High-level Access Research Articles

Monitoring of relationships between indicators of food security of the states

The conceptual foundations of monitoring the state’s food security system under the conditions of global turbulence have been deepened. It was determined that the set of indicators of the state of food security used in national practice is imperfect. It is emphasized that the totality of indicators cannot objectively contribute to identifying potential threats to sustainable development and adopting effective management decisions. Attention is focused on the need to consider the impact of other components, including the issues of the accessibility, availability, quality, and safety of food products, as well as their resilience and adaptability. The hypothesis regarding the direct relationship between the degree of compliance of agricultural production in the country with sustainable development principles and the overall level of economic accessibility of food has been proved. The established and mathematically proven direct relationship between the indicators made it possible to emphasize the need to raise the population’s living standards. This is necessary to reduce the negative impact of the production of agricultural products on the environment, which results from the understanding by consumers of the need to satisfy not only basic needs but also to preserve natural resources for future generations. It is mathematically proven that in countries with a high level of economic accessibility of food, the compliance of agricultural production with sustainable development principles has a high level and is strongly correlated with economic factors. In countries with medium and low indicators of economic accessibility of food, such a relationship does not have statistical significance. The conclusions drawn are useful for practical use in conditions of global economic turbulence.

Analysis of Land Use Developments Along the LRT Line (Case Study: Polresta, Jakabaring and DJKA Station’s)

Transportation has become a basic need that plays an important role in people's lives. To reach a place, a high level of accessibility is required. A high level of accessibility will affect the number of people coming to an area. Many people will affect the number of activities that require land. Therefore, this study aims to analyze land use trends that occurred in the time period before and after the South Sumatra LRT. LRT or Light Rail Transit is a type of public transportation in the form of light rail operating in urban areas. LRT is the first light rail transportation in Indonesia right in Palembang City. Therefore, it is interesting to see its relation to land change along the LRT route. This research was conducted at three stations which were case studies, namely Polresta, Jakabaring and DJKA stations. This station was chosen because it is in Jakabaring. Jakabaring was chosen as the research area because it is a sub-district which is located on the border with other regencies but is still passed by the LRT. This research is a qualitative research using the overlay before-after analysis method through spatial data. This research uses the help of Archgis software, through Intersect tools and multiple ring buffers. The results of the analysis are then used as data for further analysis using a pivot table in excel. The results of this analysis prove that there is a tendency for changes in land use within a certain radius. The trend is in the form of changes in land from swamps or paddy fields to deserted, trade and services as well as offices.

Spatial Green Space Accessibility in Hongkou District of Shanghai Based on Gaussian Two-Step Floating Catchment Area Method

Green space in urban areas is one of the most critical infrastructures for the well-being of residents, and its spatial accessibility configuration is a key indicator of urban planning layout and ecological civilization construction. Using the Gaussian two-step floating catchment area (G2SFCA) method, K-means cluster analysis, and Kriging spatial interpolation, this study examines the spatial characteristics of green space accessibility in the Hongkou District, focusing on the relationship between “green space-community” supply. The findings indicate the following: (1) green space accessibility in Hongkou District decreases as the level of green spaces decreases. Higher levels of accessibility are associated with smaller variations in spatial distribution. (2) The green space accessibility in Hongkou District is affected by the surrounding large green space. Compared to other areas, the community green spaces near Lu Xun Park and Peace Park have higher accessibility. (3) The green space accessibility in Hongkou District is impacted by the mismatch between population density and green spaces. An overlay analysis of accessibility and population density reveals that high accessibility areas have average or low-average population density. Based on the results of the green space accessibility analysis, recommendations are proposed to optimize the green space layout in Hongkou District from the perspective of spatial justice. These suggestions are aimed at promoting the equalization of green space services in Hongkou District, improving the overall level of urban green space services, with a view to improving the quality of urban living environment and creating a green and livable urban area.

Sexual and reproductive healthcare utilisation and affordability for South Sudanese refugees and host populations in Northern Uganda: A mixed methods study.

