Awareness Efforts Research Articles

Young men’s perceptions and attitudes towards two fertility awareness interventions and preferences for future initiatives

This study explored young Danish men’s perceptions and attitudes towards two fertility awareness (FA) interventions (a podcast episode and an informational poster) and their preferences for how fertility awareness and prevention efforts should be targeted and communicated to young men in the future. Focus groups were held with 13 young men who were between the ages of 25–35 and in a committed relationship over Zoom in January 2021. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Young men preferred FA interventions to be factual as in the informational poster and to include personal stories that could serve as conversation starters as in the podcast. According to the young men, FA interventions should communicate using positive language and humour and not be negative or shaming. They preferred intervention formats like TV-programmes, podcasts, and social media. The participants also suggested fertility information should be included in sexual education in high school and vocational education. This research suggests that future FA campaigns should be developed in cooperation with the target group together with clinicians, and concurrent studies using different intervention formats should be performed. In all probability, a mix of different interventions is necessary to attain the desired effect to ensure long-lasting fertility awareness.

The Efficacy of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Program in Mitigating Pediatric HIV/AIDS Incidence in the Mansa District, Zambia

This qualitative study was set out to intricately explore the landscape of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) program in the Mansa district in order to shed light on its multifaceted nature. Key informants, pivotal to the program, offered invaluable insights into its fundamental components, recent progress, encountered challenges, and proposed improvements. The study emphasized the paramount importance of early detection and timely intervention in preventing HIV transmission from mother to child. The study highlighted key areas of focus within the PMTCT program, as elucidated by informants, emphasizing the central role of antenatal care, HIV testing and counseling, provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART), and vigilant postnatal follow-up. Together, these elements constituted a comprehensive strategy for safeguarding maternal and child well-being, with a strong emphasis on early identification and effective intervention. Recent developments in the program portrayed an evolving landscape, including enhancements such as improved access to rapid testing, the integration of maternal and child health services, expanded community outreach efforts, and initiatives aimed at enhancing community awareness. These innovations underscored the program’s adaptability and unwavering commitment to extending its reach. However, the challenges that impeded the reduction of mother-to-child HIV transmission were deeply rooted and multifaceted, encompassing issues such as stigma, inadequacies in healthcare infrastructure, medication adherence challenges, geographic barriers, personnel shortages, and logistical complexities. In response to these challenges, key informants put forth practical recommendations to strengthen the PMTCT program. These recommendations included broader community awareness and education efforts, the fortification of peer support networks, increased allocation of resources for transportation, and continuous training and sensitization programs for healthcare providers. These measures were deemed vital for enhancing program effectiveness and improving the health outcomes of mothers and infants in the Mansa district.

Factors that Motivate Defense Against Social Engineering Attacks Across Organizations

This paper explores the factors that influence employees' security behaviors in organizations. It integrates the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and organizational effort to develop a comprehensive model for understanding the impact of antecedents and mediating factors on security behavior. PMT has been used extensively in health research, but its application in the field of information security is limited. The study found that threat and coping factors are reliable predictors of employees' motivational behavior towards security. In addition, employee awareness and organizational effort also positively influence threat and coping appraisal processes, leading to cybersecurity behavior. Several practical implications were identified, such as the effectiveness of government organizations in motivating security behavior compared to other businesses. This study provides insights into the complex interplay of factors that shape employees' security behavior and can inform organizations' efforts to promote secure behaviors.

Connecting the Unconnected: Bridging the Digital Divide with Affordable Satellite Through Enabled Smartphones

In the current digital era, having connection to the internet is essential for economic opportunities, education, and communication. However, there is unequal access to these digital resources due to the ongoing global problem of the “digital divide”. In order to close this gap, this project investigates the creation of a satellite-connected, reasonably priced smartphone. Traditional terrestrial networks have their limitations, especially in isolated and rural locations where it can be difficult to access the internet. Furthermore, communication in metropolitan areas is hampered by worries about radiation from cellular towers. This method overcomes the constraints of conventional terrestrial networks to provide internet access to even the most remote locations by outfitting smartphones with satellite communication capabilities. This technology not only offers economic opportunities, education, and basic services, but it also lessens the need for traditional cellular towers in crowded places, which may allay worries about radiation exposure from towers. The study highlights how crucial it is to overcome technological obstacles, work with manufacturers, develop encouraging regulations, and run awareness efforts in order to promote the adoption of this ground-breaking strategy. The main conclusions indicate that, in addition to addressing connection and health issues, reasonably priced smartphones with satellite connectivity can make a substantial contribution toward bridging the digital divide and helping urban and impoverished communities. This study makes a very clear point: adopting smartphones with satellite capabilities can open the door to a more connected and just digital society.

