Governorates Of Oman Research Articles

Millennials outlook towards opportunities and challenges in fishing industry of Muscat Governorate of Oman

Oman plans to double the fishery production by 2020 to enhance the fisheries sector contribution to its GDP as well as create job opportunities for Omanis. The millennial generation can play a pivotal role in revamping the traditional fisheries sector in Oman. The current study determines the perception of millennials involved in fisheries enterprises, regarding the opportunities available to them in this sector. It also identifies the challenges confronted to the young fishing businessmen in their endeavours. Two hundred and fifty-nine millennials from the fishing industry of Muscat governorate were surveyed online using self-administered questionnaire. The findings highlighted the usefulness of governmental initiatives to their businesses and also the major issues confronted in their development. The results suggested that the millennials of Muscat governorate had a positive approach towards fishing business-line and have intentions to advance their careers in it. The study has implications for concerned authorities and policy makers.

Measuring Teachers’ Adherence to Ethical Principles in Educational Assessment

<p>Although educational assessment is one of the main responsibilities of the teachers, there has been little research designed to examine ethical principles in the daily classroom assessment practices of the teachers. Using a descriptive survey research design, the purposes of the current study were to develop a measure of the teachers’ adherence to the ethical principles in educational assessment and identify teachers’ characteristics associated with it. Participants were 3557 teachers teaching grades 5 to 12 in public schools across all educational governorates in Oman. Principal components analysis of the teachers’ responses to an 11-items survey revealed three dimensions of the ethical principles in educational assessment: confidentiality, test integrity, and transparency. Internal consistency reliability ranged from .64 to .78. The correlations among the dimensions ranged from .19 to .32. Construct validity was evidenced by the statistically significant positive low correlation of .10 between the dimensions and knowledge of educational assessment ethics. Multivariate analyses of variance revealed statistically significant differences in levels of adherence to the ethical principles in educational assessment among teachers with respect to gender, educational qualification, teaching subject, teaching experience, and training in educational assessment. It was concluded that the measure developed in this study has the potential to provide educators and researchers with valuable information to understand teachers’ adherence to the ethical principles in educational assessment.<strong></strong></p>

Visual acuity and refractive status of Omani students with refractive error in grades 1, 4 and 7: A retrospective cohort study.

Background:The visual and refractive status were assessed for grade 7 students in seven governorates in Oman. The health records were reviewed to assess the rationale for their previous school-based vision screening.Methods:A representative sample of 7th grade students with a refractive error (RE) was examined by optometrists in 2012. Their compliance with spectacle wear was also reviewed. Each student's vision and refractive status in grades 1 and 4 were compared with the status in grade 7. Each student's use of eye care services between grade 4 and 7 was evaluated to determine the uptake of existing eye services for vision problems.Results:This study had 286, 7th grade students with RE (myopia [94%], hyperopia [4%] and astigmatism [>1D] [2%]). The types of RE between genders in each grade were not significant (P > 0.05). During their vision screening when they were in grade 4, 5 of 13 moderate myopes (>−2D to − 6D) and 3 of 4 high myopes (>−6D) were detected and managed. Ten students with moderate and high myopia were already using spectacles before they were screened in grade 7. The compliance for spectacle wear was 62% in grade 7. Between grades, 4 and 7, 140 (49%) students did not visit eye clinics or an optician.Conclusions:Refractive services in grade 4 were an additional initiative from the eye health care systems in Oman to the actual World Health Organization recommendations of conducting vision screening and RE corrections at grade 7 and 10. However, this was not proved to be significantly effective in early detection, and even the uptake of eye care services by school children was also low.

Sero-surveillance and risk factors for avian influenza and Newcastle disease virus in backyard poultry in Oman

Avian Influenza (AI) and Newcastle disease (ND) are the most important reportable poultry diseases worldwide. Low pathogenic AI (H9N2) and ND viruses are known to have been circulating in the Middle East, including in Oman, for many decades. However, detailed information on the occurrence of these pathogens is almost completely lacking in Oman. As backyard poultry are not vaccinated against either virus in Oman, this sector is likely to be the most affected poultry production sector for both diseases. Here, in the first survey of AI and ND viruses in backyard poultry in Oman, we report high flock-level seroprevalences of both viruses. Serum and oropharyngeal swabs were taken from 2350 birds in 243 backyard flocks from all regions and governorates of Oman. Information was recorded on location, type of bird and housing type for each sampled farm. Individual bird serum samples were tested using commercial indirect antibody detection ELISA kits. Pooled oropharyngeal samples from each flock were inoculated onto FTA cards and tested by RT-PCR. Samples came from chickens (90.5%), turkeys (2.1%), ducks (6.2%), guinea fowl (0.8%) and geese (0.4%). The bird-level seroprevalence of antibody to AI and ND viruses was 37.5% and 42.1% respectively, and at the flock level it was 84% and 90% respectively. There were statistically significant differences between some different regions of Oman in the seroprevalence of both viruses. Flock-level NDV seropositivity in chickens was significantly associated with AIV seropositivity, and marginally negatively associated with flock size. AIV seropositivity in chickens was marginally negatively associated with altitude. All oropharyngeal samples were negative for both viruses by RT-PCR, consistent with a short duration of infection. This study demonstrates that eight or nine out of ten backyard poultry flocks in Oman are exposed to AI and ND viruses, and may present a risk for infection for the commercial poultry sector in Oman, or wild birds which could carry infection further afield.

