Lower Educational Qualifications Research Articles

Demographic variations in intentions towards artificial intelligence-driven financial services in emerging economies: A study of Saudi Arabia

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the financial industry; however, consumer perceptions towards AI in financial services remain relatively limited. The purpose of this study is to investigate variations in behavioural intention towards AI-driven financial services across demographic factors (gender, marital status, age, education level, and income) in Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was distributed, and 296 complete responses were collected. The survey contained four items to measure behavioural intention. The data were analysed using independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s honest significant difference post hoc tests. The findings indicate that behavioural intention is significantly different across the five tested demographic variables: gender, marital status, age, education level, and income level. The results also suggest that females and unmarried individuals have a greater propensity to engage with AI-driven financial services than their counterparts. Moreover, the multiple comparison analysis reveals that individuals within the 21-30 age range and those with lower income levels exhibit a significantly greater intention to use these services. Conversely, individuals possessing postgraduate degrees or higher demonstrate a lower intention to utilise AI-driven financial services compared to those with lower educational qualifications. This research contributes to our understanding of the effects of demographic factors on the adoption of AI-driven financial services by consumers, a topic that has received limited attention in the literature. Moreover, the current study provides practical insights for financial institutions to utilise demographic analysis in tailoring their AI-driven services and marketing strategies, thereby enhancing consumer adoption and helping them stay ahead of the curve in terms of financial technology advancements.

Leadership as a Driver of Employee Motivation: An Empirical Analysis in Organizational Settings

This study examines the relationship between autocratic, bureaucratic, transformational, and transactional leadership styles to determine their influence on motivational outcomes within organizational settings. It was conducted at a municipality and employed a quantitative method by a structured questionnaire to collect the data. Overall, the study highlights the critical role of leadership styles in shaping employee motivation and underscores the superiority of bureaucratic and transformational leadership in promoting a motivated workforce. Furthermore, older employees, married, those with permanent contracts, lower occupational categories, individuals with lower educational qualifications, and those with longer tenure tend to report higher levels of job motivation.

Burnout among Expatriate and Local Instructors in Oman

Burnout, recognized as a psychological syndrome, stems from enduring reactions to emotional and interpersonal obstacles at work. It highlights the tension experienced by individuals within the broader framework of their interactions with their jobs. This phenomenon has attracted considerable attention across diverse professional sectors. With the Middle East’s rapid expansion of tertiary education and reliance on both local and expatriate educators, a thorough understanding of burnout becomes essential. This study aims to investigate the burnout levels experienced by university instructors in Oman and to explore the relationship between their profiles and the three burnout components: Emotional Exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DP), and Personal Achievement (PA). Using the adapted Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire consisting of 22 items, a survey was conducted on a sample of 149 instructors with individual characteristics from public universities in Oman. Regarding burnout, the results showed a moderate level of DP (6.7) and PA (34.8), and a low level of EE (21.5) based on the overall scores. Through bootstrap multiple regression analysis, the results showed that instructors who have lower educational qualifications, lack training support, or are native to the region typically experience higher EE than their counterparts. Male instructors with lower educational qualifications, lower incomes, and local citizenship generally exhibit higher levels of DP compared to their counterparts. Female instructors tend to display higher levels of PA than their male counterparts. These findings highlight burnout in Omani university instructors, guiding future studies to pinpoint causes and tailor interventions in an evolving educational landscape.

The Impact of Frailty and Gender Differences on Hospitalization and Complications in Proximal Femoral Pathological Fractures: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Frailty associated with aging increases the risk of falls, disability, and death. The aim of this study is to explore gender-related disparities in the survival outcomes of pathological femoral fractures in older frail patients, while analyzing potential specific prognostic factors. This study is a retrospective observational analysis conducted at a single medical center. It enrolled all patients aged 65 and above who were admitted to our emergency department between 2016 and 2020 with a diagnosis of pathological femur fracture requiring surgical intervention. The primary study endpoint was evaluating gender-related differences in survival outcomes. The secondary endpoint involves investigating gender-specific prognostic factors through the analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters. The average Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was slightly lower in men, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.53). The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) showed similar results, with men and women 5.23 (SD 1.46), also not significant (p = 0.83). An evaluation comparing patients aged 75 years or younger to those older than 75 years found significant differences in health metrics. The average CCI was higher in the over 75 group compared to the under 75 group, with a p-value of 0.001. Similarly, the CFS average was also greater in the over 75 group than in the under 75 group, with a p-value of 0.0001. Complications were more frequent in patients over 75 and those with lower educational qualifications. The evaluation analyzed cardiac patients compared to a control group, revealing that the average age of cardiac patients was 75.22 years, while the control group was younger at 73.98 years (p = 0.5119). The CCI for cardiac patients averaged 6.53, significantly higher than 4.43 for non-cardiac patients (p = 0.0003). Frailty assessment is therefore essential in patients with pathological fracture of the proximal femur and is an important predictor of both gender differences and hospital complications. Enhancing gender analysis in this field is crucial to gather more robust evidence and deeper comprehension of potential sex- and gender-based disparities.