Gap areas in mitigation of oral cancer: A cross-sectional study evaluating awareness and knowledge of risk factors in oral cancer in a tertiary hospital.

One of the main causes of the increasing oral cancer (OC) burden in India is a lack of awareness and a significant gap in knowledge about risk factors and symptomology of OC. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness about OC among 500 random patients presenting for care at a tertiary hospital in western Rajasthan which serves a wide area of western, northern, and central Rajasthan. A total of 446 participants, among which 83.6% were males enrolled in the study. Much to our despair, the results showed 35.23% of the participants (P = 0.007) started their habit at age <15 years. Nearly 60.3% of the participants were well aware of the harmful temporary or permanent effects of the tobacco. Around 40.85% of the participants taking tobacco products were ignorant about their changes in the tissues (site of tobacco placement). TV and Radio (50.5%) were the main source of information of the ill effects of tobacco and form a major contribution in public awareness. More than 90% of the participants had read the warnings on the tobacco packets. No doubt participants have knowledge about the ill effects of tobacco still there was a lack in behavioral modifications for tobacco cessation, leading to nonsuccess in quitting, with actual nonunderstanding about the ill effects of tobacco and overall lack of belief in the tobacco control measures. Our findings have found a gap in the awareness efforts of OC for the general population and will make public health professionals, clinicians, policymakers, and government a better judge and motivate them to strengthen existing national tobacco control efforts.

THE EFFECT OF HALAL AWARENESS AND CONSUMER DEMOGRAPHICS ON INTENTION TO PURCHASE HALAL FOOD: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM AND UGANDA

Consumer demographics and their level of awareness are important factors as determinants towards the foods they consume. The study aimed at comparatively examining the effect of Halal awareness and consumer demographics on intention to purchase Halal food in Brunei Darussalam and Uganda. In execution, it used a correlational research design to ascertain whether research variables were related, the nature and strength of effects. The study’s discoveries led to conclusions that Halal awareness efforts like government support policies, certification, health expert approvals, and individual exposure alongside religiosity significantly boost one’s intention to purchase Halal food up to 25% in Brunei and up to 51.6% in Uganda, respectively. It is also concluded that the effect was greater in Uganda compared to Brunei. The study thus empirically recommended that the Ugandan government should support the Halal industry to boost consumers’ intention to purchase such products. The study further recommended that marketers and sales agents of Halal products should concentrate on Muslim-dominated regions to entice more public willingness to purchase. Religiosity was found to be a significant catalyst towards one’s intention to buy Halal products. For Uganda, the study also recommended that Halal food certification should be spearheaded by government other than private organizations so as to streamline such efforts, boost public trust, and fund the relevant processes to significantly impact on this particular sub-sector.

Diplomasi Pertahanan Indonesia Dalam Asean Outlook On The Indo-Pacific (AOIP)

Currently, the Indo-Pacific region is one of the regions that has become an important concept in international relations, especially among ASEAN countries. This happens because there is an awareness that this area is strategic in various aspects and has a positive effect on countries in the region. However, the region faces several threats, including a rivalry between two major powers, the United States and China, and the presence of territorial sovereignty claims in the region. As a result, there is a need for increased awareness and regional countries' efforts to protect the region's stability from existing influences and threats. One form of awareness of the importance of maintaining the Indo-Pacific region can be seen in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). AOIP is initiated by one of the countries in the region, namely, Indonesia, where it becomes a means of Indonesian defence diplomacy to achieve national and regional interests. This article explains how Indonesia conducts its defence diplomacy in AOIP. This article uses descriptive methods by explaining and providing an overview of existing phenomena. Based on the process of collecting data from books, journals, and related official websites that can help explain and analyse this topic, the results of this analysis prove that AOIP becomes a form of Indonesian defence diplomacy because Indonesia sees various threats present in the region that can endanger its sovereignty and even the stability of the Indo-Pacific region. Thus, in its implementation, Indonesia conducts diplomacy through cooperation with countries in the region. Keywords: AOIP, Defense diplomacy, Indonesia, ASEAN, national interest

