Higher Literacy Research Articles

Tribal Education in Kerala and Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-4: Prospects and Challenges

Education is a key indicator of development and a fundamental right for all individuals. The state plays a crucial role in providing basic and higher education to its citizens, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or financial status. Education serves as a social capital essential for individual and community development. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 emphasizes access to quality education, ensuring inclusive and equitable education for all. This paper examines the prospects and challenges of achieving SDG 4 among tribal communities in Kerala. Tribal communities face unique obstacles in accessing quality education, such as geographical remoteness, linguistic barriers, cultural differences, and gender discrimination. Despite Kerala’s high literacy rate, tribal education lags behind that of the general population. Through a multi-dimensional approach, this study explores the prospects and challenges of tribal education using a case study method. Both primary and secondary data were utilized, with primary data gathered through interviews with students benefiting from the post-metric hostel scheme, tribal promoters, counsellors, social activists, and educationists. The paper highlights government interventions and constitutional frameworks promoting tribal education. It also provides social work interventions and other suggestions to strengthen tribal education and achieve SDG 4.

Heterogeneous responsiveness of consumers’ medium-term inflation expectations

Using a large euro area survey, we study the responsiveness of consumers’ medium-term inflation expectations to changes in actual inflation and short-term inflation expectations. We find that high trust in the central bank and high financial literacy lower this responsiveness.

Determinants and outcomes of health-promoting lifestyle among people with schizophrenia

BackgroundHealthy lifestyle is an important protective factor of developing cardiovascular disease in people with schizophrenia. However, little is known about the determinants of lifestyle and its contribution to metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to explore the influencing factors of health-promoting lifestyle (HPL) and its association with metabolic syndrome among people with schizophrenia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in twenty-two primary health centers of Guangzhou, China between December 2022 and April 2023. A total of 538 patients with schizophrenia were recruited through convenience sampling. Self-administered scales, questionnaires, and clinical data were collected. Scales and questionnaires included social-demographic information, Health-Promoting Lifestyles Profile (HPLP-C), UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Cluster analyses were used to divide participants into two groups based on the distribution characteristics of HPLP-C scores. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with HPL and the association between HPL and metabolic syndrome.ResultsThere were 271 participants in the high HPL group and 267 participants in the low HPL group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that loneliness posed a risk factor for high HPL, while high education and moderate-vigorous physical activity served as protective factors for high HPL. Low HPL was a risk factor for the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.ConclusionsPromotion of high education literacy and a physically active lifestyle should be priority targets in the health management of schizophrenia. Primary healthcare providers can play a pivotal role in assisting patients to mitigate metabolic syndrome by reinforcing healthy lifestyle strategies.

A health literacy analysis of online patient-directed educational materials about mycobacterium avium complex

IntroductionMycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is a complex lung infection requiring multi-disciplinary approach and management. Due to limited clinician-patient interactions, clinicians may refer patients to online resources to learn about the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of MAC. The American Medical Association (AMA) recommends educational materials be written at a sixth-grade reading level and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends that patient education materials be written at an eighth-grade reading level; however, several evaluations found these materials inaccessible due to high literacy levels. To date, there has never been a health literacy assessment of MAC patient education materials. The study aims to assess the health literacy of online patient education materials about MAC. MethodsThe patient education materials were evaluated for readability, actionability, understandability and clarity. Readability was assessed through the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Scale (FkGL), SMOG Index, Coleman Liau Index (CLI), Gunning Fog Index (GFI), and Automated Readability Index (ARI). Actionability and understandability was evaluated using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Clear Communication Index (CCI) was used to assess clarity. ResultsTen patient education resources were evaluated: CDC, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, JAMA, American Thoracic Society (ATS), National Jewish Health, UpToDate, CHEST, WebMD, and Medline. The mean readability scores were as follows: FkGL (9.76), SMOG index (9.82), CLI (13.54), GFI (11.66), ARI (9.15). Four patient education materials were written at a sixth-grade reading level and eight patient education materials were written at an eighth-grade reading level. The majority of the materials received a passing score for understandability but failed to achieve a passing score for actionability. Cleveland Clinic, JAMA, and ATS all received a passing clarity score, indicating that they are easy to read. No patient education materials were available on UpToDate. ConclusionMost patient education materials scored poorly for actionability and clarity while scoring highly for readability and understandability. This study should serve as a guide for clinicians interested in offering online education materials to their patients. Increasing access to readable MAC educational materials should be a priority for those working at the intersection of public health, clinical care, and communications.

