Complete Secondary Education Research Articles

The epidemiological profile of Aids in Brazil in the period 2010-2020

In Brazil, the AIDS epidemic still represents a relevant public health problem. The aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiological profile of individuals affected by AIDS in Brazil from 2010 to 2020. An ecological, descriptive, retrospective study was carried out quantitatively. Data were obtained from consulting the DATASUS databases. A total of 437,327 cases were observed, with a downward trend in their incidence during the analyzed period. Results demonstrated that AIDS, over the years, has been modifying its epidemiological profile, due to the processes of heterosexualization, juvenilization, pauperization, interiorization, and feminization of the pandemic. In the analyzed period, there was a prevalence profile of young adults, male, heterosexual, aged between 30 and 34 years old, brown, with complete secondary education, and living in the southeast. There has been an important change in the prevalence of the disease in recent years and the evaluation of the current risk behavior shows that heterosexuals have the highest number of diagnoses. It remarks the importance of emphasizing the fact that everyone is susceptible to contracting HIV infection if there is no prevention.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices regarding Obesity among Population of Urban (Douala) and Rural (Manjo) Areas in Cameroon.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) studies have recently been suggested as a useful tool to understand the specificity of the population related to a disease. However, in Cameroon, there is a lack of information based on KAP studies regarding obesity. This study has been designed to collect basic indicators on the KAP of the populations regarding overweight and obesity in urban and rural areas in Cameroon (Douala and Manjo). For this purpose, an epidemiological community-based cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in these two areas using a well-structured questionnaire. Sociodemographic and medical characteristics and KAP information were assessed. For the quantification of KAP, a score varying from 0 (poor knowledge, attitude, or practices) to 100 (good knowledge, attitude, or practices) was attributed for each question. Correlations between knowledge, attitude, and practice were determined using inferential statistics tests which were χ2 test, independent Student t-test, ANOVA (followed by Tukey's post hoc test), and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results reveal that living in a rural area (Manjo), being overweight or obese, having complete secondary education, and being married increase the knowledge and the practice score. There is a strong and positive correlation between knowledge and practice score. However, there is no association between attitude and practice and between attitude and knowledge. Reducing the disparities between knowledge, attitude, and practices constitutes a serious track in a holistic strategy for the management of obesity in these areas.

Completion of upper secondary education: Predictions of the psychosocial learning environment and academic achievement

BackgroundLack of upper secondary school completion (dropout) is a serious concern. Psychosocial factors of the learning environment, such as perceived emotional support from teachers and loneliness among peers remain largely unstudied as predictors of completion. AimsThe main aim of this five-year longitudinal study was to investigate whether psychosocial learning environment factors experienced early in upper secondary school contribute to the likelihood of school completion; either directly, or indirectly via academic achievement. SampleParticipants were 1241 upper secondary school students in Norway. MethodsA longitudinal panel design combining register data and student self-reports was implemented. Register data included GPA from the end of lower secondary school, GPA from the end of first of year of upper secondary school, and upper secondary school completion. Self-reports included perception of emotional support from teachers and loneliness among peers in the first year of upper secondary school. Control variables were gender, study track, and immigrant background. A structural equation model with completion (vs. dropout) as the outcome was estimated in Mplus. ResultsAn indirect positive effect on completion was found for emotional support from teachers, mediated by subsequent academic achievement. A direct negative effect on completion was found for loneliness among peers. Among students with pronounced loneliness, completion rate was 10 percentage points lower than among those reporting no loneliness. ConclusionsLoneliness among peers was identified as a substantial risk factor for school dropout. On the other hand, findings indicate that sufficient perceived emotional support from teachers can promote completion.