Given Uganda's increasing refugee population, the health financing burden on refugee and host populations is likely to increase because Uganda's integrated health system caters to both populations. We used sexual, reproductive, and maternal health (SRMH) as a lens to assess the utilisation and user cost of health services in Northern Uganda to identify potential gaps in SRMH services and their financing. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 2,533 refugee and host women and girls in Arua and Kiryandongo districts. We conducted 35 focus group discussions and 131 in-depth interviews with host and South Sudanese refugees, community members, health workers, NGO and governmental actors. Qualitative data were analysed thematically using a framework approach. Quantitative data were analysed using t-test, chi-square tests, multivariate logistical regression, and a two-part model. We found high levels of access to maternal care services among refugee and host communities in Northern Uganda, but lower levels of met need for family planning (FP). Refugees had higher uptake of delivery care than host communities due to better-resourced refugee facilities, but incurred higher costs for delivery kits and food and less for transport due to facilities being closer. FP uptake was low for both groups due to perceived risks, cultural and religious beliefs, and lack of agency for most women. Host communities lack access to essential maternal healthcare services relative to refugees, especially for delivery care. Greater investment is needed to increase the number of host facilities, improve the quality of SRMH services provided, and further enhance delivery care access among host communities. Ongoing funding of delivery kits across all communities is needed and new financing mechanisms should be developed to support non-medical costs for deliveries, which our study found to be substantial in our study. All populations must be engaged in co-designing improved strategies to meet their FP needs.

Ecosystems of doing business and living standards: a configurational analysis based on Chinese cities

Purpose This paper aims to explain the causal complexity between ecosystems of doing business and living standards based on the theoretical model of the ecosystem of doing business proposed by Li (2019) and Du et al. (2020). By integrating ecological theory, transaction cost theory and institutional logics theory, this study explored effective ecosystems of doing business that achieve high living standards and explained the interpretive mechanisms behind different ecosystems of doing business. Moreover, this study also analyzed whether there were any necessary elements that lead to high living standards and discussed how the interactions between these elements influence carrying capacity and transaction costs from government logic and market logic, thus affecting living standards. Design/methodology/approach In this study, fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and necessary condition analysis (NCA) were combined to analyze the data from the 2020 China City Statistical Yearbook, covering the main socioeconomic statistical data of cities at all levels in 2019. Findings This study found that no individual factor of the ecosystems of doing business was necessary to achieve high living standards, but the high level of human capital, innovation capacity, financial access and market demand play a significant role in achieving high living standards. Furthermore, two effective types of ecosystems of doing business lead to high living standards, namely, market dominance (government’s “invisible hand” or “nudging hand”) and government–market logic mutualism/symbiosis (government’s “helping hand”). Originality/value First, this work found that individual elements were not a necessary condition for high living standards, not only in kind but also in degree, complementing fsQCA with NCA, which indicates that environmental elements can be substituted by others. Second, this study considered the complex effects and explained the mechanisms behind different ecosystems of doing business, drawing on ecological theory, transaction cost theory and institutional logics theory from a configurational perspective. This study deepened the theories’ applications in the field of living standards and further discussed the elements interactions. Third, this study introduced configurational perspective and QCA into living standards research and adopted a mixed method that combines fsQCA and NCA to analyze the causal complexity between ecosystems of doing business and people’s living standards.

The paradox of resource access: influence on location decision comprehensiveness and new venture performance

PurposeThis research aims to theorize how a critical factor, resource access, can paradoxically impact the comprehensiveness of venture location decision processes and the relationship between decision comprehensiveness and new venture performance. To do so, the authors focus on nascent entrepreneurs’ venture location decision processes and introduce resource access as a double-edged sword.Design/methodology/approachIn this conceptual article, the authors draw from the strategic decision-making and resource mobilization literature to theorize about the new venture location decision-making process and its performance implications.FindingsBy uncovering the paradox of resource access, the authors propose that high levels of resource access create a paradoxical situation in which nascent entrepreneurs are less likely to use comprehensive decision processes when their benefits are at their greatest.Originality/valueThis work contributes to entrepreneurship research on new venture location and resource mobilization in three important ways. First, the authors advance the literature on nascent entrepreneurs’ location decision-making processes by introducing “location decision comprehensiveness” as a decision process construct and juxtaposing it with resource access to uncover the entrepreneurial decision-making process. Second, the authors develop a more nuanced theorization of the location choices made by nascent entrepreneurs instead of relying on generalized conclusions drawn from well-established corporations’ location decisions. Last, the authors extend the literature on resource mobilization in entrepreneurship by shedding light on the paradoxical aspect of resource access. While previous research has emphasized the favorable effects of resource access on new venture processes and outcomes, the authors contend that it can also negatively impact entrepreneurs’ ability to make effective decisions.