Preventing the Future Pandemic of Diabetes Mellitus in Oman.

Preventing the Future Pandemic of Diabetes Mellitus in Oman.

Abattoir based surveillance of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in the Sultanate of Oman during 2010–2013

A passive surveillance was conducted in 8 selected abattoirs belonging to 8 governorates of Oman. Routine slaughtering of 282.020 animals was observed during 2010–2013 by duty veterinarians and suspected samples (n=1440) for cystic echinococcosis (CE) from camels (n=292), cattle (n=303), goats (n=682) and sheep (n=163) were collected. In total, 587 (40.8%) samples were found positive for CE and the highest percentage (64.2%) of positive samples belonged to Dhofar (Salalah) as compared to other governorates, p<0.01. The infection rate of CE was calculated as 5.3, 0.6, 0.07 and 0.03 in camel, cattle, sheep and goats respectively. Fertile cysts were found in 30.7% of positive samples and camels (52%) were found as major source of these followed by cattle (14.1%) and goats (9.7%). Percentage of positive to submitted samples was higher in females (67.9%) than males (29.8%). The fertility of cyst increased with age and the highest percentage of fertile cysts were collected from animals above 5 years of age (54.4%) followed by between 3 and 5 years (36.7%) and below 3 years of age (8.9%). For different breeds, 478 (62.7%) samples from local breeds of livestock were positive for CE as compared to 108 (15.9%) from imported animals (OR 8.92), p<0.01. The highest percent of positive samples was observed in cysts from lungs (54.4%) followed by those from liver (25.7%), liver and lungs (14.1%) and others (3.8%). Molecular investigations indicated that G1 and G6/7 were the two strains of CE circulating in camels and cattle while G1 was the only strain found in samples from small ruminants. Results indicated that CE is endemic in the livestock of Oman and further molecular epidemiological work in different host species is required for the conceptualization of a comprehensive control program.

Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Version of the Perceived Physical Ability  Scale for Children in Oman

This study aimed at examining the psychometric properties of the Perceived Physical Ability Scale for Children (PPASC) within an Omani context. A sample of 250 fourth graders (130 males and 120 females) from six public primary schools in four governorates in Oman responded to Arabic translated version of the PPASC. Data on students' in-class physical activity, social desirability, and teachers' nominations of students' physical ability were also collected. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the unidimensional model of the PPASC had adequate fit to the data. Multigroup CFA revealed gender invariance for PPASC unidimensional model when it was compared across male and female groups. A latent mean analysis showed that there were significant gender differences in perceived physical ability favoring males. The PPASC correlated positively with in-class physical activity and teachers' nominations of students' physical ability but not with social desirability.

Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Version of the Perceived Physical Ability  Scale for Children in Oman

This study aimed at examining the psychometric properties of the Perceived Physical Ability Scale for Children (PPASC) within an Omani context. A sample of 250 fourth graders (130 males and 120 females) from six public primary schools in four governorates in Oman responded to Arabic translated version of the PPASC. Data on students' in-class physical activity, social desirability, and teachers' nominations of students' physical ability were also collected. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the unidimensional model of the PPASC had adequate fit to the data. Multigroup CFA revealed gender invariance for PPASC unidimensional model when it was compared across male and female groups. A latent mean analysis showed that there were significant gender differences in perceived physical ability favoring males. The PPASC correlated positively with in-class physical activity and teachers' nominations of students' physical ability but not with social desirability.

A Study Assessing Public Knowledge, Belief and Behavior of Antibiotic Use in an Omani Population

This study was aimed to assess public knowledge, belief and behavior towards antibiotics use in a general population in the Sultanate of Oman. A 12-item self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 850 prospective participants by researchers using quota sampling in two governorates of Oman. The data obtained were evaluated to assess the responses to individual questions related to knowledge, belief and behavior of antibiotic use. Median score of the respondents was correlated with participant demographics and status on use of antibiotics. A total of 718 completed questionnaires were obtained giving a response rate of 85%. The median total score of the participants was 16 (Interquartile range: 6) out of a possible maximum score of 24. A moderate knowledge and behavior score was observed, while the belief score of the participants was low. A significant difference was observed in the median total score based on age group, educational qualification and employment status. Antibiotics are frequently used by the public. An inappropriate belief on antibiotic related aspects was observed and inappropriate behavior was noticed, which are reflections of insufficient knowledge and wrong beliefs. Interventions must be put in place to educate the public on appropriate antibiotic use.

The status of Kumzari and its speakers

The Kumzari language, with approximately 3,000 speakers in the Musandam Governorate of Oman, is an Iranian language spoken in the Arabian Peninsula. Although Kumzari speakers have lived along the Persian Gulf for hundreds of years, little research has been conducted on this language community. Issues related to constructing a systematic approach for analyzing language minority groups are considered in the context of the Kumzari language and community. In addition, factors and degrees of endangerment suggested in the 2003 UNESCO document entitled “Language Vitality and Endangerment” as well as classifications proposed by other researchers are addressed. Finally, the future status of this endangered language community is discussed.

Re : Acute Coronary Syndrome , Diabetes and Hypertension : Oman Must Pay More Attention to Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases

Re : Acute Coronary Syndrome , Diabetes and Hypertension : Oman Must Pay More Attention to Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases