Government Authorities Research Articles

Low health literacy is associated with health-related institutional mistrust beyond education

Abstract Background Institutional mistrust, the lack of confidence and overall suspicion towards authorities or systems, usually governmental, but also extending to the health sector, poses a major obstacle towards public health policies and actions. Lower educational attainment has been linked to higher mistrust, but the role of health literacy in particular remains unclear. Methods Cross-sectional study in the general adult population of Greece and Cyprus following proportional quota sampling (January 2022 to May 2023). The current analysis is based on a sub-sample of 292 participants, with complete information on health literacy (main exposure, assessed via the validated HLS-EU-Q16) and health-related institutional mistrust (main outcome, assessed via a new culturally adopted questionnaire comprising 11 items). Multiple linear regression was used to determine associations between the aforementioned factors, adjusting for educational attainment and other potential confounders. Results Exploratory factor analysis revealed 3 health-related institutional mistrust dimensions, towards: (a) governmental authorities and the media (i.e., the system), (b) doctors and other health professionals, and (c) the scientific community. Health literacy was negatively associated with all mistrust dimensions, with associations being particularly strong with mistrust towards the system (B, 95% CI per unit increase in the HL scale: -0.87, -1.58; -0.15) and the scientific community (-0.71, -1.11; -0.32). These association remained robust to adjustment for educational attainment and other sociodemographic factors. Conclusions Mistrust towards a perceived system, comprising the government and media, as well as towards the scientific community on health-related matters, is higher among individuals with low health literacy, irrespective of educational attainment. Enhancing health literacy could act as a novel target for public health approaches aiming to tackle health-related institutional mistrust. Key messages • Health-related institutional mistrust is a complex phenomenon, which appears to have different dimensions, relevant to the perceived system, health professionals, and the scientific community. • Low health literacy is an independent predictor of health-related institutional mistrust, rendering it a novel target for attempts towards reversing this phenomenon and its adverse health consequences.

Employers and the Privatization of Public Health

This Article focuses on the role of employers in public health and argues that they constitute increasingly important actors in the U.S. public health arena. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of judicial decisions and newly enacted statutes enfeebled the public health powers of the federal and state governments. In a 2023 statement, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch clearly articulated his antagonism toward government-initiated COVID-19 interventions, describing them as “the greatest intrusions on civil liberties in the peacetime history of this country.” All too many share his views. Employers may be highly motivated to safeguard their workers’ health. Without healthy staff members, they cannot keep their doors open, and without visible pandemic protections, they cannot reassure concerned customers that their premises are safe. During COVID-19, many employers established mask, testing, social distancing, and vaccine rules even in the absence of government mandates. Employers’ profit motives do not diminish their contributions to public health. Their contributions can significantly reduce health disparities by protecting vulnerable individuals who otherwise face health care access barriers and economic challenges that exacerbate their risks. This Article posits that in future public health emergencies, the United States will increasingly rely on those with a financial stake in individuals’ health. Federal and state government authorities should therefore embrace employers as public health partners. To that end, this Article develops recommendations concerning guidance and funding support that should be available to assist employers in their emergency response efforts.

The Role of Trade Officers in Enhancing Local Revenue Collection in Mpanda Municipal Council

The persistent under-collection of local revenues in Mpanda Municipal Council undermines the council's financial autonomy and leads to continued reliance on central government funding. This study aimed to evaluate the role of Local Government Authority (LGA) trade officers in revenue collection as a strategic initiative to diminish this dependency. To address this issue, the study employed a convergent mixed-method design rooted in pragmatism, allowing for the integration of qualitative and quantitative data to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing revenue collection. The research involved a population of 75 individuals, including personnel from the trade and industry unit, collectors, revenue officials, and business owners within the district council. A sample of 63 respondents participated in the study, with 46 responding to questionnaires and 17 business owners interviewed. Data were gathered through a combination of these methods, analyzed to capture both numerical trends and in-depth perspectives. The findings underscore the critical importance of strategic revenue management practices, well-informed trade officers, and effective revenue supervision in reducing reliance on central government funding. These insights bear significant implications for policymakers and local government officials aspiring to bolster financial self-sufficiency and ensure sustainable fiscal governance in Mpanda Municipal Council. To address these challenges, the study recommends a focus on comprehensive training and capacity-building programs for trade officers to enable them to autonomously manage revenue collection processes.

