Essential Facilities Research Articles

Adherence to infection prevention practices and associated factors among healthcare workers in Northeastern Ethiopia, following the Northern Ethiopia conflict.

In resource-limited areas, especially in conflict-affected settings, managing the risk of hospital-acquired infections is difficult due to the destruction of essential facilities in healthcare settings. The study aimed to assess adherence to Infection prevention practices and associated factors among healthcare workers in Northeastern Ethiopia following the Northern Ethiopia conflict. A facility-based cross-sectional study was done with 408 healthcare workers. The survey data was collected using a structured questionnaire based on published articles. Data entry and analysis was done using Epi-Data version 4.6 and SPSS version 25.0, respectively. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the association between dependent and outcome variables, with a cut-off p value 0.05 at 95% confidence interval with a p-value less than 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval for determining factors associated with adherence to infection prevention practices among study participants. The study included 408 healthcare workers with a response rate of 96.7%. The majority of participants were women 206 (50.5%), married 250 (61.3%), Orthodox followers 211 (51.7%), and educational status of master holder and above with a master's degree or higher 177 (43.4%). Slightly more than half, 53.7% (219) of the respondents demonstrated safe infection prevention practices. Respondents who received training on infection prevention practices (AOR = 2.662, 95% CI: 1.361, 5.120) had an active infection prevention committee (AOR = 2.203, 95% CI: 1.359, 3.572), use infection prevention guidelines in working departments (AOR = 2.090, 95% CI: 1.013, 4.312), and access to adequate personal protective equipment (AOR = 2.773, 95% CI: 1.560, 4.929) were factors significantly associated with adherence to infection prevention practices. Overall, only half of the respondents practiced safe infection prevention practices. Receive training on infection prevention guidelines, presence of active infection prevention committee and working guidelines, and the availability of personal protective equipment were factors of infection prevention. Hence, essential facilities like Personal protective equipment, working guidelines should be supplied by donors.

Investigation on Kinds of Infrastructure Available for Projects Implementation in Public Secondary Schools

The study was concerned with investigating the kinds of infrastructure available for projects implementation in public secondary schools in the West ‘A’ District of Zanzibar. The study employed descriptive survey research design. The target population comprised teachers and heads of schools. Sample size for this study was 255 respondents. Structured questionnaires and semi- structured interviews were used for data collection. Collected quantitative data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviations) while qualitative data were analyzed on data deduction technique. The study reveals significant variability in the availability of infrastructure necessary for project implementation in public secondary schools. While some schools have essential resources like computer labs and garden areas, many lack crucial facilities such as sports areas and technological support. The absence of established project timelines highlights a need for better project management practices. It is recommended that the district prioritize the equitable distribution of essential facilities, such as sports areas and technological support, across all public secondary schools. Additionally, implementing structured project management practices, including established timelines and regular progress assessments, will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of infrastructure development and maintenance.

Comprehensive Assessment of Flood Risk and Vulnerability for Essential Facilities: Iowa Case Study

In this study, nine different types of essential facilities in the state of Iowa (such as hospitals, fire stations, schools, etc.) were analyzed on a county level in terms of flood depth, functionality and restoration time after flooding, and damage sustained during flooding. These essential facilities were also analyzed on the state level in terms of their location relative to the 100 y and 500 y flood zones. Results show that the number of essential facilities within the flood extent reached up to 39%, and during the 100 y flood scenario all but one of the six chosen counties lost functionality of 100% of their facilities. Most essential facilities were found to have a flood depth of 1 to 4 ft deep and a restoration time of 480 days. The purpose of this study is to bring awareness to decisionmakers regarding the risk that flooding events pose to essential facilities and to highlight the increasing dangers of flooding on a broader scale. This study will be beneficial to improve mitigation strategies, emergency response plans, and ensuring that emergency services and facilities are available in the event of future floods for the affected areas.

The level of implementation of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices among the public basic schools in Ghana

ABSTRACT Water, sanitation and hygiene practices (WASH) have been a major challenge facing many basic schools in Ghana for many decades. The school authority have made a number of complaints to the Ghana government through the Ministry of Education in relation to the inadequate potable water, sanitation facilities and hygiene practices in basic schools which the government has remained silent on. The aim of this study was to assess the level of implementation of Water, sanitation and hygiene practices in basic schools in the Sunyani East Education Directorate. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. The results indicate that hygiene and sanitation facilities available in schools under study included urinals, toilets, handwashing materials and solid waste disposal facilities. It was revealed that wooden slap pit latrine toilet was present in all schools except Methodist school which has cemented slaps. There were absence of toilet rolls, tap facilities and hand washing soap in all schools visited. The pupils fetched water from neighbouring houses and used it. The study recommends that the Parent-Teacher Association, School Management Committee, District Education Directorate and Ghana Education Service should team up to provide these essential facilities to basic schools in Sunyani East.

