High Absenteeism Research Articles

Analysis of the Influence of Motivation and Work Environment on the Performance of Teaching Staff at Methodist High School in Berastagi

Based on the initial survey, deficiencies in the performance of teaching staff were identified, as indicated by high absenteeism rates, which ultimately negatively impact the school's performance. This study focuses on the aspects of motivation, work environment, and the performance of teaching staff, examining whether motivation and the work environment affect teaching staff performance both separately and collectively. The aim of this research is to understand the conditions of motivation, work environment, and teaching staff performance at SMA Swasta Methodist Berastagi, and to assess the impact of motivation and work environment on teaching staff performance, both partially and simultaneously. The results show that motivation and the work environment are rated as good, as is the performance of the teaching staff. Motivation contributes 12.04% to teaching staff performance, while the work environment has an 8.88% impact. Together, motivation and the work environment influence teaching staff performance by 37.6%. The recommendations of this study emphasize the importance of meeting the need for security, as the institution has not provided sufficient future guarantees for the teaching staff. One solution is to offer retirement programs or old-age benefits. Additionally, there is a noted lack of social interaction among teaching staff, which should be improved to support their social needs. The combination of motivation and work environment contributes 37.6% to teaching staff performance, and improvements can be made by enhancing future security and increasing social interaction among the staff.

Attendance Practices in High-Absenteeism Districts

Though researchers have documented the consequences and causes of chronic absenteeism, there is limited empirical evidence about what schools and districts are actually doing to improve attendance. This study presents evidence about the types of attendance practices that forty-seven high-absenteeism districts in Michigan are planning and implementing, using data from principal surveys, case studies, observations, and school improvement plans. In 2022-2023, principals reported using communication practices, incentives, and to an extent providing resources to address barriers to attendance. In improvement plans, districts planned to create new organizational infrastructure and hire new personnel, with less emphasis on specific practices. These findings highlight frequent use of communication-based strategies and limited existing organizational infrastructure for addressing attendance. It is unclear whether planned practices will address social and economic inequalities at the root of high absenteeism rates. I conclude with recommendations for monitoring new attendance practices, addressing root causes, and avoiding counterproductive practices.

The Impact of Menstrual Hygiene Education on School Attendance Among Adolescent Girls in Rural Nepal: A Case Study of Gorkha District

This study explores the impact of menstrual hygiene education on school attendance among adolescent girls in rural Nepal, focusing on the Gorkha District as a case study. Despite existing initiatives to promote menstrual health education, significant challenges remain, including cultural stigma, lack of resources, and inadequate infrastructure, which contribute to high absenteeism rates among girls during their menstrual periods. The research examines the relationship between education programs and school attendance, highlighting examples where improved menstrual hygiene management has led to positive changes in attendance rates. The study also identifies gaps in knowledge, resources, and practices that hinder the effectiveness of current programs. Recommendations are made for expanding and enhancing education initiatives, along with policy and community strategies to support regular attendance, such as improved infrastructure, community engagement, and broader education efforts. This paper argues that addressing these gaps through targeted interventions is crucial for promoting gender equality in education and ensuring that menstruation does not become a barrier to learning.

Epidemiology and burden of chronic insomnia disorder in Europe: an analysis of the 2020 National Health and Wellness Survey

Introduction Chronic insomnia disorder (CID) is considered a significant worldwide public health concern; however, its exact burden is unknown. We estimate its prevalence across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, and assess the economic and humanistic burden for a broader insomnia population. Methods This retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study used 2020 National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS) data. Patients reporting insomnia were characterized to define CID. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity, and healthcare resource use (HCRU) outcomes were assessed in four cohorts according to insomnia diagnosis and treatment status and examined using multivariable analyses according to Insomnia Severity Index categories. Results Among 62,319 respondents, 9,035 (21.2%) reported experiencing insomnia over the previous 12 months. CID prevalence rates were 5.5% to 6.7% across the five countries and 6.0% overall. HRQoL outcomes were persistently poorer in cohorts of patients diagnosed with insomnia than those with undiagnosed insomnia. Undiagnosed and treated insomnia patients reported the highest work presenteeism and total work productivity impairment and the highest number of emergency room and hospitalization visits than patients with insomnia (either treated or untreated). After adjusting for covariates, patients with severe insomnia reported significantly worse EQ-5D-5L utility scores, higher absenteeism and presenteeism rates, and more healthcare provider visits over the past 6 months than patients without insomnia (all p < 0.01). Conclusions Our prevalence rates for CID align with published literature. A diagnosis of insomnia, use of sleep medications, and severity of insomnia are associated with poor quality of life, loss of work productivity, and higher HCRU, confirming the high unmet need and substantial humanistic and economic burden of CID.