Management of the Community Forests of Rogho and Boala in Central-West Burkina Faso: Balancing Access to Information and Peasant Participation

In a dual context characterized, on the one hand, by the proliferation of forest areas made possible by initiatives such as “one department, one forest”, and on the other hand, by the devolution of the management of these forest areas to local populations through decentralization, it is necessary and opportune to investigate the management of these forest resources. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the management of two community forests by examining the access of local residents to information related to these forests and their participation in their management. To this end, quantitative data were collected from 201 households living near these forests. The Likert scale, consisting of four possible options, was used to assess the level of access of local residents to information related to the forests and the extent of their participation in forest management. The results of this analysis revealed respective overall mean scores of 3.59 for information access and 2.89 for participation in management, indicating a high level of information access and a moderate degree of peasant participation in forest management. These farmers should be encouraged to maximize their participation in the management of the forests to which they are adjacent.

Telehealth-based exercise in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has served as a leader in the implementation of telerehabilitation technologies and continues to expand utilization of non-traditional patient encounters to better serve a geographically and demographically diverse population. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease impacting Veterans at a higher rate than the civilian population and associated with high levels of disability and limited access to subspecialized care. There is growing evidence supporting exercise-based interventions as an independent or adjunctive treatment to maintain or restore function for this patient population; many of these interventions can be delivered remotely by telehealth. The recent advancements in disease-modifying therapies for neuromuscular disorders will likely increase the importance of rehabilitation interventions to maximize functional outcomes. Here, we review the evidence for specific exercise interventions in ALS and the evidence for telehealth-based exercise in neuromuscular disorders. We then use this existing literature to propose a framework for telehealth delivery of these treatments, including feasible exercise interventions and remote outcome measures, recommended peripheral devices, and an example of a current remote group exercise program offered through VHA.

THE USE OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) IN DETERMINING PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBILITY IN THE HISTORICAL CITY OF MALACCA

Accessibility for pedestrians is the interdisciplinary study of accessibility that does not rely on automobiles or other motorized modes of transportation. The research was carried out in the historical district of Malacca City, which is the destination of different tourist access locations and activities. The method used is network analysis and the analytical hierarchical process (AHP), which relies on Geographic Information System (GIS) as the primary database platform. This method estimates the pedestrian accessibility score in the study region. Four variables were considered: residential density, commercial or historical density, road connectivity variables, and land use. The research findings can demonstrate the percentage of people in the area who have a high, medium, or low walking ability. In addition, with the help of GIS and walk score data, one can ascertain that the placement of the downstream city is in an area with an exceptionally high level of walkability and unrivalled accessibility. As a result, the findings of this study have the potential to benefit sustainable urban planning in terms of the economy, the environment, and the layout of cities that do not use motor vehicles.

Comparing the platformization of news media systems: A cross-country analysis

Platformization has been used to describe how platforms such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, WhatsApp and TikTok have become increasingly important for how people communicate and access information, including news. But to what extent have news media systems in different countries become platformized? Using online survey data from 46 countries, we show that: (a) although over 90% of internet users use at least one social platform, there are large country differences in the proportion that use them to access news; and (b) large country difference in the proportion that still go directly to news websites and apps. Furthermore, we find (c) that country differences at least partly reflect path dependency, more specifically the historic strength of the newspaper market leading to lower levels of news platformization and continued high levels of direct access. These findings show how platformization varies in different parts of the world, provide a framework for capturing how it changes over time, and highlight the potential benefits of bringing together platform studies and comparative media systems research.

Scavenging patterns of an inbred wolf population in a landscape with a pulse of human‐provided carrion