Characteristics of consumers of alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks in Great Britain: A cross-sectional study.

The impact of alcohol-free and low-alcohol (no/lo) drinks on public health and health inequalities depends on who consumes them and how they are consumed. This study aimed to estimate: (i) the proportions of adults in Great Britain who consume no/lo drinks at different frequencies and in different settings; and (ii) the associations between no/lo drink consumption and individual characteristics. Pooled data (N = 7691) from four waves of a repeat cross-sectional survey on alcohol use completed in 2022-2023 by adults (16+) resident in Great Britain were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. In all, 31.3% of adults reported ever consuming no/lo drinks and 9.8% reported drinking them weekly. Ever consumption of no/lo drinks was associated with: being an increasing risk drinker of alcohol relative to not drinking (ORadj: 3.96, 95% CI 3.27-4.80), being aged 16-24 compared with 65+ (ORadj:1.29, 95% CI 1.07-1.57), having previously smoked compared with having never smoked (ORadj:1.19, 95% CI 1.05-1.34) and living in a rural rather than urban area (ORadj:1.14, 95% CI 1.00-1.29). It was less likely among those in lower social grades or with lower educational qualifications; those living in Yorkshire and the Humber, and Scotland, compared with the South-East of England; and those using nicotine products. A third of adults in Great Britain have consumed no/lo drinks and approximately one in 10 do so weekly. Consumption is more common among riskier drinkers of alcohol and among more advantaged social groups, which may contribute to the sustaining or widening of health inequalities.

Advancing gender parity in educational leadership: Insights from selected secondary schools in Shinyanga Municipality

This study had two objectives: firstly, it examined the factors contributing to women's underrepresentation in senior leadership positions in selected secondary schools in Shinyanga Municipality. Secondly, it explores strategies to ensure gender parity in schools’ leadership positions. While previous studies have investigated factors contributing to women’s underrepresentation, there is still little information on strategies to ensure gender equality in schools’ leadership positions. To ensure equality in school leadership positions, it is significant to determine factors contributing to women’s underrepresentation and to identify strategies to promote gender equality. To attain the study objectives, data were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. A total of 137 respondents participated in filling in the questionnaires, while 6 participants were involved in the semi-structured interviews. The quantitative part of the data was analysed using a logistic regression model, while the qualitative data underwent analysis using thematic methods. The findings revealed several factors impeding women from accessing leadership positions. These were: lack of confidence, low educational qualification, work-life interface, lack of mentorship, inaccessibility to leadership opportunities, women’s disengagement in decision-making, societal expectations, inflexible work plans, unsupportive networks, and individual unwillingness. The findings also revealed several strategies to ensure gender equality in school leadership positions such as adequate implementation of policy advocating for fair appointment, training on leadership skills, formation of platforms and forums for women’s participation in educational leadership, and shaping societal views and expectations. This study recommends the formation of concrete policies that will guide the relevant educational authority in appointing teachers into managerial positions in secondary schools. The presence of such policies will help to minimise the gender gap in school management.

Unlocking economic opportunities: Analyzing relationship between educational attainment, skilled training and monthly income of labor migrants

This research examines the relationship between skill training, educational attainment, and monthly income among labor migrants, with a focus on recognizing the importance of education and skill in enhancing employability and income potential for unlocking their economic opportunities. Using a quantitative research approach, data is collected through surveys conducted among 385 labor migrants. The findings pointed out the correlation between the level of education and the monthly income of labor migrants as the calculated Chi-square value (χ²) of 0.046 was lower than the predetermined significance level p of 0.05. Also, there is correlation between skilled training and monthly income as a Chi-square value (χ²) of 0.000, which was lower than the predetermined significance level (p) of 0.05. The study reveals that labor migrants with more advanced education and specialized training typically earn greater monthly incomes in comparison to those without such training or with lower educational qualifications.

