International Bibliography Of The Social Sciences Research Articles

Transforming educational leadership in higher education with innovative administrative strategies

In developing nations particularly in Africa, innovative administrative strategies are essential for educational leaders to navigate inherent challenges in education. This study aims to explore how educational leaders in higher education can be equipped with innovative administrative strategies to cause a positive change in education delivery. A systematic literature review was conducted to achieve this aim, drawing on the transformational leadership model as its theoretical underpinning. The search encompassed scholarly publications from major repositories like Scopus, Web of Science, and International Bibliography of the Social Sciences and Textbooks from 1967 to 2023. The search process went a series of exclusive and inclusive processes and yielded 43 research articles. The synthesized findings were analyzed using a thematic approach. The findings indicate that transformational leadership has the potential to incorporate innovation into higher educational administrative practices. It was also found that innovative administrative practices in higher education can be achieved through staff motivation, technology integration, adoption of agile methodologies, collaborative research, interdisciplinary collaboration, seminars, workshops, and positive organizational culture. Based on the findings, professional development programs for managers and administrators in higher education were highly recommended. These programs would help enhance the knowledge and skills of employees in educational administration.

Psychological and social consequences of deafblindness for siblings: a systematic literature review.

The onset of deafblindness profoundly impacts both the individual with this condition and the individual's family, including siblings. While current studies have primarily focused on the impact felt by parents or spouses, the distinct experiences of siblings have received comparatively less attention. This systematic review addresses the existing research gap regarding the psychological and social consequences experienced by siblings of individuals with deafblindness. A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple electronic databases, including PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Dissertations & Theses (on ProQuest), ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS), Sociological Abstracts, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Cairn Info. Seven studies were identified as meeting the eligibility criteria for inclusion. The review revealed that siblings of individuals with deafblindness face psychological and social challenges, including emotions such as feelings of neglect, resentment, embarrassment, jealousy, and anxiety. Siblings also grapple with communication difficulties, contributing to feelings of exclusion and insecurity. In addition, these siblings take on significant responsibilities within the family and encounter obstacles in forming relationships outside the family. These findings underscore the need of interventions to improve the well-being of siblings of individuals with deafblindness by addressing their psycho-emotional needs and promoting positive social interactions. These findings align with studies conducted on siblings of children with other disabilities. However, additional research is crucial to investigate overlooked dimensions, particularly positive factors like coping mechanisms and resilience, that may influence the mental health and social experiences of these siblings.

Equity in prenatal healthcare services globally: an umbrella review

BackgroundTimely, appropriate, and equitable access to quality healthcare during pregnancy is proven to contribute to better health outcomes of birthing individuals and infants following birth. Equity is conceptualized as the absence of differences in healthcare access and quality among population groups. Healthcare policies are guides for front-line practices, and despite merits of contemporary policies striving to foster equitable healthcare, inequities persist. The purpose of this umbrella review is to identify prenatal healthcare practices, summarize how equities/inequities are reported in relation to patient experiences or health outcomes when accessing or using services, and collate equity reporting characteristics.MethodsFor this umbrella review, six electronic databases were searched (Medline, EMBASE, APA PsychInfo, CINAHL, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, and Cochrane Library). Included studies were extracted for publication and study characteristics, equity reporting, primary outcomes (prenatal care influenced by equity/inequity) and secondary outcomes (infant health influenced by equity/inequity during pregnancy). Data was analyzed deductively using the PROGRESS-Plus equity framework and by summative content analysis for equity reporting characteristics. The included articles were assessed for quality using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Systematic Reviews.ResultsThe search identified 8065 articles and 236 underwent full-text screening. Of the 236, 68 systematic reviews were included with first authors representing 20 different countries. The population focus of included studies ranged across prenatal only (n = 14), perinatal (n = 25), maternal (n = 2), maternal and child (n = 19), and a general population (n = 8). Barriers to equity in prenatal care included travel and financial burden, culturally insensitive practices that deterred care engagement and continuity, and discriminatory behaviour that reduced care access and satisfaction. Facilitators to achieve equity included innovations such as community health workers, home visitation programs, conditional cash transfer programs, virtual care, and cross-cultural training, to enhance patient experiences and increase their access to, and use of health services. There was overlap across PROGRESS-Plus factors.ConclusionsThis umbrella review collated inequities present in prenatal healthcare services, globally. Further, this synthesis contributes to future solution and action-oriented research and practice by assembling evidence-informed opportunities, innovations, and approaches that may foster equitable prenatal health services to all members of diverse communities.