AbstractScavenging is an important part of food acquisition for many carnivore species that switch between scavenging and predation. In landscapes with anthropogenic impact, humans provide food that scavenging species can utilize. We quantified the magnitude of killing versus scavenging by gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Scandinavia where humans impact the ecosystem through hunter harvest, land use practices, and infrastructure. We investigated the cause of death of different animals utilized by wolves, and examined how the proportion of their consumption time spent scavenging was influenced by season, wolf social affiliation, level of inbreeding, density of moose (Alces alces) as their main prey, density of brown bear (Ursus arctos) as an intraguild competitor, and human density. We used data from 39 GPS‐collared wolves covering 3198 study days (2001–2019), including 14,205 feeding locations within space–time clusters, and 1362 carcasses utilized by wolves. Most carcasses were wolf‐killed (80.5%) while a small part had died from other natural causes (1.9%). The remaining had either anthropogenic mortality causes (4.7%), or the cause of death was unknown (12.9%). Time spent scavenging was higher during winter than during summer and autumn. Solitary wolves spent more time scavenging than pack‐living individuals, likely because individual hunting success is lower than pack success. Scavenging time increased with the mean inbreeding coefficient of the adult wolves, possibly indicating that more inbred individuals resort to scavenging, which requires less body strength. There was weak evidence for competition between wolves and brown bears as well as a positive relationship between human density and time spent scavenging. This study shows how both intrinsic and extrinsic factors drive wolf scavenging behavior, and that despite a high level of inbreeding and access to carrion of anthropogenic origin, wolves mainly utilized their own kills.

The enabling environment for citywide water service provision: Insights from six successful cities

Equitable access to safe drinking water remains a key challenge in many urban areas of low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to characterize the enabling environment for inclusive urban water service delivery, and specifically to elucidate the institutional arrangements, policies, regulations, service delivery approaches, financing models, and surrounding contextual factors that influence progress. We identified six cities across Africa, Asia, and South America that offered historical examples of success in inclusive piped water provision, resulting in high levels of access and service quality, including within low-income areas. Using a modified form of the social-ecological systems framework to structure our investigation, we conducted a comparative case study analysis to learn from these cities. Our analysis focused on a review of existing case-specific literature, supplemented by interviews with 1–3 key informants per case to update or fill gaps in the literature. A variety of characteristics supported safe and inclusive services, with contextually appropriate strategies depending on existing institutional arrangements, infrastructure, and the surrounding social, economic, political, and environmental context. Our study cities illustrated three types of progress–utility-driven, regulator-supported, and municipality-driven–each characterized by specific features and drivers of success. We also identified 12 characteristics making up the enabling environment across all three types. These characteristics highlighted two broad themes. First, a well-functioning water service provider was often a prerequisite for inclusive, pro-poor service provision. Elements such as clear performance indicators, customer feedback mechanisms, and strategies to sustainably finance operating costs contributed to cities’ success. Second, inclusive water services often required explicit pro-poor policies and strategies, such as the removal of land tenure requirements for piped connections and community mobilization for participatory decision-making. Although the importance of specific characteristics will vary depending on context, our analysis offers a common foundation to guide progress toward universal access to safe water.

Availability, accessibility and use of library information resources for control of criminality of inmates in correctional centres in South-West, Nigeria

The act of relapsing to crime after release has become a recurrent decimal to inmate and it poses a security threat to the society. Persistence on incarceration of offenders without meaningful engagement is like remaking criminality rather than reformation. Extant literature suggests educational opportunities to reduce criminal involvement of inmates. This research investigated the availability, accessibility and use of library information resources for control of criminality among inmate in custodial centres in Southwestern Nigeria. Descriptive Survey Design was used and the population was 455 inmates who affirmed that tapes, radio sets, television sets, sound recording gadgets, video and audio cassette were available for use by inmates in their custodial centre (mean = 3.20), books were adequately available for use by inmates in their custodial centre (mean = 3.06) and pamphlets were parts of reading materials available for use by inmates in their custodial centre (mean = 2.62). The mean score range of 2.50 to 3.24 indicated a high level of availability while 3.25 to 4.00 indicated a very high level of accessibility of library information resources in the custodial centres in Southwestern Nigeria. It was concluded that with the availability and accessibility of library information resources to the inmates, the maximum use of the resources is capable of controlling criminality tendencies among inmates in custodial centres in Southwestern Nigeria.

Abstraction, mimesis and the evolution of deep learning

Deep learning developers typically rely on deep learning software frameworks (DLSFs)—simply described as pre-packaged libraries of programming components that provide high-level access to deep learning functionality. New DLSFs progressively encapsulate mathematical, statistical and computational complexity. Such higher levels of abstraction subsequently make it easier for deep learning methodology to spread through mimesis (i.e., imitation of models perceived as successful). In this study, we quantify this increase in abstraction and discuss its implications. Analyzing publicly available code from Github, we found that the introduction of DLSFs correlates both with significant increases in the number of deep learning projects and substantial reductions in the number of lines of code used. We subsequently discuss and argue the importance of abstraction in deep learning with respect to ephemeralization, technological advancement, democratization, adopting timely levels of abstraction, the emergence of mimetic deadlocks, issues related to the use of black box methods including privacy and fairness, and the concentration of technological power. Finally, we also discuss abstraction as a symptom of an ongoing technological metatransition.

