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Prehospital emergency healthcare employees are frequently faced with ethical problems. Moral intelligence, which is seen as a rising value in the field of health, is very important for prehospital emergency health employees to choose the best and right action ethically. This study aims to evaluate the moral intelligence of prehospital emergency healthcare employees and to determine whether moral intelligence parameters differ according to various socio-demographic characteristics. This study was conducted with 261 emergency medical personnel working in the ambulance service between November 2021 and February 2022. Participants showed high sensitivity to equality, empathy, moral intelligence, justice, tolerance, self-control, and kindness in the delivery of healthcare services. There were no significant differences between the groups in the scale dimensions in terms of gender, educational level, working hours, working systems, income level and having children. Single/widowed/divorced/separated participants had significantly higher levels of empathy (p=0.004), justice (p=0.039) and self-control (p=0.009) than married participants. The self-control levels of paramedics were found to be higher than those of health officers/nurses/midwives/others (p=0.015). The high sensitivity of employees towards moral intelligence parameters can play an effective role in solving both ethical issues and problems related to other moral intelligence parameters in the field of prehospital healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The home learning environment (HLE) is the first environment in which children's early learning takes place. A number of studies have provided empirical evidence that the HLE contributes to children's cognitive, socio-emotional development. This study addresses the question of the factors that can be associated with creating a positive learning environment for children at home. Pilot quantitative data was collected from 324 families through a questionnaire about the activities parents get involved with their children. The frequency of reading-related activities as well as other in-home and out-of-home learning activities was calculated. Pearson's correlation coefficient was employed to assess the relationship between parent education levels and activities within the HLE. Questionnaire reliability was examined using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The results showed that the gender and educational level of parents had no influence on the frequency of their involvement in the activities or the type of activities they chose to engage. However, the parents' educational level has an impact on their beliefs, which influence the provision of learning opportunities and the quantity and quality of parent-child interactions. Further research on parental guidance or children's academic performance could collect more information on the factors that can create a more stimulating HLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While a positive relationship between social support and women’s reproductive decision-making outcomes exists, little is known about the reasons why women engage supporters to assist them when making reproductive decisions. This study explores Australian women’s reasons for engaging supporters for reproductive decision-making and whether women’s socio-demographic characteristics are suggestive of any such reasons. A modified content analysis approach, combining directed and summative analysis methods, was applied to data from two qualitative Australian studies exploring women’s support-seeking for reproductive decision-making. Findings suggest that the most important rationales for engaging supporters were ‘understanding or empathy’, ‘informed or educated’, ‘on the same page’, ‘little interference’, ‘close’ and ‘stake in the decision’. Some socio-demographic characteristics, particularly regional area and partner status, helped to explain some reasons, while other reasons were better explained by the nature of the decision being made. Further research is required to enhance our understanding of reproductive decision-making processes and enable women to access support that facilitates decisions appropriate to their bodies and life circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex condition affecting multiple systems in women of reproductive age and can negatively impact quality of life and increase the risk of depressive disorders. The present study was performed with aim to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) and levels of depression in overweight women with PCOS. Materials & Methods: This descriptive correlational study was conducted on overweight women with PCOS at the Hospitals of Baghdad in 2023-2024. The selected women completed three questionnaires, including the demographical data form, Depression scale for the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D NIMH), and Questionnaire measuring the well-being and overall standard of living experienced by women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOSQoL_53). Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 21.0). Results: The average age of women was 27.5± 7 years and 55% of women were married. Also, the body mass index refers to overweight among 94% of women and 45% were at moderate risk of possible Major Depressive Disorder (31.26±9.873), but 28% with severe symptoms at risk of probable MDD. There was no significant difference in depression among overweight women regarding their age group, marital status, occupational status, monthly income, residency, while there was significant difference in depression among overweight women with regard to level of education (P= 0.010). There was significant relationship between quality of life among overweight women and marital status (P=0.008); however, there was no significant relationship among quality of life and age, level of education, occupation, monthly income, and residency. Conclusion: The findings revealed a moderate level of depression with several major depressive disorder's symptoms among women with different age groups and educational and occupational status. Overweight was the main risk factor and cause major depressive disorder as well as level of depression which increases due to PCO symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Darkness is a barrier to cycling because the risk of an accident is higher and the feeling of social safety is lower. Factors influencing the choice to cycle (e.g., socio-demographic factors) have already been studied extensively, but rarely in relation to darkness. To implement strategies for increasing bicycle use (also when it is dark), we need to know what decision factors play a role for people to cycle or not when it is dark. A mixed method approach is adopted; applying a logistic regression using data of 842 surveyed cyclists in the province of East Flanders (Belgium), supplemented a qualitative analysis using 26 in-depth semi-structured interviews. Results show that knowing and using a route frequently has a positive effect on the likelihood of cycling in the dark. Elderly (and retirees) are less likely to cycle in the dark compared to youth and young adults. The latter group (ranging between 11 and 17 years old) often cycle to school while it is still dark (either or not accompanied by a parent). Whether or not one cycles alone or in group has a lower or higher propensity to cycle during the dark. People with a racing bike often cycle in groups and are less likely to cycle in the dark. Recreative and sportive cycle tours are mostly done during the day. Cyclists with an e-bike and speed pedelec have a higher likelihood to cycle in the dark compared to those who cycle on a regular bike. Women have 84% lower odds to cycle in the dark compared to men because they perceive darkness as less socially safe. Lastly, living in a rural environment has a positive impact on the odds to cycle in the dark compared to more urban environments. Establishing a cycling culture with inclusive infrastructure is essential for addressing the diverse needs of vulnerable groups and ensuring the provision of safe routes. A holistic approach is critical to effectively integrate these elements into urban planning and transport policies. • Darkness is a barrier to cycling due to a lower (sense of) safety. • More insights are required to organize effective strategies for increasing bike use. • Knowing and using a route frequently has a positive impact on cycling in the dark. • Young adults, men and electric bike owners have higher odds of cycling in the dark. • Policy interventions should focus on the actual needs of the intended target groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Frequent presenters (FPs) are a group of individuals who visit the hospital emergency department (ED) frequently for urgent care. Many among the group present with the main diagnosis of mental health conditions. This group of individual tend to use ED resources disproportionally and significantly affects overall healthcare outcomes. No previous reviews have examined the profiles of FPs with mental health conditions. Aims This study aims to identify the key socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who frequently present to ED with a mental health primary diagnosis by performing a comprehensive systematic review of the existing literature. Method PRISMA guideline was used. PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science (WOS) were searched in May 2023. A manual search on the reference list of included articles was conducted at the same time. Covidence was used to perform extraction and screening, which were completed independently by two authors. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined. Results The abstracts of 3341 non-duplicate articles were screened, with 40 full texts assessed for eligibility. 20 studies were included from 2004 to 2022 conducted in 6 countries with a total patient number of 25,688 (52% male, 48% female, mean age 40.7 years old). 27% were unemployed, 20% married, 41% homeless, and 17% had tertiary or above education. 44% had a history of substance abuse or alcohol dependence. The top 3 diagnoses are found to be anxiety disorders (44%), depressive disorders (39%) schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (33%). Conclusion On average, FPs are middle-aged and equally prevalent in both genders. Current data lacks representation for gender-diverse groups. They are significantly associated with high rates of unemployment, homelessness, lower than average education level, and being single. Anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders are the most common clinical diagnoses associated with the group.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that leads to impaired social adaptation, interpersonal interaction, and disability. Negative symptoms are an integral part of schizophrenia. In the world psychiatric science and practice, there are still many questions about the typology of schizophrenia, the description of its clinical manifestations, first of all, the features of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Psychiatrists of different countries draw attention to the fact that these descriptions do not always coincide. Socio-demographic factors can be considered as factors affecting the prognosis of the course and outcome of schizophrenia. In this regard, a comprehensive approach to the study of socio-demographic characteristics of patients with schizophrenia involves the study of the influence of social factors on the formation and course of schizophrenia and determines the relevance of this study. The purpose of the study was to determine the features of socio-demographic characteristics of patients with schizophrenia in order to improve diagnosis and create psycho-corrective measures. 252 patients with negative symptoms of schizophrenia and 79 patients with positive symptoms of schizophrenia were examined. During the research, a comprehensive approach was used, consisting in the use of clinical-psychopathological, clinical-anamnestic and statistical research methods. Socio-demographic features of patients with negative symptoms in schizophrenia were established, consisting in the predominance of women; patients aged 20-29 years; persons with special secondary education; divorced and single persons; patients busy with physical labor; average level of material wealth; very poor and poor living conditions. Socio-demographic characteristics of patients with positive symptoms in schizophrenia were outlined by the predominance of men; patients aged 30-49 years; persons with incomplete higher education and with higher education; divorced and single persons; patients with disabilities; with extremely low and low levels of material well-being and a satisfactory level of living conditions. The conducted research made it possible to draw conclusions that socio-demographic features of patients with negative and positive symptoms have their own specificity, which should be taken into account when diagnosing patients with schizophrenia.