The teaching of Robotics to prospective teachers and its application in the classroom

Research activities are one of the most successful strategies to apply STEM education in complete secondary education. It is carried out by the completion of specific tasks. The professional activity of teachers of science and mathematical disciplines in STEM education is targeted at the formation and development of students' mental, cognitive, and personal qualities. Their level impacts students' ability to advance in a successful specialty STEM industry. It also entails developing the skill and willingness to tackle complicated problems, which is attainable with the proper amount of critical thinking, creativity, cognitive flexibility, teamwork, and the ability to carry out research activities. The nature of the interaction between disciplines and the degree of integration are determined in this article. The place of project activity on robotics in school training is explored, and it defines the skills that are produced as a result of such project activities. The prospect of teaching robotics to future teachers within the context of existing curricula is also examined. STEM education can be defined in a variety of ways, ranging from a straightforward list of "exact" or "engineering" subjects to creative activity. This field has become synonymous with scientific and research work: research and experiments. In this regard, robotics is an effective technique of developing STEM education. The findings revealed that prospective instructors were mostly able to include robots into STEM-based science teaching. Furthermore, prospective teachers proposed that robots be introduced into all classes, particularly science, in order to improve students' problem-solving and algorithmic thinking skills. However, this is a novel instrument, and schools have shown little interest in researching it. As a result, our paper focuses on identifying chances to incorporate the fundamentals of robotics in education. The article developed course standards based on the educational needs of future science, mathematics, and engineering teachers. The study provides an example of project implementation in robotics, describes the stages of execution together with the educational outcomes.

Health-related quality of life and psychosocial effects of the diagnosis of aortovascular manifestations in Marfan syndrome patients: a qualitative study

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): Barts Charity Background Marfan Syndrome (MFS) is a rare autosomal-dominant connective tissue disorder with serious and life-threatening cardiovascular manifestations. Despite the severity of this life-long condition, there is very little evidence on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychosocial effects of living with MFS and no available evidence on the effect of the aortovascular manifestations. Purpose This study is part of a programme of work aiming to identify the HRQoL and the psychosocial factors affecting MFS patients following the diagnosis of an aortovascular manifestation. Methods This single site qualitative exploratory study was designed to identify quality of life issues affected by the aortovascular diagnosis in MFS from patients’ lived experience. Convenience sampling was employed for this study, with an expected sample size of 20 adult participants who had validated diagnosis of MFS using the revised Ghent criteria[1] and diagnosed with aortovascular manifestations. Interviews, lasting up to 1 hour, were conducted using a semi-structured interview schedule. Each interview was audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Data saturation assessment was done using the Guest et al.[2] method. Data analysis was undertaken using the Framework method[3], which follows a seven-stage process Results Twenty interviews were undertaken, transcribed and analysed. Participants ranged from 24 to 71 years old (M = 39.6); were 55% male, were primarily Caucasian (n=17, 85%), and 80% completed secondary and post-secondary education. Majority were employed (n=12, 70%) and 40% had greater than average household income. The results identified that patient reported HRQoL and psychosocial factors affecting MFS patients following aortovascular diagnosis include: social and self-stigma, depression, social and health anxiety, loss of personal efficacy, financial burden, loss of self-esteem, worry in building a relationship or family and vital exhaustion. However, patients also expressed that the diagnosis led to disease acceptance, constructive engagement in coping with the condition and self-acceptance. Conclusion These results assist in better understanding the HRQoL and psychosocial factors that affect patients with MFS. This information can support the development of a patient care pathway that includes HRQoL and psychosocial aspects of care to provide a holistic and comprehensive service for this patient group.

The effect of educational inequity and political violence on hurting young single mothers in Ethiopia

This study examined how educational inequity and political violence exposed young single mothers in the Ethiopia town of Awaday to a distinct disadvantage. Adopting a case study design, a total of 50 single mothers were selected based on convenience sampling. Questionnaire, structured depth interview, and focus group discussion were used to collect data which were analyzed in descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis. Most of the participants were young, below 30, having 1–5 children, and school dropouts. The finding indicated political violence, which is directly or indirectly related to educational inequity and the social norm, is the fundamental factor for becoming single mothers. Almost all experience abject poverty, substance abuse, sexual violence, social stigma, adverse maternity health, and disorientation as to their future life. Their children are equally victims of the unjust system. The insignificant number of participants who managed to complete junior and secondary school education is in much better condition, which shows the huge negative impacts of educational inequity. While a complete overhaul of the violent and unjust socio-educational system of Ethiopia is decisive for durable change, vital short-term and middle-term policy and research implications of being single mothers in education and empowering them were suggested.

