Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to the functioning of societies and their health systems. Prior to the pandemic, health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) were particularly stretched and vulnerable. The International Society of Global Health (ISoGH) sought to systematically identify priorities for health research that would have the potential to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in LMICs. Methods The Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method was used to identify COVID-19-related research priorities. All ISoGH members were invited to participate. Seventy-nine experts in clinical, translational, and population research contributed 192 research questions for consideration. Fifty-two experts then scored those questions based on five pre-defined criteria that were selected for this exercise: 1) feasibility and answerability; 2) potential for burden reduction; 3) potential for a paradigm shift; 4) potential for translation and implementation; and 5) impact on equity. Results Among the top 10 research priorities, research questions related to vaccination were prominent: health care system access barriers to equitable uptake of COVID-19 vaccination (ranked 1st), determinants of vaccine hesitancy (4th), development and evaluation of effective interventions to decrease vaccine hesitancy (5th), and vaccination impacts on vulnerable population/s (6th). Health care delivery questions also ranked highly, including: effective strategies to manage COVID-19 globally and in LMICs (2nd) and integrating health care for COVID-19 with other essential health services in LMICs (3rd). Additionally, the assessment of COVID-19 patients’ needs in rural areas of LMICs was ranked 7th, and studying the leading socioeconomic determinants and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in LMICs using multi-faceted approaches was ranked 8th. The remaining questions in the top 10 were: clarifying paediatric case-fatality rates (CFR) in LMICs and identifying effective strategies for community engagement against COVID-19 in different LMIC contexts. Interpretation Health policy and systems research to inform COVID-19 vaccine uptake and equitable access to care are urgently needed, especially for rural, vulnerable, and/or marginalised populations. This research should occur in parallel with studies that will identify approaches to minimise vaccine hesitancy and effectively integrate care for COVID-19 with other essential health services in LMICs. ISoGH calls on the funders of health research in LMICs to consider the urgency and priority of this research during the COVID-19 pandemic and support studies that could make a positive difference for the populations of LMICs.

Background: Medical students are under high pressure to perform academically and also face the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, putting them at risk of developing burnout. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and degree of burnout among medical students in Indonesia during 1 month of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: From April to May 2021, we conducted an online survey of Indonesian medical students to assess burnout (using Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey, MBI-SS). Results: A total of 1,947 students from 27 universities participated in the study. About 35.5% had burnout, 41.7% with a moderate to high level of emotional exhaustion, 45% had moderate to high level of depersonalization and 66.7% had a low level of personal accomplishment. Conclusion: A total of 35.5% of medical students in our sample experienced burnout. We suggest further research to explore and identify factors related to these findings and the need for potential interventions at global and national level to enhance the well-being of medical students.

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<p><strong>Background: </strong>COVID-19 is a respiratory infection caused by SARS CoV-2. A health-related disaster may result in a wide range of mental consequences, including PTSD. IES-R is a self-reported instrument, and it corresponds to DSM-IV symptoms of PTSD. However, there were scarce data about the validation of the Indonesian version of IESR.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The purpose of this study was to validate the IES-R in the Indonesian adult population by comprehensively and systematically assessing the epidemiological evidence about PTSS during the COVID-19 pandemic<strong>.</strong></p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional study. The IES-R questionnaire was translated from English to Indonesian, back-translated. All health workers were excluded to avoid the biased result. Pearson correlation and Cronbach's alpha coefficients to determine the validity and reliability of the questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 234 Indonesian-speaking adults completed the survey. The Indonesian IES-R had proven to be a valid (r= 0.756 -0.938, p= 0.000) and reliable (alpha coefficient: 0.858-0.868) measure for PTSS in a sample of Indonesian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the final model which consisted of 3 subscales with 20 items demonstrated acceptable factor loadings.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results of this study suggested IESR is valid and reliable to be used in the Indonesian population especially during pandemics.</p>

This article briefly describes mental health services in Indonesia from the perspective of early-career psychiatrists practicing mainly in an urban setting. Mental health in Indonesia faces a major challenge of low availability of professionals, low funding, and a high treatment gap. In rural and suburban areas, lack of knowledge, prevailing stigma, and difficult access to mental health services lead to confinement and re-confinement. On the other hand, youth in urban settings are experiencing increased levels of common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, accelerated by the pandemics and are more concerned about their mental health. We provide policy, educational, and practice recommendations to address the problem.