Background: Frequent presenters (FPs) are a group of individuals who visit the hospital emergency department (ED) frequently for urgent care. Many among the group present with the main diagnosis of mental health conditions. This group of individual tend to use ED resources disproportionally and significantly affects overall healthcare outcomes. No previous reviews have examined the profiles of FPs with mental health conditions. Aims: This study aims to identify the key socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who frequently present to ED with a mental health primary diagnosis by performing a comprehensive systematic review of the existing literature. Method: PRISMA guideline was used. PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science (WOS) were searched in May 2023. A manual search on the reference list of included articles was conducted at the same time. Covidence was used to perform extraction and screening, which were completed independently by two authors. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined. Results: The abstracts of 3341 non-duplicate articles were screened, with 40 full texts assessed for eligibility. 20 studies were included from 2004 to 2022 conducted in 6 countries with a total patient number of 25,688 (52% male, 48% female, mean age 40.7 years old). 27% were unemployed, 20% married, 41% homeless, and 17% had tertiary or above education. 44% had a history of substance abuse or alcohol dependence. The top 3 diagnoses are found to be anxiety disorders (44%), depressive disorders (39%) schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (33%). Conclusion: On average, FPs are middle-aged and equally prevalent in both genders. Current data lacks representation for gender-diverse groups. They are significantly associated with high rates of unemployment, homelessness, lower than average education level, and being single. Anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders are the most common clinical diagnoses associated with the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cost of wound dressing alone constitutes a major financial burden for successful wound care. This cost is known to be influenced by frequency of wound dressing, length of hospitalization, type and cost of dressing materials, consumables and product used. The thrust of this study was to examine the correlation between patient's socio-demographic characteristics and the cost of wound dressing per acute care episode Method: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used. The study was conducted in three Nigerian teaching hospitals reputed for wound care and other traumatic injuries. Study sites included medical, surgical, orthopaedic & plastic wards as well as burn, radio-oncology and neuroscience units. The data were collected via interview administered questionnaire designed based on systematic literature view and researchers previous field experience. Hypothesis was tested by inferential statistic at 0.05 level of significance while ethical approval was received from each of the hospital Result: Most of the respondents fall between the age group 30-39 years. 63% of the respondents are male while 37% are female. The highest level of education was secondary school. Respondents were mostly artisans and traders. Majority earn less than N50000 as monthly income. There was a weak correlation between respondent's age (r= -0.097, p= 0.185 > 0.05), education (r= -0.008, p= 0.936 > 0.05), gender (r = 0.133, p= 0.296>0.05), occupation (r=0.001, p=0.993>0.05), family size (r= -0.161, p= 0.026<0.05), monthly income (r = -0.071, p=0.331> 0.05,) and cost of wound dressing per acute care episode Conclusion: Finding suggests no significant relationship between patient's socio-demographic characteristics and cost of wound dressing per acute care episode. Therefore, there is an urgent need to include artisans, traders, hawkers, small business owners and other low-income earners in the National Health Insurance Scheme [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social Sciences Studies is the property of Social Sciences Studies 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.)

Copyright of Pedagogische Studien is the property of Vereniging Onderwijsresearch 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.)