SARS-CoV-2 self-testing in Peru: a cross-sectional survey of values and attitudes of the general population

ObjectivesTo assess the values of and attitudes towards the use of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection tests for self-testing in a rural and an urban area in Peru.DesignCross-sectional, street-based population survey.SettingA series...

The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Students’ Motivation towards Secondary School Education in Sokoto State, Nigeria

The paper assessed the effect of COVID-19 on education, specifically looking at the pandemic and the education dynamics in Government Secondary School (GSS) Dundaye, Sokoto State, Nigeria. The study employed a mixed-method research design. A sample of 258 respondents (students) was drawn for the quantitative method. A probability sampling technique using a simple random technique was employed to sample students, while 12 participants (teachers) were interviewed to gather qualitative data and such teachers were sampled using a purposive sampling technique. Questionnaires and interview guides were used in generating data for the study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data, and content analysis was used to generate, analyze, and integrate the important themes from the qualitative data. The COVID-19 epidemic had no beneficial effects on GSS Dundaye’s educational system, rather, the negative effects were visibly seen as reflected in students’ academic performance and dropout of formal schooling, and some students had to abandon schooling for marriage. Some students were eager to marry due to fear of being kidnapped. The study recommended that students who got married but had yet to complete secondary education should be recalled and allowed to finish schooling. This can be achieved by liaising with the husband and parents especially counseling them on the importance of education to the girl-child. The study further recommended that female students should be adequately sensitized to the proactive measures the government is taking to ensure students’ safety in all schools.

The prevalence and influencing factors of coexisting prediabetes and prehypertension among Bangladeshi adults

BackgroundEarly detection of diabetes and hypertension is helpful to prevent and/or delay the onset of these diseases through proper interventions. Therefore, it is a prerequisite to know the prevalence of prediabetes and prehypertension and the factors associated with these conditions but people from developing countries including Bangladesh often remain undiagnosed and unaware of these conditions. In this study we investigate the prevalence of prediabetes and prehypertension and their associated factors in Bangladesh using nationally representative data.MethodWe used nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2017–18 survey data, which included a total sample of 14,704 adults aged 18 years and more from whom blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose were collected. Chi-square test was used to examine the differences between sociodemographic and outcome variables. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the factors associated with prediabetes and prehypertension.ResultsOverall, the prevalence of prediabetes and prehypertension was 8.6% with 14% of the sampled population having from prediabetes and prehypertension separately. Among the prediabetic and prehypertensive participants, one-fourth of the participant were from the richest families and around one-third were overweight/obese, while more than fifty percent had normal Body Mass Index (BMI) and completed secondary and higher education. In the univariate analysis, the richest wealth status (UOR 3.3, 95% CI: 2.46 -4.35) and overweight/obesity (UOR 3.2, 95% CI: 2.62–3.85) are the highest predictors for prediabetes and prehypertension. After adjusting the other variables, overweight/obesity remains the largest predictor for prediabetes and prehypertension (AOR:2.5, 95% CI:2.05–3.05). Further, people aged 31 and above and from the richest family had around 2 times and 1.8 times higher risk of being prediabetic and prehypertensive compared to the younger age people (18–30 years) and the poorest family (respectively).ConclusionThe coexistence of prediabetes and prehypertension is an early sign of a greater burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the near future for Bangladesh. To reduce the higher burden of NCDs, our findings call for a multisectoral approach to identify the precondition of NCDs with particular attention to maintaining body weight.