Systematic literature review of the humanistic and economic burden of focal epilepsy and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults.

This systematic literature review (SLR) assessed the humanistic and economic burden of focal epilepsy and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (PGTCS) in adults to evaluate these domains in both populations and identify evidence gaps to inform future research. A search was conducted on December 7, 2022, using MEDLINE and Embase to identify studies published from 2012 onwards reporting humanistic burden (patient-reported or caregiver-reported outcomes or utilities, qualitative evaluations), economic burden (productivity loss, caregiver and societal costs of epilepsy), and sleep-related outcomes. Of the 2830 citations identified, 136 were included. Most studies were in the focal epilepsy population; very few studies reported outcomes in the PGTCS population. The presence of epilepsy-specific instruments varied based on the domain evaluated. Epilepsy exerted considerable humanistic and economic burden. Indicators of poor disease control (e.g., high seizure frequency, resistance to anti-seizure medications, polypharmacy) increased epilepsy burden. Seizure frequency and type, disease severity, and polypharmacy also affected work productivity. Adults with epilepsy, particularly focal epilepsy, reported higher indirect costs, more sick days accrued, and early entry into retirement. Caregivers similarly reported high productivity loss and absenteeism related to caregiving duties. The results of this SLR highlight the high humanistic and economic burden of focal epilepsy and PGTCS, although limited data were available for the PGTCS population. The results include patient-reported outcome data specific to focal epilepsy and PGTCS, expanding the limited humanistic burden evidence identified in previous reviews, and show the effect of poor disease control on individuals' lives and as a driver of indirect costs. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Our systematic literature review identified studies that evaluated the impact of focal epilepsy and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures on patients and their caregivers. We found that focal epilepsy negatively impacted patients' mental health and sleep and was associated with higher indirect costs and lower work productivity in people with more severe disease. The impact of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures on patients was rarely reported, and future research is needed.

Factors Contributing to Poor Academic Performance among Undergraduates at Gollis University

This study investigates the causes of poor academic performance among undergraduate students at Gollis University, Hargeisa, Somaliland. Utilizing a cross- sectional design, a quantitative survey was conducted with 93 respondents from a target population of 310 freshmen students. The research identifies multiple contributing factors categorized into student-related, teacher-related, and family-related factors. Key findings indicate that lack of home study, high absenteeism, peer influence, and negative student attitudes are significant student-related factors. Teacher-related factors include inadequate teaching skills, lack of subject knowledge, and poor teaching methodologies. Additionally, family-related factors such as parents' educational levels, financial problems, and lack of parental involvement significantly affect students' academic performance. The study underscores the need for comprehensive interventions addressing these multifaceted issues to enhance academic performance.

Development and validation of the Italian version of the pain attitudes and beliefs scale-musculoskeletal (PABS-MSK) among physiotherapists working with patients with musculoskeletal chronic pain

BackgroundDue to their high prevalence, long-term disability, work absenteeism, and low productivity capacity they often lead to, nociplastic and chronic pain are a major public health and social concern. Although high-level literature recommends the Biopsychosocial model, the traditional Biomedical approach is still very diffuse in clinical practise. It is recognized that the beliefs and attitudes of clinicians have an impact on those of patients. The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to validate the Italian version of the PABS-MSK questionnaire. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to translate the original PABS-MSK items into Italian and then assess the construct validity of the new Italian version of the PABS-MSK questionnaire, addressed to physiotherapists, to gain knowledge about physiotherapists’ attitudes and beliefs toward the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain and to correlate them with individual characteristics. MethodsAn EFA was performed to validate the modified-Italian-PABS-MSK questionnaire. Furthermore, multivariable regression models were implemented to assess any statistically significant differences in the total score of the two dimensions for sociodemographic and occupational characteristics. ResultsThe sample consisted of 563 subjects who are members of the order of physiotherapists.The Parallel Analysis suggested extracting two factors, and the EFA showed that the first scale (which we called Biopsychosocial) had higher factor loadings values, while two items (7 and 19) did not adequately represent the other scale (Biomedical).Moreover, the regression models showed that younger and freelance clinicians are more prone to adhere to the Biopsychosocial model. ConclusionsThe modified-Italian-PABS-MSK questionnaire appears to measure two factors related to the Biopsychosocial and Biomedical beliefs of physiotherapists in the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain. The results suggest that professional training based on the evidence and recommendations of international guidelines is necessary to improve the adherence of physiotherapists to the Biopsychosocial model. However, additional studies are needed to further validate the scales, and assess the test-retest reliability, responsiveness, and construct validity.