The study aimed to assess the extent of pesticide use among potato-growing farmers in Bangladesh and its relationship with their knowledge, attitude, and socio-demographic characteristics. Data were collected from 553 farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire through multistage random sampling. Bivariate analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between the frequency of pesticide use and various socio-demographic factors. Results showed that out of 321 different pesticide brands reported, 50.5% were registered, while 47.7% were unregistered and 1.9% were banned. Among the registered pesticides, 5.6% were highly hazardous, 24.8% were moderately hazardous, and 6.2% were slightly hazardous as per World Health Organization category. A high percentage (96%) of farmers reported using pesticides in their fields, with 16.6% applying pesticides more than five times in a cropping season. Data revealed that majority of the farmers were aware of the negative effect of pesticides on health and environment. Most farmers used hand towels (77.9%) and ordinary shirts (70.0%) to cover their bodies to avoid pesticide exposure. Inappropriate disposal of empty pesticide containers was also observed. Negative binomial regression analysis revealed significant positive associations between the frequency of pesticide application and potato productivity, rate of fertilizer application, area of land owned by farmers, and their knowledge about the negative effects of pesticides on human health. The study suggests adopting integrated pest management practices, developing pest-resistant potato varieties, ensuring safe handling practices and disposal as well as stringent enforcement of laws to mitigate pesticide externalities and hence ensure sustainability in agriculture.

Background: Cholecystectomy often requires dietary and lifestyle adjustments, making adherence to educational programs crucial for optimal recovery. This study evaluated patients' compliance with a post-cholecystectomy educational program and examined how socio-demographic factors influenced adherence. This study aimed to evaluate patients' adherence to an educational program following cholecystectomy and to investigate the relationship between adherence and socio-demographic characteristics. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed at AL Imam Sadiq Teaching Hospital. Non-probability sampling was used to recruit 30 patients for the study group and 30 for the control group. A 9-item instrument was developed, and a panel of 11 experts established its validity. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed on the collected data. Results: The study found that socio-demographic factors play a significant role in patients' adherence to the educational program. The pretest adherence was (3.19) for the case group and (2.92) for the control group. Posttest adherence significantly improved to (5.78) for the case group and (3.13) for the control group. Notably, patients' employment status, educational level, and monthly income were found to significantly influence the effectiveness of the instructional program on nutritional adherence. Conclusion: The instructional program had a positive impact on patients who underwent cholecystectomy, effectively improving their nutritional adherence in both the case and control groups. This success underscores the potential of such programs in post-cholecystectomy patient care. The study recommends increasing patients' knowledge regarding nutritional adherence and explaining dietary recommendations through social media. Additionally, it suggests implementing the present program for all patients undergoing cholecystectomy.

The problem of human individual development requires not just the accumulation and generalization of data, but also clarification, a systematic understanding of the individual variability of higher mental functions in relation to environmental factors and taking into account the risks associated with their formation.The aim: to identify systematic patterns of correlation between individual variability of higher mental functions of preschool children and the material prosperity of their families.Methods. Traditional neuropsychological tests developed by A.R. Luria and adapted in the neuropsychology laboratory of the Faculty of Psychology at Lomonosov Moscow State University were used. We examined 180 preschool children from families with high, average, and low income.Results. The greatest individual variability in the period of preschool age in relation to the level of material prosperity of the family, are the functions with a long period of formation, these are functions of block III of the brain, and the functions provided mainly by the left hemispheric parts of the brain. Children from the most affluent families have the highest indices of brain block III functions (p < 0.001) and left hemispheric functions (p < 0.001). Preschoolers from low-affluence families had indexes of both front brain function (p < 0.001) and left hemispheric function (p < 0.001) in the zone of negative values.Conclusion. The empirical results of the study allow us to clarify that the factor of material prosperity of the family, both directly, factor-wise, and indirectly, cumulatively, through the system of proximal factors, can make its selective contribution to the variability of indicators of children’s higher mental functions.

