Global Targets Research Articles

Leveraging AI for Enhanced Alignment of National Biodiversity Targets with the Global Biodiversity Goals

Leveraging AI for Enhanced Alignment of National Biodiversity Targets with the Global Biodiversity Goals

The effects of counter ion on CO2 capture performance of amino acid salt solutions for direct air capture applications

The effects of counter ion on CO2 capture performance of amino acid salt solutions for direct air capture applications

Trends, prevalence, and determinants of unfavorable tuberculosis treatment outcomes among adult patients in Northeast Ethiopia: The race to achieve a 90% treatment success rate by 2025.

Trends, prevalence, and determinants of unfavorable tuberculosis treatment outcomes among adult patients in Northeast Ethiopia: The race to achieve a 90% treatment success rate by 2025.

A systematic review to establish net-zero carbon emissions requirements for contractor selection in construction

Purpose Establishing net-zero carbon emissions requirements can provide a meaningful reference for construction clients to choose the most qualified contractors in bid evaluation that will not only meet the client’s specifications but also meet the global net-zero emission target. Moreover, integrating net-zero emissions requirements into contractor selection criteria in bid evaluation will stimulate the bidders to improve their construction schemes, enabling the construction phase to be environmentally friendly. This study aims to develop a novel conceptual framework for net-zero emission contractor selection. Design/methodology/approach The traditional method of conducting a systematic literature review based on preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses protocol was used in this study. The methodology is grounded on an explicit and structured procedure for searching, selecting and reviewing relevant literature in a subject matter. Findings The paper identifies 40 net-zero carbon emission requirements and classified them into seven bid evaluation categories. The study further presents, a novel conceptual framework that provides a methodical and holistic approach to selecting contractors who are equipped to meet net-zero emissions target in construction projects. Originality/value The novelty of this study stems from the development of an innovative conceptual framework to establish a structured and holistic model that evaluates contractors not just based on the traditional contractor selection criteria but also on the capacity to effectively and efficiently meet net-zero emissions goal in construction projects. This is imperative as there is an exigence for the construction industry to drastically cut down on carbon dioxide emissions generated by its activities.

Impact of Organic Agriculture on Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: A Review

The impacts of organic agriculture on soil quality and associated ecosystem services, synthesising evidence from long-term field trials, meta-analyses, and empirical studies. Organic agriculture is increasingly recognised as a sustainable alternative to conventional farming, offering multiple environmental and agronomic benefits through ecologically based management practices. Organic systems enhance soil physical properties by improving aggregate stability, reducing bulk density, and increasing water infiltration capacity. Chemically, they promote higher levels of soil organic matter, balanced pH, and more efficient nutrient cycling via compost application and biological nitrogen fixation. Biologically, organic soils exhibit significantly greater microbial biomass, enzymatic activity, and faunal diversity, supporting key functions such as carbon sequestration, nutrient mineralization, and pest suppression. These soil improvements contribute to broader ecosystem services, including sustainable food production, climate regulation, water purification, and biodiversity enhancement. Although organic farming generally results in lower yields averaging 10–20% less than conventional systems trade-offs are mitigated by greater energy efficiency, reduced environmental externalities, and improved long-term soil fertility. Barriers to widespread adoption include yield variability, certification complexity, and region-specific performance constraints. The transition period is particularly critical, with initial declines in productivity and biological activity before system stabilization. Expanded longitudinal studies, region-specific trials, integration of advanced tools such as remote sensing and metagenomics, and development of policy mechanisms that support ecosystem-based farming. A multidimensional evaluation that incorporates environmental, economic, and social indicators is essential to accurately assess the role of organic systems in meeting global sustainability targets. The evidence indicates that organic agriculture has the potential to restore degraded soils, enhance ecosystem functioning, and contribute meaningfully to climate-smart and resilient food systems when supported by science-driven policy and adaptive management strategies. To address the challenges and realize the full potential of organic agriculture, future efforts must focus on long-term, data-driven research and technological integration.

Free antiretrovirals as a key tool against the HIV pandemic: A systematic review.