Cost-Effectiveness of Pediatric Conjunctivitis Management and Return to Childcare and School Strategies: A Comparative Study.

Infectious conjunctivitis affects 1 in 8 children annually, resulting in high ophthalmic antibiotic prescribing and absenteeism from childcare and school. We aimed to quantify the cost-effectiveness and annual savings of 3 evidence-based approaches to conjunctivitis management and return to childcare and school compared to usual care. Using a decision analytic model from a societal perspective over a 1-year time horizon, we conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of 3 management strategies for children aged 6 months to 17 years with non-severe conjunctivitis compared to usual care in the United States. Strategies accounted for rate of transmission. Strategies included (1) refraining from prescribing ophthalmic antibiotics for non-severe conjunctivitis, (2) allowing children without systemic symptoms to attend childcare and school, (3) and the combined approach of refraining from prescribing ophthalmic antibiotics and allowing children without systemic symptoms to attend childcare and school. The estimated annual expenditure for pediatric conjunctivitis was $1.95 billion. Usual care was the most expensive ($212.73/episode), followed by refraining from ophthalmic antibiotic prescribing ($199.92) and allowing children without systemic symptoms to attend childcare and school ($140.18). The combined approach was the least costly ($127.38). Disutility was similar between approaches (quality-adjusted life days 0.271 vs 0.274). Refraining from antibiotic prescribing and the combination approach were dominant compared to usual care. The combined approach resulted in an estimated $783 million annual savings and 1.6 million ophthalmic antibiotic courses averted. Conjunctivitis poses an economic burden that could be reduced by refraining from ophthalmic antibiotic use and allowing children without systemic symptoms to remain at school or childcare.

School Dropout, Absenteeism and Coverage of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in South Africa: Are Those Most at Risk Reached?

School attendance or completion is important for adolescents’ development. Adolescents who drop out or are regularly absent from school are at higher risk of adverse sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. However, there is little evidence evaluating SRH service coverage among adolescents in and out of school. In the context of a large-scale combination HIV and pregnancy prevention intervention funded by the Global Fund, we compared the SRH intervention coverage and SRH risks among adolescent girls who dropped out of school with those who were still in school or who had completed grade 12 in South Africa. Among those still in school, we compared the SRH intervention coverage and SRH risk profiles of those with high versus low or no absenteeism. In 2017 to 2018, we conducted a household survey of adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years in six of the ten combination intervention districts. Of 2515 participants, 7.6% had dropped out of school. Among the 1864 participants still in school, 10.8% had high absenteeism. Ever having had sex, and condomless sex were more prevalent among dropouts compared with non-dropouts. Dropouts were more likely to access SRH services such as condoms and contraceptives, except the combination prevention intervention services which were more likely to reach those who had not dropped out and were equally likely to reach those in school with high versus low/no absenteeism. Combination SRH prevention programmes can improve the accessibility of SRH services for adolescents in school/who complete school.

Correlations of The Central Sensitization Inventory, conditioned pain modulation, cognitions and psychological factors in individuals with chronic neck pain: A cross-sectional study.