The aim of this paper is to examine how citizens of the City of Zagreb perceive urban security measures, such as cameras, video surveillance, applications for reporting problems to city services and the police, and how they perceive informing citizens about possible self-protective behaviour and security on the official website of the City of Zagreb and about actions to be taken in crisis situations. The research was conducted on a sample of 3,400 adult citizens of the City of Zagreb, and the sample was segmented according to the 17 city districts, with 200 respondents in each. Respondents filled out, in person and online, a questionnaire consisting of nine sections that examined the perception and feeling of (in)security in the City of Zagreb, satisfaction with the quality of life in the city and the district, and a feeling of accountability and willingness to actively participate in creating a feeling of security and raising the quality of life of citizens in the City of Zagreb. The analysis of the obtained results related to the security of citizens indicates that the respondents consider all measures of urban security of citizens important, and additional analyses have indicated that women, compared to men, assess the importance of measures as higher. The tendency of younger respondents to highlight applications as important urban security measures has also been noted. In addition, people with a lower level of trust in other people are more likely to attach greater importance to urban security measures.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that leads to impaired social adaptation, interpersonal interaction, and disability. Negative symptoms are an integral part of schizophrenia. In the world psychiatric science and practice, there are still many questions about the typology of schizophrenia, the description of its clinical manifestations, first of all, the features of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Psychiatrists of different countries draw attention to the fact that these descriptions do not always coincide. Socio-demographic factors can be considered as factors affecting the prognosis of the course and outcome of schizophrenia. In this regard, a comprehensive approach to the study of sociodemographic characteristics of patients with schizophrenia involves the study of the influence of social factors on the formation and course of schizophrenia and determines the relevance of this study. The purpose of the study was to determine the features of socio-demographic characteristics of patients with schizophrenia in order to improve diagnosis and create psycho-corrective measures. 252 patients with negative symptoms of schizophrenia and 79 patients with positive symptoms of schizophrenia were examined. During the research, a comprehensive approach was used, consisting in the use of clinical-psychopathological, clinical-anamnestic and statistical research methods. Socio-demographic features of patients with negative symptoms in schizophrenia were established, consisting in the predominance of women; patients aged 20-29 years; persons with special secondary education; divorced and single persons; patients busy with physical labor; average level of material wealth; very poor and poor living conditions. Sociodemographic characteristics of patients with positive symptoms in schizophrenia were outlined by the predominance of men; patients aged 30-49 years; persons with incomplete higher education and with higher education; divorced and single persons; patients with disabilities; with extremely low and low levels of material well-being and a satisfactory level of living conditions. The conducted research made it possible to draw conclusions that socio-demographic features of patients with negative and positive symptoms have their own specificity, which should be taken into account when diagnosing patients with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is emphasized in the literature that today's university students experience hopelessness due to various factors and factors. In particular, students' hopelessness levels may differ depending on socio-demographic variables. The hopelessness experienced by students can play important roles in their career and future expectations. In this context, the study analysed the hopelessness levels of students continuing their education at Suleyman Demirel University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and whether their hopelessness differed according to socio-demographic variables. The reason for choosing this sample is that almost no research has been done on this sample group before. The data of the research, which was conducted according to the comparative screening model, was collected from the relevant sample group. The data set collected from 388 students was tested by t-test and ANOVA analysis with the help of SPPS program. Hypotheses were tested as a result of analyses on whether students' hopelessness levels differ according to socio-demographic variables. According to the findings, it was determined that the students studying at the relevant faculty experienced mild and moderate hopelessness. In addition, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in the hopelessness levels of the participating students according to gender, satisfaction with education, conscious choice of department, desire to work in the field they studied, country preference to work in, grade level, grade point average (academic success) and department groups. On the other hand, no statistically significant difference could be detected in the students' hopelessness levels according to their computer usage knowledge, extra computer program knowledge, foreign language knowledge level, family income level and the sector groups in which the students want to work after graduation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beach resources, facilities, and environmental conditions play critical roles in shaping recreational activities and opportunities for beachgoers. Thus, this study explores the dimensions of recreational activities undertaken at tourist beaches in Ghana, while also examining the disparities in activities among beach users. Employing a quantitative approach, data were collected from 315 beach users between November 2020 and February 2021 at tourist beaches in the Accra Metropolis. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to discern the dimensions of beach recreational activities engaged by the users. Three primary dimensions emerged: water-dependent, sand-dependent, and beach facility-based activities. The findings revealed that beach facility-based activities (M = 2.81), such as photography and enjoying snacks with a scenic beach backdrop, were the most preferred and pursued by users. Conversely, water-dependent activities (M = 3.76), such as swimming, freediving, and sand-dependent activities (M = 3.68), such as beach relaxation and sand bathing, were less preferred and pursued due to prevailing beach conditions. Furthermore, the analysis examined variations in recreational activities across visitors' demographic profiles using statistical methods such as t-tests and analysis of variance. The findings revealed that gender, nationality, age, marital status, education, and purpose of visit significantly influence tourists' recreational pursuits. Coastal and tourism managers should prioritize initiatives aimed at enhancing water and sand quality, including regular monitoring, pollution control, and sustainable waste management practices. Additionally, tailored interventions should be designed based on the preferences and sensitivities of different demographic groups to ensure a more inclusive and gratifying beach experience for all visitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de la Facultad de Medicina Humana is the property of Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Biomedicas de la Universidad Ricardo Palma 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.)

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of food security, and the association of food security with financial hardship and socio-demographic characteristics among the ageing population in Thailand. Methods: The study extracted data on 1,197 persons age 60 years or older from a nationally-representative sample survey of Thai households. The food security data were collected using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the association between financial hardship, socio-demographic characteristics, and food security. Results: Of the total sample, 71% had food security. The least probability of having food security was observed in the respondents who sometimes and often had income problems (p < 0.001), and felt dissatisfied with their financial situation (p < 0.001). The respondents who were female, at oldest-old age, with lower than primary school education and in the Northeast were less likely to have food security. Conclusion: These findings suggest the need for government assistance for those who are experiencing financial hardship to help them manage their finances and food security more effectively, taking into account different socio-demographic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the research, socio-economic and demographic factors affecting the fish consumption amount of consumers in Iğdır province were tried to be determined. The main material of the research is the survey data obtained from 325 consumers residing in the province of Iğdır and determined by using the commensurate sampling method. In the research, the factors affecting the fish consumption amount of the consumers were analyzed with the sequential probit model. In the sequential probit model created, the fish consumption levels of the consumers were used as the addict variable, and the inaddict variables were determined as gender, income level, frequency of fish consumption, type of fish consumed, annual red meat consumption and type of fish consumption. The model results; The variables of gender, income level, frequency of fish consumption, type of fish consumed, annual red meat consumption and fish consumption pattern were all found to be statistically significant. According to the ordinal probit model results, it was determined that the gender of the consumer decreased the fish consumption level. As expected in the research, it was defined that there was a negative relationship between income level and fish consumption level, and a positive relationship between fish consumption frequency and consumption amount. With respect to the model conculsions, it was defined that there is a positive relationship between the amount of red meat consumption of consumers and the amount of fish consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Renewable energy sources development has introduced wind farms as a regular landscape element. However, as human-made elements, wind farms influence on landscape's scenic beauty differently according to the socio-demographic characteristics of the beholder. Objectives: In this regard, the study analyses the population's visual perception of wind farms into Mediterranean landscapes with reference to three social variables: gender, age and education level. Method: People's preferences were assessed through two on-line surveys with several landscape photographs, with and without wind turbines. Subsequently, the score of each photograph was statistically analyzed regarding the landscapes showed and the respondents' socio-demographic variables. Results: The results demonstrate how vegetation had a positive effect in landscape' scenic beauty, especially forest, as well as people do not perceive negatively wind turbines presence. In fact, their implementation in deteriorated or low scored landscapes improves its scenic beauty. Lastly, despite the fact that gender, age and education do not influence on people's perception, there is a trend between these factors and wind turbines influence on landscape. Conclusions: In addition to reinforce the vegetation positive effects on landscape' scenic beauty, wind turbines have become a new landscape element that, in general, do not have a negative impact on its scenic beauty but, according to age, different consideration appeared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Health Sciences / İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Istanbul Gelisim Universitesi Saglik Bilimleri Yuksekokulu 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.)

