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Introduction: More people are living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis. There is limited understanding of the long-term effects of cancer and cancer treatment on quality of life and personal and household finances when compared to people without cancer. In a separate protocol we have proposed to link de-identified data from electronic primary care and hospital records for a large population of cancer survivors and matched controls. In this current protocol, we propose the linkage of Patient Reported Outcomes Measures data to the above data for a subset of this population. The aim of this study is to investigate the full impact of living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis compared to age and gender matched controls. A secondary aim is to test the feasibility of the collection of Patient Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMS) data and the linkage procedures of the PROMs data to electronic health records data. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study, aiming to recruit participants treated at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust. Eligible patients will be cancer survivors at around 5 years post-diagnosis (breast, colorectal and ovarian cancer) and non-cancer patient matched controls attending dermatology out-patient clinics. They will be identified by running a query on the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust patient records system. Approximately 6000 patients (2000 cases and 4000 controls) will be invited to participate via post. Participants will be invited to complete PROMs assessing factors such as quality of life and finances, which can be completed on paper or online (surveys includes established instruments, and bespoke instruments (demographics, financial costs). This PROMs data will then be linked to routinely collected de-identified data from patient's electronic primary care and hospital records. Discussion: This innovative work aims to create a truly 'comprehensive patient record' to provide a broad picture of what happens to cancer patients across their cancer pathway, and the long-term impact of cancer treatment. Comparisons can be made between the cases and controls, to identify the aspects of life that has had the greatest impact following a cancer diagnosis. The feasibility of linking PROMs data to electronic health records can also be assessed. This work can inform future support offered to people living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis, clinical practice, and future research methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Attitudes and aptitudes play an important role in the acceptance of hearing aids. We can objectively and subjectively examine the attitude of individuals toward hearing loss and hearing aids, using Attitudes towards Loss of Hearing Questionnaire (ALHQ). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of demographic factors on the responses of individuals to ALHQ and to compare the scores of the questionnaire between hearing aid users and hearing aid non-users. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 100 hearing-impaired participants. They were divided into hearing aid users and non-users groups. After hearing assessments, the participants were asked to complete the questionnaire; then, the responses of the two groups were compared and the effects of demographic factors on the responses were examined. Results: The questionnaire scores in the hearing aid non-users were higher than the hearing aid users. The results showed a reverse correlation between the history of hearing aid usage and the scores of the questionnaire. There was also a reverse correlation between the mean score of pure tone thresholds in the left ear with the scores of the questionnaire in the hearing aid users. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the type of hearing aid and the scores of the questionnaire. Conclusion: Hearing aid non-users have a more negative attitude toward hearing aids and are more likely to deny their hearing loss compared to hearing aid users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction to the 2022 Special Issue presents the 20 articles that discuss the demographic aspects and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. It synthesises the main findings from the contributions, emphasising the demographic, social and economic characteristics that influenced the spread of infections and determined the number of deaths. We highlight the specific focus on measurement issues, often with a comparative framework across several countries, and at the regional level as well, both within and beyond Europe. We also summarise the impact of the measures imposed to contain the spread of the virus, such as lockdowns. Moreover, we explore the impact of the pandemic on the quality of relationships, the intention and the motivation to have children, and realised fertility. In addition, we present the authors' broader reflections on the risks faced by different communities of individuals, and the potential consequences for their life trajectories, including in relation to other current risks that overlap with the pandemic (recent armed conflicts), and for the achievability of the Sustainable Development Goals themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Healthcare institutions worldwide are moving to electronic health records (EHRs). These transitions are particularly numerous in the US where healthcare systems are purchasing and implementing commercial EHRs to fulfill federal requirements. Despite the central role of EHRs to workflow, the cognitive impact of these transitions on the workforce has not been widely studied. This study assesses the changes in cognitive workload among pediatric nurses during data entry and retrieval tasks during transition from a hybrid electronic and paper information system to a commercial EHR. Materials and methods Baseline demographics and computer attitude and skills scores were obtained from 74 pediatric nurses in two wards. They also completed an established and validated instrument, the NASA-TLX, that is designed to measure cognitive workload; this instrument was used to evaluate cognitive workload of data entry and retrieval. The NASA-TLX was administered at baseline ( pre -implementation), 1, 5 and 10 shifts and 4 months post- implementation of the new EHR. Results Most nurse participants experienced significant increases of cognitive workload at 1 and 5 shifts after “go-live”. These increases abated at differing rates predicted by participants’ computer attitudes scores ( p = 0.01). Conclusions There is substantially increased cognitive workload for nurses during the early phases (1–5 shifts) of EHR transitions. Health systems should anticipate variability across workers adapting to “meaningful use” EHRs. “One-size-fits-all” training strategies may not be suitable and longer periods of technical support may be necessary for some workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National censuses are expensive. They are conducted infrequently. They collect information that some feel infringes their human rights, and people are required by law to complete them. The outputs are not perfect, and in some situations may be misleading. Some suggest that censuses hark back to a period when regularly collected administrative data were not available. These are some of the views held about national censuses. Why, then, would others argue that they are an essential resource? In this paper, we consider some of the pros and cons of conducting national censuses, before introducing a series of papers that draw on early data available from the 2001 UK census. We argue that these papers, and the wealth of research that will be conducted in the future with 2001 census data, make a strong case for supporting the compulsory collection of personal information about the ‘entire’ population every ten years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contributors to this discussion were invited to submit comments, each from a different standpoint, on the paper by John Caldwell and Thomas Schindlmayr that appeared in the preceding issue of the journal. The invitation was issued with the approval of these authors, and the journal is grateful to them for allowing their paper to be used to generate debate on the issues they had raised. The discussion is followed by the authors' response to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I survey 457 published papers in top finance journals across two decades to assess whether these papers misuse tests of significance. More than 80% of published studies are diligent about distinguishing between statistical and economic significance and quantifying and interpreting the economic magnitudes of the statistical relationships they measure. Yet, only 10% of these acknowledge limits to the power of their tests and even fewer do anything about them. Recent demographic trends in publishing, such as larger co-author teams and increased participation by non-North American scholars, women, and those outside the top finance departments are not associated with these outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Rare diseases present challenges for accessing patient populations to conduct surveys. Clinical Data Research Networks (CDRNs) offer an opportunity to overcome those challenges by providing infrastructure for accessing patients and sharing data. This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of collecting patient preference information for a rare disease in a CDRN, using idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis as proof of concept. Patients and methods: Utilizing a cohort of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients across a CDRN, a discrete choice experiment was administered via electronic and paper methods to collect patient preference information about benefits and risks of two therapeutic options. Survey data were augmented with data from electronic health records and patient-reported outcome surveys. Results: Thirty-three patients completed the preference experiment. The amount