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BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is associated with adverse health outcomes among Asian Americans, who exhibit the least adherence to physical activity guidelines compared with other racial and ethnic groups. Mobile app-based interventions are a promising approach to promote healthy behaviors. However, there is a lack of app-based interventions focused on improving physical activity among Asian Americans whose primary language is not English. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a 5-week intervention using a culturally and linguistically adapted, evidence-based mobile phone app with an accelerometer program, to promote physical activity among Chinese-, Tagalog-, or Vietnamese-speaking Americans. METHODS: Participants were recruited through collaborations with community-based organizations. The intervention was adapted from a 12-month physical activity randomized controlled trial involving the app and accelerometer for English-speaking adults. Sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and physical measurements were collected at the baseline visit. A 7-day run-in period was conducted to screen for the participants who could wear a Fitbit One (Fitbit LLC) accelerometer and complete the apps daily step diary. During the 4-week intervention period, participants wore the accelerometer and reported their daily steps in the app. Participants also received daily messages to reinforce key contents taught during an in-person educational session, remind them to input steps, and provide tailored feedback. Feasibility measures were the percentage of eligible participants completing the run-in period and the percentage of participants who used the app diary for at least 5 out of 7 days during the intervention period. We conducted poststudy participant interviews to explore overall intervention acceptability. RESULTS: A total of 19 participants were enrolled at the beginning of the study with a mean age of 47 (SD 13.3; range 29-70) years, and 58% (n=11) of them were female. Of the participants, 26% (n=5) were Chinese, 32% (n=6) were Vietnamese, and 42% (n=8) were Filipino. All participants met the run-in criteria to proceed with the intervention. Adherence to the app diary ranged from 74% (n=14) in week 2 to 95% (n=18) in week 4. The daily average steps per week from accelerometers increased each week from 8451 (SD 3378) steps during the run-in period to 10,930 (SD 4213) steps in week 4. Participants reported positive experiences including an increased motivation to walk and the enjoyment of being able to monitor their physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first pilot study of a multicomponent intervention and evidence-based mobile phone app to promote physical activity among Asian Americans who use apps in traditional Chinese, Tagalog, or Vietnamese, which demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability. Future work focused on multilingual mobile apps to address disparities in physical inactivity among Asian Americans should be considered.

Primary care is at the forefront of healthcare delivery. It is the site of disease prevention and health management and serves as the bridge between communities and the health care system As ethnographers of primary care, in this article we discuss what is gained by situating anthropological inquiry within primary care. We articulate how anthropologists can contribute to a better understanding of the issues that emerge in primary care. We provide a review of anthropological work in primary care and offer empirical data from two ethnographic case studies based in the United States, one focused on social risk screening in primary care and the other examining the diagnosis and care of people with dementia in primary care. Through these cases, we demonstrate how research of and within primary care can open important avenues for the study of the multidimensionality of primary care. This multidimensionality is apparent in the ways the medical field addresses the social and structural experiences of patients, scope of practice and disciplinary boundaries, and the intersection of ordinary and extraordinary medicine that emerge in the care of patients in primary care.

OBJECTIVE: The aging population in developing countries demands parallel improvements in brain health assessment services to mitigate stigma, promote healthy aging, and diagnose cognitive impairments including dementia in primary health care (PHC) facilities. The lack of culturally appropriate cognitive assessment tools in PHC facilities delays early detection. This study aims to culturally adapt a brief digital cognitive assessment tool for PHC professionals in Southeast Nigeria. METHOD: A total of 30 participants (15 healthcare workers HCW and 15 community members) were selected to be culturally representative of the community. We completed focus groups and pilot testing to evaluate and refine the Brain Health Assessment (BHA) a subset of tools from the Tablet-based Cognitive Assessment Tool (TabCAT) known to be sensitive to cognitive impairment in other settings. We examined BHA subtests across local languages (Pidgin and Igbo) spoken at two geriatric clinics in Anambra State Southeast Nigeria. RESULTS: Following structured approaches in focus groups, adaptations were made to the Favorites (memory) and Line Length (visuospatial) subtests based on their input. Participants found the new adaptations to have good construct validity for the region. CONCLUSIONS: The BHA subtests showed content validity for future work needed to validate the tool for detecting early cognitive changes associated with dementia and Alzheimers disease in PHC settings. The use of culturally adapted and concise digital cognitive assessment tools relevant to healthcare professionals in Southeast Nigerias PHCs is advocated.