Self-Management Support Improves Diabetes Outcomes Without Exacerbating Inequities.

Previous research has found an association between low health literacy and poor clinical outcomes in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. We sought to determine if this association can be mitigated by a self-management support (SMS) program provided by trained health workers using a technology assisted menu driven program, called Connection to Health (CTH). This study is a secondary analysis from a randomized trial of 2 similar versions of CTH implemented in 12 Northern California community health centers. As part of this, each participant completed a single validated question to assess health literacy. We used unadjusted and adjusted linear regression analyses to determine the extent to which baseline health literacy was predictive of prepost changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Of 365 participants for whom prepost HbA1c data were available, HbA1c concentrations declined by an average of 0.76% (from 9.9% to 9.2%, 95% CI (0.53%-1.0%). Almost 114 (31.2%) of the participants had low health literacy, but there was no significant association between health literacy and the reduction in HbA1c concentrations in either the unadjusted or adjusted models, nor did baseline health literacy predict prepost changes in body mass index, medication adherence, exercise, or diet. The study found that implementing the CTH program in 2 versions via a randomized clinical trial improved HbA1c concentrations without increasing disparities between participants with high and low health literacy. This suggests CTH-like programs can enhance diabetes outcomes in community health centers without exacerbating inequities for those with low health literacy.

Is social media our new quitline? A descriptive study assessing youtube coverage of tobacco cessation.

Tobacco use and exposure are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the past decade, educational efforts to reduce tobacco use and exposure have extended to social media, including video-sharing platforms. YouTube is one of the most publicly accessed video-sharing platforms. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to identify and describe sources, formats, and content of widely viewed YouTube videos on smoking cessation. In August to September 2023, the keywords "stop quit smoking" were used to search in YouTube and identify 100 videos with the highest view count. Collectively, these videos were viewed over 220 million times. The majority (n = 35) were posted by nongovernmental/organization sources, with a smaller number posted by consumers (n = 25), and only eleven were posted by governmental agencies. The format used in the highest number of videos was the testimonial (n = 32 videos, over 77 million views). Other popular formats included animation (n = 23 videos, over 90 million views) and talk by professional (n = 20 videos, almost 43 million views). Video content included evidence-based and non-evidence-based practices. Evidence-based strategies aligned with U.S. Public Health Service Tobacco Treatment Guidelines (e.g. health systems approach in tobacco treatment, medication management). Non-evidence-based strategies included mindfulness and hypnotherapy. One key finding was that environmental tobacco exposure received scant coverage across the videos. Social media such as YouTube promises to reach large audiences at low cost without requiring high reading literacy. Additional attention is needed to create videos with up-to-date, accurate information that can engage consumers.

Good health literacy leads to better quality of life and medication adherence among hemodialysis patients

Introduction: The research aimed to investigate the correlation between health literacy levels, medication adherence, and quality of life among hemodialysis patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods: The research employed a cross-sectional design. A random sample of 164 hemodialysis patients from two hemodialysis facilities in Padang, Indonesia, was collected between May and June 2023. Inclusion criteria were patients undergoing hemodialysis twice a week and aged over 18 years. Patients who experienced a decrease in consciousness and memory disorders such as dementia were excluded from this study. The questionnaires used to measure variables in this study were the demographic data questionnaire, the HLS-EU-Q16 health literacy questionnaire, the MMAS-8 medication adherence questionnaire, and the KDQOL-36 quality of life questionnaire for chronic kidney disease patients. Results: The high health literacy group (N = 73) exhibited a markedly superior quality of life compared to those in the mid-level (N = 48) and low-level (N = 43) health literacy groups. Multiple regression analysis revealed that, of the three components of health literacy, health promotion has the greatest influence on patients' quality of life, contributing 25.1%, while the aspect of healthcare has the greatest influence on medication adherence, contributing 43.3%. Conclusions: Health literacy is essential in improving medication adherence and the patient's quality of life in a more optimal direction. Healthcare professionals should create plans for tailored and customized health information with the goal of providing patients with the knowledge about critical components they need to manage chronic kidney disease.