Access to antiretroviral (ARV) drugs remains a critical challenge in achieving the WHO/UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, with medication costs representing a substantial barrier. This systematic review evaluates the effect of free ARVs, without out-of-pocket cost to the patient, on the HIV cascade of care: the use of ARV therapy, viral suppression and the use of prophylaxis (PrEP). The following databases were searched for publications between 1 January 1996 and 10 July 2024: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, CNKI, Global Index Medicus, the Web of Science, the SciELO Citation Index and grey literature. Publications were eligible if they included people living with or at risk of HIV and compared free access to ARVs with out-of-pocket fees. Reviewers screened publications that focused on the outcomes: being on therapy, being virally suppressed and being on PrEP. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Quality Assessment Tools were used to assess publication quality. A total of 34164 documents were identified, and 407 full-text manuscripts were reviewed. A total of 22 publications met the inclusion criteria. In six of the seven publications reporting on being on therapy, providing free ARVs increased the number of people who received treatment. All four publications reporting on viral suppression showed improvement with free access. Additionally, both publications reporting on PrEP use showed increased utilization with free access. The review offers valuable insights for countries considering implementing free ARV programmes. It suggests that expanding access to free ARVs helps achieve the global HIV targets and improve health outcomes.

An Environmental Niche Exploration Tool for Kelp Forest Management

ABSTRACTSustainably managing kelp forest ecosystems is critical to maintaining marine biodiversity, supporting coastal communities, and meeting global conservation targets such as the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework's 30 × 30 and Kelp Forest Challenge. Effective kelp forest management frequently depends on selecting environmentally suitable sites that align with species‐specific environmental requirements. This paper introduces a novel kelp forest environmental niche mapping tool that synthesizes the realized environmental niche of 65 kelp species across 25 biophysical factors. Using over 426,000 global observations of kelp and high‐resolution oceanographic datasets, the tool provides quantitative environmental niche data summarized by species and ecoregion. It focuses on key biophysical variables such as temperature, salinity, light, and nutrient availability, offering users practical guidance to identify optimal locations for kelp growth and survival. The tool is accessible via an interactive web application and supports conservation practitioners, policymakers, and researchers by enabling evidence‐based site selection, maximizing conservation success, and informing broader marine ecosystem management. This tool presents a useful advancement in kelp forest management, facilitating global restoration efforts and contributing to the ambitious goal of restoring one million hectares of kelp forest by 2040. Future developments will address qualitative ecological factors and socio‐cultural considerations to enhance its utility.

Nature restoration at eLTER sites to strengthen policy support

Achieving global and EU restoration targets (e.g. UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, EU Green Deal and EU Nature Restoration Regulation, NRR) poses challenges such as the need for long-term understanding of ecosystem functioning and effective monitoring of restoration success, interdisciplinary collaboration, suitable reference ecosystems, and sustained funding. Yet, these conditions are often lacking, limiting the effectiveness of restoration. The Integrated European Long-Term Ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological Research Network (eLTER) can address these challenges providing added-value services through long-term understanding of ecosystem structure, functioning and services in response to different environmental impacts, complemented by its rich experience in interdisciplinary collaboration and standardized monitoring methods for different ecosystems. As there are many ecosystem restoration projects implemented at eLTER sites across Europe, the network can help identify best restoration practices and support the implementation of the EU NRR. Our vision is to include ecological restoration experience in the Research Infrastructure (RI) development process of eLTER and design services that could result in synthesised, actionable knowledge to reverse biodiversity loss. include ecological restoration experience in the Research Infrastructure (RI) development process of eLTER and design services that could result in synthesised, actionable knowledge to reverse biodiversity loss. The workshop aims to review the outcomes of efforts so far based on four previous workshops and discuss the possible design of a Topic Centre on restoration within the future eLTER RI. Draft service conceptualization and planned synthesis tasks to produce knowledge products will be developed at the workshop 4-7 March 2025, in Hungary. The outcomes of this previous workshop with other sources will be discussed in Tampere with a broader audience covering eLTER experts and also restoration scientists and practitioners outside the network. Discussions will cover how to pull the knowledge together, synthesize the information towards an attractive and efficient knowledge sharing system, and to identify options for policy user services related to restoration actions. This might cover guidance on methods that work or work not, approaches to be applied in different ecosystems, barriers to restoration, stakeholder involvement, metadata knowledge base and others. A framework for networking and collaboration with other initiatives, like the BiodivRestore Knowledge Hub, the Society for Ecological Restoration Europe (SERE) or BioAgora project will also be discussed. The outcome of this workshop is intended to be submitted to the coordination of the eLTER RI process for consideration. The Interim Council of eLTER will decide on adopting the ideas and delegating the tasks to countries taking up the lead towards implementation. The target audience may come from sites or organizations doing restoration and others who are interested in providing evidence to the EU NRR, also at local or national level, and want to be more organised to support restoration decisions, plus being more active in the science-policy interface.