of choice attributable to a benefit of slowing of decline in lung function was 36%. Improving efficacy in terms of lung function was 2.16 times as important as improving efficacy in terms of shortness of breath. In terms of side effects, decreasing risk of gastrointestinal problems was 2.6 times as important as decreasing risk of sun sensitivity and 2.4 times as important as decreasing risk of liver injury. In terms of benefit-risk trade-offs, improving efficacy in terms of lung function was 1.6 times as important as decreasing risk of gastrointestinal problems. Conclusion: This study used IPF as a proof of concept to demonstrate the feasibility of collecting patient preference information in a CDRN. The network was advantageous to the study of patient preferences. Future research should continue to explore pathways for the collection and use of patient preference information across networks. The power of consolidated collection efforts may lead to the ability to use preference data to inform decision-making at the regional, specialty, or individual encounter level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has increasingly received attention in the last three decades. However, IPV-related studies in both high- and low- and middle-income countries adopted a victim-oriented perspective in which men are perpetrators and women, the victims. Using socio-cultural and resource theories as guiding frameworks, this paper assessed the associations between men's education and IPV in Central Africa, using nationally representative data of married and cohabiting women of reproductive ages. Methods: Data included in the analyses come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Cameroon, Gabon, and Chad. Analyzed sub-samples consisted of 3421, 5023, 3930, and 3221 married/cohabiting women of reproductive ages in Chad, DRC, Cameroon, and Gabon, respectively. Results: Findings indicated significant variations of IPV prevalence within and across countries. Previous research demonstrated that men's education is a protective factor in health-related studies. The present study, however, provide no clear evidence on the linkages between men's education and IPV. In contrast, the paper substantiated that highly educated women were at higher risks of IPV when spouses/partners were less educated. Conclusion: These findings have policy and programmatic implications because they might impede progress towards SDG goals on the elimination of all forms of violence against girls and women in Central Africa, which recorded the worst development indicators in sub-Saharan Africa. On a methodological note, studies are increasingly using pooled data to increase statistical power. Those studies can be very limited to devise effective IPV—interventions since they mask geographical variations within and across countries. More effective IPV—interventions should be culturally rooted and accounting for geographical variations because some areas are more affected than others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aim. Literature documenting the occurrence and management of Gullain-Barre' syndrome GBS in glioblastoma multiforme patients following craniotomy is scarce. This study aims to systematically review relevant literature while outlining demographic factors, onset, and management of GBS following craniotomy for Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Material and methods. A systematic literature review was conducted in four major databases, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Two cases of GBS following GBM resection were identified. An additional study discussing GBM leptomeningeal dissemination presenting as GBS was also included. Analysis of literature. Patients presented with symptoms unrelated to their tumour location consisting of proximal weakness in the lower extremities, distal paraesthesia and symmetrical areflexic paraparesis without loss of sensitivity. Lumbar puncture demonstrated albuminocytological dissociation, elevated CSF proteins. Cytopathology was unremarkable and gram stains and cultures were negative. Routine blood chemistry was also unremarkable. Decreased motor conduction velocities with prolongation and distal latency coupled with decreased motor recruitment without denervation in limb muscles was noted. Cerebrospinal MRI did not evidence tumour mass or leptomeningeal abnormalities. Plasmapheresis treatments significantly improved motor function and parasthesia, while a regiment of immunoglobulins resulted in a full recovery within two weeks. It is worth noting that leptomeningeal dissemination may present as GBS, as documented by Cooke et al. who started their patient empirically on intravenous immunoglobulin for suspected GBS, despite subsequent tests evidencing a diagnosis of fulminating leptomeningeal dissemination, since early treatment is crucial for full resolution of GBS. Conclusion. Despite being a rare occurrence, GBS should be considered in the differential for GBM who develop generalized acute-subacute progressive weakness which is inconsistent with their tumour location, particularly patients on immunosuppressive regiments. CSF cytological studies by lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal MRI with contrast are key in differentiating GBS from leptomeningeal dissemination in post-resection GBM patients. If CSF cytology and imaging investigations remain inconclusive, electrophysiological studies are not only warranted but necessary. Moreover, if GBS is suspected, the administration of appropriate treatments should be considered prior to establishing a firm diagnosis, as early intervention increases the chances of complete resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Close to half of all children younger than 5 years in the Northeast and Northwest geopolitical zones were estimated to be stunted in their growth for their age in 2013 compared to 22% of children in the rest of Nigeria.Objectives: We examine the drivers of chronic child undernutrition in northern Nigeria and how those drivers differ from other areas of the country.Methods: Both a standard child-level regression-based approach and decomposition analysis were used to address the determinants of stunting and decompose how drivers differ between northern Nigeria and other areas of the country using 2008 and 2013 Nigeria DHS data.Results: There are strong differences in the levels of the determinants of undernutrition in young children between the 2 parts of the country. However, equally important, the decomposition analysis shows that there are significant differences between northern Nigeria and other areas of Nigeria in the effect of the same determinant of nutritional status in accelerating or retarding the linear growth of young children.Conclusions: A national program to address child undernutrition must recognize this heterogeneity in its design. To impose across Nigeria, a single set of approaches to address the factors which results in stunted children is likely to fail for large numbers of children if these strong geographical differences in how these determinants operate to affect child nutritional status are not considered. Solutions need to be developed within northern Nigeria to more closely reflect the way the determinants of nutritional status operate in this area of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows that the optimal policy to deal with unemployment features important roles for monitoring of search and job search assistance, with the optimal combined policy also incorporating more generous unemployment insurance (UI). These results are significantly different from the previous literature, which has overwhelmingly focused on UI on its own. I incorporate two empirically relevant phenomena that have often been ignored: private consumption smoothing and fiscal externalities from income taxes. I estimate a job search model using indirect inference on data from the March Current Population Survey, and simulate the model to evaluate a variety of policy reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Event Safety and Security Production (ESSP) typically involves event organizers, private security firms, authorities, police, fire brigades, and others. Their joint responsibility is to ensure safety, decide on measures, communicate them, and enforce them when necessary. Effective ESSP relies on visitor cooperation and rule compliance. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of rule compliance in event safety and security. With the event industry's standstill and subsequent reopening under strict conditions, organizers had to implement comprehensive safety and hygiene measures. Studies on crowd compliance under pandemic conditions identified influencing factors. These include perceived threats, sociodemographic characteristics, group behavior, trust in institutions, etc.. Methods: Little research focuses on actively promoting rule compliance. Therefore, this paper addresses three research questions (RQ): (1) To what extent does the compliance of visitor safety measures play a role in the planning and implementation of events? (2) To what extent have visitor safety measures been complied with at events during the pandemic and did that change throughout the pandemic? And finally (3) How can the compliance of measures for visitor safety explicitly be taken into account in event planning and implementation? Qualitative data from 11 expert interviews and quantitative data from a representative population survey (N = 10,239) from a German research project on non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) for the safe reopening of events during the pandemic are used to answer the first two questions (RQ1; RQ2). Results of the data triangulation point to recommendations for practical application (RQ3). Results and Discussion: Findings suggest a high level of compliance with COVID-19 measures among the survey respondents, with expert consensus on the need for active and communicative visitor involvement in the implementation and enforcement of visitor safety measures. These insights extend beyond pandemicspecific events to traditional security and safety measures in crowd management. For