Low Educational Level Research Articles

Portrait of the Social Aspects of Curiak Island Buffer Village: Challenges and Opportunities in Community Empowerment

This study aims to examine the objective condition of Anjir Serapat Muara village as one of the buffers of Curiak Island, with a focus on the social aspects of the local community. The method used in this study is a qualitative approach, including field observation, in-depth interviews, and secondary data analysis. The results of the study show that Anjir Serapat Muara village as a buffer for Curiak Island faces various challenges in social aspects, such as relatively low education levels and limited access to health services. This study concludes that integrated efforts are needed to improve the welfare of the community in the buffer village of Curiak Island, one of which is through community empowerment programs.

Clinical and sociodemographic determinants of older breast cancer survivors’ reports of receiving advice about exercise

PurposeExercise offers various clinical benefits to older breast cancer survivors. However, studies report that healthcare providers may not regularly discuss exercise with their patients. We evaluated clinical and sociodemographic determinants of receiving advice about exercise from healthcare providers among older breast cancer survivors (aged ≥65 years).MethodsWe used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registries linked to the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (MHOS) from 2008 to 2015. We included female breast cancer survivors, aged ≥65 years, who completed the MHOS survey ≥2 years after a breast cancer diagnosis in a modified Poisson regression to identify clinical and sociodemographic determinants of reportedly receiving advice about exercise from healthcare providers.ResultsThe sample included 1,836 breast cancer survivors. The median age of the sample was 76 years (range: 72–81). Overall, 10.7% of the survivors were non-Hispanic Black, 10.1% were Hispanic, and 69.3% were non-Hispanic White. Only 52.3% reported receiving advice about exercise from a healthcare provider. Higher body mass index (BMI) and comorbid medical history that included diabetes, cardiovascular, or musculoskeletal disease were each associated with a higher likelihood of receiving exercise advice. Lower education levels, lower BMI, and never having been married were each associated with a lower likelihood of receiving exercise advice.ConclusionsNearly half of breast cancer survivors aged ≥65 years did not report receiving exercise advice from a healthcare provider, suggesting interventions are needed to improve exercise counseling between providers and survivors, especially with women with lower educational attainment who have never been married.

Impact of socioeconomic factors and obesity on visual impairment among older adults in Poland.

Visual impairment is a significant public health concern, particularly among older adults in Poland. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of socioeconomic factors and health status on visual impairment among older adults in Poland. A total of 5987 individuals aged 60 years or older who participated in the PolSenior2 study were analyzed. Near visual acuity was assessed using the Snellen charts, and data on socioeconomic factors and comorbidities were collected using surveys. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were created to identify risk factors for visual impairment. In multivariable regression analysis, the odds of visual impairment were 1.72‑fold higher among the individuals aged 75 years and older than in those aged 60 to 74 years. Furthermore, the participants with primary education had 1.66‑fold higher odds of visual impairment, as compared with those with higher education. The individuals engaged in manual / farming work in the past, those who used to be unemployed, and those performing other non-white‑collar jobs in the past had 1.25-, 1.42-, and 1.26‑fold higher odds of visual impairment, respectively, as compared with white‑collar workers. Additionally, obesity was found to be associated with 0.85‑fold lower odds of visual impairment. Our study showed that socioeconomic factors significantly impact visual health. Visual impairment was the most prevalent among older age groups (≥75 years), individuals with lower education levels or no education, the unemployed, and those who used to perform non-white-collar jobs. Additionally, obesity was inversely associated with the odds of visual impairment.

Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in Jordan: A cross-sectional study in the prevaccination period.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in Jordan during the prevaccination period. Between December 2020 and February 2021, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs of 2,460 participants were tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To assess the risk factors, a questionnaire was applied during sample collection. Of the participants, 1,463 (59.5%) individuals were found positive for SARS-CoV-2. In multivariate analysis, male gender, younger age, lower educational level, being single, middle and higher socioeconomic status, having symptoms, presence of underlying conditions and smoking were significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity. On the contrary, washing hands routinely with soap and water, and use of alcohol-based disinfectants significantly reduced possibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study findings showed that determination of risk factors is of great importance to maintain disease monitoring, prevention and control, particularly in settings with high infection rates.

Analisis Kepatuhan Hukum Masyarakat Kota Tanjung Balai Dalam Memenuhi Syarat-Syarat Mengendarai Sepeda Motor

This research aims to determine the legal compliance of the people of Tanjung City in fulfilling the requirements for riding motorbikes, and to find out the factors that cause the people of Tanjung Balai City to not comply with the requirements for riding motorbikes. The type of research carried out is empirical legal research with qualitative research methods. Data collection tools used to obtain data are observation, interviews and documentation. Based on the research results, it is stated that the level of legal compliance among the people of Tanjungbalai City is still relatively low. This is proven by the number of violations which increases every year. The low level of compliance of the people of Tanjungbalai City in fulfilling the requirements for riding a motorbike is caused by several factors. These causal factors include the low level of public education resulting in a lack of understanding, lack of legal awareness in the community, and lack of trust in police officers. Most of the people of Tanjungbalai City already have knowledge of the requirements for riding a motorbike but are reluctant to comply because they lack legal awareness. Another cause is a lack of trust in traffic police officers.