Assessing Green Approaches and Digital Marketing Strategies for Twin Transition via Fermatean Fuzzy SWARA-COPRAS

Integrating green approaches and digital marketing strategies for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), which reduce environmental risks to desired levels by eliminating emissions and pollution, is considered one of the most promising solutions for logistics companies. The study strives to bring a practical and applicable solution to the decision problem involving the selection of indicators for green approaches and digital marketing strategies for ICTs in the logistics sector. An integrated Fermatean Fuzzy Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (FF–SWARA) and Fermatean Fuzzy Complex Proportional Assessment (FF–COPRAS) methodology is applied to evaluate green approaches and digital marketing strategies. Concerning the findings, the foremost criterion is “data management,” whereas the best strategy is “programmatic advertising.” To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no other study that both offers a strategy selection for the logistics industry and considers environmental protection, sustainability, digital transformation, energy costs, and social and economic factors. The study is a part of ongoing research on productivity, sustainability, the environment, digitization, recycling and estimating levels of waste reduction, as well as business practices, competitiveness and ensuring employee satisfaction and resource efficiency. Also, it investigates the similarities and dissimilarities in the green approach practices of business in logistics and determines the extent to which these practices could be reflected. It is expected to ensure a roadmap for green approach practices and to support sustainable and ecological awareness efforts for ICTs in the logistics sector. Logistics companies can select an integrated digital strategy based on green informatics that suits them using the decision model employed in this study, which can handle uncertainties effectively. In this regard, the study’s findings, which focus on reaching customers and the most precise target audience in digital applications for businesses, are critical for developing strategy, plan and process.

Sustainable Education and Open Innovation for Small Industry Sustainability Post COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

COVID-19 severely impacted small industries in Indonesia and many collapsed. Sustainable education is essential to help small industries recover post-pandemic through an open innovation design program to improve small industries’ economic, social, and environmental performance. This paper examined the impacts of the sustainable education program implemented and explored open innovations suitable for the sustainability of small industries in developing countries, such as Indonesia, after the pandemic. This research employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach involving academics, government, the community, and four small industries in West Java, Indonesia. Our findings reveal that the sustainable education program through learning activities and direct practice provides valuable knowledge and experience for small industries in designing economic, social, and environmental innovations. Open innovations post-pandemic suitable for small industries in Indonesia include simple business digitalization for company economic growth, the recruitment of people losing their jobs due to the pandemic to achieve social benefits, and innovations in using environmentally friendly packaging and charcoal briquette fuel as an environmental awareness effort. This study recommends that the open innovation designed for small industries be right on target and done using a participatory method to achieve sustainability after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interactions with COVID-19 content on social media: Outcomes of social media use on student KAPs

In two years, COVID-19 has seen drastic developments in the world stage, so knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) on the disease may likewise be changing with it, which is the exigence of this study. One objective of this study is to find if there is a difference in KAP between social media platforms by doing Kruskal-Wallis H tests. Another objective is to compare results with past literature from the beginning of the pandemic by doing a multiple linear regression (MLR) and comparing the results for shared survey questions. A convenience sample of 52 students from a high school in the U.S. was surveyed, finding that less of them saw COVID-19 vaccinations as effective when compared to other prevention measures (75% vs. ~85%), 32.7% incorrectly responded that asymptomatic people cannot spread the disease, and that social media is the predominant channel of information on COVID-19 for them. Compared to other studies, the sample was not as risk perceptive in their attitudes and had lower adherence to the preventive practices. The survey responses were further turned into KAP scores to be used in the H tests and MLR. These found no significant difference in KAP scores between Twitter, Tik Tok, Instagram, and YouTube users, and predicted that holding more knowledge on the disease will lead to more practices being taken, while attitudes predicted no significant impact on the number of practices taken. With these lapses in KAPs, more awareness efforts on COVID-19 should be directed to students at the school of study.