Fast 128-bit Multi-Pass Stream Ciphering Method

Information is an essential and valuable object in all systems. The more information you have about your issue, the better you can conform to the world around you. Moreover, information recognizes companies and provides influence that helps one company be more effective than another. So, protecting this information using better security controls and providing a high level of access to authorized parties becomes an urgent need. As a result, many algorithms and encryption techniques have been developed to provide a high level of protection for system information. Therefore, this paper presents an enhancement to the Blowfish algorithm as one of the cryptography techniques. Then it proposes an enhancement for increasing efficiency and secrecy for this algorithm, which are the main criteria for these modifications. In this paper, the main modification made for the Blowfish algorithm is altering the S-box according to the principles of the block cipher (OFB). The results were approved using hamming distance and avalanche effect. The proposed algorithm presents advantages on several points, including reducing the required time for the encryption and decryption processes and preventing transmission errors from perpetuating all data. Also, we can conclude that the modified Blowfish algorithm can be used for all text encryption systems because of its flexibility (unlimited input text size and expanding key size).

Accessibility, Usability and Satisfaction of Library Users in the Hybrid Resources and Services of Academic Libraries in the Province of Albay

This study determines the Accessibility, usability and satisfaction of library users in the hybrid resources and services of academic libraries in Albay province. The methodology used in this research was descriptive-correlational technique. As result in conducting the study the findings were as follows: 1. the level of accessibility of academic libraries in the Province of Albay was high with an average weighted mean of 3.27 accessible in terms of hybrid resources and services. 2. The level of usability for hybrid Resources and Services are both high with the weighted mean of 3.21. 3. The level of satisfaction of library users was high with an average weighted mean of 3.25., 4.There is a significant relationship between the level of accessibility and level of usability since the p value of 0.000 was lower than the level of significance at 0.01., 5. There is a significant relationship between the level of usability and satisfaction in the hybrid resources and services since the p value of 0.000 was lower than the level of significance at 0.01., 6.There is a significant relationship between the level of accessibility and satisfaction of the academic libraries in the province of Albay since the p value of 0.000 was lower than the level of significance at 0.01., 7. An action plan is designed to implicate in the result based on the findings of the study. The researcher has concluded after the result on the findings: 1. The library users are more often of accessing the hybrid resources than accessing its hybrid services. 2. The library users seldom utilize the hybrid services offered by the academic libraries. 3. Despite the low percentage in the accessibility and usability of hybrid resources, the library users still access and utilize both hybrid resources and services of academic libraries which lead to generate a highly satisfied level for satisfaction. 4. The higher the level of accessibility in academic libraries, the higher the level of usability of hybrid resources. 5. The higher level of accessibility of academic libraries, the higher level of usability of hybrid services. 6. The higher the level of accessibility and usability of the hybrid resources and services, the higher satisfaction will be rated from the library users. 7. An action plan is a tool in improving for the weak percentage on the hybrid library resources and services indicated for the accessibility and usability of users in the academic libraries of the Province of Albay

Student access to technology at home and learning hours during COVID-19 in the U.S.

Studies have shown that the digital divide affects students' educational achievement across racial and ethnic groups. In light of this, the study investigates the effect of technology access at home on student learning hours during the COVID-19 pandemic and across racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. The Household Pulse Surveys (HPS), conducted by the United States Census Bureau and administered from August 19, 2020, to March 29, 2021, were used for the analysis. We compute a composite index of technology access using the principal component analysis (PCA). And for the empirical model, the study employed a Tobit regression model. The result shows that the estimated index of technology access based on PCA for the whole sample is about 0.92, indicating a higher level of access. However, the breakdown by race/ethnicity shows an average of about 0.93, 0.89, 0.90, 0.94, and 0.89 for students representing White, Black, Hispanic, Asia, and other races, respectively. This means the intensity at which households in the sample have access to technology is higher among the Asian and White students, followed by Hispanic, Black, and other races in that order. The estimated effect of technology access on the student learning hours during COVID-19 based on the Tobit regression model shows about a 3.1 unit points increase over the whole sample. And further analysis reveals variation at which access to the technology impacts learning hours across race and ethnicity groups. For example, we find that access to technology significantly increased learning hours by about 3.5, 1.6, 2.2, and 3.4 unit points among White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian students, respectively. The observed differing effect of access to technology on learning hours further highlights the racial disparities in American society's digital divide, which reveal how access to technology disproportionately impacts student learning hours during the COVID-19 pandemic across race and ethnicity.