Assessing the effects of population-level political, economic and social exposures, interventions and policies on inclusive economy outcomes for health equity in high-income countries: a systematic review of reviews

BackgroundA fairer economy is increasingly recognised as crucial for tackling widening social, economic and health inequalities within society. However, which actions have been evaluated for their impact on inclusive economy outcomes is yet unknown.ObjectiveIdentify the effects of political, economic and social exposures, interventions and policies on inclusive economy (IE) outcomes in high-income countries, by systematically reviewing the review-level evidence.MethodsWe conducted a review of reviews; searching databases (May 2020) EconLit, Web of Science, Sociological s, ASSIA, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Public Health Database, Embase and MEDLINE; and registries PROSPERO, Campbell Collaboration and EPPI Centre (February 2021) and grey literature (August/September 2020). We aimed to identify reviews which examined social, political and/or economic exposures, interventions and policies in relation to two IE outcome domains: (i) equitable distribution of the benefits of the economy and (ii) equitable access to the resources needed to participate in the economy. Reviews had to include primary studies which compared IE outcomes within or between groups. Quality was assessed using a modified version of AMSTAR-2 and data synthesised informed by SWiM principles.ResultsWe identified 19 reviews for inclusion, most of which were low quality, as was the underlying primary evidence. Most reviews (n = 14) had outcomes relating to the benefits of the economy (rather than access to resources) and examined a limited set of interventions, primarily active labour market programmes and social security. There was limited high-quality review evidence to draw upon to identify effects on IE outcomes. Most reviews focused on disadvantaged groups and did not consider equity impacts.ConclusionsReview-level evidence is sparse and focuses on ‘corrective’ approaches. Future reviews should examine a diverse set of ‘upstream’ actions intended to be inclusive ‘by design’ and consider a wider range of outcomes, with particular attention to socioeconomic inequalities.

Global positioning system-based food environment exposures, diet-related, and cardiometabolic health outcomes: a systematic review and research agenda

BackgroundGeographic access to food may affect dietary choices and health outcomes, but the strength and direction of associations may depend on the operationalization of exposure measures. We aimed to systematically review the literature on up-to-date evidence on the association between food environment exposures based on Global Positioning System (GPS) and diet-related and cardiometabolic health outcomes.MethodsThe databases PubMed, Embase.com, APA PsycInfo (via Ebsco), Cinahl (via Ebsco), the Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and the International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (via ProQuest) were searched from inception to October 31, 2022. We included studies that measured the activity space through GPS tracking data to identify exposure to food outlets and assessed associations with either diet-related or cardiometabolic health outcomes. Quality assessment was evaluated using the criteria from a modified version of the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cross-sectional studies. We additionally used four items from a quality assessment tool to specifically assess the quality of GPS measurements.ResultsOf 2949 studies retrieved, 14 studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria. They were heterogeneous and represent inconsistent evidence. Yet, three studies found associations between food outlets and food purchases, for example, more exposure to junk food outlets was associated with higher odds of junk food purchases. Two studies found associations between greater exposure to fast food outlets and higher fast food consumption and out of three studies that investigated food environment in relation to metabolic outcomes, two studies found that higher exposure to an unhealthy food environment was associated with higher odds of being overweight.ConclusionsThe current and limited evidence base does not provide strong evidence for consistent associations of GPS-based exposures of the food environment with diet-related and cardiometabolic health outcomes.

THE GRAYING RAINBOW: TRACING LGBTQI AGING IN SCANDINAVIAN LITERATURE

Abstract Background: There have been several international reviews about aging LGBTQI health and living conditions, but where policy, social insurance, and services differ. The Public Health Agency of Sweden was given a government assignment to review the literature on LGBTI, emphasizing Scandinavian literature. Method: This scoping review includes peer-reviewed literature published in English or Scandinavian languages from January 1, 2012, to May 2022. Literature was searched in PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS), Social Science Database, Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts (ASSIA), and Sociological Abstracts, Sociology Database. Initially, 11,428 articles were found. After removing duplicates using Rayyan and reviewing titles and abstracts, 54 articles were read in full. After the final review, 16 articles remained. Thematic analysis was used to produce themes from the reviewed literature. Findings: The following two themes were identified: Aspects of health and Living conditions. Studies were primarily interpretive. There is a lack of studies about some subgroups of older LGBTQ people in this context; for instance, there are insufficient studies on older lesbian women and gay men. Furthermore, there is a lack of studies on somatic health for older LGBTQ people, generally. Comparatively, albeit in small samples, we better understand trans descriptions of aging than lesbian women and gay men. There were no studies found on intersex individuals. Implications: There remains a paucity of literature regarding the life and living conditions for LGBTQI older adults in Nordic countries.