The paper attempts to look at the factors leading to the victory of the Aam Aadmi Party which have not been taken up by the traditional political analysis. Making an ethnography of the Punjab assembly elections 2022 in the Malwa belt of Punjab, it chronicles the social and cultural impact of the farmer’s movement, particularly its far-reaching impact on changing the mood of the electorate. The paper also focuses on the novel digital election campaign which resulted in new election outcomes from the past trends and a massive victory for the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study intends to determine the awareness and interest of youth in the La Torta Festival of Argao, Cebu. This research aims to provide a program that can boost the interest and awareness of our youth despite many hindrances caused by modern technology. The program is based on the result of this study. Based on the result, the students exhibit a slightly agreeable level of awareness about the festival. The result for knowledge was falling within the "Slightly Agree" category. Students generally display a slightly agreeable attitude toward the festival. The overall result for the festival's significance is moderately positive. Students are inclined to promote the festival through social media, in the "Slightly Agree" category, this means that students are not fully promoting festival in social media. Moreover, significant intercorrelations are identified among demographic factors (age, gender, grade level, and school location) and the level of interest in the festival. Age, gender, and grade level are found to be statistically significant factors associated with interest, while school location does not appear to have a significant impact. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. It is highly recommended that it is necessary to organize workshops and educational sessions to enhance their understanding of the festival's history, cultural significance, and dance traditions. These sessions are engaging, informative, and promote the use of social media platforms among youth to share their festival experiences, images, videos, and stories. This helps to create a sense of community and increase awareness among youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseño y Comunicación is the property of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseno y Comunicacion 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.)

WASTA, a word widely used in Arab society, implies using people's connections to generate mutual advantages. WASTA is rooted deeply in the culture of Arab societies and has a double effect that stimulates a continuous argument. On one hand, WASTA is considered a valuable social practice that optimizes social bonds and dual support to improve the overall quality of life (QoL) for all parties. In contrast, WASTA is regularly criticized for extending inequality and corruption in the community, which might worsen QoL, taking into consideration the mediating impacts of religiosity. This paper investigated the dual effects of WASTA on QoL and the mediating role of religiosity in Arab societies. Three hundred and ninety small- and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs') owners in Saudi Arabia participated in a self-structured questionnaire that was analyzed using PLS-SEM. The results showed that the appearance of some dimensions of WASTA in Arab societies can optimize QoL. At the same time, other elements can worsen the QoL of the participating parties, but the adverse effect can be mitigated when religiosity is a mediator. These results suggest that WASTA can act as a positive connection method in Arab societies when accompanied by religiosity but can accelerate corruption in its absence; several practical and theoretical implications were discussed and elaborated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the general quality of life (GQOL) of a large number of individuals, including those in the academic environment. This study investigated GQOL in a sample of 613 Romanian medicine students (81.57% were female; mean age = 21.40 ± 1.749 years) in relation to their Big Five personality characteristics, Perceived Stress and Fear of COVID-19. The study was conducted between June 2020 and March 2022. These variables were investigated with the Big Five Inventory-2: Extra-Short Form, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Perceived Stress Scale-10 and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Statistical analysis included hierarchical linear regression and t-tests. The results indicated a significant direct relationship between GQOL and the personality traits of Conscientiousness, Extraversion and Agreeableness. However, a significant inverse relationship was observed between GQOL and Perceived Stress and Neuroticism. Fear of COVID-19 was significantly higher in women, while no other socio-demographic variables were associated with GQOL. A total of 61.7% of the studied population returned to their original residency during the pandemic years. These results could be important for better understanding the vulnerability to significant epidemiological events in academic populations and for planning adequate preventive or interventional measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal on Humanities & Social Sciences is the property of International Journal on Humanities & Social Sciences 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.)