Patients’ and Caregivers’ Perception of Safety and Accessibility of Cancer Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey in a Tertiary Academic Cancer Center in the Philippines

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global public health emergency. High levels of fear and limited access to cancer treatment may jeopardize the delivery of optimal oncologic care, potentially influencing treatment outcomes. This study aimed to identify patients’ and their caregivers’ perception of safety and accessibility of cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of patients and caregivers at the Benavides Cancer Institute, University of Santo Tomas Hospital was performed from August to October 2020 using a 20-item investigator-developed questionnaire. Results: A total of 207 participants answered the survey. Frequency of hospital visits varied from none to more than ten times in the previous month; but having multiple postponements were uncommon. Eighty-two percent, 77%, 62%, and 55% of participants reported being afraid of contracting COVID-19 from other patients, hospital surroundings, hospital staff, and doctors, respectively. Twenty-six percent and 12% had difficulty finding transportation and passing through checkpoints, respectively. Twenty-eight percent strongly expressed financial limitations in prioritizing cancer care. Participants were amenable to the use of telemedicine and stringent protocols to reduce in-hospital transmission risk, but had some reluctance to spend out of their pockets for screening tests. Conclusion: The perceived safety of cancer care was influenced by fears of contracting COVID-19; and accessibility was influenced by limited transportation and financial constraints. Despite these, multiple postponements and cancelled hospital visits were uncommon. Institutional approaches targeting these concerns will be crucial to ensure safe and timely delivery of cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic and further mitigate its impact on oncologic outcomes. Key words: cancer care, COVID-19 pandemic, safety, accessibility

Clinical reporting for personalized cancer genomics requires extensive access to subscription-only literature.

Medical care for cancer is increasingly directed by genomic laboratory testing for alterations in the tumor genome that are significant for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. Uniquely in medicine, providers must search the biomedical literature for each patient to determine the clinical significance of these alterations. Access to published scientific literature is frequently subject to high fees, with access limited to institutional subscriptions. We sought to investigate the degree to which the scientific literature is accessible to clinical cancer genomics providers, and the potential role of university and hospital system libraries in information access for cancer care. We identified 265 journals that were accessed during the interpretation and reporting of clinical test results from 1,842 cancer patients at the University Health Network (Toronto, Canada). We determined the degree of open access for this set of clinically important literature, and for any journals not available through open access we surveyed subscription access at seven academic hospital systems and at their affiliated universities. This study found that nearly half (116/265) of journals have open access mandates that make articles freely available within one year of release. For the remaining subscription access journals, universities provided a uniformly high level of access, but access available through hospital system collections varied widely. This study highlights the importance of different modes of access to the use of the scientific literature in clinical practice and points to challenges that must be overcome as genomic medicine grows in scale and complexity.

Access to digital media and devices among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: A multicountry, school-based survey.

Digital technologies provide unprecedented opportunities for health and nutrition interventions among adolescents. The use of digital media and devices among young adolescents across diverse settings in sub-Saharan Africa is unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the use of digital media and devices and the socioeconomic determinants of use among young adolescents in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, South Africa, Sudan and Tanzania. The study included 4981 adolescents aged 10-15 from public schools selected by multistage sampling. Access to various digital media and devices was self-reported by adolescents. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between sociodemographic characteristics and access to digital media and devices. Approximately 40% of the adolescents in Burkina Faso and South Africa, 36% in Sudan, 13% in Ethiopia and 3% in Tanzania owned mobile phones. Compared with boys, girls had a lower ownership of mobile phones (odds ratio [OR] = 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68, 0.92; p = 0.002), computers (OR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.99; p = 0.04) and social media accounts (OR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.83; p < 0.001). Higher maternal education and greater household wealth were positively associated with access to digital media and devices. While digital media and devices are promising platforms for interventions in some settings due to relatively high levels of access, their utility in delivering health and nutrition interventions to adolescents in these contexts should be further examined.