Kanyashree Prakalpa –Prosperity Towards Right to Education for Women

The Kanyashree Prakalpa (KP), a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme is an innovative project to ensure the education for girl-students so that dropout rates are reduced, also works as prosperity towards right to education for women. It was introduced on 8th March, 2013 by the Department of Women Development and Social Welfare of West Bengal for incentivizing adolescent girls to complete secondary, higher secondary and higher education, or equivalent in technical or vocational streams and also to prevent child marriage till at least the age of 18. The effectiveness of this Prakalpa immediately appears just after the implementation of it across the state. This paper evaluates the impact of this Prakalpa on female enrollment in the college. It is found that KP not only minimizes the tendency of girl students to drop out from schools at early age, at the same time it increases female admission in the college. In this study, a comparative analysis has been drawn between prior 2013 and after 2013 to show the actual increasing enrollment of female students in Ramnagar college in Purba Medinipore district, West Bengal, India. This study is based on secondary data. The findings of this study suggest that this scheme protects & empowers the girls especially from socio-economically disadvantaged families, by giving incentives to them to continue education for a longer period of time, footing their participation and meaningful contribution to the society.

Factors associated with adherence to pharmacological treatment by hypertensive patients

Adherence to the pharmacological treatment of Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH) depends on factors associated with the patient and the public health system, and inadequate blood pressure levels are associated with the aggravation of diseases and other complications. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the factors associated with adherence to pharmacological treatment by hypertensive patients in the city of Montes Claros-MG. This is a cross-sectional and quantitative study with hypertensive individuals enrolled in Family Health Strategies (ESF) in the city of Montes Claros-MG. Data collection was performed using the Morisky-Green Test (TMG) and a sociodemographic form prepared by the researchers. The data obtained were tabulated in software, considering a statistical significance level above 95% (p<0.05). About 38% of patients without complete secondary education showed high adherence, while for those with complete secondary education, this value drops to 12.5%. In addition, 80% of the participants who used more than 2 antihypertensive drugs showed a medium-low adherence to hypertensive therapy.

LGG-11. COGNITIVE, ACADEMIC, AND QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES IN SURVIVORS OF PEDIATRIC LOW-GRADE GLIOMA: CHALLENGING THE ‘BENIGN TUMOR’ PERCEPTION

Abstract High survival rates in pediatric low-grade gliomas (pLGG) may overshadow potentially significant long-term toxicities and functional impact. Chemo-radiation sequelae are well documented, in contrast to those who undergo surgical resection or observation alone. We performed a retrospective cohort study from 2000-2015, assessing cognitive, academic, and quality of life (QoL) impact on 45 eligible pLGG survivors aged 0-16 years at diagnosis, at a median 7.4 years post-treatment. A multidisciplinary panel oversaw proxy questionnaires for young children (<7 years), proxy and self-reported for adolescents (8-15 years) and self-reported for young adults (>15 years). Data included demographics; tumor and treatment; early school (young child) progress; academic and occupation achievement (adolescents and young adults); health; and lifestyle issues. The incidence of abnormalities in the domains studied were compared to published population statistics. 16% of survivors underwent observation alone, and 84% surgery (58% complete resection). 57% of survivors experienced cognitive deficits. Young children (50%) and adolescents (42%) had low cognitive functioning scores, correlating with poor academic (p < 0.01) and standardised school educational tests’ performance. 42% of mainstream school attendees required learning support; 33% examination assistance; 50% completed secondary education and 22% a tertiary degree, but had attention (young child and adolescent), and memory (young adult) issues. 65.9% of survivors had at least one neurological concern, highest in adolescents (70%). Language deficits (42.9%), pain, fatigue, and hearing loss (28.6 %) in young children; and vision/sleep difficulties (35%); fatigue (30%) and mobility (25%) in adolescents were reported. Young adults suffered headaches (47.1%) and fatigue (29.4%). Young children (57%) suffered more emotional disturbance than adolescents (16%). Anxiety (23%) and depression (14%) reflected poor QoL on Emotion Thermometer scales in all survivors. These findings challenge the ‘benign’ label of pLGG and highlights the importance of close psychosocial surveillance in helping survivors achieve their best emotional and educational potential.