Chronic neck pain (CNP) is a global public health problem, with high prevalence and absenteeism rates. Central sensitization (CS) as a basis for chronic pain may play an essential role in its development and progression. It is often comorbid with low conditioned pain modulation (CPM) effects, cognitions, and psychological problems. The purposes of this study were to (1) explore the relationship between pain-related cognitions and psychological factors, CPM effects, and the central sensitization inventory (CSI) scores; and (2) determine whether cognitions and psychological factors can predict CSI scores and CPM effects in individuals with CNP. Fifty-four individuals with CNP were recruited for this cross-sectional study. The following outcome measures were evaluated: The CSI (screening tool) was compared with the cold pressor test (CPT), which was the psychophysical test used to assess the CPM; neck pain intensity using the visual analogue scale (VAS), as well as pain-related cognitions (including kinesiophobia and pain catastrophization) and psychological states (including anxiety and depression) using self-report questionnaires. CSI score was not associated with the CPM effect (r = 0.257, p > 0.05), and no cognitions or psychological factors were associated with CPM (p > 0.05), but CSI score was moderately positively correlated with kinesiophobia (r = 0.554, p < 0.01), lowly positively correlated with pain catastrophization (r = 0.332, p = 0.017) and anxiety (r = 0.492, p < 0.01), but not depression (r = 0.207, p = 0.132). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that kinesiophobia (B = 1.308, p < 0.01) and anxiety (B = 1.806, p = 0.02) were significant positive predictors of CSI score. The findings confirm some of our hypotheses. Accordingly, the findings inferred that the CSI does not seem to respond to CPM effect in patients with CNP effectively. In addition, CSI score was associated with cognitions and psychological factors, of which kinesiophobia and anxiety were effective predictors. In clinical practice, pain-related cognitions and psychological factors should be fully considered to manage neck pain efficiently.

The mediating role of perceived social support on the relationship between lack of occupational coping self-efficacy and implicit absenteeism among intensive care unit nurses: a multicenter cross‑sectional study

BackgroundImplicit absenteeism is very common among nurses. Poor perceived social support of intensive care unit nurses has a negative impact on their mental and physical health. There is evidence that lack of occupational coping self-efficacy can promote implicit absenteeism; however, the relationship between lack of occupational coping self-efficacy in perceived social support and implicit absenteeism of intensive care unit nurses is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the role of perceived social support between lack of occupational coping self-efficacy and implicit absenteeism of intensive care unit nurses, and to provide reliable evidence to the management of clinical nurses.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 517 intensive care unit nurses in 10 tertiary hospitals in Sichuan province, China was conducted, of which 474 were valid questionnaires with a valid recovery rate of 91.6%. The survey tools included the Chinese version of Implicit Absenteeism Scale, the Chinese version of Perceived Social Support Scale, the Chinese version of Occupational Coping Self-Efficacy Scale and the Sociodemographic characteristics. Descriptive analysis and Pearson correlation analysis were performed using SPSS version 22.0, while the mediating effects were performed using AMOS version 24.0.ResultsThe average of intensive care unit nurses had a total implicit absenteeism score of (16.87 ± 3.98), in this study, the median of intensive care unit nurses’ implicit absenteeism score was 17, there were 210 intensive care unit nurses with low implicit absenteeism (44.3%) and 264 ICU nurses with high implicit absenteeism (55.7%). A total perceived social support score of (62.87 ± 11.61), and a total lack of occupational coping self-efficacy score of (22.78 ± 5.98). The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that implicit absenteeism was negatively correlated with perceived social support (r = -0.260, P < 0.001) and positively correlated with lack of occupational coping self-efficacy (r = 0.414, P < 0.001). In addition, we found that perceived social support plays a mediating role in lack of occupational coping self-efficacy and implicit absenteeism [β = 0.049, 95% CI of (0.002, 0.101)].ConclusionsIntensive care unit nurses had a high level of implicit absenteeism with a moderate level of perceived social support and lack of occupational coping self-efficacy. Nursing managers should pay attention to the nurses those who were within low levels of social support and negative coping strategies, and take measures to reduce intensive care unit nurses’ professional stress, minimize implicit absenteeism.