Causes of Educational Backwardness Among Backward Section in West Bengal

One of the main issues in both contemporary and traditional communities has been and is education. It is a potent tool that determines the fate of humanity. In the modern era, achieving greater and more difficult goals has become a crucial issue for every independent nation, but some nations, like our own, face unique difficulties because some minorities, particularly backward class who live in poverty and hardship, are unable to contribute to the economy and development of the nation. The main purpose of the current research is to find out the causes of educational backwardness among backward section. Present study is descriptive survey and qualitative research. In present study self-prepared questionnaire used, and a percentage calculation used for data analysis. Financial difficulties and family financial crises are some of the factors that contribute to educational backwardness among disadvantaged students. Additionally, educational institutions do not put-up specific awareness efforts to attract underprivileged students. Factors contributing to the educational backwardness of backward learners include an unsuitable home environment for learning, family members who are illiterate, a lack of empathy on the part of teachers, a lack of opportunity, and an education that is not adapted to their requirements. Keywords: Educational Backwardness, Backward Section

Relationship Between Screen Time and Dry Eye Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Pediatric Population of the Western Region of Saudi Arabia.

Objective To measure the prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) and study the relationship between screen time and dry eye symptoms in the pediatric population during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. Methods In this descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study, our survey included the pediatric population, ages 1 to 18 years, of both genders,who attended outpatient clinics of two main hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Collected data included age, gender, dry eye symptoms, and common DED risk factors, followed by the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, which consists of 12 items graded on a five-point scale (0 = never to 4 = all the time). Results A total of 329 pediatric participants were included, with more than half of the participants (56.1%) males and 58.5%aged 12-18 years. The most frequently reported symptoms (reported as often or always) were decreased vision (23.0%) and itchy eyes (22.1%). Environmental factors have an effect on developing DED symptoms, as some participants (21.8%)have reported being uncomfortable in windy weather and 15.8% have reported this in places with air conditioners. Based on the OSDI diagnostic criteria, 250(76.1%) participants had DED. Furthermore, in terms of severity, 44 (13.3%)participants had mild DED, 62 (18.8%) participants had moderate DED, and 145 (43.9%) participants had severe DED. We found that prolonged exposure to mobile screens for two to three hoursor four hours or more was associated with a higher DED incidence compared to those exposed for shorter periods. Older age categories were more likely to experience DED (80.8% and 78.2% in age categories 12-18 and 7-12, respectively, versus 57.6% in the youngest age category(p = 0.001)). Additionally, DED was independently associated with participants with a previous history of eyeglasses prescription and those experiencing dry eyes while using electronic devices. Conclusion Since many children use electronic devices for education and entertainment, we found that symptoms of DED due to prolonged screen time have increased among the pediatric population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, awareness efforts should be directed to reduce the rate of controllable risk factors like personal computer use. In addition, educational campaigns are warranted to provide all possible preventive measures against DED, especially to children with uncontrollable risk factors for developing DED.

Brand Awareness Kampung Bali Di Kota Bekasi

The Kampung Bali in Bekasi City has now begun to be known for its characteristics and ornaments as well as a building style that is very thick with Balinese nuances. That is why, now Kampung Bali has begun to be visited by many local officials and journalists from online media and television to see firsthand the sustainable Balinese culture in Kampung Bali. This study suggests how the brand awareness efforts of Kampung Bali in Bekasi City are. This study uses a qualitative approach with a qualitative descriptive method. As the informants of this research are the residents who manage from the village of Bali. The results in this study suggest three things, namely where in an effort to establish brand awareness of Kampung Bali in Bekasi City through the preservation of Balinese culture which is carried out in daily activities. Furthermore, Kampung Bali also received support from the government in the form of a statement and also legality that explained that Kampung Bali was a tourist destination. The next thing to do is to use digital media in building brand awareness of Kampung Bali in Bekasi City.

