randomized controlled trial to be conducted in 46 school catchment areas in two townships in Yangon, Myanmar. The outcome measures are dengue cases confirmed by rapid diagnostic test in the townships, dengue incidence in schools, entomological indices, knowledge, attitudes and practice, behavior, and engagement. CONCLUSIONS : The trial involves middle school students that positions them to become actors in dengue knowledge transfer to their communities and take a leadership role in the delivery of vector control interventions and monitoring methods. Following this rationale, we believe that students can become change agents of decentralized vector surveillance and sustainable disease control in line with recent new paradigms in integrated and participatory vector surveillance and control. This provides an opportunity to operationalize transdisciplinary research towards sustainable health development. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and political instability in Myanmar the project has been terminated by the donor, but the protocol will be helpful for potential future implementation of the project in Myanmar and/or elsewhere. REGISTRATION : This trial was registered in the ISRCTN Registry on 31 May 2022 (https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN78254298).This work was supported by Wellcome [Grant number 220211]; The Research Council of Norway (RCN, GLOBVAC project no. 285188); the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and the Malaria Consortium. The funding bodies did not have any role in project design or in the writing of the manuscript. Trial sponsor is the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright license to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Wellcome Trust; The Research Council of Norway; the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and the Malaria Consortium.https://wellcomeopenresearch.orgam2024Medical VirologySDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Factors associated with psychological distress among Myanmar residents during COVID-19 pandemic crises

Background: COVID-19 pandemic reached a public health emergency status of international concern. The impacts and events associated with this were associated with adverse psychological impacts among the general public globally. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of psychological distress and to identify predictors associated with psychological distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic among the population in Myanmar. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to April 2020 among adults, 18 years old and above, who reside in Myanmar through a structured questionnaire distributed in social media platforms. Univariate and Bivariate analyses were used to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) symptoms and to test the associations between CPDI and the exposure variables. Logistic Regression Analysis was done to identify significant predictors of distress. Results: There were 530 participants in this study.37.4% of them did not have psychological distress,55.6% experienced mild to moderate psychological distress, and 7% experienced severe psychological distress due to COVID-19 pandemic. Simple and Multiple Logistic Regression Analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with psychological distress due to COVID-19. Conclusions: It was shown that the self-employed group and age group older than 45 years old had more psychological distress than others. However, Buddhists and people from the capital city had less distress than other religions and districts. This study recommends the government to develop better strategies for self-employed groups, elders, and the poor for a support, relief, and resettlement of their ruined status