A comparative study of posttraumatic stress disorder in two post-conflict communities in Benue state Nigeria.

The attendant long-term mental health consequence of the conflict of various kinds in Nigeria is yet to be thoroughly investigated. The Tiv-Fulani farmer-herdsmen crisis is one such conflict that occurred in 2013/2014 in Guma local government in Benue state. This study seeks to find out some years after the crisis, the prevalence difference in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) between a community (Uikpiam) with direct exposure to the conflict and another (Daudu) with indirect exposure, the pattern of distribution of PTSD symptoms and the associate factors of PTSD. It is a cross-sectional one that employed a multi-stage cluster sampling method to select 413 participants; 135 from Uikpiam and 278 from Daudu. The study instruments administered included a questionnaire with some socio-demographic variables and an extract from the PTSD module of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The prevalence rate of PTSD was higher in Uikpiam (16.3%) when compared to Daudu (4.3%). A high proportion of sub-threshold symptoms of PTSD was recorded in both communities. An association was found between a lower educational qualification and PTSD (χ2 = 8.373; p = 0.039). PTSD can be a prolonged mental ill-effect of crisis and proximity to trauma sites increases vulnerability including lower education. This study looked at PTSD only as an outcome of this crisis, but mental health adverse outcomes of the crisis may not be limited to this alone, hence the need for further investigations for relevant stakeholders to act.

Factors influencing Scottish dairy farmers’ antimicrobial usage, knowledge and attitude towards antimicrobial resistance

Understanding how farmers use antimicrobials and their awareness and beliefs about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is essential to improve antimicrobial usage (AMU) practices and combat AMR on dairy farms. A cross-sectional online survey was carried out to identify the factors affecting attitudes, knowledge and behaviour of Scottish dairy producers regarding prudent AMU and the emergence of AMR in livestock. The survey was designed based on the earlier findings of two focus groups and was disseminated online via multiple methods (e.g., social media; farming press). Participation was voluntary and answers were obtained from 61 respondents (7.3% of the total population of Scottish dairy farmers). Logistic and ordinal regression analyses were performed to identify predictors for farmers’ level of knowledge about antimicrobials and AMR, AMU behaviour and attitudes towards AMR mitigation. Associations were described with odds ratios (OR) and the associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Farmers were more likely to have better knowledge of antimicrobials and AMR if they had undertaken a university degree (OR = 28.28, P < 0.001), worked with mixed livestock (dairy plus sheep/beef) (OR = 4.82, P < 0.05), and trusted only veterinarians’ information about responsible AMU (OR = 4.42, P < 0.05). In the survey disease scenarios, younger farmers were less likely to be classed as low antimicrobial users (OR = 0.18, P < 0.05) compared to older farmers. Respondents working on larger herds were also less likely to be low antimicrobial users compared to those working on smaller herds (OR = 0.12, P < 0.01). Conversely, farmers who did not consider economic factors (e.g., cost and withdrawal period) in antimicrobial choice were more likely to be classed as low antimicrobial users (OR = 6.17, P < 0.01). Respondents were more likely to show positive attitudes towards AMR mitigation if they worked in larger (OR = 4.67, P < 0.05) or organic dairy farms (OR = 18.35, P < 0.05). These results suggest that several practices, social, demographic, and economic factors influence dairy farmers’ perception and awareness of AMR and AMU. Efforts should be made to consider these variables when developing strategies to improve AMU in dairy farming. Veterinarians and advisors should focus AMU training and AMR awareness-raising activities towards younger, less experienced farmers as well as those with a lower educational qualification (high school vs. university degree). This study can inform the development of targeted educational initiatives to encourage responsible AMU on dairy farms.