event practice, this indicates the importance of consistent, transparent, and engaging communication strategies starting well before the event, with the customer journey approach as a potential solution. Suitable approaches to visitor safety by event organizers should be implementable and enforceable; this is the key to ensuring that event communication in relation to ESSP is effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood stunting is a major indicator of child malnutrition and a focus area of Global Nutrition Targets for 2025 and Sustainable Development Goals. Risk factors for childhood stunting are well studied and well known and could be used in a risk prediction model for assessing whether a child is stunted or not. However, the selection of child stunting predictor variables is a critical step in the development and performance of any such prediction model. This paper compares the performance of child stunting diagnostic predictive models based on predictor variables selected using a set of variable selection methods. Methods: Firstly, we conducted a subjective review of the literature to identify determinants of child stunting in Sub-Saharan Africa. Secondly, a multivariate logistic regression model of child stunting was fitted using the identified predictors on stunting data among children aged 0–59 months in the Malawi Demographic Health Survey (MDHS 2015–16) data. Thirdly, several reduced multivariable logistic regression models were fitted depending on the predictor variables selected using seven variable selection algorithms, namely backward, forward, stepwise, random forest, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), and judgmental. Lastly, for each reduced model, a diagnostic predictive model for the childhood stunting risk score, defined as the child propensity score based on derived coefficients, was calculated for each child. The prediction risk models were assessed using discrimination measures, including area under-receiver operator curve (AUROC), sensitivity and specificity. Results: The review identified 68 predictor variables of child stunting, of which 27 were available in the MDHS 2016–16 data. The common risk factors selected by all the variable selection models include household wealth index, age of the child, household size, type of birth (singleton/multiple births), and birth weight. The best cut-off point on the child stunting risk prediction model was 0.37 based on risk factors determined by the judgmental variable selection method. The model's accuracy was estimated with an AUROC value of 64% (95% CI: 60%-67%) in the test data. For children residing in urban areas, the corresponding AUROC was AUC = 67% (95% CI: 58–76%), as opposed to those in rural areas, AUC = 63% (95% CI: 59–67%). Conclusion: The derived child stunting diagnostic prediction model could be useful as a first screening tool to identify children more likely to be stunted. The identified children could then receive necessary nutritional interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistics from the 2018 National Social and Economic Survey revealed that one out of nine young females in Indonesia have been in female child marriage, and the prevalence remains high. Considering the serious consequences of female child marriage and that Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality has targeted the elimination of female child marriage by 2030, a study concerning the prevalence and determinants of female child marriage needs to be conducted in Indonesia. In this paper, we examined the prevalence of and factors associated with female child marriage in Indonesia using binary logistic regression. We examined data from the Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2017. A sample of 9,333 young females aged 15–20 years was included in the study. Our analysis involved descriptive and binary logistic regression analysis. The results are presented in percentages and odds ratios (OR), with their respective confidence intervals. Our findings indicate that health insurance and sex of household head did not significantly influence female child marriage. The prevalence of female child marriage in Indonesia was quite high, reaching about 12.53%. Females with no education [OR = 76.448; (CI = 29.73–196.70)], not working [OR = 1.662; (CI = 1.41–1.94)], those with the poorest wealth index [OR = 3.215; (CI = 2.336–4.425)], those living in the east of Indonesia [OR = 1.451; (CI = 1.132–1.862)], and those living in rural areas [OR = 0.718; (CI = 0.609–0.844)] had the higher odds of experiencing female child marriage. Meanwhile, females with a secondary education level [OR = 16.296; (CI = 11.098–23.930)], those with a rich wealth index [OR = 1.940; (CI = 1.404–2.681)], and those living in the middle of Indonesia [OR = 1.263; (CI = 1.074–1.487)] were less likely to experience female child marriage. Educational background was the most significant factor influencing the high prevalence of female child marriage in Indonesia. Female empowerment through education as well as poverty alleviation were factors that could be strengthened to ensure that female child marriage is reduced or eliminated in Indonesia. Equality of access to information and better quality of education also need to be prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological and methodological advances in remote sensing and machine learning have created new opportunities for advancing wildlife surveys. We assembled a Community of Practice (CoP) to capitalize on these developments to explore improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of aerial wildlife monitoring from a management perspective. The core objective of the CoP is to organize the development and testing of remote sensing and machine learning methods to improve aerial wildlife population surveys that support management decisions. Beginning in 2020, the CoP collaboratively identified the natural resource management decisions that are informed by wildlife survey data with a focus on waterbirds and marine wildlife. We surveyed our membership to establish 1) what management decisions they were using wildlife count data to inform; 2) how these count data were collected prior to the advent of remote sensing/machine learning methods; 3) the impetus for transitioning to a remote sensing/machine learning methodological framework; and 4) the challenges practitioners face in transitioning to this framework. This paper documents these findings and identifies research priorities for moving toward operational remote sensingbased wildlife surveys in service of wildlife management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health is an inseparable part of life and central to all life supporting systems. The reproductive and child health shares a major portion of public health cases that is crucial for socio-economic development. Studies on reproductive and child health have traditionally been focused on demographic aspects using socio-economic parameters. Given the emphasis of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-3 on health and well-being, it is imperative to understand the geo-spatial dimension with the visible transition of key health indicators of fertility, maternal and infant/child health in the high burdened districts within these high focus Empowered Action Group (EAG) states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar that make up nearly 40% of India's population with relatively laggard health status. Methodology: This paper aims to understand the status and trend of key reproductive and child health indicators and vital statistics based on the recent representative demographic surveys. We intend to undertake a district level spatio-temporal analysis by developing District Composite Health Profile (DCHP) using Composite Index Method on selected 13 equally weighted key reproductive and child health indicators. The study has been carried out using data from National Family Health Survey-4 (2015–16) and National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21) survey rounds. We employed geo-spatial techniques i.e. Moran's–I, and univariate LISA to comprehend the geographical clustering of high and low health burden districts and their heterogeneities at the district level. Results/Conclusions: The study highlights emerging inter-districts, and inter-state disparities over survey periods. With consistent improvement in the selected EAG states over time, the overall reproductive and child health status through DCHP along with each indicator was relatively better in the states of Rajasthan and worse in Bihar. Districts along the Terai belt in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar consistently performed sluggish during survey rounds. The geo-spatial clustering follows the political boundary of states, albeit with intra-state variations. Monitoring of key health indicators using composite index method provides a useful leverage for identifying priority districts/regions for universal health access that should also consider geographical space as an important policy dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This paper describes the design and implementation of an online survey experiment to investigate the effects of alcohol warning labels on alcohol‐related knowledge, risk perceptions and intentions. Method: The survey collected self‐reported data from 14 European countries through two waves of data collection with different recruitment strategies: dissemination via social media and public health agencies was followed by paid‐for Facebook ads. The latter strategy was adopted to achieve broader population representation. Post‐stratification weighting was used to match the sample to population demographics. Results: The survey received over 34,000 visits and resulted in a sample size of 19,601 participants with complete data on key sociodemographic characteristics. The responses in the first wave were over‐representing females and higher educated people, thus the dissemination was complemented by the paid‐for Facebook ads targeting more diverse populations but had higher attrition rate. Conclusion: Experiments can be integrated into general population surveys. Pan‐European results can be achieved with limited resources and a combination of sampling methods to compensate for different biases, and statistical adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High-risk fertility behaviour remains a major public health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, like other sub-Saharan Africa countries, especially because Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is very high in the country, estimated at 6.6 children. Despite the commendable progress in reducing maternal deaths in the region, sub-Saharan Africa is still lagging very behind compared with other regions. Yet, high-risk fertility behaviours are pivotal to improve maternal and child health. This study aims to assess geographical variations of, and to identify risk factors associated with high-risk fertility behaviours among married women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo using the 2013–14 Demographic and Health Survey. Methods: Overall, 11,497 married women were selected from a nationally representative using a two-stage sampling design. Standard logistic regressions were performed to identify individual- and household/community-level factors associated with high-risk fertility behaviours. Additionally, interactions between women's age and education, and urban residence were tested. Bernoulli based spatial scan statistics were used to identify the presence of high-risk fertility behaviours spatial clusters using Kulldorff's SaTScan version 9.6 software. ArcGIS 10.7 was used to visualize the spatial variations of high-risk fertility behaviours. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) analysis was employed using Multiscale GWR version 2.0 software. Results: Findings indicated that more than two-third of married women exhibited high-risk fertility behaviours in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Multivariate logistic regression showed that education was negatively and significantly associated with the odds of high-risk fertility behaviours. In contrast, women's age significantly increased the odds of high-risk fertility behaviours. Interactions between urban residence and women's education and age confirmed the urban advantage identified from previous studies. Finally, high-risk fertility behaviours were highly clustered in the Northeastern provinces of the country. Conclusion: The study showed that there were significant geographical variations of high-risk fertility behaviours across provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The paper also identified significant-high hot spots of high-risk fertility behaviours in the Northeastern provinces of the country. To reduce high-risk fertility behaviours, and ultimately improve maternal and child outcomes in the country, policymakers and health planners need to strategically address these inequalities. Finally, this paper highlighted the persistent needs of country-specific studies due to differences across sub-Saharan African countries in terms of social development and cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS-This study compared data quality and response rates for the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in a web-based versus in a paper-and-pencil format survey. SETTING -- Subjects were randomised to one of two parallel samples, one web-based and the other paper-based. Data were collected during 2009. RESULTS -- The web-based format yielded a lower response rate compared to the paper version (26.2% vs. 53.674. internal consistency was quite similar (0.82 vs. 0.77), while the mean AUDIT scores were higher in the web-based format for both men and women. CONCLUSIONS -- Future studies should focus on methods for combining different administration methods in order to maximize response rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to understand various concepts and dimensions of financial literacy by using literature-based analysis. The reviews included various parameters, such as the financial literacy of young people, employees, women and college students, and the impact of financial literacy on well-being and investment decisions. Secondary information was gathered from many publications, websites, research papers, and articles. In the context of India, there is still much work to be done in the domain of financial literacy. Numerous studies have revealed low levels of financial literacy among India's different demographic segments and some studies have revealed moderate levels. Financial literacy is a difficult topic to describe and quantify. The definition and measurement of this idea are the focus of numerous investigations. Policy changes must be made to improve financial literacy at both the fundamental and advanced levels so that people can save and invest money more sensibly in the various market opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sample surveys are extensively used to provide reliable direct estimates for large areas or domains with enough sample sizes at national and regional levels. However, zones are unplanned domains by the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program and need more sample sizes to produce direct survey estimates with adequate precision. Conducting surveys in small areas (like zones) is too expensive and time-consuming, making it unfeasible for developing countries like Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aims to use the Hierarchical Bayes (HB) Small Area Estimation (SAE) model to estimate the Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) coverage at the zone levels in Ethiopia. To achieve this, we combined the 2019 Ethiopia Mini-Demographic and Health Survey (EMDHS) data with the 2007 population census data. SAE has addressed the challenge of producing reliable parameter estimates for small or even zero sample sizes across Ethiopian zones by utilizing auxiliary information from the population census. The results show that model-based estimates generated by the SAE approach are more accurate than direct survey estimates of CBHI. A map of CBHI scheme coverage was also used to visualize the spatial variation in the distribution of CBHI scheme coverage. From the CBHI scheme coverage map, we noticed notable variations in CBHI scheme coverage across Ethiopian zones. Additionally, this research identified areas with high and low CBHI scheme coverage to improve decision-making and increase coverage in Ethiopia. One of the novelties of this paper is estimating the non-sampled zones; therefore, the policymakers will give equal attention similar to the sampled zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study is based on extensive evidence-based assessments. The aim of this paper is to evaluate how well Jordan's health information system (HIS) incorporates social determinants of health inequity (SDHI) and to propose suggestions for future actions. Methods: An extensive evidence-based assessment was performed. A meta-synthesis of the inclusion of the SDHI in the HIS in Jordan was conducted. After searching and shortlisting, 23 papers were analyzed using Atlas.ti 9.0 employing thematic analysis technique. Results: The HIS in Jordan is quite comprehensive, comprising numerous data sources, various types of information, and data from multiple producers and managers. Nevertheless, the HIS confronts several obstacles and fails to ensure the timely and secure publication of available data. The assessment of the inclusion of the SDHI in the HIS showed that the HIS allows for the measurement of progress in relation to social policies and actions but has a very limited database for supporting the inclusion of health inequity measures. One reason for the difficulty in identifying fairness is that certain crucial information necessary for this task cannot be obtained through the available institutional HIS or population survey tools. Additionally, relevant modules for fairness may be missing from population surveys, possibly due to a failure to fully utilize the capabilities of the institutional HIS. Conclusion: There are opportunities to make use of Jordan's dedication to fairness and its already established strong HIS. Some social determinants of health exist in the HIS, but much more data, information, and effort are needed to integrate the SDHI into the Jordanian HIS. A proposal from a regional initiative has put forward a comprehensive set of indicators for integrating SDHI into HIS, which could aid in achieving health equity in Jordan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife trade is a worldwide threat to biodiversity. It is a complex problem, and to deal with it, one must analyse its constituting factors, some of which are specific to certain geographic areas. Although Mexican laws have prohibited selling wild products, Mexico is still both a source and consumer of exotic wildlife; however, there is limited data on why people participate in this type of trade.This paper aims to understand people's motivations for participating in the wildlife trade. 192 surveys on a population segment unrelated to it and 30 in‐depth interviews were performed to determine the patterns of wildlife trade in Mexico. Finally, we performed two in‐person interviews with collectors of large‐scale animals.The outcomes demonstrated that Facebook was the social media showing more wildlife content. Most participants were aware of the diverse impacts of the animal trade, as well as, that offering, buying and having certain animals was a crime but were assuaged due to common knowledge that authorities do not investigate social media. Finally, based on the findings from the in‐person interviews, it was observed that the individuals engaged in heavy trafficking believed that their actions were altruistic in nature.We concluded that the primary motivations for wildlife trade in Mexico were economic status and prestige within their social groups. In that order, our study is a pioneering attempt to determine motivations in Mexico, which could be a basis for future regional studies. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Providing improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) at a household level remains one of the major public health challenges in Nepal. Household mothers are likely to have limited access to combined WASH services, this is influenced by individual, and community factors. Individual components of an improved water source, sanitary toilet, fixed place for handwashing, and availability of soap and water were merged into one and called combined WASH. This paper aimed to identify the individual and community factors associated with combined WASH facilities and practices among mothers with children under five years in Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 2016. The weighted sample size of this study was 4887 mothers with children under five years. The independent variables within the mothers included age, education, occupation, and caste/ethnicity in addition to education of the husband, wealth index, exposure to the newspaper, radio and television, residence, ecological zones, provinces, distance and participation in health mother groups were analyzed with the outcome variable of combined WASH. A multi-level mixed effects logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship of explanatory variables with WASH. Results: At an individual level, a rich wealth index was positively associated with combined WASH (AOR = 6.29; 95%CI: 4.63–8.54). Higher education levels and exposure to television had higher odds of having combined WASH. At the community level, the hill zone, urban residence, and Sudurpashim Provinces were positively associated with combined WASH while Madesh and Karnali Provinces and distance to water source greater than 31 minutes were associated with lower access to combined WASH. Conclusion: Educated and rich household have positive association with combined WASH. It is recommended that both the health and other sectors may be instrumental in improving the combined WASH service for mothers at households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quad bikes are popular recreational, four-wheeled bikes in the Middle East. Injury prevention programs targeting quad bike crashes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) need evidence about the risk factors and behaviours associated with these crashes in the target population. This is a protocol for a study aiming to investigate quad bike rider behaviours and to assess the risk factors associated with related injuries in the UAE. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study aiming to describe a seasonal sport in a desert environment. With an estimated sample size of 451, the survey will follow a three-stage, location-based sampling strategy using the line-transect method. A sampling frame of desert locations with high injury incidences was developed, using Dubai ambulance injury records. Further expansion of the sampling frame was participatory, involving police, enthusiasts, emergency responders and gas station employees. The data collection will be limited to the winter months in fifteen high-injury desert locations across three major Emirates in the UAE. Trained researchers will observe the riders directly in the desert to note their riding habits, followed by a researcher-administered interview on riding and injury history. The interviews will be administered in Arabic and English using Qualtrics software on handheld tablets with offline and online entry mode. In addition, paper-based entry with the same format will be used as a contingency in busy quad bike locations. Conclusion: The objective of this study protocol is to develop a comprehensive survey that will furnish substantial evidence for the formulation of effective injury prevention strategies. To enhance the credibility of the recorded riding behaviors, field observations will be employed. The uniqueness of this study lies in its innovative sampling strategy, custom-tailored to accommodate the highly mobile and transient population of desert bikers in the UAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to describe the prevalent learning styles, emphasizing on the VAK (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic) learning model, among accountancy students from the second to fourth-year level and explore their relationship with academic performance. Findings revealed that visual learning style is the prevalent learning style among accountancy students with 130 learners. Overall, accountancy students with varying learning styles have favorable academic performance classified from "Good" to "Very Good". This study implies that the favorable academic performance of the students may be dependent on their preferred learning styles. Further, this study suggests that the employment of teaching styles or approaches tailored to students' learning styles in the class may aid in further improvement of the learning process and academic performance of the students and achieve a conducive and inclusive learning environment. The insights gained from this can serve as a foundation for optimizing teaching and learning methods and ensuring that accountancy students continue to excel in their chosen field of study. Limitations of this study include the absence of demographic factors such as age, gender, and other necessary factors and the lack of a correlational test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This paper sheds light on the trends of the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and obstetric transition in Somalia over the last two decades. Methods This is a descriptive study comparing aggregate secondary data from the 2006 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey and the 2020 Somali Health and Demographic Survey to show the transition. Results A 44% reduction of the MMR from 1044 to 692 per 100 000 live births was observed comparing the two surveys. Conclusions Somalia has moved from stage I to stage II of the obstetric transition pathway spectrum and there is optimism that the ongoing strengthening of the health system is paying off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Praxis Pedagogica is the property of Corporacion Universitaria Minuto de Dios and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Significant maternal and child deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) even with existing effective interventions. Antenatal care (ANC), for example, is an intervention that improves the health of pregnant women and their babies, but only 52% of pregnant women in SSA had the recommended minimum of four ANC visits between 2011 and 2016. While significant socioeconomic inequalities in ANC visits have been reported to the disadvantage of the poor, little is known about the depth of ANC coverage and associated inequalities. This paper introduces 'deficits' (i.e. the number of ANC visits that are needed to reach the recommended minimum of four ANC visits) and 'surpluses' (i.e. the number of ANC visits over and above the recommended minimum of four ANC visits) to assess socioeconomic inequalities in the indicator and depth of the 'deficits' and 'surpluses' in ANC visits. Using the latest available Demographic and Health Survey data for 36 SSA countries and concentration indices, the paper found that 'deficits' in ANC visits are more prevalent among poorer women compared to 'surpluses' that are concentrated among the rich. On average, women with 'deficits' in ANC visits require about two more ANC visits to reach the recommended four ANC visits, and women with 'surpluses' exceeded the recommended minimum by about two ANC visits. The factors that explain a substantial share of the socioeconomic inequalities in ANC 'deficits' and 'surpluses' in SSA include wealth, education and area of residency, which are essentially the social determinants of health inequalities. For policy response, it is suggested that education is a significant channel to affect the other social determinants of inequalities in ANC coverage reported in the paper. Thus, countries must prioritize quality education as addressing education, especially among women in SSA, will significantly reduce disparities in ANC service utilization and accelerate progress towards universal health coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mixed-race family constellation has emerged as a regular feature of the Irish familial landscape. Such a demographic change invariably leads to the increased presence of white women who are mothering across racialised boundaries. Moreover, in the Irish context, the racial category of whiteness is privileged at a structural level and remains a central organising principle of Irishness as a mode of national belonging. This paper, therefore, sets out to address the specific gap in the literature related to the racialised experiences of the white mother of mixed-race (i.e., black African/white Irish) children in contemporary Ireland as these women are, in effect, mothering 'outsider' children in a context of white supremacy. More specifically, how does the positioning of these women's mixed-race children impact their subjectivities as mothers categorised normatively as white and Irish? Framed by critical whiteness literature, this paper draws on in-depth interviews with twelve white Irish mothers. Data analysis broadly revealed three themes as relates to the women's negotiations of the racialising discourses and practices which impact their family units. Findings suggest that these women no longer occupy the default position of whiteness as a category of racial privilege and a condition of 'structured invisibility'. Perhaps, most significantly, the lived reality of these women disturbs the hegemonic conflation of the categories white and Irish. This paper, therefore, extends our theoretical understanding of both whiteness and mixed-race studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undernourishment is a persistent public health problem contributing to increased mortality in children under five in low-income countries, likely exacerbated by socio-economic disparities within communities. This paper aimed to examine the effect of wealth-related inequality on undernutrition in children under five in low, lower-middle, and upper-middle-income countries (LMICs). We analyzed cross-sectional data from the demographic