Exploring the factors behind the shift in unwanted childbearing rate in Bangladesh between 2007 and 2017/2018: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThis study aimed at exploring the factors associated with the reduction in the proportion of women reporting unwanted births in Bangladesh between 2007 and 2017/2018.Design and settingA cross-sectional analysis of...

Educational Decision Making of Repeatedly Unsuccessful Czech Vocational Education and Training Examinees Leading to Passing the Matura Exam

Repeatedly unsuccessful vocational education and training (VET) examinees are educational policy actors who, through their decision making, influence not only their completion of upper secondary education but also their futures. Drawing on biographical narrative interviews with 18 Czech VET examinees who failed the Matura exam at least twice, we identified how examinees make their decisions about the Matura exam and how their individual decision-making ways differ. For our participants, we can confirm that the ways they make decisions depend on which attempt to pass the Matura exam it is, as well as on in what context and on what the repeatedly unsuccessful examinees have to decide. We concluded that repeatedly unsuccessful VET examinees perceive decision making about passing the Matura to follow the principle of free choice in the first and second attempts. Due to the influence of institutionally formed beliefs about their own academic success, it is a rather limited choice. If in the third attempt they integrate their decisions about passing the Matura exam in the context of their career development, their decision making becomes a process in which we identify several individualized steps.

Delays and Dropouts: Identifying Risks of Suboptimal Post-Compulsory Educational Pathways in Sweden

Successful completion of upper secondary education is increasingly vital for participation in the labor market. Rates of school dropout in Sweden are below the EU average but remain a concern for policymakers. This quantitative study used the Swedish register covering 22 birth cohorts to establish the pathways available for students following compulsory school graduation and to identify the socio-demographic risks of taking a suboptimal pathway. The results showed that immigrant students arriving after the beginning of compulsory schooling and students from low-education households had the most elevated risks of engaging with upper secondary school in a suboptimal way, indicating sustained inequalities in the Swedish school system.

Socio-Economic Status of Wheat Growers in Some Selected Areas of Bangladesh

Aims: The study was carried out to determine the socio-economic status of wheat farmers in Bangladesh.
 Study Design: Simple random sampling technique was used for the study.
 Place and Duration of the Study: Birganj Upazila under Dinajpur and Thakurgaon Sadar, and Pirganj Upazila under Thakurgaon district were purposively selected for the study. The survey was conducted from February to March 2019.
 Methodology: A total of 150 wheat growers were selected as sample farmers. Data were collected from the respondents through direct interviews using pre-tested interview schedules. Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency, and percentage were employed to analyze the data.
 Results: The study estimated that the average farm size was 1.38 ha, and most of them were medium farmers (40 percent). Most of the wheat growers were middle-aged (51–60 years old), while a small portion of them were younger (18–30 years). Findings revealed that about 35.3 percent of farmers were literate, while 34.7 percent completed secondary education. The average family size was 4.96 persons. However, the large farm household had relatively more family members than other farm households. Most of the respondents had more than 30 years of farming experience. Nevertheless, agriculture, notably wheat farming, was their primary occupation (92 percent), and about 70.67 percent of their average yearly income came from agriculture. Furthermore, the study found that only a small percentage of farmers obtained training from the government's agricultural extension office, while most farmers did not receive any training opportunities. In this study, about 53.33% of respondents received loans from banks or NGOs, whereas around 46.67% received no credit.
 Conclusion: Therefore, the government should provide more institutional and infrastructure support to promote wheat production, which will increase efficiency, income and enhance the livelihood conditions of wheat farmers in the study areas.