In qualitative research, photographs and other visual data have been used with oral narratives in ethnography, interviews, and focus groups to convey and understand the perceptions, attitudes, and lived experiences of participants. Visual methodologies that incorporate photographic data include photo elicitation, which has varied approaches with the inclusion of photographs generated by researchers or participants, and Photovoice, which is a form of photo elicitation focused on participatory action research. Current literature provides insufficient guidance on a systematic coding process of visual data elements that could maximize capturing of visual data for qualitative analysis. We describe our rationale and process for developing a two-step systematic process for coding visual data, specifically photographs. The two-step systematic process for coding photographs involves coding the foreground (focal point) and then the background of the photograph, using separate codebooks. Application of this two-step coding approach resulted in surfacing additional rich data on the health-related contexts and environments in which participants lived. Incorporation of this methodology could enhance understanding of the context of health and generate ideas and new directions of inquiry.

The life cycle of disinformation begins with its ordering and ends with its acceptance or rejection by the target consumer, the target object. The disinformation lifecycle has the following relatively separate but related attributes: disinformation originator, disinformation planning, disinformation purpose, goal, and content. In this context, the types of disinformation that take the form of simple disinformation, or it is a narrative/narrative/theme, as well as news legends, which can take the form of an active influence measure, and the issue of the creator of disinformation, including the technical implementation of disinformation, are elaborated

Tens of thousands of plant species globally are harvested to varying extents as non-timber forest products (NTFPs). Local populations of many NTFPs face significant pressures from harvesters, often leading to calls for harvesting guidelines to promote sustainable offtakes. However, most studies to determine sustainable harvest levels implicitly assume that the entire population is available to harvesters. Yet, certain areas or portions of particular NTFP populations outside of protected areas may not be open to harvesting because they are in some sort of cultural or spatial refuge. Using a mixed-methods approach we assessed the prevalence and efficacy of refugia for 70 NTFP plant species at seven communal land sites in south-eastern South Africa. Based on reports from local harvesters, approximately 10 % of the 70 species had part of their population in a refuge. For most of these, populations within a refuge showed lower levels of harvesting and were in a better condition than adjacent populations not in a refuge. These results demonstrate that studies assessing the sustainability of harvesting of NTFP populations should account for whether refugia are present.

Abstract Background Breast cancer is currently the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Ghana and the leading cause of cancer mortality among women. Few published empirical evidence exist on cultural beliefs and perceptions about breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Ghana. This systematic review sought to map evidence on the socio-cultural beliefs and perceptions influencing the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer among Ghanaian women. Methods This review was conducted following the methodological guideline of Joanna Briggs Institute and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses. The literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL via EBSCOhost, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Embase. Studies that were conducted on cultural, religious, and spiritual beliefs were included. The included studies were screened by title, abstract, and full text by three reviewers. Data were charted and results were presented in a narrative synthesis form. Results After the title, abstract, and full-text screening, 15 studies were included. Three categories were identified after the synthesis of the charted data. The categories included: cultural, religious and spiritual beliefs and misconceptions about breast cancer. The cultural beliefs included ancestral punishment and curses from the gods for wrongdoing leading to breast cancer. Spiritual beliefs about breast cancer were attributed to spiritual or supernatural forces. People had the religious belief that breast cancer is a test from God and they resorted to prayers for healing. Some women perceived that breast cancer is caused by spider bites, heredity, extreme stress, trauma, infections, diet, or lifestyle. Conclusion This study adduces evidence of the socio-cultural beliefs that impact on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer among women in Ghana. Taking into consideration the diverse cultural and traditional beliefs about breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, there is a compelling need to intensify nationwide public education on breast cancer to clarify the myths and misconceptions about the disease. We recommend the need to incorporate socio-cultural factors influencing breast cancer diagnosis and treatment into breast cancer awareness programs, education, and interventions in Ghana.

Nowadays, tourist and commercial centers are constantly expanding. These days, a grand project called “Iran Mall” has been constructed in District 22 of Tehran, which is a magnificent example of the capabilities of Iranian engineers using state-of-the-art technologies. It has managed to significantly change the appearance and structure of its surrounding area. One of the factors that has contributed to the recognition of this shopping center and attracting tourists is the organization of events and special occasions, which connects the tourism industry with the economy. This article examines the Nowruz event in Iran, its cultural and social activities, and its relevance to a commercial platform. The descriptive-analytical method, along with library studies and field visits through interviews, were used for this purpose, and the role of organizing such events in the formation of important tourist centers in Tehran was identified. Shopping centers have played a significant role in the development of social interactions and the improvement of urban life. Iran Mall, by utilizing large spaces, organizing multiple events, and providing diverse facilities, meets international standards. Even during the COVID-19 crisis, it played a crucial role in changing the use of spaces and solving societal problems. Overall, the completion and development of this cultural and commercial landmark, as an Iranian and Islamic symbol, has had a considerable impact on attracting tourists, despite some criticisms such as the lack of architectural coherence in the spaces.

Exploring cultural diversity and socio-economic factors offers a holistic approach to fostering sustainable safety practices within the construction industry. This study investigates the relationship between cultural and socio-economic factors and their influence on safety practices within the construction industry, focusing specifically on Saudi Arabian construction. Employing a comparative research design, data were gathered through a questionnaire distributed among various stakeholders, including construction workers, safety officers, project managers, supervisors, and other professionals involved in construction projects. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to analyze the relationships between cultural, socio-economic, and safety practices. The findings showed significant associations of cultural and socio-economic factors with safety practices and attitudes. Specifically, positive workplace norms and values, effective communication styles, higher income levels, and better education and literacy levels were found to positively influence adherence to safety guidelines and the effectiveness of training programs. Conversely, job insecurity exhibited a negative impact on safety-related outcomes and training effectiveness. This study demonstrates the importance of fostering a positive safety culture within organizations, emphasizing leadership commitment, effective communication, and employee engagement. It also highlights the significance of addressing socio-economic factors, such as job security, income levels, and education, to promote a safer work environment and enhance safety practices. Practical implications derived from the research findings offer actionable insights for organizations to develop targeted interventions aimed at improving sustainable safety practices and training effectiveness within the construction industry in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tens of thousands of plant species globally are harvested to varying extents as non-timber forest products (NTFPs). Local populations of many NTFPs face significant pressures from harvesters, often leading to calls for harvesting guidelines to promote sustainable offtakes. However, most studies to determine sustainable harvest levels implicitly assume that the entire population is available to harvesters. Yet, certain areas or portions of particular NTFP populations outside of protected areas may not be open to harvesting because they are in some sort of cultural or spatial refuge. Using a mixed-methods approach we assessed the prevalence and efficacy of refugia for 70 NTFP plant species at seven communal land sites in south-eastern South Africa. Based on reports from local harvesters, approximately 10 % of the 70 species had part of their population in a refuge. For most of these, populations within a refuge showed lower levels of harvesting and were in a better condition than adjacent populations not in a refuge. These results demonstrate that studies assessing the sustainability of harvesting of NTFP populations should account for whether refugia are present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article honors the legacy of Professor Kadir Beycioglu as founding Editor of the REAL, Research in Educational Administration & Leadership and his scholarship. A content analysis of the REAL journal titles from inception in 2016 to 2023 was performed and confirmed the mission and intentions stated for the journal. Titles were organized into themes: International, cultural, policy, and leadership. The REAL is cost-free with unrestricted access which safeguards world-wide access in the current climate of censorship, suppression, and book banning. Dr. Beycioglu’s research is tendered through the lens of his membership in ELWB, Educational Leadership Without Borders, for whom he was the Keynote speaker for the 2019 ELWB biennial conference. His research voiced on Turkish schooling and leadership parallels with prophetic insight the warning cry for researchers to counter censorship and suppression efforts globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Djoussour El-maarefa is the property of Association of Arab Universities 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.)

This article investigates "Hiraago" peacemaking practices in the Hadiya Social Philosophy, Ethiopia. The main goal of the study is to examine how the "Hiraago" practice aids in the resolution of disputes and the promotion of reconciliation and social cohesion among the Hadiya. Both primary and secondary data were utilized. The data was collected through indepth interviews and observation. Other techniques of gathering information included analyzing articles from cultural magazines and journals. The "Hiraago" practice, which is strongly entrenched in the Hadiya tradition, is demonstrated to resolve complex, concealed, and long-standing issues and foster peaceful coexistence. The study indicates that "Hiraago" is important peacemaking methods that influence human relations and promotes reconciliation and forgiveness among conflict parties, hence contributing to the maintenance of peace in the studied area. The study suggests more research into the "Hiraago" and other indigenous model peacemaking techniques in social Philosophy of the Hadiya and other community traditional practices. And it urges collaboration between traditional peacemaking methods and modern ones to improve conflict resolution and peace sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waqf has succeeded in funding Islamic civilization projects from time to time and in social and economic development, so waqf plays a good role in achieving the welfare of a just and prosperous society. One of the Islamic economic institutions that plays a vital role in empowering the people's economy is waqf. One of the goals of waqf is to create social justice for the people in line with the basic principles of the Indonesian state. The waqf process, starting from the wakif giving the waqf to be managed and providing benefits following the definition of waqf itself, is a kind of gift, the implementation of which is carried out by holding, so that it generates benefits but is not inherited in all its forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to the lack and the continuation of low fertility in past decades, it is necessary to review the population policies of the country. In formulating or revising demographic policies, taking effective and timely measures to facilitate the process of marriage and family formation and encouraging young couples to have children is an important and unavoidable necessity in the current conditions of society. The purpose of the current research is to discover and analyze this issue in Yazd province, based on the opinion of elites and policy makers related to the issue. Methods: This study was conducted using qualitative and grounded theory methods in 2014 in the city of Yazd. The participants in the research were 18 health officials and academic elites from the province. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview tool. Data analysis was conducted using both theoretical and free coding methods as well as central and selective coding techniques. Results: The results showed that while the decision to have children is influenced by social and cultural contexts, it is primarily influenced by social policies. 57 sub -categories and 20 main sub-categories were extracted The themes of the research included rethinking marriage, postponing childbearing, the dangerous world of childlessness, dynamic policy making, family and child support policies. Also, the core category, the vacuum of dynamic, and efficient policy were calculated Conclusion: The results of the research show that the issue of having children is related to other needs and necessities of the family, such as taking care of children and the economic needs of the family. For this reason, policymakers should support programs that help families in this field and bring some kind of psychological comfort to the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quests and advocacies for co-operations, alliances, integration and unity amongst African countries are quite historical, and are ever resonating in discourses on international relations. It is such advocacies that birthed the idea for the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC), etc. Unfortunately, not even the rationale for the metamorphosis from OAU to the African Union (AU) has been able to entrench the much desired unity of purpose amongst African states. This paper posits that the conversations on strategies for a closer and sustainable integration in Africa should not only be centred on socio-economic and political paradigms, but should deeply reflect cultural cum educational matrixes. The paper hypothesizes that cultural transmission, which is a fundamental goal of any educational system, has to be emphatically explored in the drive for integration and unity in Africa. It therefore conceptually highlighted the link between culture and education in regional integration, with reminiscences of such linkages in Africa. The paper however observes that, beyond the affirmations and declarations arising from Treaties and Charters by some regional fora in Africa, the varied uses of education for the purposes of cultural transmission, promotion of African history and languages, in addition to the merits of intellectual exchanges, are to be further surveyed as the plausible templates that would encourage integration in Africa. Consequently, the paper suggests that socio-political institutions, governments, sub-regional blocs and other agents of diplomacy and development in Africa should carefully reconsider the multi-dimensional values of education in the realization of the dreams of African nationalists for a well-integrated and united Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culturally Sustaining Systemic Functional Linguistics (henceforth CSSFL) embodied inquiry with multilingual youth is an analytical exploration. This CSSFL provides practical contributions in terms of the issues of young participatory learning, such as youth learning, power of performance, spatial learning, and student agency. The CSFL emerges from the three important tenets of the CS curriculum: a) culturally sustaining practices, b) the design and re-design of SFL-informed multimodal, and c) the literacy of reflection. In particular, the present study provides how pre-service teachers obtained inspiration for a pedagogical implication where readers can engage in research-driven, multimodal resources, as well as how teachers enable meaning-making activities for their students. In addition, the present study explores the role of multimodal activities such as theatre groups, hip-hop music, and performative arts in contributing to the engagement of physical and linguistic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Menopause is one of the most significant stages in women's life. It is accompanied by many complications and a serious challenge. This study aimed to assess the menopause experiences of Iranian women and compatibility strategies. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science (ISI), Scopus, Ovid, and the Iranian Clinical Trial Registry and Magiran, SID, from January 1990 to January 2021. Results: Psychological effects, sexual disorders, physical problems, bone pain, insomnia, fatigue, and hot flashes are all menopause experiences. Cultural factors, lifestyle, social factors, education level, employment and economic status, marital status, and the number of pregnancies and births can influence this experience. It is important that menopausal women are aware how menopausal compatibility and prepare for this period. Many factors have affected menopausal adopting strategies. Negative emotions, negative attitudes, worry, and anxiety, and their psychological effects exacerbate the annoying experiences of menopause and decelerate menopausal adoption. Conclusions: Social support and educational intervention were the practical menopausal adopting strategies. It will guarantee the health of menopausal women in the last third of their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sándor Domanovszky was born in Nagyszeben and attended grammar school and university in Budapest. As a grammar school student, he had history teachers such as Sándor Márki and Sándor Mika. At the university, he considered himself a disciple of Henrik Marczali, László Fejérpataky, and Gyula Lánczy. At the beginning of his academic career, he showed interest in medieval chronicles, a passion he pursued throughout his life. After fifteen years of teaching in grammar schools, he assumed the position of professor of cultural history at Pázmány Péter University in Budapest. As he articulated in his autobiography, he saw his mission as “training welleducated young scholars in Hungarian economic and social history”. His extensive work as a scholar-founder is particularly evident in the fifteenvolume series Essays on the History of Hungarian Agriculture, published between 1930 and 1943. He gained recognition primarily as the editor of the official papers of the Hungarian Palatine Archduke Joseph, as the author of his biography, and as the editor of the five volumes of Hungarian Cultural History. Following his forced resignation, his chair for cultural history was abolished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the persistence of health inequities in the United States, scholars and health professionals alike have turned to the social determinants of health (SDH) framework to understand the overlapping factors that produce and shape these inequities. However, there is scant empirical literature on how frontline health and social service workers perceive and apply the SDH framework, or related movements such as the right to health, in their daily practice. Our study seeks to bridge this gap by applying constructs from the sociological imagination and structural competency (an emerging paradigm in health professions' education) to understand the perspectives and experiences of social work case managers, community health workers, legal advocates, and mental health counselors at a maternal and child health center in a large US city. This frontline workforce displayed strong sociological imagination, elements of structural competency, and engagement with the principles of the right to health. Workers shared reflections on the SDH framework in ways that signaled promising opportunities for frontline workers to link with the global movement for the right to health. We offer a novel approach to understanding the relationships between frontline worker perspectives on and experiences with the SDH, sociological imagination, structural competency, and the right to health.