How effective are UK-based support interventions and services targeted at adults who have experienced domestic and sexual violence and abuse at improving their safety and wellbeing? A systematic review protocol.

Domestic and sexual violence and abuse (DSVA) is prevalent in the UK, with wide-ranging impacts both on individuals and society. However, to date, there has been no systematic synthesis of the evidence for the effectiveness of UK-based support interventions and services for victim-survivors of DSVA. This review will aim to systematically collate, synthesise and quality assess the evidence regarding the effectiveness of UK support interventions and services targeted at those who have experienced DSVA. The review will use findings of a preliminary scoping review, as well as input from stakeholders representing domestic and sexual violence third sector organisations to identify and prioritise the most relevant outcomes to focus on. We will undertake a systematic search for peer-reviewed literature in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Social Policy and Practice, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA), International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS), Sociological abstracts and SSCI. Grey literature will be identified by searching grey literature databases, circulating a call for evidence to local and national DSVA charities and organisations, and targeted website searching. Two reviewers will independently perform study selection and quality appraisal, with data extraction undertaken by one reviewer and checked for accuracy by a second reviewer. Narrative synthesis will be conducted, with meta-analysis if possible. Existing individual studies and evaluations have reported positive impacts of support interventions and services for those who have experienced DSVA. Thus, it is expected that this review and synthesis will provide robust and conclusive evidence of these effects. It will also allow comparisons to be made between different types of support interventions and services, to inform policy makers and funders regarding the most effective ways of reducing domestic and sexual violence and abuse and its impacts.

Digital interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness in older adults: An evidence and gap map.

Social isolation and loneliness are more common in older adults and are associated with a serious impact on their well-being, mental health, physical health, and longevity. They are a public health concern highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, hence the need for digital technology tools to enable remotely delivered interventions to alleviate the impact of social isolation and loneliness during the COVID-19 restrictions. To map available evidence on the effects of digital interventions to mitigate social isolation and/or loneliness in older adults in all settings except hospital settings. We searched the following databases from inception to May 16,2021, with no language restrictions. Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycInfo via Ovid, CINAHL via EBSCO, Web of Science via Clarivate, ProQuest (all databases), International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS) via ProQuest, EBSCO (all databases except CINAHL), Global Index Medicus, and Epistemonikos. Titles and abstracts and full text of potentially eligible articles were independently screened in duplicate following the eligibility criteria. We developed and pilot tested a data extraction code set in Eppi-Reviewer and data were individually extracted and coded based on an intervention-outcome framework which was also used to define the dimensions of the evidence and gap map. We included 200 articles (103 primary studies and 97 systematic reviews) that assessed the effects of digital interventions to reduce social isolation and/or loneliness in older adults. Most of the systematic reviews (72%) were classified as critically low quality, only 2% as high quality and 25% were published since the COVID-19 pandemic. The evidence is unevenly distributed with clusters predominantly in high-income countries and none in low-income countries. The most common interventions identified are digital interventions to enhance social interactions with family and friends and the community via videoconferencing and telephone calls. Digital interventions to enhance social support, particularly socially assistive robots, and virtual pets were also common. Most interventions focused on reducing loneliness and depression and improving quality of life of older adults. Major gaps were identified in community level outcomes and process indicators. No included studies or reviews assessed affordability or digital divide although the value of accessibility and barriers caused by digital divide were discussed in three primary studies and three reviews. Adverse effects were reported in only two studies and six reviews. No study or review included participants from the LGBTQIA2S+ community and only one study restricted participants to 80 years and older. Very few described how at-risk populations were recruited or conducted any equity analysis to assess differences in effects for populations experiencing inequities across PROGRESS-Plus categories. The restrictions placed on people during the pandemic have shone a spotlight onto social isolation and loneliness, particularly for older adults. This evidence and gap map shows available evidence on the effectiveness of digital interventions for reducing social isolation or loneliness in older adults. Although the evidence is relatively large and recent, it is unevenly distributed and there is need for more high-quality research. This map can guide researchers and funders to consider areas of major gaps as priorities for further research.