A novel comorbidity index in Italy based on diseases detected by the surveillance system PASSI and the Global Burden of Diseases disability weights

BackgroundUnderstanding comorbidity and its burden characteristics is essential for policymakers and healthcare providers to allocate resources accordingly. However, several definitions of comorbidity burden can be found in the literature. The main reason for these differences lies in the available information about the analyzed diseases (i.e., the target population studied), how to define the burden of diseases, and how to aggregate the occurrence of the detected health conditions.MethodsIn this manuscript, we focus on data from the Italian surveillance system PASSI, proposing an index of comorbidity burden based on the disability weights from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project. We then analyzed the co-presence of ten non-communicable diseases, weighting their burden thanks to the GBD disability weights extracted by a multi-step procedure. The first step selects a set of GBD weights for each disease detected in PASSI using text mining. The second step utilizes an additional variable from PASSI (i.e., the perceived health variable) to associate a single disability weight for each disease detected in PASSI. Finally, the disability weights are combined to form the comorbidity burden index using three approaches common in the literature.ResultsThe comorbidity index (i.e., combined disability weights) proposed allows an exploration of the magnitude of the comorbidity burden in several Italian sub-populations characterized by different socioeconomic characteristics. Thanks to that, we noted that the level of comorbidity burden is greater in the sub-population characterized by low educational qualifications and economic difficulties than in the rich sub-population characterized by a high level of education. In addition, we found no substantial differences in terms of predictive values of comorbidity burden adopting different approaches in combining the disability weights (i.e., additive, maximum, and multiplicative approaches), making the Italian comorbidity index proposed quite robust and general.

Postoperative psychological factors and quality of life but not shoulder brace adherence affect clinical outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Despite the high prevalence, there is no consensus for postsurgical management after rotator cuff repair. We aimed to assess the impact of psychological well-being on patients who underwent rotator cuff repair. We also investigated correlations and possible predictors between patient demographics and adherence to the use of the shoulder brace and outcomes in terms of shoulder functionality and quality of life. We conducted a retrospective study with prospective data collection enrolling 120 consecutive patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy for rotator cuff tear repair. Each patient was clinically evaluated after a mean follow-up of 24.2 (±9.8) months using (1)the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scale, (2) the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), (3) the Rotator Cuff Quality of Life (RC-QoL), (4) the visual analog scale, and (5) the Medical Adherence Measure. The final sample consisted of 100 patients (45 females, 45%) averaging 60.9 (±8.5) years. The average brace wearing time was 3.4 (±0.6) weeks, with an adherence superior to 80% in 84% of cases, and 96% of patients were living with family members. The mean postoperative DASH scores were 20.1 (±16.7), 23.4 (±25), and 18.9 (±21.5) for the general, work, and sport sections, respectively. The mean Medical Adherence Measure score reached 72.5 (±14.2) points, and the RC-QoL mean score was 30.4% (±20.5). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression scores' continuous mean values were 5.1 (±3.4) and 3.9 (±3.6), respectively. The DASH, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression, and RC-QoL scores directly correlated with each other, and all these questionnaires directly correlated with the visual analog scale scores. Moreover, we found a direct correlation (r=0.204, P=.033) between the female sex and adherence to the brace and a direct correlation (r=0.242, P=.015) between adherence to the brace and the number of weeks it was worn according to the medical recommendation. A correlation between lower educational qualifications and poorer outcomes was found. No correlation emerged between adherence to the brace and functional results. According to the regression analysis, diabetes was found to be a predictor of worse postoperative DASH scores (β=0.245, P=0.28). A lower perceived quality of life was associated with worse functional results, anxiety and depression symptoms, and pain after rotator cuff repair surgery. The adherence to the use of the shoulder brace was associated with the female sex and a longer prognosis, but no correlation emerged between adherence to the brace and functional outcomes.

The prevalence and clustering of alcohol consumption, gambling, smoking, and excess weight in an English adult population

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and clustering of four health risks (increasing−/higher-risk drinking, current smoking, overweight/obesity, and at-risk gambling), and to examine variation across sociodemographic groups in the English adult population. MethodsWe analysed data from the 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2018 Health Survey for England (n = 20,698). Prevalence odds ratios (POR) were calculated to examine the clustering of risks. We undertook a multinomial multilevel regression model to examine sociodemographic variation in the clustering of health risks. ResultsOverall, 23.8% of the adult English population had two or more co-occurring health risks. The most prevalent was increasing−/higher-risk drinking and overweight/obesity (17.2%). Alcohol consumption and smoking were strongly clustered, particularly higher-risk drinking and smoking (POR = 2.68; 95% CI = 2.31, 3.11; prevalence = 1.7%). Higher-risk drinking and at-risk gambling were also clustered (POR = 2.66; 95% CI = 1.76, 4.01), albeit with a very low prevalence (0.2%). Prevalence of multiple risks was higher among men for all risk combinations except smoking and obesity. The odds of multiple risks were highest for men and women aged 35–64 years. Unemployed men and women with lower educational qualifications had a higher odds of multiple risks. The relationship between deprivation and multiple risks depended on the definition of multiple risks, with the clearest socioeconomic gradients seen for the highest risk health behaviours. ConclusionAn understanding of the prevalence, clustering, and risk factors for multiple health risks can help inform effective prevention and treatment approaches and may support the design and use of multiple behaviour change interventions.