Introduction. The solution to the problem of the relationship between self-assessments of appearance and assessments of subjective well-being (SWB) can answer the question of the direction in which these phenomena are determined by each other. The research results show the need to consider factors that change the structure of the relationship between self-assessments of appearance and assessments of subjective well-being. This study is the first effort to identify the types of structures of relationships between self-assessments of appearance and assessments of subjective well-being when including such socio-demographic characteristics as gender, age group, level of education, and economic status. Hypothesis: The types of relationships between self-assessments of appearance and assessments of subjective well-being may differ depending on the impact of a combination of socio-demographic factors. Methods. The study used the Socio-demographic Questionnaire, the Self-assessments of Appearance questionnaire by V. A. Labunskaya (2019), and the Subjective Well-Being Scale modified by V. M. Sokolova (1996). Russian-language sample comprised of 163 subjects: (a) 64.5 % – 18–25 years old (mean age = 20.9); (b) 35.5 % – 26–36 years old (mean age = 31.4); 64.5 % of respondents were women; 52.2 % had incomplete higher education; 54.6 % considered themselves to be in the group of ‘rather poor than rich’. Mathematical procedures: frequency, correlation, and factor analyses, t-test for two independent samples (IBM SPPS Statistic 23.0). Results. Four types of relationships were identified. The strongest factor was the aggregate of self-assessments of appearance, associated with belonging to the age group of 26–36-year-olds and with the ‘rather rich than poor’ economic status. Discussion. First, self-assessments of appearance show varying sensitivity to socio-demographic factors and their combination. Secondly, self-assessments of appearance in combination with socio-demographic characteristics are a stronger factor of the direction of associations compared to SWB assessments. Thirdly, there is independence and autonomy of self-assessments of appearance and SWB assessments in young people with certain socio-demographic characteristics.

Abstract Background Vaccination is an effective strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination has varied across and within countries. Switzerland has had lower levels of COVID-19 vaccination uptake in the general population than many other high-income countries. Understanding the socio-demographic factors associated with vaccination uptake can help to inform future vaccination strategies to increase uptake. Methods We conducted a longitudinal online survey in the Swiss population, consisting of six survey waves from June to September 2021. Participants provided information on socio-demographic characteristics, history of testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), social contacts, willingness to be vaccinated, and vaccination status. We used a multivariable Poisson regression model to estimate the adjusted rate ratio (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Results We recorded 6,758 observations from 1,884 adults. For the regression analysis, we included 3,513 observations from 1,883 participants. By September 2021, 600 (75%) of 806 study participants had received at least one vaccine dose. Participants who were older, male, and students, had a higher educational level, household income, and number of social contacts, and lived in a household with a medically vulnerable person were more likely to have received at least one vaccine dose. Female participants, those who lived in rural areas and smaller households, and people who perceived COVID-19 measures as being too strict were less likely to be vaccinated. We found no significant association between previous SARS-CoV-2 infections and vaccination uptake. Conclusions Our results suggest that socio-demographic factors as well as individual behaviours and attitudes played an important role in COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Switzerland. Therefore, appropriate communication with the public is needed to ensure that public health interventions are accepted and implemented by the population. Tailored COVID-19 vaccination strategies in Switzerland that aim to improve uptake should target specific subgroups such as women, people from rural areas or people with lower socio-demographic status.

It is to evaluate whether there is any change in the community's applications to primary care in the Covid-19 pandemic and to evaluate the level of knowledge of patients about Covid-19 in this important process. A total of 331 female and male volunteers between the ages of 18-80 who applied to a family medicine unit on the European side of Istanbul between September 2020 and November 2020 were included in the study. 30 questions in the questionnaire were filled by a single investigator after the patients were informed and their consent was obtained. This study, which we conducted in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, showed us that; The most important means of communication in making the pandemic known to the public are TV and social media (87.3%). Thanks to the full closure and other protective measures implemented in the early days of the pandemic, a controlled increase in the number of cases was observed, and the number of people who caught Covid-19 among the people who participated in our survey was quite low (3%) and most of these people were treated at home (62.5%). The epidemic process also affected hospital admissions of people, and it was seen that the number of people who did not apply to the hospital for more than 1 month was the majority (74.9%). One of the remarkable ones among the answers to the Covid-19 information questions; although there is no specific treatment for Covid-19 yet, 209 people (63.1%) say that there is a cure for Covid-19. We think that the preventive treatment (Hydroxychloroquine and Favipiravir) applied by the filiation teams, even if there is no specific treatment, is effective in these discourses. However, although the vaccine studies have not been concluded yet, 34 (10.3%) people stated that the vaccine was available. [Med-Science 2023; 12(2.000): 436-41]

Aim. To study levels and types of physical activity, as well as its individual socio-demographic and seasonal determinants in the Russian population according to the Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and their Risk Factors in Regions of Russian Federation (ESSE-RF) study.Material and methods. Data from the ESSE-RF2 (2017) and ESSERF3 (2020-2022) was used. The sample included 28731 men and women aged 35-74 from 15 regions. The level of physical activity was assessed using the Global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ). The following socio-economic and demographic characteristics were taken as covariates: sex, age, place of residence (urban and rural), level of education, marital status, work characteristics, income level, season of the year. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22 (IBM Corp. USA).Results. The study showed that 27,4% of the sample have insufficient physical activity. Among the low physical activity category, there are more women than men (28,12 vs 26,7%, p

Aim. To analyze socio-demographic characteristics and the prevalence of behavioral risk factors in the adult population of the Vladimir region, taking into account sex characteristics.Material and methods. This cross-sectional population-based study was organized in 5 cities of the Vladimir region (Vladimir, Kovrov, Murom, Yuryev-Polsky and Vyazniki) from May 2018 to March 2020. The study included 1350 men and women aged 30-69 years. The response rate was 87%. A total of 1174 people completed the study, of whom 424 (36.1%) were men and 750 (63.9%) were women. A total of 1174 people completed the study. Of these, 424 (36,1%) were men and 750 (63,9%) women. Respondents were surveyed using a standard questionnaire prepared by the National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine, which included socio-demographic characteristics, behavioral risk factors, data on somatic diseases and medications taken.Results. Smoking prevalence among men was 38,4%, which was 4 times higher than in women (p=0,001). Walking

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of food security, and the association of food security with financial hardship and socio-demographic characteristics among the ageing population in Thailand.Methods: The study extracted data on 1,197 persons age 60 years or older from a nationally-representative sample survey of Thai households. The food security data were collected using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the association between financial hardship, socio-demographic characteristics, and food security.Results: Of the total sample, 71% had food security. The least probability of having food security was observed in the respondents who sometimes and often had income problems (p < 0.001), and felt dissatisfied with their financial situation (p < 0.001). The respondents who were female, at oldest-old age, with lower than primary school education and in the Northeast were less likely to have food security.Conclusion: These findings suggest the need for government assistance for those who are experiencing financial hardship to help them manage their finances and food security more effectively, taking into account different socio-demographic characteristics.