Impacts of colonization on Indigenous food systems in Canada and the United States: a scoping review

BackgroundIndigenous populations in Canada and the United States (US) have maintained reciprocal relationships with nature, grounded in respect for and stewardship of the environment; however, disconnection from traditional food systems has generated a plethora of physical and mental health challenges for communities. Indigenous food sovereignty including control of lands were found to be factors contributing to these concerns. Therefore, our aim was to conduct a scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature to describe Indigenous disconnection from Indigenous food systems (IFS) in Canada and the US.MethodsFollowing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-SR) and Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, we searched MEDLINE, SCOPUS, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Sociological s, and Bibliography of Native North Americans. Data was extracted from 41 studies and a narrative review completed based on study themes.ResultsThe overarching theme identified in the included studies was the impact of colonization on IFS. Four sub-themes emerged as causes for Indigenous disconnection from traditional food systems, including: climate change; capitalism; legal change; and socio-cultural change. These sub-themes highlight the multiple ways in which colonization has impacted Indigenous food systems in Canada and the US and important areas for transformation.ConclusionsEfforts to reconnect Indigenous knowledge and values systems with future food systems are essential for planetary health and sustainable development. Traditional knowledge sharing must foreground authentic Indigenous inclusion within policymaking.

Systematic review of Indigenous cultural safety training interventions for healthcare professionals in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States

ObjectiveTo synthesise and appraise the design and impact of peer-reviewed evaluations of Indigenous cultural safety training programmes and workshops for healthcare workers in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and/or the United...

Globalization, Technological Advancement and the Elderly People: A Systematic Review of Literature

Old age comes with lots of challenges which become a burden to the able-bodied members of society and may cause physical and economic stress over the short and long term. Technology has catalysed development processes the world over for many decades now. It has affected the senior members of society in their everyday lives either negatively or positively. Existing research focused much on the impact of technology on old people from the perspective of caregivers and family members. This paper examines the impact of technology on old people using the available literature from the old people's perspective. International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS) and sociological abstracts (SOCAB) databases were used, and a total of 6 articles from a pool of articles generated were analysed. The study found that there are several assistive devices available to the ageing members which to a great extent gives them a sense of belonging to society in that it helps them keep their identity by being independent. It has also been found that old people are still sceptical about some of the devices as they are perceived to be invading their privacy. Furthermore, the paper proposes a future study on how social interaction can lead to successful ageing.

Cultural factors influencing the eating behaviours of type 2 diabetes in the British South-Asian population: a scoping review of the literature

Background The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Britain is rising, with south-Asians being particularly vulnerable. This is attributed to cultural differences affecting south-Asians’ health behaviours in the risk and management of T2DM. Understanding cultural influences on eating practices is therefore vital in improving health behaviours in the South-Asian community and combatting the increasing burden of T2DM. Methods A scoping literature review was conducted for primary studies conducted in Britain, qualitatively examining South-Asians’ attitudes, beliefs and behaviours regarding their eating practices in the risk and management of T2DM. searches were conducted between January 2000 and December 2022 on PubMed, Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts, Scopus, and International Bibliography of the Social Sciences. An inductive grounded theory approach was applied for data synthesis and analysis. Results 19 primary studies were identified. Stigma, lack of awareness, gender and food norms and culturally inappropriate healthcare advice prevented healthy eating behaviours. Family involvement and tailoring advice to south-Asian lifestyles enabled healthy eating. Varying attitudes existed between participants of differing age, generation, and education levels. Conclusions A multi-interventional approach is needed to improve awareness, mitigate stigma, and make healthy eating more accessible to south-Asians. Health professionals require improved understanding of the cultural context. Further research is recommended to explore social factors affecting South-Asians’ health behaviours and ensure interventions are contextually suitable.

The effects of small class sizes on students' academic achievement, socioemotional development and well-being in special education: A systematic review.

The effects of small class sizes on students' academic achievement, socioemotional development and well-being in special education: A systematic review.

Epidemiological characteristics and prevalence rates of research reproducibility across disciplines: A scoping review of articles published in 2018-2019.