Current Evidence Demonstrates That Monkeypox Is a Sexually Transmitted Infection.

Current Evidence Demonstrates That Monkeypox Is a Sexually Transmitted Infection.

How the Global Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys Help Improve Pediatric Global Health.

How the Global Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys Help Improve Pediatric Global Health.

What Do Twitter Users Think about Climate Change? Characterization of Twitter Interactions Considering Geographical, Gender, and Account Typologies Perspectives

Abstract Climate change (CC) is a topical issue of profound social interest. This paper aims to analyze the sentiments expressed in Twitter interactions in relation to CC. The study is performed considering the geographical and gender perspectives as well as different user typologies (individual users or companies). A total of 92 474 Twitter messages were utilized for the study. These are characterized by analyzing sentiment polarity and identifying the underlying topics related to climate change. Polarity is examined utilizing different commercial algorithms such as Valence Aware Dictionary and Sentiment Reasoner (VADER) and TextBlob, in conjunction with a procedure that uses word embedding and clustering techniques in an unsupervised machine learning approach. In addition, hypothesis testing is applied to inspect whether a gender independence exists or not. The topics are identified using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) and the usage of n-grams is explored. The topics identified are (in descending order of importance) CC activism, biodiversity, CC evidence, sustainability, CC awareness, pandemic, net zero, CC policies and finances, government action, and climate emergency. Moreover, globally speaking, it is found that the interactions on all topics are predominantly negative, and they are maintained as such for both men and women. If the polarity by topic and country is considered, it is also negative in most countries, although there are several notable exceptions. Finally, the presence of organizations and their perspective is studied, and results suggest that organizations post with more frequency when addressing topics such as sustainability, CC awareness, and net zero topics. Significance Statement The purpose of this research is to gain a better understanding of the perception of Twitter users in relation to climate change. To do so, Twitter interactions are characterized by analyzing polarity (positive or negative sentiment) and identifying underlying topics that, with greater or lesser intensity, were discussed during the period analyzed. Then, to contextualize the information retrieved, several classifications are performed: by gender, location, and account typology (individual users and companies). Interesting differences and commonalities are found both by geographic dimension and by gender. Similarly, some dissimilarities exist between interactions from individuals and companies. The findings of this work are significant because they can help institutions and governments to properly target public awareness efforts on climate change.

Influence of investor awareness on performance of real estate investment trusts in Kenya

Purpose- The performance of the listed REITs has not been as expected and efforts by REIT managers to issue more real estate securities have been slow. This posed the concern of whether the unexpected performance of REITs in Kenya was due to external factors, such as investor awareness, which is not under the control of the investment market. Thus the study sought to examine how investor awareness influences performance of REITs in Kenya. Methodology- Predictive correlational research design was employed while target population comprised of Fund Managers, Stock Brokers and Investment Banks and Property Developers. Structural Equation Modelling was used to test the hypothesized relationships at 5% significance level. Findings-The results indicate that investor awareness have no significant influence on performance of REITs in Kenya. Majority of the respondents agreed that they were knowledgeable about Kenya's real estate market, and their membership in the REITs Association of Kenya has provided insightful market research and databases. Such investors can access with ease reports of the REITs issuing firm. Further, although investors usually follow and update themselves on the REITs markets through the online platform, such awareness does not influence the level of performance of REITs in Kenya. Conclusions- It can be concluded that although efforts have been put in place to ensure investors' awareness of real estate securities, such efforts have not boosted the uptake of REITs among investors. Investor awareness efforts employed by Capital Markets Authority in conjunction with the REITs Association of Kenya are not likely to enhance the performance of REITs in Kenya. The results indicate that REITs uptake has not attained a critical mass necessary to create liquidity in the capital market. Based on the findings, there is minimal publicity campaigns carried on by the Capital Markets Authority to sensitize potential investors on REITs. Keywords: Investor awareness, performance of REITs, property market. JEL Codes G40, R30, C12, C51, L21

CORRUPTION OFFENCES EDUCATION LITERACY IN PREVENTING THE LOSS OF NATIONAL TREASURES: A REVIEW OF CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS

This paper’s primary objective is to deconstruct the concerns and challenges that are related with the culture of corruption or viewed as the underlying cause of corruption problems in our country. In light of this circumstance, corruption offences education literacy plays a crucial role in educating the community against corruption. The topics discussed in this article include (i) Integrity, (ii) Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), (iii) Community Role, and (iv) Youth Awareness Efforts. The results of the study present eight (8) mandatory measures to combat corruption, namely 1. Understanding the Characteristics of Corrupt Acts and Gift Giving, 2. Eliminating the Corruption Culture and Abuse of Power as a Standard of Living in the Community, 3. Shaping Public Perception against Corruption in Politics, 4. Educating the Public about the Consequences of Corruption on the National Administrative System, 5. Developing Institutions and Strategies to Combat Corruption, 6. Stressing the Importance of Fighting Corruption Through Experiential Learning, 7. Diverse Methods of Combating Corruption in the Past and Present, and 8. Corruption Law Enforcement and Punishment. The goal of the future study should be to demonstrate that corruption will not be eradicated in the near future whereby education must emphasise learning via the experience of the younger generation in order to instil the nature of integrity, strong spirit, and ethical values, as well as high discipline, so that individuals can build a strong sense of self and fight all sorts of corruption, thus should be prominent in society so as to abolish the culture of corruption in Malaysia.

To Hell and Back: A Performer's mental health journey during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: The COVID-19 pandemic has induced a considerable amount of mental health difficulties, ranging from anxiety and depression to psychosis. As services struggle to cope with the demand for support, the effect of such psychological challenges on quality of life remains a major concern. WHAT DOES THE PAPER ADD TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a vast amount of research has focused on the physical consequences of the virus. Gradually, studies on the mental health effects related to the pandemic started to emerge, as it became clear that mental health difficulties were as present and as concerning as the physical ones. Whilst such studies commonly explore the prevalence and nature of the presenting mental health challenges, the publication of personal mental health experiences linked to the ongoing situation is lacking. Introducing the human element in literature is an important means of raising awareness on the mental health difficulties that can be triggered by the pandemic. Using public figures such as the individual in this paper is additionally powerful due to the role model effect. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: The paper highlights the need for enhanced awareness and monitoring of mental health especially by health professionals who therefore need to receive adequate mental health training. Furthermore, mental health awareness efforts need to be considered as being a part of the role of the psychiatric and mental health nurse who is at a prime position to educate, monitor and support those receiving care.

Microplastic contamination of soil: Are input pathways by compost overridden by littering?

Compost application is a widely recommended agricultural practice to improve soil fertility. As almost all compost is likely polluted with plastic we hypothesize that compost application is a major input pathway for microplastics (MPs) into agricultural soil. To attribute the plastic load of soil to compost application, we investigated MPs in topsoil (0–30 cm) of a controlled, long-term fertilizer trial with application of compost made of municipal biowaste (0, 5, 10, and 20 t ha−1a−1), which ended 11 years ago. Microplastics were analyzed via density separation (ZnCl2) and light microscopy; testing this method recovered 92 ± 10 % of spiked plastic items. The fields of the long-term compost trial showed a MP load of 0–64 items kg−1, corresponding to MP stocks in the plough layer (0–30 cm) that ranged from 38.2 ± 55.5 million to 171.4 ± 57.5 million items ha−1. Microplastic stocks and contents increased with increasing amount of compost application. Thus, we confirm compost as a major input pathway for MPs into agricultural soil, with the effect still visible after 11 years. Comparison of calculated plastic input based on MP contents of recent German compost with MP loads found in soil revealed that overall compost application explained <6 % of total MP stocks. We assume that compost applied in earlier days contained higher plastic loads than recent ones, reflecting current awareness and successful efforts in reducing plastic loads during compost production. However, as the plots at the border of the field had up to 18 times higher MP loads than the inner plots of the trial, we suggest that littering also contributed significantly to MP pollution. Thus, even if given compost applications still add plastics to environment, other sources such as littering can already have become the dominating input pathway.