Cross-sectional study of psychiatric disorders in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and individuals without pain

BackgroundMusculoskeletal chronic pain is a leading cause of global disability and laboral incapacity. However, there is a lack of population-based studies that investigate the relationship between chronic pain and mental disorders with a control group, particularly among low- and middle-income countries. Chronic pain is a serious public health problem in terms of human suffering, and in terms of socioeconomic implications. Frequent association with different mental disorders increases disability, decreases quality of life, and makes diagnosis and treatment challenging. The present study aimed to evaluate the presence of mental disorders in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and compare with a control group without pain.MethodsWe selected 100 patients in a regular follow-up at the Musculoskeletal Pain Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital and compared them with 100 painless individuals from the control group from June 2016 to June 2018. The instruments used were the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-PLUS) and a structured questionnaire to collect sociodemographic data. Statistical analysis used t-test, chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, Mann-Whitney, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, and multiple logistic regression.ResultsIn the sample evaluated, the majority of patients were women (83%), of brown color (54%), with lower-level education (51%), lower salary range (73%) and high absenteeism rate at work (60,7%). Patients with chronic pain had more psychiatric disorders (88% vs. 48% in the control group; p < 0.001). The most frequent diagnoses were anxiety disorders with panic attacks (44%), generalized anxiety (36%), mixed anxiety and depression disorder (33%), social phobia (30%), agoraphobia (29%), suicide risk (28%), and major depression (27%).ConclusionPositive correlations of mental disorders and chronic musculoskeletal pain have been documented. This suggests that psychiatric components must be taken into account in the management of chronic pain syndromes. The use of Mini Plus as a diagnostic tool for psychiatric disorders can contribute to optimizing the diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic pain and encourage the creation of policies with strategies and criteria for quick access to Multi-professional Services.

Assessing Psychosocial Factors on Maintenance Employees with Safety Perspective: A Case Study of an Electrical Service Company

The increasing number of employees continuously exposed to psychosocial hazards can result in high absenteeism, employee turnover, low productivity, and increased work accidents. Efforts to improve occupational safety have typically focused on developing policies, equipment, and training to minimize physical risks; however, in recent years, attention has also shifted to psychosocial factors. This research was conducted to comprehensively analyze the psychosocial conditions of maintenance workers from electrical service companies in Indonesia. An online survey with 93 questions from COPSOQ III was conducted on 314 respondents who had worked for at least one year and were permanent employees at company X. The collected data will be tested for validity and reliability before being analyzed using descriptive statistics with the help of SPSS V25 software. It will then be classified by level using the gap analysis method. It was found that there were six psychosocial factors included in the mid-gap category, namely Cognitive Demands (X9), Work Pace (X12), Illegimate Task (X25), Role Conflict (X26), Work-Life Conflict (X31), and Insecurity over Working Condition (X32). Meanwhile, two psychosocial factors fall into the high-gap category, namely Control over Working Time (X17) and Job Insecurity (X33). Psychosocial factors in the high-gap category need to be a priority for improvement or intervention, considering that these factors can have a negative impact on work safety behavior, which can increase the number of work accidents.

Evaluation of absenteeism and presenteeism status of factory employees.

While absenteeism refers to not attending work, presenteeism is defined as not being present at work. These two conditions, which negatively affect employee health, can be indicators of work efficiency, work peace, work safety and work engagement. Several factors were evaluated in this study concerning absenteeism and presenteeism among factory workers. This cross-sectional study was conducted among workers in a factory operating in a heavy industry in southern Turkey in 2021. A survey consisting of 57 questions was applied to 152 factory workers by face-to-face interview method. The participants' behaviour over the last month was evaluated regarding absenteeism and presenteeism. It was reported that 24 (15.8%) of all employees were absent from work in the last month (absenteeism), excluding holidays and sick leave, and that 20 (13.2%) employees engaged in presenteeism, working when they should not have been at the workplace. There was a high absenteeism rate among employees who had an acute illness and were dissatisfied with their jobs. Several factors have been associated with presenteeism, including poor economic conditions, family health problems, previous unemployment, working overtime, job dissatisfaction, poor relationships with colleagues and difficulty finding a replacement, acute illness, sleep problems and fatigue. To increase the productivity and commitment of employees, it may be useful to identify the reasons for absenteeism and present behaviours, to facilitate effective interpersonal communication skills by examining the organisational climate of employees, and to regulate workload based on a comprehensive assessment of the health status of employees.