Association of vitamin K, fibre intake and progression of periodontal attachment loss in American adults

BackgroundPeriodontitis-related attachment loss is accompanied by mucosal bleeding and inflammatory lesions. Dietary vitamin K and fibre intake are known to be correlation factors of haemostasis and anti-inflammation, respectively.ObjectiveTo explore the association between severe periodontal attachment loss and vitamin K or fibre intake in American adults.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis was conducted including 2747 males and 2218 females in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) from 2009 to 2014. The number of teeth with severe periodontal attachment loss (above 5 mm attachment loss) was used as the dependent variable. The main independent variables included the intake of vitamin K and dietary fibre. The association among variables was examined using multivariable linear regression models, hierarchical regression, fitted smoothing curves, and generalized additive models.ResultsBased on the indicators of 4965 subjects, we found that severe attachment loss tended to occur in elderly individuals or males and was accompanied by less intake of vitamin K or dietary fibre, as well as lower educational qualification. Vitamin K intake was stably negatively associated with attachment loss progression in each multivariable linear regression model. In subgroup analyses, a negative association between fibre intake and attachment loss progression was identified in all races except blacks (β = 0.0005, 95% CI: -0.0005 to 0.0016). The relationship between fibre intake and attachment loss progression was a broad U-shaped curve (inflection point: 753.4 mg), which especially manifested in males (inflection point: 967.5 mg).ConclusionThere was an inverse association between vitamin K intake and the progression of periodontal attachment loss in American adults, while dietary fibre should be moderate in intake (below 753.4 mg), especially in males (below 967.5 mg).

Nutritional assessment of pre-school children in Anganwadi centres and to understand its association with various socio-demographic factors

Background: Malnutrition is clearly linked to inappropriate feeding practices rather than food availability or household food security. A proper diet is essential from early stages of life for growth and development. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study. Results: Eighty-six percentage of children had normal weight for age, while 8.6% had low weight for age. 5% of children were stunted. Female children, those living in joint family, those having more number of siblings, low educational qualification of parents and late weaning were associated with under nutrition and stunting. Conclusions: Results of the present study showed that the nutritional status of children in the studied population were better compared to other available studies and the national standards.

Entrepreneurial Skill Needs of Sesame Farmers and Marketers in Katsina State, Nigeria

This study was designed to investigate skill needs of sesame farmers and marketers in Katsina State. Descriptive survey design was adopted and 386 respondents were sampled from the population of registered sesame farmers and marketers in the state using multistage sampling technique. Data were collected on socioeconomic characteristics, skill needs, benefits and constraints using structured interview guide. Frequency counts, percentages, means, Ch-square and PPMC were employed in data analysis. Majority were young, male, married, Muslims, had Quranic education, large household size and operated small scale farms. Levels of skill needs for farmers and marketers were high. Major farmers’ skill needs were fertilizer application, pest/disease while skills to make goods and services available to customers at the right place and time, capture, negotiate/bargain, grad/sort/bag were among marketers’ major skill needs. Benefit levels were high for farmers and marketers. Inadequate facilities for training, education and training and cost of training were common constraints to farmers and marketers. Chi-square analysis revealed marital status as having significant association with farmers’ skill needs level while education significantly associated with both marketers and farmers’ skill needs levels. PPMC analysis indicated that farm size significantly correlated with farmers’ skill needs level just as significant correlation existed between benefit, constraint and farmers, marketers’ skill needs levels. Significant correlation existed between marketers’ years of experience and skill needs level. The t-test analysis result showed farmers and marketers in Katsina central senatorial district (KCSD) had significantly higher skill needs than their counterparts in the north senatorial district (NSD). Because the skill needs of both farmers and marketers were high coupled with low educational qualifications, government should develop those distinctive skill needs into training modules using local language for easy understanding and utilization.