Evaluation of the Impact of Economic Empowerment Initiatives on Poverty Alleviation among Youth and Women's Groups: A Case Study of the Arusha Region, Tanzania

Globally, the Women and Youth Development Fund, channeled through women's groups, has played a crucial role in fostering economic empowerment for women and youth. In Tanzania, population growth has introduced both opportunities and challenges, with a significant issue being the rise in unemployment and poverty, particularly among women and youth. To address these challenges, the Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities Revolving Fund (WYDF) was established within Local Government Authorities (LGAs) to provide accessible loans to the poor, who are often excluded from conventional financial institutions. This study investigates the effectiveness of economic empowerment initiatives in alleviating poverty among youth and women's groups in the Arusha Region, Tanzania. Specifically, it examines the impact of start-up capital provision, financial literacy training, and business capacity-building on poverty reduction. The study employed a survey research design with a quantitative approach, collecting data from 95 respondents through questionnaires. Purposive sampling was used to select the sample. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS software, with regression analysis employed to explore the relationships between variables influencing poverty reduction among the targeted groups. The findings reveal that start-up capital provision, financial literacy training, and business capacity-building significantly contribute to poverty reduction among youth and women's groups. The study recommends enhanced financial literacy programs to enable entrepreneurs to save and accumulate sufficient capital for business investments. Additionally, the government, through youth and women empowerment programs, should continue providing training, particularly to those without technical skills, focusing on new production techniques, efficient fund allocation, and marketing strategies to ensure sustainable impacts.

Assessing the Factors for the Effectiveness of the Task Force Staff in Revenue Collection in Tanzania Local Governments Authorities

Recurring challenges in revenue collection and the insufficient revenue collection is pervasive, affecting the financial viability within Tanzania Local Government Authorities (LGAs) prompted this study with a focus on Mpanda Municipal Council. The aim is to assess key factors such as staff training, resource allocation, and community engagement that impact efficiency of task force staff operations. Mpanda Municipal Council was chosen due to its recurring challenges in meeting revenue collection targets and its strategic importance as a rapidly growing municipality with increasing fiscal demands. The study is grounded in both Agency Theory (AT), TAPACO and Resource-Based Theory (RBT). Agency Theory emphasizes the relationship between principals (local governments) and agents (task force staff) in ensuring that revenue collection objectives are aligned, while Resource-Based Theory highlights the importance of internal resources both tangible and intangible in achieving organizational effectiveness. Adopting a pragmatist research philosophy, the study used a convergent mixed-method research design, combining both qualitative and quantitative data to provide a holistic understanding of the research problem. Pragmatism guided the choice of methods, focusing on practical solutions and actionable outcomes. The quantitative data were analyzed using Ordinal Logistic Regression (OLR), which revealed that all independent variables significantly impact revenue collection effectiveness. A population of 75 people with a sample of 63 participants, comprising 46 respondents completed questionnaires while 17 business owners participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used in case of qualitative data. The findings reveal that targeted training programs, adequate resources, and active community engagement significantly enhance the effectiveness of task force staff in revenue collection. The study concludes that improving these areas will result in better revenue generation and financial stability for local governments. It is recommended that local governments increase investment in training, adopt modern technologies, and foster stronger community engagement to reduce reliance on central government funding.