and health survey program collected between 2017 and 2022 from 24 LMICs. Children born within 5 years preceding the survey were included in the analysis. Child undernutrition was the dependent variable (measured by stunting, wasting, and underweight) and country-level wealth-based inequality was the independent variable assessed by concentration index values stratified by the World Bank's income categories. Within country inequality of child undernutrition was determined by concentration index (C) values with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and sub-group analysis by place of residence and sex of the child. We then fit bootstrapped meta-regression to check the variation in inequality of child undernutrition across different income category countries. The analysis was controlled by potential confounding variables. From the total sample size of 334,502 children included in the study, 35% were undernourished. Wealth-related inequality in child undernutrition was observed in 11 countries, consistently across income categories. Child undernutrition was highly concentrated among the poor households of Türkiye [C: − 0.26, 95% CI − 0.31 to − 0.20], and Cameroon [C: − 0.19, 95% CI − 0.22 to − 0.17], and relatively it was less concentrated among the poor in Liberia [C: − 0.07, 95% CI − 0.11 to − 0.04], and Gambia [C: − 0.07, 95% CI − 0.11 to − 0.04]. There is no difference in undernutrition associated with inequality between the three broad LMIC categories. The wealth-related inequality in child undernutrition within many of the included countries is still very significant. However, the economic category of countries made no difference in explaining wealth-related inequality in child undernutrition. Inter-sectoral collaboration to fight poverty and render special attention to the disadvantaged population segments would potentially help to address the observed inequity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the question whether and to what extent the experience of online hate speech affects victims' sense of security. Studies on hate crime in general show that such crimes are associated with a significantly higher feeling of insecurity, but there is little evidence concerning feeling of insecurity due to online hate speech. Based on a secondary data analysis of a representative population survey in Lower Saxony, Germany, on the topic of cybercrime in 2020 (N = 4,102), we tested three hypotheses regarding the effect of offline and online hate speech on feelings of insecurity. As a result, compared to non-victims, victims of online hate speech exhibit a more pronounced feeling of insecurity outside the Internet, while victims of other forms of cybercrime do not differ in this regard from non-victims. We found no effect for offline hate speech when relevant control variables were included in the statistical model. Possible reasons for this finding are assumed to lie in the characteristics of the phenomenon of online hate speech, for example, because the hateful content spreads uncontrollably on the Internet and reaches its victims even in protected private spheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most general population web surveys are based on online panels maintained by commercial survey agencies. Many of these panels are based on non-probability samples. However, survey agencies differ in their panel selection and management strategies. Little is known if these different strategies cause differences in survey estimates. This paper presents the results of a systematic study designed to analyze the differences in web survey results between agencies. Six different survey agencies were commissioned with the same web survey using an identical standardized questionnaire covering factual health items. Five surveys were fielded at the same time. A calibration approach was used to control the effect of demographics on the outcome. Overall, the results show differences between probability and non-probability surveys in health estimates, which were reduced but not eliminated by weighting. Furthermore, the differences between non-probability surveys before and after weighting are larger than expected between random samples from the same population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To understand patterns of gender discrimination by exploring whether the risk of dying during infancy and childhood is correlated with not only the sex and birth order of the child but also the sex composition of previous siblings. METHODS: Event history analysis (Cox proportional hazards model) is applied to pooled data from the 2006-2007, 2012-2013, and 2017-2018 rounds of the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey to highlight patterns of mortality risk during infancy (0-11 months) and childhood (1-4 years) by the sex composition of previous siblings, birth order, and the sex of the index child. RESULTS: Females lose the survival advantage early. Evidence of generalized discrimination against all girls is reflected in higher-than-expected mortality risk during infancy and childhood. Evidence of selective preferential treatment of first sons is reflected in a survival advantage, even as early as the first year of life in large families and in all family sizes during childhood. CONTRIBUTION: This paper examines sex differentials in infant and child mortality in a context with strong son preference but with a lack of evidence on sex-selective abortions. It gives theoretical and empirical attention to the birth order and sibling composition contexts within which births and discrimination occur. The specific pattern of discrimination provides clues to the rationale for, and mechanisms causing, differential mortality risk among siblings and across genders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the South Asian economy swiftly integrating into global markets, the restaurant industry in India and Bangladesh has thrived, providing a wide range of global cuisines. Along with other foreign restaurants, Japanese restaurants have gained traction in recent years. This paper seeks to delve into the Japanese culinary industry in South Asia, aiming to comprehend the factors influencing consumer choice and formulate an effective market development strategy. Employing the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the study explores the determinants of Indian and Bangladeshi consumers' intentions to choose Japanese restaurants. Utilizing qualitative research methods, 36 in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted, with 20 Indian and 16 Bangladeshi respondents. A semi-structured questionnaire covering demographics, attitudes, subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioral control and other factors including price concern, food authenticity and religion was employed. Analysis of interview transcripts using NVivo 10 software revealed that participants generally had an average economic condition. Notably, religion emerged as a significant factor influencing purchase intentions in Bangladesh, while attitude and perceived behavioral control are the most significant contributors to Indian consumers' perceptions. Additionally, the study found that both Indian and Bangladeshi consumers' perceptions were significantly influenced by the authenticity of Japanese cuisine and food prices positively and negatively. The findings offer valuable insights into the Japanese culinary industry promotion in India and Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Contraceptive use is a key indicator of improving the health and well-being of women, mothers and their families, preventing unwanted pregnancies, and reducing maternal and child mortalities. Despite a lot of investments from the Government of Guinea to improve contraceptive use, studies reveal that contraceptive use still remains low in Guinea. However, the intention to use contraceptives in Guinea has not been well examined. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the factors associated with the intention to use contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Guinea. Methods: The study made use of data from the Guinea Demographic and Health Survey (GNDHS) conducted in 2018. For this study, we included a weighted sample of 6,948 women who were either married or cohabiting and responded to all the variables of interest. The data were analyzed using Stata version 14.2. Descriptive and multilevel logistic regression were carried out to examine the factors associated with the intention to use contraceptives. The results of multilevel logistic regression were presented using adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence intervals and p-value < 0.05 to determine the significant associations. Results: The prevalence of intention-to-use contraceptives among women was 19.8% (95% CI18.3%–21.5%). Women with secondary/higher educational levels [aOR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.26–1.99], women whose partners had secondary/higher educational level [aOR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.04–1.52], women who were cohabiting [aOR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.13–2.68] and were exposed to mass media [aOR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.35–1.89] were likely to have higher intentions to use contraceptives. Additionally, women from the Kankan Region [aOR = 4.26, 95% CI = 2.77–6.54] and women who belong to the richer wealth quintile [aOR = 1.36, 95% CI = 0.91–1.89] were likely to have higher odds of intentions to use contraceptives. However, women aged 45–49 years, those from the Peulh ethnic group, and those who lack the competence to make healthcare decisions alone had lower odds of intention to use contraceptives. Conclusion: The study revealed a low prevalence of intention to use contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Guinea. The study has highlighted that both individual-level and household/community-level factors were significantly associated with the intention to use contraceptives. Therefore, policymakers and stakeholders need to consider these factors discussed in this paper when developing policies and interventions to promote and