Reproducibility is a central tenant of research. We aimed to synthesize the literature on reproducibility and describe its epidemiological characteristics, including how reproducibility is defined and assessed. We also aimed to determine and compare estimates for reproducibility across different fields. We conducted a scoping review to identify English language replication studies published between 2018 and 2019 in economics, education, psychology, health sciences, and biomedicine. We searched Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature - CINAHL, Education Source via EBSCOHost, ERIC, EconPapers, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS), and EconLit. Documents retrieved were screened in duplicate against our inclusion criteria. We extracted year of publication, number of authors, country of affiliation of the corresponding author, and whether the study was funded. For the individual replication studies, we recorded whether a registered protocol for the replication study was used, whether there was contact between the reproducing team and the original authors, what study design was used, and what the primary outcome was. Finally, we recorded how reproducibilty was defined by the authors, and whether the assessed study(ies) successfully reproduced based on this definition. Extraction was done by a single reviewer and quality controlled by a second reviewer. Our search identified 11,224 unique documents, of which 47 were included in this review. Most studies were related to either psychology (48.6%) or health sciences (23.7%). Among these 47 documents, 36 described a single reproducibility study while the remaining 11 reported at least two reproducibility studies in the same paper. Less than the half of the studies referred to a registered protocol. There was variability in the definitions of reproduciblity success. In total, across the 47 documents 177 studies were reported. Based on the definition used by the author of each study, 95 of 177 (53.7%) studies reproduced. This study gives an overview of research across five disciplines that explicitly set out to reproduce previous research. Such reproducibility studies are extremely scarce, the definition of a successfully reproduced study is ambiguous, and the reproducibility rate is overall modest. No external funding was received for this work.

Indigenous Food Systems Changes and Resiliency: Protocol for a Scoping Review

Indigenous food systems (IFS) consider the complex relationships and connections between land, animals, plants, water, and people. These food systems may differ between regions, Indigenous cultures, and history; however, given the similar colonial histories and policies influencing Indigenous groups in Canada, the United States, Australia, and Aotearoa (New Zealand), the IFS changes and responses in these regions may follow similar trends. Climate change and pollution continue to impact the environment in catastrophic ways, and this, in turn, impacts IFS. However, to date, there has been no review of the literature on IFS, how they are changing, and how communities are responding to these changes. In this scoping review, we will summarize primary research in Canada, the United States, Australia, and Aotearoa related to IFS addressing the following questions: (1) What changes are IFS experiencing in the context of climate change and pollution? (2) What actions have been taken in response to IFS changes? (3) What are the characteristics of IFS research in peer-reviewed academic literature? We will use the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for scoping reviews and the Joanna Briggs Institute reviewer's manual to inform the review process. MEDLINE, SCOPUS, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Sociological Abstracts, and the Bibliography of Native North Americans are the databases included in this review search. All screening and extraction have been supported by Covidence software (Veritas Health Innovation) with 2 independent reviewers conducting the abstract and full-text screening. We will map concepts and themes related to the research questions to contribute to the understanding of IFS within the academic literature and provide a narrative review of the outcomes. The electronic database searches for this review were conducted in May 2021. Screening and full-text review were initially completed in the winter of 2022. We are currently in the process of compiling results and aim to share findings in 2023. This review will provide valuable insight into current IFS needs by summarizing the peer-reviewed literature on how IFS are changing because of climate change and pollution and how communities are responding to these changes. The results of this review will be shared with Indigenous communities, through academic publications, community conversations, and conference presentations. OSF Registries osf.io/xrj87; https://osf.io/xrj87. RR1-10.2196/41627.

Flexibility within fidelity: A narrative review of practitioner modifications to child welfare interventions