Antecedent Factors of Intention to Use Digital Wallets and the Moderating Role of Consumer Trust

The Covid 19 (Coronavirus Disease That Was Discovered In 2019) pandemic has encouraged people to have high digital literacy. Since entering the New Normal Era, people as buyers must also avoid and make transactions using cash and make more use of digital payments, one of which is through digital wallet platforms. The aim of this research is to explore the antecedent factors that influence the intensity of digital wallet use and also to look at the moderating role of customer trust. This research was conducted on 194 respondents who are digital wallet users. This research uses quantitative methods using covariance based structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis tools. The research sample was Gopay/OVO/Dana digital wallet users aged 17 to 45 years and had used digital wallets for at least 6 months. Several variables in this research were confirmed to be antecedent factors for the intensity of digital wallet use, where attitude was proven to have a positive influence on intention to use and of all the factors that influence attitude, perceived usefulness is the most dominant. Some of the recommendations from this study are to continue to increase the benefits that digital wallet users can experience so that they will improve attitudes to increase the intensity of payments using digital wallets

Investigating the relationship between math literacy and linguistic synchrony in online mathematical discussions through large‐scale data analytics

AbstractPrevious literature has associated math literacy with linguistic factors such as verbal ability and phonological skills. However, few studies have investigated linguistic synchrony, shown in mathematical discussions. This study modelled math literacy and examined the relationship of math literacy with linguistic synchrony between students and facilitators. We retrieved data from 20,776 online mathematical discussion threads at a secondary school level. First, we assessed students' math literacy based on their discussions and classified them into high‐ and low‐math literacy groups. Then, we conducted Cross‐Recurrence Quantification Analysis (CRQA) to calculate linguistic synchrony within each thread. The result implies that students with high math literacy are more likely to share common words (eg, mathematical terms) with facilitators. At the same time, they would paraphrase the facilitators' words rather than blindly mimic them as the exact sentences or phrases. On the other hand, students with low math literacy tend to use overlapping words with facilitators less frequently and are more likely to repeat the exact same phrases from the facilitators. The findings provide an empirical data analysis and insights into mathematical discussions and linguistic synchrony. In addition, this paper implies the directions to improve online mathematical discussions and foster math literacy. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Mathematical discussions are known to be an effective way to promote math literacy. Math literacy and linguistic skills have a strong link. Linguistic synchrony is related to better collaboration and common knowledge building. What this paper adds Reveals the relationship between math literacy and linguistic synchrony and deepens the understanding of digital communication in online learning environments. Provides empirical analysis of natural language data in group discussions using CRQA. Conceptualizes linguistic synchrony with three sub‐concepts: linguistic concurrence, predictability, and complexity. Implications for practice and/or policy Educators and practitioners could utilize the automatic formative assessment of math literacy based on the student's language use in mathematical discussions. Educational technology researchers and designers could include CRQA indices and recurrence plots in the dashboard design to provide information to support teachers and learners. Teachers would be able to provide real‐time interventions to promote effective mathematical communication and foster math literacy throughout mathematical discussions.

Online learning in Ukraine: Challenges and tools for identifying difficulties in adaptation and socialization of Chinese students in a university environment: A case study

This research addressed the critical topic of Chinese students' adaptation at Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National Economic University, focusing on online learning. The study assessed the effectiveness of support tools using structured questionnaires to measure professional and academic adaptation levels of Chinese students, revealing associated challenges. The research methodology integrates surveys, observation, and statistical data analysis to objectively assess comfort levels, identify critical issues, and evaluate the effectiveness of support tools, contributing to enhanced professional and academic standards. In research was employing surveys, observations, documentary analysis, and a review of official documents, and explored various facets of adaptation, including general issues and social interactions in the online environment. Data analysis uncovers key challenges during adaptation, leading to specific recommendations for improving online learning. Challenges faced by students adapting to remote education in a Ukrainian higher education institution are identified, including language barriers hindering language learning and communication for Chinese students, and cultural differences complicating adaptation and technology integration. The results highlight aspects complicating Chinese students' adaptation to the online environment, such as language barriers, cultural differences, and technology adaptation. Despite high technological literacy, it remains crucial to tailor educational materials and platforms to the specific needs of Chinese students. The study addresses significant challenges, providing recommendations as a foundation for support programs and optimizing conditions for online learning among Chinese students in a university setting, ultimately enhancing their professional and academic success. The findings contribute significantly to the scientific discourse, offering valuable insights to inform the development of strategies aimed at improving conditions for students' adaptation to the university environment, especially within the online format