Diabetes is one of the fatal diseases that play a vital role in the growth of other diseases in the human body. From a clinical perspective, the most significant approach to mitigating the effects of diabetes is early-stage control and management, with the aim of a potential cure. However, lack of awareness and expensive clinical tests are the primary reasons why clinical diagnosis and preventive measures are neglected in lower-income countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. From this perspective, this study aims to build an automated machine learning (ML) model, which will predict diabetes at an early stage using socio-demographic characteristics rather than clinical attributes, due to the fact that clinical features are not always accessible to all people from lower-income countries. To find the best fit of the supervised ML classifier of the model, we applied six classification algorithms and found that RF outperformed with an accuracy of 99.36%. In addition, the most significant risk factors were found based on the SHAP value by all the applied classifiers. This study reveals that polyuria, polydipsia, and delayed healing are the most significant risk factors for developing diabetes. The findings indicate that the proposed model is highly capable of predicting diabetes in the early stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Academic Social Science Studies is the property of Journal of Academic Social Science Studies 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.)

Abstract Background Regular breast screening is one of the most effective ways to detect early signs of breast cancer but travel distance to cancer-diagnostic facilities can affect breast screening attendance. Yet, limited studies have examined the impact of distance to cancer-diagnostic facilities on clinical breast screening behaviour among women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study examined the influence of travel distance to a health facility on clinical breast screening behaviour in five SSA countries: Namibia, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Kenya, and Lesotho. The study further assessed variations in clinical breast screening behaviour across diverse socio-demographic characteristics of women. Methods A sample of 45,945 women was drawn from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for the included countries. The DHS uses 2-stage stratified cluster sampling to select nationally representative samples of women (15–49) and men (15–64) via a cross-sectional design. Proportions and binary logistic regression were used to examine associations between the women’s socio-demographic characteristics and breast screening attendance. Results The overall proportion of survey participants who underwent clinical breast cancer screening was 16.3%. Travel distance to a health facility had a significant (p

The article analyzes the empirical data and discusses the problems of forming an image of a law clerk in the Orlov region. The relevance of the topic of the research is due to the huge outflow and constant flow of personnel in the courts, as well as in the preparation of the so-called “portrait” of a law clerk to identify his/her strengths and weaknesses. The purpose of the research is to analyze and study the Orlov regional court apparatus as a professional group. The object of the study is the staff of the Orlov regional court apparatus, the subject of which is the formation of the image of a staff member of the Orlovsk regional court apparatus as a member of the professional group. The author used the method of mass survey (questionnaire). The sample size was 26 people, of which 84% were women and 16% were men who were employees of the Zavodsky District Court. Oryol. The research has shown that court staff are a special social group that has certain social and demographic characteristics. The author notes that such characteristics as gender, age, social status, geographical mobility, education are crucial in shaping the image of the court staff in the Orlov region. The main distinguishing features of the above-mentioned workers as a professional group are strict subordination, performance, accuracy, discipline, responsibility, ideology.

Background: Vaccination is an effective strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination has varied across and within countries. Switzerland has had lower levels of COVID-19 vaccination uptake in the general population than many other high-income countries. Understanding the socio-demographic factors associated with vaccination uptake can help to inform future vaccination strategies to increase uptake. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal online survey in the Swiss population, consisting of six survey waves from June to September 2021. Participants provided information on socio-demographic characteristics, history of testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), social contacts, willingness to be vaccinated, and vaccination status. We used a multivariable Poisson regression model to estimate the adjusted rate ratio (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Results: We recorded 6,758 observations from 1,884 adults. For the regression analysis, we included 3,513 observations from 1,883 participants. By September 2021, 600 (75%) of 806 study participants had received at least one vaccine dose. Participants who were older, male, and students, had a higher educational level, household income, and number of social contacts, and lived in a household with a medically vulnerable person were more likely to have received at least one vaccine dose. Female participants, those who lived in rural areas and smaller households, and people who perceived COVID-19 measures as being too strict were less likely to be vaccinated. We found no significant association between previous SARS-CoV-2 infections and vaccination uptake. Conclusions: Our results suggest that socio-demographic factors as well as individual behaviours and attitudes played an important role in COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Switzerland. Therefore, appropriate communication with the public is needed to ensure that public health interventions are accepted and implemented by the population. Tailored COVID-19 vaccination strategies in Switzerland that aim to improve uptake should target specific subgroups such as women, people from rural areas or people with lower socio-demographic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Uporabna Informatika is the property of Slovensko Drustvo Informatika 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.)

Copyright of Social Sciences & Humanities Studies / Društvene i Humanističke Studije (DHS) is the property of Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Tuzla 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.)