Hepatitis B viral infection and its common genotype circulation: A molecular approach

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the causes of liver infection and associated with cirrhosis, carcinoma, and fibrosis of liver. In this research study, we conducted an observational study to evaluate the distribution of HBV infection and its genotypes in selected cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 426 samples were collected from selected cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Mardan (n = 163), Dir (Lower) (n = 116), Malakand (n = 53), Miran Shah (n = 29), Dera Ismail Khan (n = 28), Swat (n = 22), and Hangu (n = 15). For molecular identification of hepatitis B virus infection, the ICT (Immunochromatographic techniques) kits were used for the Screening of Hepatitis B virus infection among general population. The positive samples of ICT test were further subjected to Real-time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), of which 282 (66.2 %) were males, and 144 (33.8 %) were females. Out of 426 ICT kit positive samples, 218 (51.18 %) were found PCR positive. The maximum number of positive cases, 157 (36.86 %), was found between 15 and 34 years. Sixty samples were further processed for HBV genotyping. A mixed genotype was detected in 29 (48.3 %) individuals, followed by genotype D in 23 (38.3 %) and untypable in 8 (13.3 %). The positivity rate of HBV was recorded high among males compared to females. Most patients who reported positive for HBV were co-infected with two genotypes. This research will help to provide background information to government and health authorities to raise public awareness and improve the capacity of the healthcare delivery system for hepatitis B virus infection.

Embedding a Circular Economy through Local Government in Gippsland: A Case Study, Utilising Smart Specialisation Methodology

AbstractIn 2017, the ageing Hazelwood coal-fired power station in Gippsland (Australia), finally—and abruptly, closed. The Latrobe Valley Authority (LVA), funded by the Victorian State Government was then established to assist redundant workers and develop a long-term approach to transitioning towards a more sustainable regional economy and socially cohesive community. To enable this, the LVA adopted and implemented a methodology made popular in the European Union of the ‘Smart Specialisation Strategy’ (S3), bringing together practitioners from government, business, research and education, and the wider local community (known as the ‘quadruple helix’) to co-design a shared vision for the region’s future prosperity. With Australia declaring its commitment to and the Victorian government developing policy support for a Circular Economy (CE), the LVA funded a research project in 2022 to facilitate a ‘place-based’ approach to implementing a CE business model across Gippsland. Based on interviews and workshops conducted in the period 2022–23 with key regional stakeholders, as well as on the analysis of secondary sources, this paper provides an overview of the experience utilising the S3 methodology to explore the implementation of CE in a regional setting, historically dominated by natural resource-based industries, that is now undergoing multiple economic transitions, including cessation of coal-fired power generation, oil and gas extraction and native timber harvesting. Significant barriers identified include: poor understanding of broader opportunities embedded in systemic notions of S3 and CE, siloed structure of local government authorities (both within or between councils), difficulty in promoting alignment and cooperation at all levels between a diverse range of stakeholders, lack of policy coordination and support for business innovation, together with the absence of financial incentives or regulatory mechanisms to change behaviour from a linear to CE. Despite improved intentions in policy settings around intentionality of CE practices and other initiatives being progressed simultaneously with this work, CE in Gippsland (and Victoria more broadly) and its implementation continue to be narrowly focussed on recycling and waste management, where there are clear pressures in stock-piling of waste and limitations on landfill expansion. Regional approaches to implementation of circular economy are limited in Australia, with the exception of exemplars such as Geelong, Barwon South West, and Bega. However, there are currently no examples of utilising S3 methodology to implement CE in a regional setting. Here we identify current barriers and provide recommendations on how to overcome these with the engagement of a diverse range of stakeholders across Gippsland from agribusiness, regional planning, local governments, small and medium enterprises, utilising S3 methodology, to enable systemic changes towards CE models to be implemented region-wide. This study documents the journey so far for Gippsland, where the transition from traditional extractive industry provides the opportunity to embed more sustainable practices moving forward.