Analysis of Effective Strategies and Teacher Motivation in Improving Literacy and Numeracy at State Elementary School Besowo 5 Kediri: Findings and Implications

State Elementary School Besowo 5, Kepung District, Kediri, is an elementary school that succeeded in achieving high literacy and numeracy results on the education report card and achieved recognition as the Best BOSP Performance in Kediri Regency, even though the school experienced infrastructure challenges such as limited road access and limited cellular signal. The aim of this research is to explore the challenges, strategies and collaborative efforts of teachers in improving students' literacy and numeracy skills. The method in this research uses case studies through observation, interviews and document analysis. The analysis technique of this research uses triangulation techniques. Through the use of educational report cards as a basis, SDN Besowo 5 teachers provide special additional hours by utilizing a variety of literacy and numeracy materials, implementing various learning strategies, including guidance on finding keywords, Polya steps, using innovative worksheet, involving students as peer tutors, and provide treatment according to students' abilities. Apart from that, teachers also collaborate. Teachers' motivation for collaboration includes, among other things, improving school achievement, developing knowledge, and strengthening the school's positive image in the eyes of the community.

Congruency and its related factors between patients' fall risk perception and nurses' fall risk assessment in acute care hospitals.

Inpatients need to recognize their fall risk accurately and objectively. Nurses need to assess how patients perceive their fall risk and identify the factors that influence patients' fall risk perception. This study aims to explore the congruency between nurses' fall risk assessment and patients' perception of fall risk and identify factors related to the non-congruency of fall risk. A descriptive and cross-sectional design was used. The study enrolled 386 patients who were admitted to an acute care hospital. Six nurses assessed the participants' fall risk. Congruency was classified using the Morse Fall Scale for nurses and the Fall Risk Perception Questionnaire for patients. The nurses' fall risk assessments and patients' fall risk perceptions were congruent in 57% of the participants. Underestimation of the patient's risk of falling was associated with gender (women), long hospitalization period, department (orthopedics), low fall efficacy, and history of falls before hospitalization. Overestimation of fall risk was associated with age group, gender (men), department, and a high health literacy score. In the multiple logistic regression, the factors related to the underestimation of fall risk were hospitalization period and department, and the factors related to the overestimation of fall risk were health literacy and department. Nurses should consider the patient's perception of fall risk and incorporate it into fall prevention interventions. Nurses need to evaluate whether patients perceive the risk of falling consistently. For patients who underestimate or overestimate their fall risk, it may be helpful to consider clinical and fall-related characteristics together when evaluating their perception of fall risk.

Enhancing Food and Nutrition Literacy: A Key Strategy for Reducing Food Waste and Improving Diet Quality

Excessive food purchases, improper storage, incorrect food preparation, and the disposal of non-expired products contribute significantly to household food waste. Food and nutritional literacy can, therefore, be linked to household food waste and not just to diet quality. Consumers with high food literacy appear to better organize their food shopping and waste less than people with low food literacy. Different studies have demonstrated the association between high nutritional literacy, healthy eating habits, and a high amount of food waste, represented by highly perishable products. The relationship between a high-quality diet and food waste is mainly attributable to the consumption of fruit and vegetables, while an unhealthy diet is associated with fewer leftovers due to the high consumption of ultra-processed foods with a long shelf life. Social and economic conditions influence the effects of literacy on the production of domestic food waste. Many studies have reported that low-income individuals rarely waste food, while richer ones tend to produce more leftovers. The challenge for the scientific, educational, and health policy sectors is to promote the consumption of fresh, healthy, and inexpensive foods, especially in the most disadvantaged segments of the population, and at the same time, provide the knowledge necessary to limit the production of household waste.

What predicts health facility delivery among women? analysis from the 2021 Madagascar Demographic and Health Survey