Spillover–Crossover Effect of Work–Family Interface: A Systematic Review

Work and family are essential aspects of adulthood, exerting a substantial impact on well-being and satisfaction. Work–family conflict refers to conflicts that originate at work and then affect family life and vice versa. Higher levels of stress, the emergence of physical and mental health issues, detrimental effects on family relationships, and poorer life satisfaction are a few outcomes that may have an influence on both individuals and other family members. Work–family conflict can have a socioeconomic impact on broader public health, as it may result in poor job performance and high absenteeism rates at work. This current study aims to identify the mechanisms of spillover–crossover within the work–family interferences. Using a systematic literature review from 57 articles collected from three prestigious databases: Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO, the study found that direct crossover is the predominant form of transmission. However, the crossover phenomenon is not only found in marital relationships but includes interactions between parents-children, superiors-subordinates, and employees-customers. This systematic literature review advances a novel framework by synthesizing these findings, thereby promoting a comprehensive understanding of the spillover–crossover effects of work–family conflict. In turn, this understanding can serve as the basis for the formulation of workplace policies, offering a promising path forward for both individuals and society.

Assessing the Effectiveness of STAPP@Work, a Self-Management Mobile App, in Reducing Work Stress and Preventing Burnout: Single-Case Experimental Design Study.

Work-related stress and burnout remain common problems among employees, leading to impaired health and higher absenteeism. The use of mobile health apps to promote well-being has grown substantially; however, the impact of such apps on reducing stress and preventing burnout is limited. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of STAPP@Work, a mobile-based stress management intervention, on perceived stress, coping self-efficacy, and the level of burnout among mental health employees. The study used a single-case experimental design to examine the use of STAPP@Work among mental health employees without a known diagnosis of burnout (N=63). Participants used the app for 1 week per month repeatedly for a period of 6 months. Using a reversal design, the participants used the app 6 times to assess replicated immediate (1 week after use) and lasting (3 weeks after use) effects. The Perceived Stress Scale, the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Burnout Assessment Tool were used to measure the outcomes. Linear mixed models were used to analyze the data. After 6 months of app use for 1 week per month, the participants showed a statistically significant decrease in perceived stress (b=-0.38, 95% CI -0.67 to -0.09; P=.01; Cohen d=0.50) and burnout symptoms (b=-0.31, 95% CI -0.51 to -0.12; P=.002; Cohen d=0.63) as well as a statistically significant improvement in problem-focused coping self-efficacy (b=0.42, 95% CI 0-0.85; P=.049; Cohen d=0.42). Long-term use of the app provided consistent reductions in burnout symptoms over time, including in the level of exhaustion and emotional impairment. The use of an app-based stress management intervention has been shown to reduce burnout symptoms and enhance coping self-efficacy among mental health workers. Prevention of burnout and minimization of work-related stress are of utmost importance to protect employee health and reduce absenteeism.

Reduction of acute respiratory infections in day-care by non-pharmaceutical interventions: a narrative review.

Children who start in day-care have 2-4 times as many respiratory infections compared to children who are cared for at home, and day-care staff are among the employees with the highest absenteeism. The extensive new knowledge that has been generated in the COVID-19 era should be used in the prevention measures we prioritize. The purpose of this narrative review is to answer the questions: Which respiratory viruses are the most significant in day-care centers and similar indoor environments? What do we know about the transmission route of these viruses? What evidence is there for the effectiveness of different non-pharmaceutical prevention measures? Literature searches with different terms related to respiratory infections in humans, mitigation strategies, viral transmission mechanisms, and with special focus on day-care, kindergarten or child nurseries, were conducted in PubMed database and Web of Science. Searches with each of the main viruses in combination with transmission, infectivity, and infectious spread were conducted separately supplemented through the references of articles that were retrieved. Five viruses were found to be responsible for ≈95% of respiratory infections: rhinovirus, (RV), influenza virus (IV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), coronavirus (CoV), and adenovirus (AdV). Novel research, emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggests that most respiratory viruses are primarily transmitted in an airborne manner carried by aerosols (microdroplets). Since airborne transmission is dominant for the most common respiratory viruses, the most important preventive measures consist of better indoor air quality that reduces viral concentrations and viability by appropriate ventilation strategies. Furthermore, control of the relative humidity and temperature, which ensures optimal respiratory functionality and, together with low resident density (or mask use) and increased time outdoors, can reduce the occurrence of respiratory infections.