How Long Until Agricultural Carbon Peaks in the Three Gorges Reservoir? Insights from 18 Districts and Counties

Under the global climate governance framework, the Paris Agreement and the China–U.S. Glasgow Joint Declaration established a non-negotiable target of limiting 21st-century temperature rise to 1.5 °C. To date, over 130 nations have pledged carbon neutrality by mid-century, with agricultural activities contributing 25% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The spatiotemporal dynamics of these emissions critically determine the operational efficacy of carbon peaking and neutrality strategies. While China’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) commit to achieving carbon peaking by 2030, a policy gap persists regarding differentiated implementation pathways at the county level. Addressing this challenge, this study selects the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGRA)—a region characterized by monocultural cropping systems and intensive fertilizer dependency—as a representative case. Guided by IPCC emission accounting protocols, we systematically evaluate spatiotemporal distribution patterns of agricultural CH4 and N2O emissions across 18 county-level units from 2006 to 2020. The investigation advances through two sequential phases: Mechanistic drivers analysis: employing the STIRPAT model, we quantify bidirectional effects (positive/negative) of critical determinants—including agricultural mechanization intensity and grain productivity—on CH4/N2O emission fluxes. Pathway scenario prediction: We construct three developmental scenarios (low-carbon transition, business-as-usual, and high-resource dependency) integrated with regional planning parameters. This framework enables the identification of optimal peaking chronologies for each county and proposes gradient peaking strategies through spatial zoning, thereby resolving fragmented carbon governance in agrarian counties. Methodologically, we establish a multi-scenario simulation architecture incorporating socioeconomic growth thresholds and agroecological constraints. The derived decision-support system provides empirically grounded solutions for aligning subnational climate actions with global mitigation targets.

Revisiting Emissions: How Economic Structure, Financial Development, Urbanisation, Trade Openness, and Natural Resource Rent Shape CO2 and N2O

Achieving zero carbon emissions is crucial for mitigating climate change and meeting global targets. This study examines the economic and financial drivers of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions using a panel dataset of 141 developed and developing countries from 1990 to 2020. Employing the generalised method of moments (GMM), the findings indicate that industrial and manufactural activities remain the dominant source of CO2 emissions, particularly in developed economies, while agriculture is a major contributor to N2O emissions, especially in developing countries. While the service sector reduces both emissions, the effect is more pronounced for CO2 than for N2O. Urbanisation, trade openness, and natural resource rents also positively correlate with emissions. However, financial development presents a dual effect, offering the potential for emissions reduction through green financing. These insights underscore the need for targeted policies, including stricter industrial regulations, sustainable agricultural practices, green urban planning, and financial strategies that support low-carbon transitions.

The Convergence of AI and Nature: Advancing Carbon Dioxide Capture, Removal, and Storage Technologies through Integrated Ecosystem-Based Strategies

This paper examines the critical integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) to enhance Carbon Dioxide Capture, Removal, and Storage (CCRS) technologies. Recognizing the limitations of current approaches, the study proposes that combining AI's analytical power with natural ecosystems' carbon sequestration potential offers a transformative pathway for achieving significant negative emissions and sustainable carbon storage. The research details AI's role in optimizing the entire carbon management lifecycle. This includes AI-driven advancements in material design and process control for technological carbon capture, and data-driven management for improved biological carbon removal through optimal NbS deployment. Specifically, the paper highlights AI techniques like machine learning and predictive modeling for enhanced monitoring of blue carbon ecosystems (e.g., salt marshes, seagrass beds), utilizing remote sensing to maximize their sequestration potential. Additionally, the study explores AI-driven precision agriculture for optimizing soil carbon sequestration via advanced fertilization and tailored soil management. It also assesses AI's application in species and site selection for large-scale afforestation and reforestation, considering factors like growth rates and climate resilience. The integration of AI-powered Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems is also discussed to bolster the credibility of carbon credits from NbS. The paper includes relevant case studies, such as AI-powered process automation in industrial carbon capture and AI's emerging use in the built environment for emission prediction. Crucially, the work addresses ethical considerations and potential challenges, including AI's energy consumption, data quality, and algorithmic biases. Through a comprehensive review, this study identifies critical research directions and proposes a robust framework for ethical and sustainable integrated AI-NbS CCRS systems. It concludes that the judicious fusion of AI with the natural benefits of NbS provides a potent and economically viable strategy for achieving substantial reductions in atmospheric carbon dioxide, thereby contributing significantly to global net-zero emissions targets and fostering a sustainable future.