BACKGROUND: Chinese American family caregivers of persons with dementia experience high rates of psychosocial distress and adverse health outcomes. Due to their immigrant and minority status, they face substantial obstacles to care and support, including stigma and misperception of dementia, limited knowledge and use of welfare and services, and poor social support. Few interventions have been developed or tested for this vulnerable population. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to pilot-test the Wellness Enhancement for Caregivers (WECARE) intervention, a culturally tailored program delivered via WeChat, a social media app highly popular in the Chinese population. The 7-week WECARE was designed specifically for Chinese American dementia caregivers to improve their caregiving skills, reduce stress, and enhance psychosocial well-being. Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the WECARE were assessed in this pilot. METHODS: A total of 24 Chinese American family caregivers of persons with dementia were recruited for a pre-post 1-arm trial of the WECARE. By subscribing to the WECARE official account, participants received interactive multimedia programs on their WeChat account multiple times a week for 7 weeks. A backend database automatically delivered program components and tracked user activities. Three online group meetings were organized to facilitate social networking. Participants completed a baseline and a follow-up survey. Feasibility was assessed by the follow-up rate and curriculum completion rate; acceptability was assessed by user satisfaction and perceived usefulness of the program; and efficacy was assessed with pre-post differences in 2 primary outcomes of depressive symptoms and caregiving burden. RESULTS: The intervention was completed by 23 participants with a retention rate of 96%. Most of them (n=20, 83%) were older than 50 years and the majority (n=17, 71%) were female. The backend database revealed that the mean curriculum completion rate was 67%. Participants also reported high rates of user satisfaction and perceived usefulness of the intervention and high ratings of weekly programs. The intervention led to significant improvement in participants psychosocial health outcomes; their depressive symptoms reduced from 5.74 to 3.35 with an effect size of -0.89 and caregiving burden decreased from 25.78 to 21.96 with an effect size of -0.48. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggests that WeChat-based WECARE intervention was feasible and acceptable; it also demonstrated initial efficacy in improving psychosocial well-being in Chinese American dementia caregivers. Further research with a control group is needed to assess its efficacy and effectiveness. The study highlights the need for more culturally appropriate mobile health interventions for Chinese American family caregivers of persons with dementia.