PurposeAlthough there is a growing number of evidence-based interventions in child welfare, their outcomes are impacted by the level of implementation fidelity. Research demonstrates that it is vital to understand the type and degree of adaptations and modifications made during implementation. This narrative review examined articles where child welfare practitioners implemented an intervention. It analysed how practitioners modified the intervention, their reasons for the modification, and the effects on fidelity. Understanding the commonalities and reasons for these modifications will enhance the likelihood of successful implementation in child welfare systems. Design and methodsA systematic search was conducted using the Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts (ASSIA), ERIC, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS), Social Science Database, and Social Services Abstracts electronic databases. The search was limited to qualitative and mixed-methods journal articles in the English language. The search terms were “evidence-based”, “evidence-informed”, “research informed”, “empirically supported”, “evidence-supported” and “implement”, with derivations such as implementation, and “child protection”, “child welfare”, or “protective services”.Studies were included if their focus was on practitioners implementing an intervention in a child welfare setting. Studies were excluded if their focus was not on child welfare; if they were non-research articles, theses/dissertations, or interventional studies; or if the focus was not on the process of implementation. The data were extracted into a matrix based on the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Expanded (FRAME). ResultsSeventeen articles based on 15 studies were reviewed. All the studies reported some form of modification to the intervention by practitioners. Two main categories of modifications were identified: those based on practitioners’ needs and those based on client needs. Practitioners were highly focused on enhancing the feasibility of interventions to help manage their large workloads. Practitioners also valued client relationships and prioritised those relationships over fidelity. Few interventions addressed the complex needs of child welfare clients, leading to further adaptation. Fidelity was most influenced by practitioners holding a conceptual understanding of the intervention and its core principles. These practitioners made thoughtful adaptations to enhance the intervention without affecting fidelity. Practice implicationsThe findings showed clear gaps in research. Further research should report on practitioner modifications and measures of fidelity, study the minimum length of effectiveness for interventions, and focus on developing interventions that address multi-morbidity. Finally, the findings showed that the primary barriers for practitioners using interventions with fidelity were organisational barriers. Practitioners were unlikely to use interventions when balancing too many competing priorities.

Foreword

Foreword Ryan Alexander, Editor Following on the success of our spring 2021 special issue dedicated to Brazil, I am pleased to present to you a special issue dedicated to the topic of human trafficking in the Global South. Organized by Professor of Political Science Sabella Abidde at Alabama State University, Professor of Political Science José de Arimatéia da Cruz at Georgia Southern University, and Professor of History Michael R. Hall at Georgia Southern University, this issue looks at various dynamics of human trafficking in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The collection was inspired in part by the 7th INTERPOL Global Conference on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, just months before the Association of Global South Studies held its own annual meeting there. The editors of this collection have provided a brief introduction, which follows this foreword, to the project and the individual articles contained within it. As always, I want to express my thanks to the many people who make this journal possible, including the anonymous peer reviewers who review manuscripts; the volunteer associate editors (Joseph Bangura for Africa, Srobana Battacharya for Asia, Sonia Farid for the Middle East, Tyler Ralston for the Americas, Jason Strakes for Eurasia, and Michael Hall for book reviews); Sara Abernathy, JGSS editorial assistant; Lauren Phillips, manager of journals at the University of Florida Press; Raven Hudson, the press's editorial assistant for journals; and the copy editors at the press. Our parent organization, the Association of Global South Studies, was established in order to provide an international structure for the humane and scientific study of peoples, problems, and issues in the world's developing countries, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life in those places. The late Dr. Harold Isaacs, professor emeritus of history at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, founded the Association of Third [End Page vii] World Studies (ATWS), Inc., in 1983. The association now has a global membership and chapters in South Asia and Africa. In the summer of 2016, following a vote of the members of the association, ATWS was renamed the Association of Global South Studies (AGSS). As ATWS, the association began its history as an institution in 1991 when, under the newly ratified ATWS constitution, elected officials assumed responsibility for the management of the organization. Since 1992, the executive headquarters have been located at Georgia Southern University (1992–2003), Mississippi State University (2003–2006), and Louisiana State University–Shreveport (2006–). Due to the dedicated and energetic leadership of Zia H. Hashmi and Paul Rodell at Georgia Southern, Shu-hui Wu at Mississippi State, and William Pederson at LSU-Shreveport, AGSS has made great progress as a global, professional organization. In 1995, the United Nations recognized the success of AGSS by granting it UN "consultative status," thus enabling the association to increase its direct impact on world development. AGSS has an established and newly revamped website, to be found at http://apps.gsw.edu/atws/. Membership in AGSS is open to any person interested in studying the developing countries. Yearly membership dues are $60.00, which includes an annual subscription to JGSS. The yearly subscription rate is $60.00; single copies are $30.00. Discounts are available for students and those living in the developing countries. Membership and subscription forms, as well as copies of JTWS/JGSS, may be obtained by writing to the Association of Global South Studies, Inc., care of Ryan Alexander, History Department, SUNY-Plattsburgh, Champlain Valley Hall 224, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Individuals interested in submitting articles to be considered, or refereed, for publication by the JGSS Board of Editors should write to the editor, also Ryan Alexander, at the above address. Alternatively, manuscripts may be sent to the editor via email: ralex006@plattsburgh.edu. Articles appearing in this journal are abstracted and indexed in Scopus, GEOBASE, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS), International Political Science Abstracts Database (IPSA), Political Science Database, Sociological Abstracts, Historical Abstracts, America: History and Life, Periodica Islamica, Social Sciences Index, PAIS Indexes, CAB International (CABI), and others. [End Page viii] Copyright © 2023 Association of Global South Studies, Inc.