It is to evaluate whether there is any change in the community's applications to primary care in the Covid-19 pandemic and to evaluate the level of knowledge of patients about Covid-19 in this important process. A total of 331 female and male volunteers between the ages of 18-80 who applied to a family medicine unit on the European side of Istanbul between September 2020 and November 2020 were included in the study. 30 questions in the questionnaire were filled by a single investigator after the patients were informed and their consent was obtained. This study, which we conducted in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, showed us that; The most important means of communication in making the pandemic known to the public are TV and social media (87.3%). Thanks to the full closure and other protective measures implemented in the early days of the pandemic, a controlled increase in the number of cases was observed, and the number of people who caught Covid-19 among the people who participated in our survey was quite low (3%) and most of these people were treated at home (62.5%). The epidemic process also affected hospital admissions of people, and it was seen that the number of people who did not apply to the hospital for more than 1 month was the majority (74.9%). One of the remarkable ones among the answers to the Covid-19 information questions; although there is no specific treatment for Covid-19 yet, 209 people (63.1%) say that there is a cure for Covid-19. We think that the preventive treatment (Hydroxychloroquine and Favipiravir) applied by the filiation teams, even if there is no specific treatment, is effective in these discourses. However, although the vaccine studies have not been concluded yet, 34 (10.3%) people stated that the vaccine was available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is an attempt to explore the nature and characteristics of urban travel behavior in the metropolitan area of the Iranian capital, Tehran. To this end, using the perspectives of 822 participants via a questionnaire survey, we assessed six major Travel Behavior Components (TBCs)—namely, travel mode, travel time, travel destination, travel frequency, travel choice, and travel purpose—from the lens of five different sociodemographic characteristics—that is, gender, age, family structure, and educational and occupational groups. Using SPSS-26, MAXQDA, and Structural Equation Model (SEM) via AMOS software, we analyzed priorities and preferences related to TBCs across different social groups and explored the impact of preferences of different social groups on TBCs in the Tehran metropolitan area. The results indicate that firstly, the tendency to travel by private transport has the highest share among all groups compared with other modes of travel. Secondly, we identified four major challenges affecting urban travel behavior in Tehran: lacking diverse options for urban traveling, old vehicles and infrastructure, traffic congestion, and unequal access to travel facilities in the city. Finally, we found that sociodemographic characteristics have a relatively strong and significant impact on TBCs. The study highlights the role of sociodemographic characteristics in travel behavior transformations and gives more insights into the travel behavior preferences of urban residents. Such insights would be effective for city policymakers and planners to enhance the quality of urban transportation.

Environmentally significant behaviours, such as pro-environmental behaviour and environmental activism, have remained relatively ill-defined and poorly integrated to date. The relationship between environmental activism and subjective well-being is particularly unclear. Therefore, the aim of this research is to determine whether some socio-demographic characteristics, such as gender, age and level of education, predict pro-environmental behaviour and environmental activism, as well as whether these behaviours have some effect on subjective well-being. A total of 354 respondents (222 female; 62.7%) filled out the Environmental Responsibility Feelings Scale, the Ecological Behaviour Scale, and the Environmental Activism Scale. Utilizing a correlational study design, path analysis revealed that older respondents and those with a higher level of education exhibit more pro-environmental behaviour and environmental activism. The results also suggest that the feeling of responsibility towards the environment significantly predicts the level of environmental activism, but not pro-environmental behaviour. Gender did not show a significant effect on either pro-environmental behaviour or environmental activism. Finally, it was found that environmentally significant behaviours in this research were not related to subjective well-being. Possible explanations of the obtained results are offered, as well as guidelines for future research into these phenomena.

Abstract Background Birth asphyxia is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality worldwide. In Uganda, it accounts for 28.9% of all neonatal deaths. With a view to inform policy and practice interventions to reduce adverse neonatal outcomes, we aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with birth asphyxia at two referral hospitals in Northern Uganda. Methods This was a cross-sectional study, involving women who gave birth at two referral hospitals. Women in labour were consecutively enrolled by the research assistants, who also attended the births and determined Apgar scores. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, pregnancy history and care during labour, were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Participants were tested for; i) malaria (peripheral and placental blood samples), ii) syphilis, iii) white blood cell counts (WBC), and iv) haemoglobin levels. The prevalence of birth asphyxia was determined as the number of newborns with Apgar scores