The Essential Computer Drawing Labs Facilities and Infrastructure to Achieve Training Quality According to International Standards

Educational facilities and infrastructure at any training institute must meet the minimum international standards. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of the current facilities and infrastructure in the Computer Drawing Labs. The study used quantitative research methods, including observation and documentation. Study results indicate that all aspects of facilities and infrastructure assessed are in the good feasible category, with achievement levels ranging from 70 to 100 percent. The aspect with the lowest feasibility achievement is the space area at 70%, while the aspect of room furniture, educational media, equipment, and environment quality, achieved feasibility levels of 85%

The last cityscapes: public cemetery management in Kumasi’s Urban Terrain

ABSTRACT Land is inelastic in supply. The judicious use of land within the urban land space is thus critical. Regrettably, little research has been done on planning and managing public cemeteries in Kumasi, Ghana. This study, incorporating insights from four public cemeteries and feedback from 79 participants, assesses the legislative and policy frameworks governing cemetery management in Kumasi. It also examines the condition of these cemeteries and identifies the challenges to their proper upkeep. Data were gathered through structured interviews and direct observation and were analysed thematically. Findings indicate that cemetery management in Kumasi is a collaborative task between Traditional Authorities and the local government, each operating under their respective but similar laws. Some of these cemeteries need more essential facilities, making them substandard in their current state, primarily due to financial limitations that impede effective management. This study makes recommendations to guide the effective and sustainable management of public cemeteries in Kumasi and beyond.

The Rule of Reason Approach in Discriminatory Practices: Airlines and Telecommunications Industry Sector

Discriminatory practices are standard in business competition and are not prohibited as long as they do not cause unfair competition. This paper will discuss three Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) decisions in 2020 related to alleged discriminatory practices committed by business actors. The subject matter in this paper is how the actions of business actors can fulfil the elements of violation and how the application of the rule of reason approach in Article 19 letter d of the Competition Law (1999) in the 2020 KPPU Decisions. This research is descriptive normative research. The data used in the book, articles, the new paper analyzed the Competition Law (1999), the Airlanes law (2009), the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (2008, amendments 2016 & 2024), and the Hajj and Umarah Law (2019), as well as interview an expert and KPPU. The interesting findings found that acts of discrimination cause obstacles in vertical business relations in different but interrelated relevant markets and often occur in the essential facilities sector. By using the rule of reason approach, KPPU found that discriminatory practices will be more effective if the business actor is in a dominant position or even occupies a monopoly position. Then, the three decisions in this discussion are equally suspected of violating Article 19 letter d on discriminatory practices. Then, related to the relevant market, the three cases have different markets, and also all three have vertical relationships with other business actors.

Effectiveness of regional risk mitigation policies in equitably improving connectivity to essential service during hurricane-induced floods

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of regional disaster mitigation policies in providing equitable access to essential services during hurricane-induced floods in Southeast Louisiana. Studies have been conducted on access to essential service facilities during and after disasters. However, there is limited research on whether current regional disaster mitigation plans ensure equitable access to emergency facilities. To this end, a methodology was developed to assess the effect of the 2017 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan developed by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Agency (CPRA) on equity in connectivity to essential service facilities (hospitals and fire stations) in a case study region in southeastern Louisiana. First, a graph-based model was used to represent the road network and determine the connectivity of five demographic groups during hurricane-induced flood scenarios. Herein, a hurricane-induced flood scenario with a low return period (50 years) was chosen for future years up to 2065, considering sea level rise and subsidence. Roads with flood depths exceeding 30 cm were considered impassable and were removed from the network. Connectivity was then determined using breadth-first search. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to propagate uncertainties in flood depths. It was found that minority groups were at a higher risk of losing access to emergency services during the selected hazard scenario. Native American and Asian populations were found to be at the highest risk of disconnection, followed by the Hispanic and African-American populations. Overall, the coastal master plan did not affect the equity (or lack thereof) in connectivity to essential service facilities.