Changes in the menstrual hygiene management facilities and usage among Bangladeshi school girls and its effect on school absenteeism from 2014 to 2018

ABSTRACT Background The lack of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) information and facilities in schools is a major contributor to adolescent girls’ school absenteeism in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. Objectives This paper examines the changes over time in school MHM facilities, knowledge and perceptions among adolescent girls, in relation to school absenteeism between 2014 and 2018 in Bangladesh. Methods We examined changes in MHM and school absenteeism among schoolgirls using nationally representative data from the Bangladesh National Hygiene Baseline Survey 2014 and National Hygiene Survey 2018. Given the repetitive nature of our data and its clustering within participants, our method included performing descriptive analysis, bivariate analysis, and multivariate Generalised Estimating Equation (GEE) modelling to analyse these changes. Results Results showed that adolescent girls’ menstruation-related absenteeism decreased between 2014 and 2018. Percentage of adolescents who missed school decreased from 25% to 14% (PD: −11; CI: −16 to −6.1), while the average number of missed days reduced from 2.8 to 2.5 (PD: −0.33; CI: −0.57 to −0.10). In the GEE model, we found that living in rural areas (coef: −5.6; CI: −10.06 to −1.14), parental restrictions on going outside (coef: 4.47; CI: 0.75 to 8.2), education levels of girls (coef: −9.48; CI: −14.17 to −4.79), girl’s belief that menstruation affects school performance (coef: 23.32; CI: 19.71 to 26.93), and using old cloths (coef: −4.2; CI: −7.6 to −0.79) were significantly associated with higher absenteeism. However, participant’s age, type of school, knowledge of menstruation before menarche, receiving information regarding MHM, separate place for changing absorbents, and separate latrine and urine facility were not significantly associated with the changes in absenteeism over time. Conclusion This paper emphasised the associations between changes in school absenteeism, parental restrictions on students, students’ education levels, and menstruation-related misperceptions. Ongoing research, policy reviews, and targeted interventions to improve MHM perceptions among girls are required to provide long-term benefits for adolescent girls in Bangladesh.

Teachers during COVID-19: Examining burnout levels and their work-life.

In March 2020, with the scope to reduce the spread of COVID-19, most national governments around the world canceled in-person education and moved to online learning. Therefore, teachers and students had to adapt a new way of teaching. Most of Italian teachers never had such an experience before and encountered difficulties in effectively carrying out this process on their own. Difficulties that can naturally increase anxiety and stress, leading, in situations perceived as extreme, to burnout syndrome. This paper endeavored to verify levels of job stress and burnout of Italian teachers caused by the COVID-19 pandemic using the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory-General. This study aimed to measure the association among the three main dimensions of burnout and the variables of teachers' personal and working lives that changed due to COVID-19. The aim of this paper was to verify burnout state and to measure the association among the three dimensions of burnout and the personal and working lives of Italian teachers using structural equation model analysis. The analysis was conducted in December 2021 and considered the situation in which the Italian teachers (from primary to middle and upper school) are working since March 2020. The results showed that teachers were emotionally exhausted; they did not feel able to fully fulfill their task towards the students. This involved a high absenteeism, a lower quality of work performance and the impossibility of making an objective evaluation of the students with an inevitable flattening of the class level. In contrast, the study shows that teachers who experienced few problems had relatively low levels of burnout. The findings brought out some proposals to reduce the risk of burnout and increase the individual well-being of schoolwork organization with positive effects on the lives of students: to strengthen social identity, to avoid a full-time online connection, to promote a psychological support service and to promote resilience training.

Exploring Patterns of Absenteeism from Prekindergarten Through Early Elementary School and Their Associations With Children’s Academic Outcomes

Using statewide administrative data from a sample of children enrolled in public prekindergarten (pre-K) programs in Massachusetts, I examined heterogeneity in children’s absenteeism patterns from pre-K to Grade 3 and linked these patterns to their Grade 3 academic outcomes. After latent class growth analysis, six absenteeism patterns emerged. The vast majority of children (85%) had consistently low absenteeism, and only a small percentage of children (1%) demonstrated consistently high absenteeism. Four patterns showed variation in absenteeism over time, with two characterized by high absenteeism in only the pre-K year, another with a peak during kindergarten, and a final one with rising absenteeism across grades. Children with always low absenteeism had higher average English language arts and math scores than did children in the other patterns, and children in the two high pre-K absenteeism patterns and peak in kindergarten pattern had higher math scores than those with rising and always high absenteeism patterns.