Green Building Technology and Sustainable Construction: The Case of Pakistan

ABSTRACT The construction industry (CI) has been at the center of the discussion on sustainable development as the largest consumer of resources and energy. The sustainable development goals offer the construction sector a general direction for pursuing sustainable development from social, environmental and economic perspectives. A sustainable and low-carbon future requires the promotion of sustainable building. In Pakistan, sustainable buildings are potentially difficult to adopt on a large scale, which requires further consideration. This research therefore aims to identify green building technologies (GBTs) and analyze the main drivers of the adoption of GBTs for future sustainable construction from the stakeholders’ perspective in Pakistan. The data were collected using a survey in the form of a questionnaire of 349 CI stakeholders, and the partial least squares structural equation modelling (SEM) method was applied. The results showed that environmental drivers have the highest significant influence on the adoption of GBTs, and that it is also significantly influenced by energy and industry-related drivers. However, company-related and economic drivers have an insignificant influence. Based on the study's findings, it is recommended that government authorities and concerned stakeholders should be competent, proactive, and active in the successful promotion of GBTs in Pakistan.

The Druze District Governor Nasib Beik Jumblatt and the Ottoman Policy in Mount Lebanon

This study examines the policies of the Ottoman Empire in the Shouf region during the 19th century, focusing on the prominent figures of the area. In this context, the Ottoman state's approach to the influence of Nasib Jumblatt, a significant political figure from the Jumblatt family, in the region will be discussed. As the Ottoman central government's authority weakened in the 19th century, the rivalry between the Jumblatts and Arslans, two long-standing families in the region, intensified. As a result, acquiring the district governorship of Shouf, where the Druze were densely populated, became crucial for perpetuating the influence of both families. For this reason, this study examines the political maneuvers of the Arslan and Jumblatt families in order to control the district of Shouf, as well as the activities of Nasib Jumblatt as district governor. The study will also discuss the manifestations of international interventions in Mount Lebanon. Finally, the Ottoman state's approach to the British influence in shaping Nasib Jumblatt's political identity will be another aspect of the study.

Emergency Preparedness for Waterborne Diseases in the Wake of Floods in Northern Cameroon: A Call for Immediate Action

Severe flooding in Northern Regions of Cameroon (Far North, North and Adamawa Regions), triggered by torrential rains, has led to widespread displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and significant disruptions in essential services, particularly water, sanitation, and healthcare. This article, issued by public health researchers from Science For Life Foundation and Pinnacle University Institute, highlights the heightened risk of waterborne diseases following the recent floods and underscores the urgent need for enhanced emergency preparedness and response measures. Floods create conditions conducive to the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, and viral hepatitis by contaminating drinking water supplies with sewage and waste. Vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are at increased risk. Overcrowding in temporary shelters further exacerbates the potential for disease outbreaks. The impact of climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of such flooding events, making timely and effective intervention critical. This article reviews best practices for preventing and mitigating waterborne disease outbreaks, offering guidance to government authorities, health agencies, humanitarian organizations, and local communities. It aims to catalyze immediate action to safeguard public health and prevent a major crisis in the aftermath of the flooding Keywords: Waterborne Diseases, Flooding, Emergency Preparedness.

Assessing environmental liabilities of mining in Northern Australia: A Case study of the McArthur River Mine

Mining projects supposedly offer enormous economic benefits; however, they often involve serious environmental liabilities that extend far beyond the life of the mine, including perturbing the ecological balance and causing the loss of ecosystem services that are vital for sustaining human well-being. Understanding and assessing the environmental liabilities of mining is crucial for estimating the costs of restoring, replacing, or providing the equivalent of the damaged natural resources. This study estimates the market and non-market values of the mining impacts in the Northern Territory, Australia, particularly for the McArthur River Mine. We assess these costs by applying the Replacement Cost, Welfare Costs Savings, and Basic Value Transfer methods in terms of the loss of local Indigenous communities' well-being, loss of ecosystem services from native vegetation and freshwater, and the opportunity cost of the mine site none of which are not fully accounted for in the mining operator's environmental assessments and mitigation measures approved by the local governmental authorities. Our valuation analysis indicates that the market value of the environmental and social impacts of mining ascends to AUD 1.1 billion per year while the non-market value is AUD 20 million per year. Assessing mining-related environmental liabilities offers crucial insights for informed decision-making regarding mitigation and remediation efforts and strengthening environmental and mining legislation in the Northern Territory. In conclusion, our study contributes to developing a comprehensive understanding of the true economic impact of mining activities on ecosystems and local Indigenous communities.