Diagnostic accuracy of real-time PCR assay ‘Quantiplus® MTB FAST’ for detection of adult pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB): A multi-centric study

Background & objectives The global target set by the United Nations (UN) high-level meeting on Tuberculosis (TB) for coverage of rapid molecular tests is 100 per cent by 2027. Rapid, affordable molecular tests for early detection of TB are the need of the hour. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of an open real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assay, Quantiplus®, with reference to Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) liquid culture. Methods We conducted a prospective multi-centric diagnostic accuracy study of Quantiplus® assay (version 2.0) at three sites in India for the detection of pulmonary TB in sputum with culture as the reference standard, compared with Xpert® MTB/RIF. A total of 657 adults (>18 yr) with presumptive TB were enrolled consecutively. The Quantiplus® assay uses an extraction-free, quick-lysis protocol and three gene targets for RT-PCR. Results Of the 644 samples analysed, 37 per cent were culture-positive and 32 per cent were smear-positive. The sensitivity and specificity of Quantiplus® assay with reference to MGIT culture were 86 per cent [95% confidence interval (CI): 81-90] and 96 per cent (95% CI: 94-98), respectively, at Ct ≤ 38. The positive and negative predictive values (PPV/NPV) were 93 per cent (95% CI: 89-96%) and 92 per cent (95% CI: 89-94%), respectively. Among the 73 smear-negative culture-positive specimens, the sensitivity and specificity were 61.6 per cent (95% CI: 50-73) and 97 per cent (95% CI: 92-98.6), respectively. The performance of Quantiplus® assay(v2.0) was comparable to Xpert MTB/RIF® (κ=0.83, SE=0.02) at Ct ≤38. Interpretation & conclusions The flexibility of the open RT-PCR assay to be used in any RT-PCR machine makes it a very low-cost (<2 US$) alternative to the expensive cartridge-based tests. This is the first report of validation of an open system RT-PCR assay for the detection of pulmonary TB.

Strategic Framework for Additive Manufacturing with Smart Polymer Composites: A Pathway to Net-Zero Manufacturing.

Despite manufacturing firms recognizing the potential benefits of polymer-based smart materials (PBSM) in additive manufacturing (AM), their large-scale integration remains limited. As manufacturing firms strive toward net-zero emissions (NZE) and sustainable manufacturing, integrating PBSM into AM could be pivotal for manufacturing firms striving to achieve NZE and more sustainable production. In this regard, this study uses a mixed-method approach: a systematic literature review (SLR) to address the current trends and critical challenges associated with the "development, processing, and scalability" of PBSM adoption for AM. Further, the study analyzes 100 responses from Indian manufacturing firms, employing exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to develop a framework. This framework is further validated by determining the priority order of challenges using the Combined Compromise Solution (CoCoSo) through a case study. The outcome highlights that end-of-life management and lack of standardization are the most critical challenges for manufacturing firms, restricting the adoption of PBSM for AM. This research provides valuable insights for industry professionals and academia, guiding a strategic roadmap toward net-zero manufacturing. With this transformation, industries can align with global net-zero targets and contribute to India's net-zero economy (NZE) goal by 2070.

The Future Diabetes Mortality: Challenges in Meeting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of Reducing Premature Mortality from Diabetes.

Objective: This study seeks to forecast the global burden of diabetes-related mortality by type, age group, WHO region, and income classification through 2030, and to assess progress toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality (among people age 30-70 years) from noncommunicable diseases (including diabetes) by one-third. Methods: We analyzed diabetes mortality data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Global Burden of Disease 2019, covering 30 years (1990-2019). Using this historical dataset, we generated 11-year prospective forecasts (2020-2030) globally and stratified by diabetes type (type 1, type 2), age groups, WHO regions, and World Bank income classifications. We employed multiple time series and epidemic modeling approaches to enhance predictive accuracy, including ARIMA, GAM, GLM, Facebook's Prophet, n-sub-epidemic, and spatial wave models. We compared model outputs to identify consistent patterns and trends. Results: Our forecasts indicate a substantial increase in global diabetes-related mortality, with type 2 diabetes driving the majority of deaths. By 2030, annual diabetes mortality is projected to reach 1.63 million deaths (95% PI: 1.48-1.91 million), reflecting a 10% increase compared to 2019. Particularly concerning is the projected rise in mortality among adults aged 15-49 and 50-69 years, especially in Southeast Asia and low- and middle-income countries. Mortality in upper-middle-income countries is also expected to increase significantly, exceeding a 50% rise compared to 2019. Conclusions: Diabetes-related deaths are rising globally, particularly in younger and middle-aged adults in resource-limited settings. These trends jeopardize the achievement of SDG 3.4. Urgent action is needed to strengthen prevention, early detection, and management strategies, especially in Southeast Asia and low-income regions. Our findings provide data-driven insights to inform global policy and target public health interventions.