enhance intention-to-use contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Guinea. The findings call on the Government of Guinea and all stakeholders in Guinea to ensure that female education is promoted to help improve their social status, decision-making on fertility, and reduce fertility rates and maternal mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Country's economic growth depends among other factors on the extent to which labour particularly female labour force participates on economic growth enhancing activities. Being the largest contributor in economic activities particularly agriculture in developing countries (over 50%), their participation enables economies to grow in response to higher labour inputs injected. As an outcome, as countries develop; women's capabilities typically improve as well, whereas social constraints weaken, which enables females to participate on work outside the home. However, the existing literature on this topic is scant and has mixed results. This study sought to analyse female fertility rate and its influence on provision of labour in Tanzania using females aged 15–49 years from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 2015–2016. The study used instrumental variable-probit and a two-stage residual inclusion as methods of analysis. Results showed that, an increase in female's fertility rate reduces participation of females in provision of market labour by about 1.1–13%. Similarly, household size, education, contraceptive use, self-employment of their husbands and residing in rural areas was associated with increased participation while female's age exhibited an inverted U-shaped relationship with female participation. The results imply that, to foster a more sustainable female participation in labour force, family planning, educating females as well as fostering self-employment and improving rural infrastructures is inevitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Desarrollo y Sociedad is the property of Universidad de los Andes and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Although many existing measures tabulate specific risk factors to yield cumulative risk indices, there is a need for low-burden strategies to estimate general adversity exposure. Aims and Methods: This study introduces a brief, new measure of lifetime adversity, the Child Life Challenges Scale (CLCS), and examines its validity in a sample of parents and children residing in emergency housing. The CLCS comprises a single global item for rating cumulative life challenges utilizing either a paper-pencil scale or a sliding scale on a tablet. Parents are provided with anchor examples of mild and extreme challenges and asked to mark a location along the scale reflecting number and severity of challenges in their children's lives to date. Study participants included 99 parents and their 3- to 6-year-old children. Results: CLCS scores were moderately associated with children's parent-reported total life stressors, and these associations were robust to controls for parental history of adversity, parental distress, and family demographics. Control variables also did not moderate associations between CLCS scores and total life stressors, suggesting that the CLCS functions similarly across a range of sociodemographic risk. Paper-pencil and tablet versions showed similar convergent validity. Conclusion: The CLCS shows promise as an efficient measure for estimating children's lifetime adversity with minimal parent or administrator burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How much larger would the US economic pie be if labor market outcomes were more equitably distributed by race and ethnicity? Using data from the Current Population Survey (1990–2019), we estimate the improvements in labor contribution to aggregate output associated with making the outcomes for Black, Hispanic, and other minority groups at least as favorable as those for non-Hispanic white individuals in employment, hours worked, educational attainment, educational utilization, and earnings. We find significant economic gains, measured in trillions of dollars of GDP. Our results indicate that ensuring all Americans have an equitable opportunity to participate in the economy is an economically significant way to increase aggregate prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeling heard is considered a cornerstone of close relationships and crucial to healthy self-development, but psychologically, this sentiment of feeling heard remains understudied. The current paper therefore aims to define and measure the experience of feeling heard. Based on an integrative literature review, feeling heard is conceptualized as consisting of five components at two conceptual levels. At the interpersonal level people feel heard when they have 1) voice, and receive 2) attention, 3) empathy, 4) respect. At the collective level people should experience 5) common ground. In two population surveys (N = 194, N = 1000), we find that feeling heard is a unitary concept, and we develop and validate the feeling heard scale (FHS); a concise eight-item scale with good psychometric properties. Results show that the FHS is a distinct predictor of conversation intentions in many different contexts and relationships. In fact, the FHS is the strongest predictor of intentions for conflict behavior among a set of 15 related variables (e.g., acquaintance, intimacy). We conclude by reflecting on the potential applications of this scale: in interpersonal relations and professional contacts, the FHS enables the assessment of one crucial dimension of social interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The severity of COVID-19 disease varies substantially between individuals, with some infections being asymptomatic while others are fatal. Several risk factors have been identified that affect the progression of SARS-CoV-2 to severe COVID-19. They include age, smoking and presence of underlying comorbidities such as respiratory illness, HIV, anemia and obesity. Given that respiratory illness is one such comorbidity and is affected by hand hygiene, it is plausible that improving access to handwashing could lower the risk of severe COVID-19 among a population. In this paper, we estimate the potential impact of improved access to handwashing on the risk of respiratory illness and its knock-on impact on the risk of developing severe COVID-19 disease across Zimbabwe. Methods: Spatial generalized additive models were applied to cluster level data from the 2015 Demographic and Health Survey. These models were used to generate continuous (1km resolution) estimates of risk factors for severe COVID-19, including prevalence of major comorbidities (respiratory illness, HIV without viral load suppression, anemia and obesity) and prevalence of smoking, which were aggregated to district level alongside estimates of the proportion of the population under 50 from Worldpop data. The risk of severe COVID-19 was then calculated for each district using published estimates of the relationship between comorbidities, smoking and age (under 50) and severe COVID-19. Two scenarios were then simulated to see how changing access to handwashing facilities could have knock on implications for the prevalence of severe COVID-19 in the population. Results: This modeling conducted in this study shows that (1) current risk of severe disease is heterogeneous across the country, due to differences in individual characteristics and household conditions and (2) that if the quantifiable estimates on the importance of handwashing for transmission are sound, then improvements in handwashing access could lead to reductions in the risk of severe COVID-19 of up to 16% from the estimated current levels across all districts. Conclusions: Taken alongside the likely impact on transmission of SARS-CoV-2 itself, as well as countless other pathogens, this result adds further support for the expansion of access to handwashing across the country. It also highlights the spatial differences in risk of severe COVID-19, and thus the opportunity for better planning to focus limited resources in high-risk areas in order to potentially reduce the number of severe cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: Childhood undernutrition has been investigated extensively in previous literature but gender inequality detailing the burden of undernutrition has not been adequately addressed in scientific papers, especially in Ethiopia, where undernutrition is known to be a public health problem of high significance, necessitating increased efforts to address it and reduce this inequality. This study was carried out to: (1) explore gender differences in the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight, and (2) compare the factors associated with childhood undernutrition between boys and girls in Ethiopia. Methods: The study used a dataset of more than 33,564 children aged under 5 years (boys: 17,078 and girls: 16,486) who were included in the nationally representative Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) from 2000 to 2016. The outcome variables were anthropometric indices: stunting (height-for-age < -2 standard deviations), wasting (weight-for-height < -2 standard deviations), and underweight (weight-for-age < -2 standard deviations). Gender-specific multilevel analyses were used to examine and compare the factors associated with child undernutrition. Results: The overall prevalence of stunting (49.1% for boys vs 45.3% for girls, p < 0.001), wasting (11.9% for boys vs 9.9% for girls, p < 0.001), and underweight (33.1% for boys vs 29.8% for girls, p < 0.001) higher among boys compared to girls. Boys significantly had higher odds of stunting (aOR: 1.31, 95%CI: 1.21–1.42), wasting (aOR: 1.35, 1.23–1.48), and underweight (aOR: 1.38, 95%CI: 1.26–1.50) than girls. The common factors associated with childhood undernutrition for male and female children were the child's age, perceived size of the child at birth, breastfeeding status, maternal stature, maternal education, toilet facility, wealth index, and place of residence. Boys who were perceived by their mothers to be average sized at birth and were born