Background: Regular breast screening is one of the most effective ways to detect early signs of breast cancer but travel distance to cancer-diagnostic facilities can affect breast screening attendance. Yet, limited studies have examined the impact of distance to cancer-diagnostic facilities on clinical breast screening behaviour among women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study examined the influence of travel distance to a health facility on clinical breast screening behaviour in five SSA countries: Namibia, Burkina Faso, Cote D'Ivoire, Kenya, and Lesotho. The study further assessed variations in clinical breast screening behaviour across diverse socio-demographic characteristics of women. Methods: A sample of 45,945 women was drawn from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for the included countries. The DHS uses 2-stage stratified cluster sampling to select nationally representative samples of women (15–49) and men (15–64) via a cross-sectional design. Proportions and binary logistic regression were used to examine associations between the women's socio-demographic characteristics and breast screening attendance. Results: The overall proportion of survey participants who underwent clinical breast cancer screening was 16.3%. Travel distance to a health facility had a significant (p < 0.001) impact on clinical breast screening behaviour as 18.5% of participants who self-reported distance as "not a big problem" attended clinical breast screening compared to 10.8% who self-reported distance as "a big problem". The study further found that various socio-demographic factors were significantly associated with breast cancer screening uptake, including age, education level, media exposure, wealth status, parity, contraceptive use, health insurance coverage, and marital status. The multivariate analysis controlling for other factors confirmed the strong association between distance to health facilities and screening uptake. Conclusions: The study found that travel distance is a significant factor affecting clinical breast screening attendance among women in the selected SSA countries. Furthermore, the likelihood of breast screening attendance varied depending on different women's characteristics. It is crucial to prioritise breast screening interventions, particularly among the disadvantaged women identified in this study, to achieve maximum public health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decades, Europe has been shocked repeatedly by terrorist crimes. This has led to an influx of suspects and convicts of terrorism in the prison system. The aim of this study is to provide insight into socio-demographic, psychopathological and criminal background characteristics of convicted violent extremists. Retrospective analyses were conducted on primary source data from 82 convicts in Dutch prison terrorism wings. Results showed that violent extremists are a heterogeneous group regarding socio-demographic characteristics. About 60% of the population had previously been convicted of ordinary crimes and a third suffered from a mental disorder. To gain more insight into violent extremists, additional research is needed into motivational and other risk factors. The latter is a necessary step to improve the identification, risk assessment, and effective treatment of violent extremists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the respondents' study habits and social media exposure during the school year. 2019- 2020.The study's participants were 50 grade 10 students of Alabel 4 District. The researcher administered the survey to all of the student respondents. Majority of respondents were 17 years old, and the majority of their parents had a bachelor's degree and were all employed. The researcher administered the survey to all of the student respondents. The majority of respondents were 17 years old, and the majority of their parents had a bachelor's degree and were all employed. It also has a high correlation with respondents' social media exposure. The responses revealed that respondents' use of social media has a direct or indirect positive effect on their academic performance. The study suggests that parents should constantly guide and supervise their children's use of social media, particularly female and younger students who are more interested in social networking. Despite the fact that this study discovered that respondents' socio-demographic characteristics have no bearing on their academic performance. It also suggests that a long-term program be implemented to assist students in constantly improving their study habits. According to the study's findings, teachers must continue to effectively stimulate and sustain students' interests and enthusiasm for learning in order for them to consistently achieve exceptional academic performance. Teachers should receive regular service trainings and workshops to stay current on their knowledge and pedagogical skills, improve the quality of the teacher workforce, and improve students' academic achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: During the first phase of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdowns in South Africa (SA), both alcohol and tobacco were considered non-essential goods and their sales were initially prohibited and further restricted to certain days and timeframes. This study investigates self-reported changes in alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking behaviour in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in SA. Methods: A cross-sectional national survey was conducted in October 2021 (before the Omicron wave 4 and while SA was in low-level lockdown) among 3,402 nationally representative respondents (weighted to 39,640,674) aged 18 years and older. Alcohol consumption and tobacco use were assessed from the beginning of the lockdown towards the end of March 2020 until October 2021 using the WHO-AUDIT and the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Global Adult Tobacco Survey questionnaires, respectively. Results: Among those that drank alcohol (33.2%), 31.4% were classified as having a drinking problem that could be hazardous or harmful and 18.9% had severe alcohol use disorder during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Twenty-two per cent (22.0%) of those that reported alcohol consumption reported that the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns changed their alcohol consumption habits, with 38.1% reporting a decreased intake or quitting altogether. Among the one in five respondents (19.2%) who had ever smoked, most reported smoking at the time of the survey (82.6%) with many classified as light smokers (87.8%; ≤10 cigarettes/day). Almost a third (27.2%) of those smoking reported that the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns had changed their use of tobacco products or vaping, with 60.0% reporting a reduction/quitting tobacco use. Given that sales were restricted this indicates that people could still get hold of tobacco products. Heavy smoking was associated with older age (p = 0.02), those classified as wealthy (p < 0.001), those who started or increased tobacco smoking during the pandemic lockdowns (p = 0.01) and residential provinces (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Given restrictions on the sale of alcohol and tobacco in SA between 27 March and August 17, 2020, during the pandemic, respondents reported an overall decline in alcohol consumption and tobacco use which might suggest that the regulatory restrictive strategies on sales had some effect but may be inadequate, especially during times where individuals are likely to experience high-stress levels. These changes in alcohol consumption and tobacco use were different from what was reported in several European countries, possibly due to differences in the restrictions imposed in SA when compared to these European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is an attempt to explore the nature and characteristics of urban travel behavior in the metropolitan area of the Iranian capital, Tehran. To this end, using the perspectives of 822 participants via a questionnaire survey, we assessed six major Travel Behavior Components (TBCs)—namely, travel mode, travel time, travel destination, travel frequency, travel choice, and travel purpose—from the lens of five different sociodemographic characteristics—that is, gender, age, family structure, and educational and occupational groups. Using SPSS-26, MAXQDA, and Structural Equation Model (SEM) via AMOS software, we analyzed priorities and preferences related to TBCs across different social groups and explored the impact of preferences of different social groups on TBCs in the Tehran metropolitan area. The results indicate that firstly, the tendency to travel by private transport has the highest share among all groups compared with other modes of travel. Secondly, we identified four major challenges affecting urban travel behavior in Tehran: lacking diverse options for urban traveling, old vehicles and infrastructure, traffic congestion, and unequal access to travel facilities in the city. Finally, we found that sociodemographic characteristics have a relatively strong and significant impact on TBCs. The study highlights the role of sociodemographic characteristics in travel behavior transformations and gives more insights into the travel behavior preferences of urban residents. Such insights would be effective for city policymakers and planners to enhance the quality of urban transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective Because of the increase in the number of cases, currently, glaucoma is a significant public health issue that it leads to optic nerve damage and vision loss. High Intraocular Pressure reading indicates that the treatment given to a glaucoma patient is not sufficient/ adequate. Hence, the elevation of intraocular pressure is one of the indicators that, the therapy given to glaucoma patients under treatment is inadequate. Therefore, the main objective of the current study was to investigate predictors for the variation of elevation of IOP readings on glaucoma patients. Materials and methods A retrospective cohort study design was conducted on 1254 glaucoma patients, whose followed-ups were from September 2015 to August 2016 at Felege Hiwot Teaching and Specialized Hospital, North West Ethiopia. Data analysis was conducted using Statistical Analysis of Systems (SAS) software version 9.2 and AMOS software. The parameter estimation was conducted using the maximum likelihood estimation technique. Results Main effects like age (β = 0.01, t-value = 0.15, p-value = 0.018), patients with normal blood pressure (β = -3.35, t-value = -2.28, p-value = 0.0263), patients without diabetics (β = -3.79, t-value = -2.47, p-value = 0.014), visiting times (β = -6.00, t-value = -5.02, p-value = 0.0001), farmer glaucoma patients (β = -6.04, t-value = 3.87, p-value = 0.0001) had significant and indirect effect for the variation of elevation of IOP on glaucoma patients. Interaction effects like visiting time with existence of diabetes, visiting time with cataract surgery significantly effected on the variable of interest. Hence, both main and interaction effects had significant effects on the variable of interest. This study had identified socio-demographic characteristics, personal/individual behaviors, and clinical factors for the variation of elevation of IOP. The findings, in the current investigation, help health staff to conduct health-related education for awareness creation. Health-related education, about the progression of glaucoma, should be conducted on patients.