Mapping the Scientific Literature on Health Needs of Women with Same-Sex Attraction in Mainland China: A Scoping Review.

Purpose: This review study aimed to investigate how much and how well the unique health needs of women with same-sex attraction (WSSA) in mainland China have been studied. Methods: This review included published studies and gray reports between January 1, 1990, and March 31, 2022, regarding the health needs of Chinese WSSA. Chinese peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, theses, and dissertations were retrieved through the China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Studies with WSSA of mainland China as research participants were retrieved through PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, LGBT Life, CINAHL, Web of Science, and International Bibliography of the Social Sciences. Gray reports were provided by two informaticists and eight Chinese WSSA who consented to be our stakeholders for consultation. Results: Of the 38 reviewed articles, unmet health needs of Chinese WSSA fell into three domains: mental health and substance abuse, sexual and reproductive health, and domestic, intimate partner, and dating violence, which were significantly associated with minority stress. Minority stigma was discovered to oppress Chinese WSSA by a covert and subtle pathway that makes Chinese WSSA culturally unintelligible and health care providers unprepared to provide them with respectful care. The barriers to the health care of Chinese WSSA were identified as health care providers' presumption of heterosexuality and Chinese WSSA's concealment of minority sexuality when discussing medical history. Conclusion: This scoping review is the first research effort to explore studies about the health needs of WSSA in mainland China. More research is needed with the guidance of minority stress theory to address the unique health needs of Chinese WSSA.

The Role of Health Policy and Systems in the Uptake of Community-Based Health Insurance Schemes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Narrative Review.

This study explores how health policies and systems can affect voluntary uptake of community-based health insurance (CBHI) schemes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A narrative review was conducted involving searches of 10 databases (Medline, Global Index Medicus, Cumulative Index to Nursing, and Allied Health Literature, Health Systems Evidence, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts, PsycINFO, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, EconLit, Bibliography of Asian Studies, and Africa Wide Information) across the social sciences, economics, and medical sciences. A total of 8107 articles were identified through the database searches, 12 of which were retained for analysis and narrative synthesis after 2 stages of screening. Our findings suggest that in the absence of directly subsidizing CBHI schemes by governments in LMICs, government policies can nonetheless promote voluntary uptake of CBHIs through intentional actions in 3 key areas: (a) improving quality of care, (b) providing a regulatory framework that integrates CBHIs into the national health system and its goals, and (c) leveraging administrative and managerial capacity to facilitate enrollment. The findings of this study highlight several considerations for CBHI planners and governments in LMICs to promote voluntary enrollment in CBHIs. Governments can effectively extend their outreach toward marginalized and vulnerable populations that are excluded from social protection by formulating supportive regulatory, policy, and administrative provisions that enhance voluntary uptake of CBHI schemes.

The impact of transport infrastructure on firms’ location decision: A meta-analysis based on a systematic literature review

This paper proposes to explore the existing literature on the impact of transportation infrastructure on firms’ location decision. Using three distinct databases (EconLit, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences and Web of Science), the research identifies 338 potential papers, with 52 of them retained for the analysis. The paper presents a complete descriptive analysis of the selected papers, as well as a meta-analysis based on all the reported statistics. From a quantitative perspective, the meta-analysis results suggest a more positive and significant impact of transport infrastructure on finance, insurance, and real estate activities (FIRE). The meta-analysis also highlights the importance of taking into account the spatial and temporal dimensions of location activities when evaluating the impact of transport infrastructure. The omission of one of those dimensions might lead to overestimation of the effect, and therefore bias in the observed results.