IntroductionBritish Muslim School Children (BMSC) are required to follow special halal dietary requirements in accordance with their religion, which is often not accounted for in British schools. This often leaves BMSC limited to a vegetarian diet while at school, despite this not being their chosen diet or preference. This study explores the perceptions of key stakeholders regarding fairness and accessibility of school meals for BMSC, as well as discussing school food provision for those maintaining a religious diet in light of social justice. This is in the context of limited knowledge previously being explored in the North East of England regarding procurement and decision-making at a systems level to cater for BMSC.MethodsA qualitative research design was conducted. A total of 62 participants (39 BMSC, 15 parents, and 8 school and catering staff) took part in a semi-structured interview or focus group. Participants were recruited from six schools, with these schools selected based on their differing levels of BMSC in attendance. This project took place between March 2022 and October 2023.Results/discussionResults suggested that where schools already catered for diverse food requirements, inclusive of BMSC dietary needs, food choices were still limited in the options and amount available. School and catering staff stated that cost implications contributed to their menu development process. Despite this, there was an evident willingness to learn about the cultural food options and how these can be implemented in future school menus. Suggestions discussed included an increase in the use of halal meat in order to provide a more inclusive school food experience for BMSC.

It is this article’s projection to think decolonised as an African (as my own Gestimmheid is from Africa), with Okolo’s proposition that African philosophy appeared only from the African-European connection. Okolo, was what can be point to, as utterances of philosophical proclivities that are not philosophically inherent, viewed as a (the) philosophy in Africa that originated and persisted in Africa. This can be explicated as an elementary cultural utterance of sapiens in Africa. Yet, original philosophy is defined by captious cogitation or thinking that originated post-World War II whereupon Africans should have seized some degree of precise scholarly and spontaneity, thus African philosophy. Still, it raises the inquiry: Why primarily inquire African philosophy? What is the motive behind African philosophy formulation of African sagaciousness, be a by-product of an African-European connection? A transparent enigma in Okolo’s stance is the assertion that the aggregated African, specifically the substance of being-African that he labelled with the phrase being-with is a non-African-radiation, and therefore not a realistic sapiens philosophy for European radiation on African philosophy. Contribution: This article investigates the theory or proposal that being or existential designate the evidence of existence that is at the heart or core of philosophy, an African-philosophy in its affirmative stance, without the European connection. This investigation then derives from: one, to evaluate the critique from sceptic authors against Okolo’s deficiency, two, to investigate the dating of the African philosophy thus the locality that philosophy has consistently abided and could be acquired in the dating’s spheres, and three, presupposes that what Africa is can then, with credibility, carry Africa.

El presente artículo plantea supuestos sobre aquellos factores sociales, culturales, personales y psicológicos que influyen en el comportamiento del consumidor y que afectan al desarrollo empresarial de las micros, pequeñas y medianas empresas en el contexto ecuatoriano. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de los datos que han sido generados e investigados estadísticamente por otros autores en estos últimos cinco años (2019-2023) sobre aquellos factores que influyen en las decisiones de compra del consumidor ecuatoriano. A partir de los hallazgos más relevantes se logró identificar y abordar 17 variables que actúan en la decisión de compra de un individuo que pueden generar un efecto de ruptura comportamental en el consumidor y que pueden afectar negativamente al desarrollo empresarial. Se concluye que, el consumidor posee decisiones de compra que son prioritarios que están relacionados con la educación, salud y alimentación frente a compras relacionados con productos de conveniencia.