Donor and newborn profiles and their influence on donation volume and duration: a cross-sectional study in a Spanish human milk bank

BackgroundHuman milk banks are essential facilities to provide donated human milk (DHM) to preterm and term infants with health complications. Little is known regarding milk bank donors and how their characteristics may influence the particularities of the donation process. The present study aims to assess characteristics of donors and their newborns to identify associations with the amount of DHM and initiation and donation time, during the first and second year of the milk bank operation in Córdoba, Spain.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in three periods: pre-opening of the milk bank (PRE) including all women who gave birth to a newborn between January – May 2017 and were hospital users; donors in the first year after the opening (Period 1 (P1): April 2019 – March 2020); and in the second year (P2: April 2020 – March 2021). For P1 and P2, DHM data were recorded. The relationships between donor and newborn characteristics and the donation process were examined using univariable and regression models.ResultsFrom 391 women interviewed in the PRE period, 55 (14%) showed intention to donate. In P1 and P2, there were 51 and 25 human milk (HM) donors, respectively. Age, gestational age (GA) and parity were similar between periods. In P2, a higher proportion of donors had higher education (P1: 46%; P2: 70.8%, p = 0.045). Around 40% of donors in both periods were on maternity leave. In P1, donors who had low birth weight infants (< 2500 g) donated more HM than those with infants weighing ≥ 2500 g (p = 0.020). In P2, women whose GA was < 37 weeks donated a higher volume vs. those with ≥ 37 weeks (p = 0.002). Maternity leave was linked to a shorter initiation time for donations in both periods (P1: p = 0.002; P2: p < 0.001).ConclusionsData obtained from a Spanish human milk bank indicate that prematurity and low birth weight appear to influence the amounts of DHM. Employment status might be a decisive factor in initiating HM donation. Additional efforts are required to identify shared donor characteristics that influence the initiation and volume of donation.

DETERMINATION OF MAINTENANCE PRIORITIES ON DISTRICT AND CITY ROADS IN LAMPUNG PROVINCE IN 2019 USING THE SIMPLE ADDITIVE WEIGHTING (SAW) METHOD

&lt;p&gt;Road infrastructure is a primary transportation asset extensively used by society to support economic, educational, and other activities. Consequently, roads function as a crucial supporter of the country's socio-economic activities. UU No. 38 of 2004 regarding Roads stipulates that roads are essential transportation facilities for the economy, social aspects, environment, politics, and defense and security. This research employs the Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) method to collect secondary data. The secondary data is obtained from the Department of Communication, Informatics, and Statistics of Lampung Province and processed to generate an assessment of road segments based on preference values. The research results indicate that, based on the criteria weighting, heavily damaged road conditions have the highest importance weight at 58.6%, followed by the criterion of average daily traffic. These findings suggest that road experts share a similar perspective on how road criteria are prioritized for specific regions. The ranking results using the SAW method with a Likert scale indicate a value of 97.34.&lt;/p&gt;

A digital twin framework for efficient electric power restoration and resilient recovery in the aftermath of hurricanes considering the interdependencies with road network and essential facilities

The community's resilience in the face of natural hazards relies heavily on the rapid and efficient restoration of electric power networks, which plays a critical role in emergency response, economic recovery, and the functionality of essential lifeline and social infrastructure systems. Leveraging the recent data revolution, the digital twin (DT) concept emerges as a promising tool to enhance the effectiveness of post-disaster recovery efforts. This paper introduces a novel framework for post-hurricane electric power restoration using a hybrid DT approach that combines physics-based and data-driven models by utilizing a dynamic Bayesian network. By capturing the complexities of power system dynamics and incorporating the road network's influence, the framework offers a comprehensive methodology to guide real-time power restoration efforts in post-disaster scenarios. A discrete event simulation is conducted to demonstrate the proposed framework's efficacy. The study showcases how the electric power restoration DT can be monitored and updated in real-time, reflecting changing conditions and facilitating adaptive decision-making. Furthermore, it demonstrates the framework's flexibility to allow decision-makers to prioritize essential, residential, and business facilities and compare different restoration plans and their potential effect on the community.

Pembuatan Lemari untuk Masjid Ar Rahman Cibolang

The Ar Rahman Mosque is a newly built mosque, so the facilities inside are still inadequate. One of the essential facilities that is urgently needed but not yet available is a cabinet for storing Qur'ans, Islamic books, prayer garments (mukena), and sarongs. The construction of this cabinet is very important and urgent because it not only serves as a storage space but also as an effort to enhance cleanliness, neatness, and comfort within the mosque. The construction process of the mosque cabinet includes designing, creating patterns on plywood, cutting plywood according to the patterns, assembly, and painting. The resulting cabinet measures 800 mm in length, 350 mm in width, and 1200 mm in height. The completed cabinet has successfully addressed the mosque's storage issues for Qur'ans, Islamic books, sarongs, and prayer garments, making the mosque space tidier and providing convenience and comfort for the congregation in utilizing it.