Educational degree differences in the association between work stress and depression among Chinese healthcare workers: Job satisfaction and sleep quality as the mediators.

Depressive status of medical personnel worldwide and especially in China is an important public health and social problem. There is a strong relationship between education and depression, but no studies have studied grouping healthcare workers (HCWs) with different educational degree to discuss whether there are differences in the factors that affect depression. This study aims to examine the role of job satisfaction and sleep quality in the relationship between work stress and depression among Chinese HCWs, and teste whether the mediation models are differed by the differences of educational degree. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale was used to test depression. Work stress was assessed using the Challenge-blocking stress scale (CBSS). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). HCWs' satisfaction with their current work was assessed using the Job Satisfaction Index (JSI). The representative sample of HCWs was chosen using a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling procedure and 844 HCWs were utilized to the statistical analysis of the study. In the overall sample, sleep quality could mediate the relationship between work stress and depression in healthcare workers (p < 0.001, CMIN/DF = 3.816, GFI = 0.911, AGFI = 0.886, IFI = 0.943, TLI = 0.933, CFI = 0.942, RMSEA = 0.058, SRMR = 0.055, AIC = 1039.144), and the mediating effect accounted for 36.5%. After grouping educational qualifications, the model with sleep quality and job satisfaction as mediating variables reported a better fit in the group with low educational qualifications. The intermediary effect accounted for 50.6 and 4.43%, respectively. The highly educated group only has sleep quality as an intermediary variable in the structural model, and the mediating effect accounted for 75.4% (p < 0.001, CMIN/DF = 2.596, GFI = 0.887, AGFI = 0.857, IFI = 0.937, TLI = 0.926, CFI = 0.937, RMSEA = 0.044, SRMR = 0.056, AIC = 1481.322). In the overall sample, sleep quality could mediate the relationship between work stress and depression in HCWs. Among HCWs with technical secondary school education and below, job satisfaction can mediate the positive relationship between work stress and depression, while this mediating effect is not significant among HCWs with college degree and above.

Prospective Study of Prolonged Grief Disorder in Relatives of COVID-19 Deceased

Introduction COVID-19 pandemic along with its social restrictions changed our burial practices and the way we bury our dead. In consequence, it affected people’s experiences and traditions which could lead to severe, persistent, or disabling grief. Thereby, it is relevant to understand how someone may be more susceptible to developing pathological grief and what can we do to prevent it. Objectives To assess the risk of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) in family members of patients who died from COVID-19 infection and identify possible risk factors. Methods Prospectively, we performed follow-up interviews conducted with family members of all patients who died from COVID-19 infection in 2020 at our hospital. The sample was characterized, and clinical follow-up was performed for at least 6 months after the date of death. By that time, the PG-13 scale was applied. Results A total of 269 individuals who had some type of relationship with patients who died from COVID-19 were included, with 68% being female with a mean age of 53.7 years. After clinical follow-up, 10.8% of the patients met the diagnostic criteria for PGD. Regarding the degree of kinship, the only predictor of PGD was “spouse” (OR 11,236, [4,762; 26,316]; p &lt; 0,001). A closer and more regular interaction with the deceased was also associated with an increase in PDG (OR 5.682, [1.314; 24.390] p = 0.009). Feelings of denial and guilt by the time of death notification were also risk predictors for PGD (OR 2,412, [1,091; 5,332] p = 0,026) and OR 2,888, [1,244; 6,703] p = 0,011, respectively). The impossibility of being present at the funeral was associated with a risk of about 3 times higher of developing PGD (OR 3,817 [1,727; 8,403] p &lt; 0,001). Older age (p&lt;0,001) and lower educational qualification (p=0,003) were also presented as risk factors. Other characteristics including gender, marital status, previous suicide attempts, psychiatric or consumption history, previous significant bereavement or the social and family support of the person contacted were not predictors of PGD. Conclusions The present prospective study made it possible to reinforce and support the way in which the COVID-19 pandemic, associated with significant social modifications, changed the way people experience grief. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Prevalence and Pattern of Erectile Dysfunction among People Living with HIV/AIDS in a Tertiary Hospital in North-central Nigeria