The International Conference «Transport Obligations in the context of Technological Development» Dedicated to the Memory of Professor A. G. Kalpin

The paper is a brief overview of the international conference «Transport Obligations in the context of Technological Development» held on June 18, 2024 at Department of Civil Law of Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL) and dedicated to the memory of Professor A.G. Kalpin. More than 30 speakers—representatives of leading Russian universities, business and government authorities—attended the conference. The conference was supported by the Digital Valleys Platform Foundation for the Support and Development of Information Technologies and Digitalization of the Economy, which is the general partner of the Technopravo project implemented within the framework of the Priority-2030 academic equality program. Four out of five Dr. Sci.— experts in transport law — attended the conference. The paper provides an overview of the main speeches and reports of leading Russian lawyers on transport law in the Russian Federation. Following the results of the conference, it was emphasized that many problems of transport law identified by Professor A. G. Kalpin have not yet been solved. This circumstance, as well as the rapid technological development of the Russian Federation, necessitates the continued modernization of domestic legislation in the field of transport law, including the formation of new legal regimes in the transport industry of the Russian Federation.

Implementation of a semi-automatic approach for detection and extraction of oil slicks using Sentinel-1: Case study of the Moroccan exclusive economic zone

Due to its strategic geographic location, Morocco experiences heavy ship traffic, which inevitably has consequences. Ship accidents and illegal discharges, commonly referred to as oil spills, are frequent and pose significant harm to the marine ecosystem. Therefore, employing new technologies, such as satellite monitoring, is crucial and will greatly enhance the ability to monitor and assess these oil spills. The present work is based on Sentinel-1 SAR images and aims to take into evidence the extent of the hydrocarbon marine pollution in all of the Moroccan EEZ. More than 220 possible cases were detected and mapped during the last decade (2014–2024). A batch process was developed to automate the detection of oil spills by identifying areas with reduced Normalized Radar Cross Section (NRCS) values. This process incorporates corrections, masks, wind field estimation, and oil clustering. The method successfully detected approximately 80% of the cases between Kenitra and Casablanca. The closest detected spill is located 1 km from the coast, the largest spill covers an area of 90 km2, and the most extended spill measures about 145 km. This study can help raise awareness among governmental authorities about potential environmental damage and can be used to train artificial intelligence models, which could simulate oil slick propagation.

Effect of Court Suits on Value Added Tax Compliance Among Small and Medium Enterprises in Machakos Town, Kenya

Purpose: Value Added Tax non-compliance is an area of concern for all government and tax authorities and it continues to be an important issue that must be addressed. The general objective of the study was court suits on Value Added Tax compliance among the Small and Medium Enterprises in Machakos Town, Kenya. The study was guided by Agency theory and ability to pay theory. Methodology: The target population was 5412 Value Added Tax Registered Small and Medium Enterprises operators located in Machakos Town. The sample size was 372 Value Added Tax Registered Small and Medium Enterprises operators. Out of the 372 issued questionnaires only 275 were correctly filled and submitted in a timely fashion signifying a 73.9% response rate. The study employed explanatory study design. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. The pilot study was done in Kitui town and the data analysis was both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics covered frequencies, mean, standard deviations and variances. Inferential statistics included Pearson’s correlation and regression analysis. Results: The study found that court suits significantly affected VAT compliance in a positive way β=0.261 p<0.05. Recommendation: The study recommends that taxpayers should be aware of the legal consequences of non-compliance, as court suits can drive adherence to VAT regulations