Mechanical Properties of Adjacent Pile Bases in Collapsible Loess under Metro Depot

Metro transit construction has begun to develop rapidly in northwest China because of the acceleration of urbanization. Accordingly, metro depots are also regarded as an essential auxiliary facility for stopping, operation, and maintenance of trains. Meanwhile, many commercial buildings are constructed over metro depots to improve the utilization rate of land due to the increasingly scarce urban land resources, known as transit-oriented development (TOD). These buildings have a large covered area and transfer concentrated loads to the bases. Therefore, pile bases under metro depots have the bearing characteristics of undertaking large concentrated loads, while lesser loads are placed on the soil between the adjacent pile bases. Additionally, the main ground in northwest China is collapsible loess, so the collapsibility should also be considered. Based on the above background, this research performed static loading tests with and without immersion in a reduced scale of adjacent pile bases under a metro depot in Xi’an. The remolding process of natural loess could destroy its structure and the anisotropy of natural loess could also affect the test results. Therefore, four kinds of artificial collapsible loess with different mass ratios of barite powder, kaolin, river sand, cement, industrial salt, and calcium oxide were made by the free-drop method. This method could make the artificial loess simulate the structure of natural loess reasonably. Then, the artificial loess with the most similar properties to intact loess was selected by comparison. Finally, static loading tests with this artificial loess were implemented. The results showed that the ultimate bearing capacity was 4.5 kN. At the same time, the axial force decreased along depth, since the pile shaft friction was positive, and the load sharing ratio of pile tip force increased to 0.58 when the load exceeded 4.5 kN in the situation without immersion; the settlement of pile bases increased significantly after immersion, while the negative shaft friction occurred at the depth of −8 cm~−35 cm, and the load sharing ratio of pile tip force reached 0.92.

Optimization Strategy for the Spatiotemporal Layout of E-Bike Charging Piles from the Perspective of Sustainable Campus Planning: A Case Study of Zijingang Campus of Zhejiang University

With the expansion of Chinese university campuses, electric bikes (E-bikes) have become the most sustainable and effective commuting option because they are a flexible and energy-saving travel mode. Consequently, campus E-bike charging piles have become one of the most essential public service facilities on campuses. However, since most Chinese campuses are closed and independent, the principles of urban public service facilities cannot be simply applied to the layout and use of campus charging facilities. Thus, this study focuses on Zijingang Campus at Zhejiang University, and proposes an optimization strategy for the spatial and temporal layout of E-bike charging piles on the campus. First, trip chain demand models are constructed to examine the travel patterns of E-bike users on campus and the demands for charging areas and time. Second, a space location model is constructed to locate the charging piles in areas with high demand. Finally, according to the charging times of different users, user charging time is integrated into the strategy. This study enhances the layout and utilization system of campus E-bike charging facilities by considering both temporal and spatial dimensions. Overall, this study contributes to the advancement of sustainable transportation infrastructure planning on a campus-wide scale, offering theoretical insights for the design and utilization of functional facilities in large-scale, semi-enclosed environments (e.g., university campuses).

The Financial Crisis Affecting the Construction Sector

Today's world is witnessing continuous development, particularly in the construction sector, which is meeting the rising population and their need for essential facilities; this is one of the reasons why construction is witnessing such development. Different crises significantly affect this sector, including the financial crisis in different countries. This paper identifies the financial crises, their categories, and the reasons for appearing them. Inflation, currency exchange fluctuations, and the drop in global oil prices are the most important reasons for the emergence of external financial crises, especially in Iraq, which considers oil an important economic resource for its budget. The unexpected global financial events led to an economic collapse that affected the construction sector. Many large projects in Iraq have been put on hold as a result of these conditions due to the country's lack of resources to address these crises. This paper aims to study and identify potential crises and potential responses and mitigation strategies for each crisis stage.