to uneducated mothers had a higher likelihood of experiencing wasting, in contrast to girls. Among boys, birth order (firstborn), household size (1–4), and place of residence (urban) were associated with lower odds of being underweight. Boys living in cities had lower odds of being stunted. While girls born to mothers with no education and worked in agriculture were at a higher odd of being stunted. Conclusion: Our study revealed that boys were more likely to be malnourished than girls, regardless of their age category, and there were variations in the factors determining undernutrition among boys and girls. The differences in the burden of undernutrition were significant and alarming, positioning Ethiopia to be questioned whether it will meet the set Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 of zero hunger by 2030. These findings call for more effort to address malnutrition as a significant public health issue in Ethiopia, and to urgently recognise the need for enhanced interventions that address the gender gap in childhood undernutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the degree of financial literacy within Champaran District, Bihar. The study primarily investigates how socio-economic and demographic factors, including age, gender, income, education, occupation, and marital status, impact the financial literacy levels of individuals. This research adopts an empirical approach, utilising both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data collection involves the distribution of questionnaires and interviews, while secondary data is sourced from Census Reports, Research Articles, Journals, Published Books, Theses, various websites, and documents. A total of 160 individuals received the questionnaire through a hybrid approach, combining online and offline methods. Of these, three questionnaires were incomplete, leaving 157 responses for analysis. Data was subjected to an Independent Sample T-test and One-way ANOVA for hypothesis testing. The findings indicate that age and gender significantly influence individuals' financial literacy levels, while factors such as income, education, occupation, and marital status were found to be inconsequential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chinese universities are increasingly recruiting foreign students, and problem-based learning (PBL) is an effective approach to integrating those students. This study focuses on the role of intercultural sensitivity and group ethnic composition on the quality of group interaction in medical problem-based learning in China. Methods: This paper reports an investigation of the differences in three types of group interaction (exploratory questions, cumulative reasoning, and handling conflict) among 139 s-year medical undergraduates from two backgrounds (Chinese and foreign) in a PBL setting. The roles of intercultural sensitivity, group ethnic composition, and students' personal characteristics including age, gender and ethnicity on students' perceptions of the three types of interaction were quantitatively analyzed. A 35-item questionnaire and demographic survey were administered to second year medical undergraduates. Results: The results indicated that group ethnic composition was a significant negative predictor while intercultural sensitivity was a strong positive predictor of group interactions involving exploratory questions and cumulative reasoning. In addition, group heterogeneity in terms of age and ethnicity were significant predictors of group interaction. Conclusions: The findings of this study provide insights for strategically designing effective multiethnic group learning environments that encourage interaction and collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analysed Ghana's demographic patterns as shown by the 2000, 2010, and 2021 censuses and considered how these trends may affect Christian missions. According to the analysis, Ghana's Muslim population has been steadily increasing over time, and by the year 2096, it may have a Muslim majority. Christian mission organisations working in Ghana must reevaluate their methods and approaches in order to effectively interact with and minister to a shifting religious landscape as a result of this probable demographic upheaval. The study also investigated the probable effects of a Muslim majority in Ghana and discussed the consequences for Christian missionary work, emphasising the need for cultural sensitivity, interfaith communication, and contextualised approaches to engage with the diverse religious beliefs and practices of Ghanaians. This study further examined what this demographic trend suggests and its implication for evangelism and intentional Christlike disciple making if a reversal is to be envisaged. The thesis statement of the paper is that Islam in Ghana unlike Christianity is witnessing steady growth, and the Church is enjoined by her calling to make Christlike disciples for her future survival. This article belongs to the field of missiology. It employed a transdisciplinary approach that incorporated statistical hermeneutics, hermeneutics of comparative theology, history of religion and demography to interpret quantitative results and determine their place and meaning in the religious landscape and their implications for Christian Mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, refugee-hosting states are required to have a higher education (HE) policy that incorporates refugees, in order to raise refugees’ HE access to 15% by 2030. This paper explores the influence of HE policy formulation and implementation on refugee access and resilience among South Sudanese from the Bidi Bidi settlement in Uganda. The study adopted a qualitative approach, an exploratory case study design, and an advocacy world view. The researcher collected data from 27 participants-12 undergraduates from two private Ugandan universities, 13 government and non-governmental organization (NGO) officials, two officials from public and private universities - all involved in refugee education. Additionally, the researcher obtained data through a literature review, in-depth interviews with key informants and students, and a focus group discussion. The findings reveal that in principle, HE policy formulation in Uganda is incorporated in the development of the Education Response Plan (ERP) for refugees and host communities, through a multi-stakeholder approach. However, neither students nor higher education institutions (HEIs) were part of the ERP formulation process. The HE policy formulation process in Uganda traverses a value chain with intersecting complexities. These include: supra-state and national policy, refugee demographics, preferences for basic education and emergency interventions, negative perceptions of HE returns, hostility and refugee exclusion, and students’ personal challenges. Relatedly, support for refugees is largely provided by HEIs and NGOs, using silo, independent guidelines. Ultimately, the findings indicate that the HE policy formulation and implementation do not address the intersecting complexities adequately, with implications for student access and resilience. This study identifies areas that could inform HE policy formulation and implementation, and enhance refugee access and resilience, especially in light of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) 15by30 Roadmap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aimanot Abebe Adane,1 Tadele Girum,1 Wako Golicha Wako21Department of Public Health, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Southwest Region, Ethiopia; 2School of Public Health, Bule Hora University, Bule Hora, South Region, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Abebaw Wasie Kasahun Email [email protected] Background: Ethiopia has made great strides on under-five and maternal mortality reduction as demonstrated by achieving the millennium development target of child mortality reduction by the start of 2015. According to a recent demographic and health survey report, Ethiopia has a 67 per 1000 under-five mortality rate and a 412 per 100,000 live births maternal mortality ratio. The current trend of maternal and child mortality reduction is not enough to meet sustainable development goal three (SDG3) of maternal and child mortality reduction target which is set to reduce the maternal mortality ratio to below 70/100,000 live births in all countries. This paper aimed to model the effect of scaling up family planning on pregnancies, live births, stillbirths, abortions and maternal mortality in Ethiopia. Methods: We used the Spectrum software package to model the impact of family planning on maternal survival and other maternal health metrics. Spectrum has different modules consisting of demproj module (demographic projection), famplan module (family planning), LiST (life saved tool), and AIM (aids impact model). We used Demproj, Famplan and LiST modules for this particular paper. Baseline national data were taken from findings of the Ethiopian demographic and health survey 2016, and World Bank and World Health Organization country specific reports. Results: Total fertility rate will decline to 2.3 children per women by the year 2030 when contraceptive prevalence is scaled up by 2% annually from 2016 to 2030. As a result of continuous scaling up of contraceptive use, around 3.17 million unintended pregnancies can be averted. Unmet need for family planning will significantly decline to 11.7% by 2030. Ninety-four thousand unsafe abortions could be averted and 1233 additional maternal lives could be saved by the end of 2030 in Ethiopia. Conclusion: Scaling up family planning has shown a significant effect to meet the SDG3 maternal mortality reduction target. A considerable proportion of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions can be averted by scaling up contraceptive prevalence by 2% annually until 2030. Family planning is effective and a less costly intervention to reduce maternal mortality in countries with high fertility; hence, it is highly recommended to rampup all efforts to scale up contraceptive use for improving maternal health status in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]