Effect of Minimum Segment Width on SRT/SBRT Volumetric Arc Therapy Plans for Flattening Filter Free Beams

Background: Volumetric arc therapy (VMAT) based stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a highly advanced radiation therapy technique that uses intensity-modulated radiation beams delivered in multiple arcs. After optimization, different segments of small sizes and shapes are created in an arc that will influence the indices like homogeneity index (HI), conformity index (CI), gradient index (GI), number of segments (NOS) which in turn will increase or decrease the total treatment time in terms of monitor units (MUs). The dose calculation algorithm faces difficulty in predicting the accurate dose for these small segments because of the lack of charged particle equilibrium (CPE) and requires precise modeling of lateral electron scatter. The segmentation parameter minimum segment width (MSW) can control the generation of these small-sized segments. It can also affect the quality and deliverability of a VMAT plan. Methods: This retrospective study includes 33 patients with lung, liver, and brain tumors (11 patients for each site) treated with the SRT/SBRT technique using a 6 MV flattening filter-free (FFF) beam. Four different plans with MSW 0.5 cm, 1 cm, 1.5 cm, and 2 cm were created by medical physicist using the Monaco treatment planning system (TPS) version 5.11.03. Results: A statistically significant reduction in MU (P= 0.01 for brain, P= 0.005 for lung) and NOS (P=0.034 for brain, P=0.011 for lung) was observed for brain and lung cases in plans with MSW 1 cm. For liver cases, along with MU and NOS (P= 0.029 & 0.013 respectively), the paired t-test shows a statistically significant difference (P= 0,046, 0.019 & 0.009) in the GI for intergroup comparison between two plans at different MSW. Improved GI in the case of plans with narrower segments (MSW 0.5 cm and 1 cm) corresponding to sharp dose fall-off compared to plans with broader segments (MSW 1.5 cm and 2 cm). There is no statistical difference in other parameters including global maximum dose and target coverage for plans at different MSW for all cases. Conclusion: VMAT plans for SRT/SBRT generated with an MSW of 1.0 cm demonstrated comparable dose distributions to plans with MSWs of 0.5 cm with fewer MUs for brain, liver, and lung cases treated with 6 MV FFF beams.

Assessment of Potential Environmental Impact: Synthetic and Natural Binders

Binders play a critical role in the construction industry, especially when combined with plant-based granulates and fibers. The binder is selected based on its physical and chemical characteristics for compatibility with certain construction requirements. New market trends highlight the use of green binders that meet global sustainability targets, demonstrating a move toward greener building and environmental sustainability. This study presents a cradle-to-gate comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of synthetic binders – namely Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) and Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) and agriculture starch-based binders made from cassava, wheat, and corn. The Life Cycle Assessment was conducted using SimaPro software based on ISO 14040/14044 standards using the ReCiPe Midpoint and CML IA Baseline. The assessment is cradle-to-gate with a function unit of 1 kg for binder production. Key environmental sustainability metrics such as Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Acidification Potential (AP) are assessed to rank the binder sustainability relative to each other. The results show that synthetic binder PVA has the highest environmental impact in almost all impact categories, especially GWP (6.55 kg CO2 eq in ReCiPe and 6.37 kg CO2 eq in CML) and AP (0.012 kg SO2 eq in ReCiPe and 0.015 kg SO2 eq in CML). Among natural binders, Corn Starch shows the lowest environmental impact with GWP values of 0.930 kg CO2 eq (ReCiPe) and 0.896 kg CO2 eq (CML) and AP values of 0.010 kg SO2 eq (ReCiPe) and 0.016 kg SO2 eq (CML). The agricultural binders (Cassava Starch, Wheat Starch, and Corn Starch) are environmentally friendlier than the synthetic binders (PVA and CMC). Although agricultural binders carry environmental costs associated with farming operations, they have lower environmental impacts than synthetic alternatives, demonstrating their sustainability potential in binder applications.