Community Participation in Flood Management Systems in Aceh Utara Regency

Flooding remains a persistent challenge in Aceh Utara Regency, representing a complex, cross-sectoral issue. If not addressed through collaboration among various stakeholders, including community groups, it has the potential to lead to new societal problems. This research seeks to assess the effectiveness and impact of using a participatory model in flood management efforts in the region. A qualitative approach was employed, gathering data through in-depth interviews with stakeholders such as local communities, government authorities, and non-governmental organizations involved in flood mitigation programs. The findings emphasize the urgency of adopting a participatory model to enhance the effectiveness of flood management systems. Actively engaging the community in planning, execution, and evaluation processes leads to a deeper understanding of local conditions, needs, and suitable solutions. Key aspects of the participatory model include raising public awareness of flood risks and mitigation measures, improving flood management infrastructure based on community input, creating more accessible and effective evacuation plans, and strengthening the community’s capacity for emergency response and simple mitigation efforts. In conclusion, this study aims to further explore the relevance and effectiveness of the participatory model in flood management in Aceh Utara Regency, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the region's disaster management system.

Analisis Operasional dan Tindakan Preventif terhadap Eskalasi Angka Kematian Jemaah Haji Tahun 2023

This study aims to analyze the challenges faced during the operational implementation of the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage and to identify preventive measure for the upcoming years. The research employs a qualitative approach, with primary data in the form of mortality data of 2023 pilgrims processed by Siskohatkes-Kemenkes. Meanwhile, secondary sources are derived from interviews with 2023 Hajj pilgrims and various electronic media sources. The results finding indicate that the peak of pilgrim deaths occurred in Muzdalifah, where many pilgrims suffered from dehydration while waiting for transportation to Mina. The incident started on the 10th of Dzulhijjah, allegedly due to non-Hajj visa holders were overcrowding the Taraddud routes, causing congestion in the pickup fleets. Additionaly, accommodation services and support for the elderly pilgrims were not to be insufficient. To prevent similar incident in the future implementations, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has designed various presentive measures, including Murur and Tanazul stays to hotels, deemed appropriate steps in improving pilgrim safety. This research is expected to provide significant contributions to the government and relevant authorities as an evaluation material for better Hajj management in the future.

Transition Processes in Dutch Spatial Planning and Water Management: A Shift to the Natural

Climate change is causing more extreme weather conditions in the Netherlands. In response, local governments such as Provinces, Municipalities, and regional Water Boards are encouraged to explore more nature-inclusive ways to keep society safe from flooding and drought. This is considered a transition from the earlier belief that environmental and societal challenges can be solved solely through technical engineering. Instead, landscape-based, climate-adaptive visions offer alternatives on how Dutch regions can maintain water security while also incorporating space for biodiversity, climate mitigation, healthy livelihood and expanding populations. So far, not much is known about the challenges project leaders from different organisations and local governments are facing during the development and implementation of such visions. To address this gap, we used the concept of learning history to build an archive capturing the insider perspective of project leaders tasked with co-creating landscape-based, climate-adaptive visions for future spatial planning and water management across four regions of the Netherlands. By observing and interviewing project leaders, we noticed how co-creating long-term visions enabled more climate-conscious dialogues between local government authorities and civil stakeholder groups. Reflecting on this archive, we gained insights into the strategic challenges associated with adopting biophysical processes as a foundational framework for future spatial development and policy-making. Furthermore, we documented examples of tactical approaches employed by project leaders to navigate these challenges effectively.

The effects of artificial intelligence and victims’ deservingness information on citizens’ blame attribution towards administrative errors

ABSTRACT This study examines how citizens attribute blame to government authorities for administrative errors made by artificial intelligence (AI) compared to human decision-makers. Based on blame attribution theory, we conducted a vignette-based survey experiment with 1,098 Chinese citizens, revealing that respondents assign less blame for errors caused by AI or AI-assisted decisions. Additionally, disclosing victims’ deservingness information heightened blame attribution. These findings contribute to the literature on administrative accountability, highlighting how citizens respond to AI-related errors and informing the growing use of AI in public sector decision-making.