Examining Barriers to Entry: Disparate Gender Representation in Cybersecurity Within Sub-Saharan Africa

Globally, women are underrepresented in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), this underrepresentation is even more prevalent, as fewer women pursue STEM careers in SSA when compared to the global norm. Cybersecurity is a critical subsection of STEM; one that is widely accepted as a field with enormous growth potential, yet only a small proportion of these jobs belong to women. Despite attempts to narrow the gender gap in cybersecurity, persistent factors still contribute to this disparity. Within this field, developing countries struggle with the same issues that impact their more developed counterparts. Issues that impact both SSA and the global participation of women in cyber-security include lacking representation and awareness as well as retention problems. Further, issues such as harassment, gender bias and the idea that cybersecurity is a “man’s world” are also contributing factors. A slew of other factors is also at play in SSA; this includes issues of low school attendance by girls, restricted educational opportunities, and other systemic challenges. Girls and women are less likely to complete lower and secondary education, which has a ripple effect – fewer women reach higher education in SSA when compared to global trends. Generally, higher or tertiary education is necessary to join the cybersecurity workforce. Research exploring the challenges women in SSA face when trying to enter the cybersecurity field is limited. This paper presents an overview of the most persistent challenges faced in SSA and globally. It highlights the current skill shortage in the cybersecurity field that is exasperated by global challenges, including issues unique to the region. Educational pathways available to girls and women are explored, as well as the issues leading to widespread skill shortages within SSA. Programs striving to increase the participation of women in cybersecurity are discussed. Lastly, some suggestions to remediate this pervasive issue are also provided.

Going against global marriage trends: the declining age at first marriage in Indonesia

ABSTRACT Marriage is a key marker in the transition to adulthood across much of Asia. Globally, early marriages have declined, and marriage age has increased. This study examined changes in marriage timing for Indonesian women between 1965 and 2016 using multiple data sources, including registration, censuses, and surveys, and employed a robust methodology. The findings show that there was a steady decrease in the probability of first marriage between 1965 and 1990. But this trend reversed in the early 2000s, with an increase in the likelihood of marriage. Women with lower education showed a stall in the decline of early marriage during this period, while the probability of marriage by age 24 increased among women with higher education. The educational disparities in marriage timing have persisted, but the gap between women with completed secondary and lower education has narrowed, while the difference between those with completed secondary and higher education has remained consistent. These findings highlight the influence of both short-term events and long-term changes in gender ideologies, family values, moral norms, and the rise of Islamization on marriage timing in Indonesia.

Орта мектеп түлегінің құзыреттілік моделі

Annotation. The article is a study of the competencies necessary for graduates to successfully complete secondary education. The article used methods of qualitative analysis, synthesis and modeling of sources to determine the key competencies that a high school graduate should have, as well as to build a graduate model in order to evaluate and improve the education system. In addition, a qualitative analysis of the competencies necessary for the successful completion of secondary education is carried out. Offers a model of graduate competencies that allows you to see the relationship and interaction between competencies, predict and evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs and teaching methods. The article may be useful for teachers, scientists and specialists in the field of education who are interested in the development of the education system and the definition of key competencies necessary for the successful completion of secondary education.

Women Want Choices: Opinions from the Share.Learn.Shape Global Internet Survey About Multipurpose Prevention Technology (MPT) Products in Development

Women need multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) to simultaneously prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, with or without contraception. User feedback early in product development is critical for maximizing uptake and continuation. Our global online survey (April 2017–December 2018) explored women’s opinions about MPT formulations in development (e.g., fast-dissolving vaginal inserts, vaginal films, intravaginal rings, injectables, implants), preferences for long-acting or “on-demand” methods, and interest in a contraceptive MPT versus products for HIV/STI prevention alone. Of the 630 women in our final analysis (mean 30 years old; range 18–49), 68% were monogamous, 79% completed secondary education, 58% had ≥ 1 child, 56% were from sub-Saharan Africa and 82% preferred a cMPT versus HIV/STI prevention alone. There were no clear preferences for any specific product or product type (long-acting, on-demand, daily). No single product will appeal everyone, however, adding contraception is likely to increase uptake of HIV/STI prevention methods for most women.