Background: The incidence of erectile dysfunction among men with HIV/AIDS is twice compared with the general population and this remains a major concern because of its negative impact on the quality of life of sufferers. While researchers have documented varying prevalence rates of ED among diverse population of men, there is paucity of data on this subject among PLWHA in Nigeria and most especially in the North central part of the country. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of erectile dysfunction as well as its association with certain socio-demographic factors among HIV/AIDS subjects attending a tertiary hospital in North-central Nigeria.&#x0D; Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted among 300 adult HIV-positive male patients. A semi-structured questionnaire was adapted to obtain information on socio-demographic data of the study subjects. The erectile dysfunction was assessed using the International Index for Erectile Function-5 which was interviewer-administered. The systematic sampling method was used to recruit study participants following informed consent. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Confidence interval of 95% was used and p-value of less than .05 was considered statistically significant.&#x0D; Results: The prevalence of erectile dysfunction among the respondents was 57%; of which 64.9% of them had mild form and 2.9% had severe form. There was a significant association between higher prevalence of ED and low educational status of the study subjects (p-value=.01).&#x0D; Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction among men living with HIV/AIDS in North-central Nigeria and those with lower educational qualifications are particularly vulnerable. We recommend routine screening at HIV clinics for early detection, management as well as timely referral.

Prevalence and correlates of suicide planning and attempt among individuals with suicidal ideation: Results from a nationwide cross-sectional survey

BackgroundSuicidality spans from having suicidal ideation to planning and making an attempt. However, not all individuals with suicidal thoughts will proceed to plan or attempt suicide. Our study investigated (i) the prevalence of suicide planning and attempt among those with suicidal ideation and (ii) their associations with sociodemographic characteristics, mental disorders, adverse childhood events and prior suicidal behaviour. MethodThis cross-sectional analysis utilised data from Singapore Mental Health Study 2016. Only respondents with suicidal ideation were included. A total of 411 and 365 individuals were examined to establish the prevalence of suicide planning and attempt respectively. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to determine associations. ResultsThe prevalence of suicide planning and attempt were 17.7 % and 10.6 % respectively, with >80.0 % occurring within a year of suicidal ideation. Suicide planning was more likely among those who had mood disorders. Suicide attempt was more likely for those were currently married, had lower educational qualifications, history of anxiety disorders, history of emotional neglect and parental separation. LimitationsRecall bias may be present because the age of onset for various mental disorders and suicidal behaviours were self-reported. As suicide was criminalised when the study was conducted, the prevalence of suicidal behaviours may have been underestimated. ConclusionIndividuals at risk of suicide planning and attempt should be identified early since most of them progressed within a year. Findings suggest the importance of including prior suicide behaviour and history of dysfunctional family and emotional abuse in suicide risk assessment and intervention.

Green space availability and mental health – results from a cross-sectional study in Northwestern Germany

Abstract Background A relationship between green space and health has been shown in several epidemiological studies. The impact of different types of green space is still relatively unknown. To start filling this gap, we looked at associations between different green space types and health outcomes (depression and mental health). Methods Data are obtained from a cross-sectional study (n = 479). Depression (assessed with PHQ-9) and mental health (assessed with GHQ-28) are dependent variables. Availability of green space in the surrounding neighborhood was assessed as independent variable by the percentage of green space ( &amp;gt; =1ha) within a 250m radius participants residence. Survey data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 26 and Geo data using QGIS 3.18.0. Results N = 479 participants of a cross-sectional study in 2018 provided data (49.4%, n = 240 women; 49.6%, n = 239 men). Participants had a mean age of 57.55 years (SD: 18.80, min-max:18-95), majority (75.2%, n = 360) were married or partnered, had a lower educational qualification than A-levels equivalent (56.8%, n = 272), were not employed (53%, n = 254), had a net household income of at least 3. 000€ per month (40.1%, n = 192) and at least sometimes financial worries (51.4%, n = 246). Green areas without agricultural areas show an association with frequency of depression (B(SE)=0.056(0.024), p = 0.018). This contrasts with green spaces including agricultural areas, where there is no statistically significant association (B(SE)=0.007(0.012), p = 0.564). Discussion We found an association between type of green space and depression. Further studies are needed to establish a grid for assessing characteristics and quality criteria of green spaces. However, it can already be assumed that there is an association between quality of green spaces and psychosocial outcomes.