BRIDGING THE GAP: INDIA'S PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES IN ACHIEVING SDG 4: QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL

Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) aspires to ensure inclusive &amp; equitable quality education for all. This study delves into India's progress towards this crucial objective. While advancements have been made in primary education enrolment and female literacy, significant hurdles remain. Millions of children lack fundamental literacy and numeracy skills, and overall learning outcomes fall short. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these inequalities, disproportionately impacting disadvantaged groups. India, a signatory to the SDGs, has implemented initiatives like the Right to Education Act (RTE) and digital learning platforms (DIKSHA, SWAYAM) to foster access and bridge geographical divides. However, substantial challenges persist. Socioeconomic disparities continue to hinder access for marginalized communities. Teacher shortages, inadequate training, and a lack of basic infrastructure in schools create further roadblocks in ensuring quality education. Achieving SDG 4 necessitates a multi-pronged approach in India. The curriculum and pedagogical approaches must be revamped to improve learning outcomes. Strategies to bridge the equity gap and address disparities based on gender, socioeconomic background, and location are vital. Investing in teacher training, addressing shortages, and providing essential school facilities are essential steps. Finally, promoting lifelong learning opportunities empowers individuals throughout their lives. Addressing these challenges with urgency is critical. By focusing on these priority areas, India can en route for achieving SDG 4 and ensure a future where quality education empowers all citizens.

The “objective test” and the downstream market presence requirement in Big Data access cases under the essential facilities doctrine - a critical assessment

One possible way to gain access to competitively relevant sets of Big Data is toapply the essential facilities doctrine. However, the European Commission and theEuropean Court of Justice have established several different criteria for applying thedoctrine. Since neither institution has yet applied the doctrine in Big Data accesscases, it is not clear which of the criteria applies in such positions. This paper attemptsto analyze the impact of the “objective test” and the requirement that the controllingcompany be active in the downstream market (which are included in all assessmentcriteria) in Big Data access cases, with the goal of answering the research question,“Do the application of the “objective test” and the requirement that the controllingcompany be active in the downstream market impede the effectiveness of the doctrinein Big Data access cases under EU competition law, and if so, how should they bechanged?” The conclusion is that in Big Data access cases, the “objective test” shouldbe mitigated and replaced by the “subjective test” or the “average company test” andthe requirement that the controlling company be active in the downstream marketshould be discarded altogether in order for the doctrine to be an effective tool foraccessing competitively relevant sets of Big Data.

Driving Tourism Development: Insights into Village Governance in Bukit Lawang

Bukit Lawang Plantation Tourism Village, situated in Bahorok District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, offers various engaging activities, including jungle trekking, rafting, bat cave tours, and tubing. The village government plays a pivotal role in the development and promotion of tourism within this area. This study aims to examine the village government's contributions to the growth of Bukit Lawang Plantation Tourism Village. Employing a qualitative research method with an interview approach, the study reveals several key findings. The village government has significantly enhanced community understanding of tourism and actively involves residents in decision-making processes. Promotional efforts through the village website have increased visibility and attraction. Furthermore, the government has provided essential facilities, contributing to the economic improvement of the community. It has also emphasized the preservation of cultural and environmental heritage, ensuring sustainable tourism practices. Additionally, the village government supports community participation in training programs, which aim to improve the quality of human resources, particularly in the tourism sector. These initiatives collectively foster a conducive environment for tourism development, driving local economic growth and cultural preservation. This study underscores the importance of local governance in transforming Bukit Lawang into a vibrant tourist destination, highlighting the multifaceted roles of the village government as a motivator, facilitator, and dynamic actor in the tourism sector.

Driving Tourism Development: Insights into Village Governance in Bukit Lawang

Bukit Lawang Plantation Tourism Village, situated in Bahorok District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, offers various engaging activities, including jungle trekking, rafting, bat cave tours, and tubing. The village government plays a pivotal role in the development and promotion of tourism within this area. This study aims to examine the village government's contributions to the growth of Bukit Lawang Plantation Tourism Village. Employing a qualitative research method with an interview approach, the study reveals several key findings. The village government has significantly enhanced community understanding of tourism and actively involves residents in decision-making processes. Promotional efforts through the village website have increased visibility and attraction. Furthermore, the government has provided essential facilities, contributing to the economic improvement of the community. It has also emphasized the preservation of cultural and environmental heritage, ensuring sustainable tourism practices. Additionally, the village government supports community participation in training programs, which aim to improve the quality of human resources, particularly in the tourism sector. These initiatives collectively foster a conducive environment for tourism development, driving local economic growth and cultural preservation. This study underscores the importance of local governance in transforming Bukit Lawang into a vibrant tourist destination, highlighting the multifaceted roles of the village government as a motivator, facilitator, and dynamic actor in the tourism sector.

Terrorist Attacks to Essential Services, Infrastructures and Facilities in G7 Countries During the Period 2000-2020

Terrorist Attacks to Essential Services, Infrastructures and Facilities in G7 Countries During the Period 2000-2020