Hubungan Perawatan Payudara dengan Kejadian Bendungan ASI PMB Bella Setiani Kab. Sumatera Selatan Tahun 2023

According to WHO (2019) the health status of a woman can be determined from the number of deaths due to pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. The maternal mortality rate is one of the global targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in reducing maternal mortality. Based on the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2023 in South Sumatra Regency, the coverage of exclusive breastfeeding with the percentage of children receiving exclusive breastfeeding from year to year has increased significantly. In 2020 it was 68.06%, in 2021 it was 69.93%, and in 2022 it was 70.46%. Research Method: The type of research used is descriptive analytical research with a cross-sectional research design, namely a method of data collection carried out at the same time. Research Results: Postpartum mothers who experienced breast milk engorgement were 56.3% and only 43.7% did not experience breast milk engorgement. Mothers who do breast care are mostly in the poor category (62.5%) and a few in the good category (37.5%). There is a relationship between Breast Care and the Incident of Breast Milk Dams Conclusion: There is a relationship between Breast Care and the Incident of Breast Milk Dams in Postpartum Mothers

Global drivers of forest loss at 1 km resolution

Abstract Forests are in decline worldwide due to human activities such as agricultural expansion, urbanization, and mineral extraction. Forest loss due to generally temporary causes, such as wildfire and logging, is important to distinguish from permanent land use conversion due to the differing ecological and climate impacts of these disturbances and for the purposes of developing effective policies and management strategies. Existing global maps of the drivers of forest loss that are widely used are not spatially or thematically detailed enough for decision makers at local-to-regional scales, such as governments, land managers, or companies. Using publicly available satellite observations (Landsat, Sentinel) and ancillary biophysical and population data, we developed a 1 km resolution, global map of the dominant drivers of forest loss from 2001 to 2022 with seven classes: permanent agriculture (e.g., commodity crops or pasture), hard commodities (e.g., mining), shifting cultivation, logging (e.g., wood fiber plantations), settlements and infrastructure, wildfire, and other natural disturbances. We interpreted nearly 7,000 reference samples to train a global neural network model that classifies the driver of tree cover loss with an overall accuracy of 90.5%. Our results show that permanent agriculture was the leading driver of forest loss globally, representing 35% of loss from 2001 to 2022. The drivers of tree cover loss vary by region, with the leading driver identified as logging in Europe, permanent agriculture across the tropics, and wildfire in Russia, the Asian mainland, North America, and Oceania. Our results enable assessment of forest disturbance dynamics from local to global scales and can support tracking progress towards corporate and governmental zero-deforestation commitments, monitoring deforestation risks within jurisdictions and supply chains, and assessment of global biodiversity targets.

Life expectancy: Global targets set to be missed as health inequalities worsen, WHO warns.

Life expectancy: Global targets set to be missed as health inequalities worsen, WHO warns.

Factors associated with willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among residents of Hoima District, Mid-Western Uganda

Introduction: For the effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic, the development and use of vaccines was a global target. Since March 2021, Uganda publicized and implemented COVID-19 vaccination activities. Reports from other parts of the world indicate mixed results in relation to willingness to receive the vaccine and little information is available from rural settings. We assessed the willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors among adult residents in Hoima District, Western Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional study that employed concurrent mixed-methods comprising a survey and key informant interviews. The study was conducted between January and April 2022, among residents of Hoima District, Uganda. We used multi-stage sampling to randomly select 379 adult participants from 13 systematically sampled villages in two rural sub-counties in Hoima District. We also interviewed 8 purposively selected key informants who were health workers at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital (HRRH), where vaccination was being conducted. We used descriptive statistics and then conducted multivariable-modified Poisson regression to generate adjusted prevalence ratios (adj.PRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for the quantitative data, while a thematic approach was used for qualitative data analysis. Results: More than three quarters 79 % (301/379) of the participants were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.Willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination was significantly higher among participants with tertiary level of education (adj.PR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.12-1.47); those who received information about COVID-19 vaccination from healthcare workers (adj.PR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.21-1.64); and those who resided within five Kilometers from a vaccination site (adj.PR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.18-1.37). Perceived fear of losing libido among men and infertility among women was a major concern across the interviews. Conclusion. Willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination was high in rural settings but safety concerns were the main barrier. Strategies to improve COVID-19 vaccination programs, in such settings, may focus on health education messages through local radio stations to counter fears of reproduction and misconceptions about the vaccine.