Background: The recent pandemic condition developed from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, have a profound effect on almost all the aspects of society. This outbreak has greatly compromised both the mental and physical health of the frontline healthcare workers and supporting hospital staff since they are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of infected individuals with COVID-19. This study aimed to investigate the psychological impacts and factors causing stress among the healthcare workers & supporting hospital staff during the COVID-19 outbreak and also to identify the preferred coping strategies. Methodology: This cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted from 1st to 30th February 2020. The sample comprised of frontline healthcare workers & hospital staff providing supporting services like laboratory personnel & administrative workers. The data was collected using a structured self-administered online questionnaire focusing on the impacts of COVID-19, factors causing stress and the coping strategies used by frontline medical workers to deal with the psychological impacts of such pandemics. Results: A total of 127 frontline medical workers completed the survey. The findings from the present study suggested that frontline healthcare workers & hospital staff experience both psychological as well as emotional impacts due to COVID-19. The mean Impact of Event Scale (IES) score was 24.44±19.41 indicating partial PTSD or at least a few symptoms of PTSD. The major factor causing stress among these health workers was their fear of inflicting COVID-19 on family (33.1%). Among the coping strategies, emotion-focused coping techniques and positive thinking were found to be the most preferred strategies among the frontline medical workers and hospital staff in coping stress associated with the COVID-19 outbreak. Conclusion: The current study emphasizes the significance of the psychological impacts of COVID-19 among healthcare workers and the importance of psychiatric help for these long-term traumatic influences.

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Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) represents the state of carbohydrate intolerance during gestation. GDM is found as a risk factor for adverse outcomes of gestation concerning maternal and fetal health conditions. Increasing maternal age is found associated with GDM and also other obstetric complications. High maternal weight is reported to be linked to elevated risk of GDM. Relation of increased maternal age and elevated body mass index (BMI) state with GDM suggests a need of effective measures for improving the maternal and fetal health conditions and alienate the GDM associated obstetric concerns. Previous studies have found possible role of physical activity and exercise in reducing the risk of GDM development. This study aimed to explore GDM prevalence among participants and to perform comparative analysis of maternal age and BMI between participants without GDM and participants with GDM. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2014 to September 2014, participants (n=133) filled in a questionnaire which aimed to assess parameters like age, BMI and physical activity for the study. Women in gestation were randomly invited to participate in study, and informed signed consent was obtained from each participant prior participation. Participants were categorized in two groups, participants without GDM and with GDM. For each participant, maternal age, BMI and involvement in physical activities were recorded. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 24. Results: Mean values of maternal age and BMI were found to be lower for participants without GDM as compared to that of participants with GDM. Participants without GDM reported to be involved in household activities, occupational activities and exercise whereas participants with GDM were found to be only involved in household activities. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study may suggest possible influence of maternal age in GDM. Moreover, in view of findings which indicated higher mean value of maternal BMI of participants with GDM compared to that of participants without GDM, and in view of physical activity state, weight management and healthy lifestyle may be encouraged.

Background: Onset or development of glucose intolerance during the period of gestation is termed as gestational diabetes mellitus. Maternal obesity along with GDM is found associated with development of adverse maternal and fetal health outcomes. Method: Researches with a focus on maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus were included in this study. Results: Elevated state of maternal body mass index is found to raise the inflammatory condition in GDM, which may play role in impacting downstream metabolic processes giving rise to manifestation of glucose dysregulation and condition of insulin resistance. Obesity in gestation, is related to the alterations in metabolic status comprising dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, impaired endothelial functioning, and increased blood pressure. Conclusion: Previous studies have provided findings associating the risk of GDM development with the state of BMI, which emphasizes the need to explore mechanisms governing obesity mediated GDM development and related maternal and fetal health complications during gestation. In view of existing literature, weight management and engagement in physical activities should be encouraged among women during and after the period of gestation.