BackgroundOne of the pivotal determinants of maternal and neonatal health outcomes hinges on the choice of place of delivery. However, the decision to give birth within the confines of a health facility is shaped by a complex interplay of sociodemographic, economic, cultural, and healthcare system-related factors. This study examined the predictors of health facility delivery among women in Madagascar.MethodsWe used data from the 2021 Madagascar Demographic and Health Survey. A total of 9,315 women who had a health facility delivery or delivered elsewhere for the most recent live birth preceding the survey were considered in this analysis. Descriptive analysis, and multilevel regression were carried out to determine the prevalence and factors associated with health facility delivery. The results were presented as frequencies, percentages, crude odds ratios and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and a p-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.ResultsThe prevalence of health facility delivery was 41.2% [95% CI: 38.9–43.5%]. In the multilevel analysis, women aged 45–49 [aOR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.34–3.43], those with secondary/higher education [aOR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.30–2.01], widowed [aOR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.43–3.58], and those exposed to mass media [aOR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.00-1.39] had higher odds of delivering in health facilities compared to those aged 15-49, those with no formal education, women who had never been in union and not exposed to mass media respectively. Women with at least an antenatal care visit [aOR = 6.95, 95% CI = 4.95–9.77], those in the richest wealth index [aOR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.99–3.77], and women who considered distance to health facility as not a big problem [aOR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.09–1.50] were more likely to deliver in health facilities compared to those who had no antenatal care visit. Women who lived in communities with high literacy levels [aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.15–2.08], and women who lived in communities with high socioeconomic status [aOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.28–2.31] had increased odds of health facility delivery compared to those with low literacy levels and in communities with low socioeconomic status respectively.ConclusionThe prevalence of health facility delivery among women in Madagascar is low in this study. The findings of this study call on stakeholders and the government to strengthen the healthcare system of Madagascar using the framework for universal health coverage. There is also the need to implement programmes and interventions geared towards increasing health facility delivery among adolescent girls and young women, women with no formal education, and those not exposed to media. Also, consideration should be made to provide free maternal health care and a health insurance scheme that can be accessed by women in the poorest wealth index. Health facilities should be provided at places where women have challenges with distance to other health facilities. Education on the importance of antenatal care visits should also be encouraged, especially among women with low literacy levels and in communities with low socioeconomic status.

Association between Mother's Educational Status And Home Literacy Environment With The Language Abilities Of Seven Year-Old Children: Path Analysis Evidence

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;: &lt;/strong&gt;Factors that can influence the success of the educational process are family environmental factors, school environment, and community environment. The role of parents is to provide materials and help their children when they experience difficulties in the learning process. Language skills emerge in early childhood and are critical in promoting later literacy competencies, such as reading and writing. The period from birth to age 3 is critical for language development, as nearly all typically developing children acquire important language skills by age 3. During this period, children's home environment is especially important, as parents are the main providers of language input and support, allowing most children to acquire a basic foundation of language.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;This study used a cross sectional study design, which was conducted in Surakarta City. A sample of 100 people was selected using a random sampling technique. Data collection was performed using a questionnaire and analyzed by path analysis.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; The direct relationship between expressive language abilities of children who have mothers with higher education is 2.2 units higher than children with mothers with low education (b=2.2; 95% CI= 0.9 to 3.5; p= 0.001). A high home literacy environment had a log odd of experiencing good expressive language skills of 2.04 units higher than children with a low home literacy environment (b=2.04; 95% CI= 0.7 to 3.3; p= 0.002). The indirect relationship between maternal higher education and expressive language abilities through the child's home literacy environment is statistically significant. Children who have mothers with higher education have log odd for high language expressive abilities of 2.8 units higher than children with mothers with low education (b=2.8; 95% CI= 1.7 to 3.9; p= &amp;lt;;0.001). &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/strong&gt; A child's good expressive language abilities are influenced indirectly by the mother's high education through a high home literacy environment.&lt;/p&gt;

ICT-based agricultural extension literacy and the needs for agriculture development and sustainability: a case study of rice farmer in Aceh

In the current era of technological development, agricultural extension considers as one of the determinant factors for the smoothness and success of agriculture development and sustainability. This study aims to determine the literacy and the needs of lowland rice farmers towards agricultural extension using social media and its contributing factors. The study employs a questionnaire survey using simple random sampling of 48 farmers located in Kecamatan Delima, Pidie –one of the central paddy fields in the region. Data analysis used a descriptive approach and binary logistic regression analysis. The study finds that almost half of respondents had a high literacy, while 29.5 percent were moderate, and only 12.5 percent were low. Related to needs, about two-thirds of respondents stated the urgency of interest and need of using ICT-based media as a means for outreach as a medium of information, training, and satisfaction. Statistically, access to information and farmer age affect the need for information and satisfaction, while educational attributes influence the need for training. The employment of the current and latest technological media as a learning tool and diffusion of innovation is necessary for estimable and admirable alternative changing behavior in agricultural development.

Association between cancer health literacy and cancer-related behavior of residents in Shandong, China.