Economic Development of the Major Cities in the Context of Demographic Challenges

In recent years, Russia has faced serious global challenges. Particular attention is required for demographic challenges, which are caused by natural population decline, ambiguous migration processes, and their exacerbation due to the spread of the coronavirus infection and subsequently the aggravation of the foreign policy situation. The largest Russian cities are centers of economic growth with significant potential for solving regional livelihood problems. An important indicator of the state and development of a city as a socio-economic system is the change in population size. The dynamics of demographic and other socio-economic indicators deserve detailed analysis and study. The results obtained must be considered when making strategic decisions and developing adaptation mechanisms. In the past five years, a natural population decline has prevailed in the studied largest municipalities, which is only partially offset by migration growth. In most cities with a population of over one million, there is a correlation between the dynamics of population growth (both natural and migration), the average wage level, and the quality of the urban environment. In cities with migration outflow, measures are needed to improve these parameters. Since all cities have developed industries, including due to natural and historical factors, systematic monitoring of the relevant indicators and a detailed analysis of the reasons for negative trends, including demographic ones, are important for ensuring balanced economic development. To ensure the balance of supply and demand in the labor market in terms of qualification and professional requirements and expectations, the implementation of regional programs and projects with the participation of government and business is proposed. In the context of the economic development of the largest cities and adaptation to global challenges, it is proposed that government authorities, local governments, the scientific community, and businesses identify new promising specializations for cities, including the need to enhance import substitution and implement high-tech, science-intensive industries.

Detecting spatial clusters of human scabies in Tigray, Ethiopia from 2018 to 2023

BackgroundScabies is one of public health concerns among communicable disease in Ethiopia, especially among disadvantaged and the poor. This current study aims to detect the spatiotemporal patterns of scabies in Tigray from 2018 to 2023 using scabies data aggregated at the zonal level. The study also examined the persistent patterns in the spatial variation of scabies incidence across the administrative regions during the study period.MethodWe collected scabies data using a weekly disease surveillance reporting format of the country from 2018 to 2023 across all accessible district health facilities in Tigray region, Ethiopia. We conducted retrospective analyses using both purely spatial and spatiotemporal scan statistic approaches, employing a discrete Poisson probability model to identify statistically significant clusters of high scabies rates throughout the Tigray regional zones in Ethiopia. Our methodology involved the use of Kulldorff’s spatial scan statistic software (SaTScan v10.1.3), R programming software version 4.3.1, and ArcGIS Pro for all analyses.ResultsA total of 101,116 cases of scabies were reported from 2018 to 2023. Our study indicated a spatial heterogeneity in the pattern of scabies across Tigray region as well as its localization among geographically contiguous zones across space, except for the Western zone of Tigray where no data was collected. The detected statistically significant spatial clusters \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\:p-value<0.05$$\\end{document} persisted mainly in the Central, Eastern and Northwestern zones of Tigray over the six years of the study period. The highest relative risk (RR) was recorded in year 2021 (\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\:RR=8.49,\\:LLR=6860.34,p-value=0.01)$$\\end{document}. The central zone had the major clusters of scabies at district level from 2018 to 2023. The heterogeneous distribution of scabies across Tigray could be due to the spatial variations in the determinants of scabies (such as socioeconomic status, demographics, and material deprivation) across the region.ConclusionAn enormous burden of scabies was reported over a period of six years. The present study found localized clusters of high scabies rates at district and zonal levels in Tigray, Ethiopia, possibly due to differences in various determinants of scabies such as access to WASH services. The findings could help the government and health authorities to develop and implement scabies control strategies in Tigray, with a focus on high-risk districts and zones to ensure optimal resource allocation.