Health literacy is closely related to the incidence of major chronic diseases and its related behaviors such as cancer-related behaviors. This study explored how the cancer health literacy level affects cancer-related behaviors. About one to two villages from six cities of Shandong province were selected as sample areas. Professionals conducted face-to-face interviews with the participants. Finally, 1200 residents completed 1085 effective questionnaires. Data were analysed from a cross-sectional survey in 2019, which included 1085 residents in six cities/counties of Shandong province, China. The result showed that residents with high cancer health literacy were more likely to eat fruits and vegetables frequently, avoid eating moldy food and take exercise. Besides, they were more likely to engage in health education and have a higher willingness to pay for cancer screenings. Most residents in Shandong province have a basic level of cancer health literacy. Improving the cancer health literacy of the population can be an effective strategy to promote a healthier lifestyle, thereby reducing the incidence rates related to cancers.

MATHEMATICAL LITERACY SKILLS BY USING REALISTIC MATHEMATICS EDUCATION-BASED WORKSHEETS

This research aims to measure students' mathematical literacy skills after using e-worksheets based on the Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) Approach. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach. Students in class VIII of SMP N 1 Talang Kelapa, each with low, medium, and high literacy skills, were the subjects of this research. The categorization of students is based on the number of mathematical literacy components resulting from student answers on the test. Data was collected through observation, tests, and interviews. The purpose of observation is to measure the implementation of learning through RME, and the test is to measure students' literacy skills. In data analysis, the elements that appear most frequently are communication, mathematization, and the use of symbolic, formal, and technical language operations. Component 1 appears when students write a statement containing information about a problem and representing the results obtained. Component 2 emerges when students create a mathematical model of the problem, and component 7 emerges when students use formal forms that conform to mathematical definitions and rules. The results of learning observations carried out using e-worksheets based on the RME approach show that learning can be said to be of good quality according to the established criteria.

ANALYSIS OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT’S MATHEMATICAL LITERACY ABILITY IN RME-BASED MATHEMATICS LEARNING IN VIEW OF SELF-EFFICACY

Mathematical literacy is a skill that a person must master in the context of construction, application and interpretation to obtain solutions to problems encountered in everyday life and can be influenced by self-efficacy. This research has several objectives as follows: (1) Describe the self-efficacy abilities of students at SMP Negeri 2 Todanan. (2) Describe the mathematical literacy abilities of students at SMP Negeri 2 Todanan in RME-based learning. (3) Knowing students' mathematical literacy abilities in RME-based learning in terms of self-efficacy. This research applies a qualitative approach, namely an approach that aims to identify events that occur in research subjects, such as behavior, motivation, perceptions, activities, etc. This research used instruments in the form of a self-efficacy questionnaire, written tests related to material simplifying algebra based on Mathematical Realistic Education, and documentation. The results of this research state that students with high mathematical literacy skills tend to have high self-efficacy abilities. Students with moderate mathematical literacy skills tend to have moderate self-efficacy abilities. Students with low mathematical literacy abilities tend to have low self-efficacy abilities as well

Gender and Social Determinants of Health: A Mixed Method Study in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Gender is recognized as a fundamental social determinant within the overarching framework of the World Health Organization's Social Determinants of Health (SDH). It is conceptualized as a central factor influencing population health and contributing to health inequalities. Objective: To investigate disparities based on gender in the social determinants of health and assess gender inequities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Methods: A mixed-methods approach, comprising both a survey and an exploratory qualitative study, was employed at Mardan Medical Complex Hospital in Mardan. A total of 10 interviews were conducted with healthcare workers (HCWs), and the study included 210 patients. Results: Out of the 210 patients, the majority were female (107/210, 51%), while 103/210 (49%) were male. 80 out of 103 (77%) females were house wives. More female (30 out of 103) is illiterate than male (21 out of 107) in the study participants, men (25 out of 107) are more educated in the secondary and higher education than women (16 out of 103). Women have high literacy level in religious education (12 out of 103). Women (25 out of 103) are more prone to partner’s verbally or physical aggression than men (15 out of 107). Among female patients, predominant challenges encompass domestic concerns, experiences of violence and abuse, a deficit of trust, and socio-cultural barriers. In contrast, a prevalent social determinant of health for males was identified as financial responsibility, contributing to a notable incidence of mental health illnesses. Conclusions: In conclusion, the study sheds light on significant gender-based disparities in social determinants of health (SDH) and their profound impact on the well-being of individuals.