Factors Influencing Delay in Seeking Post-abortion Care among Women in Keffi, Nasarawa State

Background: Unsafe abortion complications are a significant public health concern, particularly in underdeveloped countries, resulting in maternal mortality. Delays in seeking Post-abortion Care (PAC) at the clinical area leave health workers minimal options for resolving the situation. Objective: To identify the factors that contribute to the delay in obtaining PAC among women with post-abortion complications in Keffi, Nasarawa State. Methods: A mixed-method, prospective, cross-sectional survey was carried out at the Federal Medical Centre Keffi. A total of 60 patients were polled, and 15 of the polled patients participated in in-depth interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered by questionnaires and structured interview guides, respectively. Results: The predictors of delayed presentation were age 15-24 years (OR = 16, CI = 1.42 – 180.90, p = 0.047), a secondary level of education (OR = 38, CI = 4.15 – 347.89, p < 0.001), earning less than ₦30,000/Month (OR = 25.00, CI = 3.45 – 180.98, p = 0.001), living in rural areas (OR = 5.20, CI = 1.72 – 47.30, p < 0.001), having an abortion performed at a chemist's shop (OR = 7.564, CI = 6.70 – 10.00, p = 0.011), and use of herbs to induce abortion (OR = 1.23, CI = 1.04 – 1.45, p = 0.047). Conclusion: The study identified younger age, low level of education, occupation, place of residence, low income, and previous history of induced abortion as factors contributing to delayed presentation for PAC. Effective counselling for the use of contraceptives among women who are not ready for pregnancy is recommended.

Exploring sustainable livelihood options for COVID-impacted rural communities in Bangladesh

The COVID pandemic paralyzed all economy-generating sectors of Bangladesh, putting abrupt pressure on livelihood-making. In this study, two sequential surveys were conducted in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh to gain a deep understanding of the impacts of COVID on job status and post-COVID job preference. The effectiveness of preferred occupations in livelihood resilience within the Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) framework was also empirically analyzed and people-driven policies were recommended for sustaining livelihoods. About 35.96 % of respondents experienced short-to long-term unemployment and migrated to rural areas. The groups most severely affected were predominantly engaged in both formal and informal employment, characterized by lower levels of education, older age brackets, and predominantly female (45 out of 114). In the COVID situation, a large portion of respondents adopted agriculture (18.42 %), aquaculture (10.53 %), livestock farming (5.26 %), and small businesses (13.27 %) as their means of livelihood. However, for post-COVID preferences, respondents remained limited to only 13 job categories, considering aquaculture (22.02 %), agriculture (19.90 %), and livestock farming (26.22 %) as their most desired sectors. Considering all five capitals within the SLA framework, aquaculture and livestock farming were found to be more effective in bringing livelihood resilience within COVID-affected rural communities than agriculture. However, the greater advantages that aquaculture offers in achieving post-COVID livelihood led the authors to consider aquaculture as a decisive choice for policy recommendation. Therefore, the study proposed 28 people-oriented policies under four broad categories (financial support, technical assistance, marketing and logistics, and governance and institutional) in making sustainable livelihoods from aquaculture where financial support takes precedence as their top priority.

Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting COPD: A nationwide population-based study in South Korea.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a significant global health burden exacerbated by tobacco smoking, occupational exposure, and air pollution. COPD is one of the top 3 causes of death worldwide. In South Korea, the COPD burden is expected to increase due to ongoing exposure to risk factors and the aging population. COPD is extensively underdiagnosed or underestimated, owing to a lack of public awareness. This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram for COPD by using national data to promote early diagnosis and intervention. This study drew on a dataset from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016 to 2018, including 10,819 subjects aged 40 years or older with spirometry results. Influence of demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors on the incidence. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the significant predictors of the nomogram. The nomogram was validated using receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration plots, and concordance index (C-index). Internal validation was performed by bootstrapping. In the final analysis, 1059 (14.0%) participants had COPD. Key risk factors associated with increased COPD risk included being male, aged 70 and older, lower educational level, living in a rural area, current smoking status, underweight, and history of tuberculosis and asthma. The area under the curve (AUC) of the model was 0.822 (95% CI: 0.810-0.832), indicating that the nomogram has a high ability to identify COPD. The nomogram demonstrated solid predictive performance, as confirmed by calibration plots with a C-index (of 0.822) for the validation set with 1000 bootstrap samples. In conclusion, we developed a tool for the early detection of COPD with good properties in primary care settings, without spirometry. Appropriate and early diagnosis of COPD can have a crucial impact on public health.

The effect of diabetes in the multifaceted relationship between education and cognitive function

BackgroundEducation has been shown to be positively associated with cognitive performance. However, the pathways via lifestyle-related disease through which education is related to cognitive performance have not been sufficiently explored. Diabetes is an important lifestyle-related disease with increasing prevalence worldwide. Low education is associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes, while diabetes may also lead to a deterioration in cognitive performance. This study aims to explore if the associations between education and cognitive function is mediated by the diabetes status among older adults.MethodsThe data utilized in this study were derived from the first two waves of the Dutch Lifelines Cohort Study (2006–2015). The analyzed sample included 26,131 individuals aged 50 years or above at baseline. The baseline assessment included measurements of educational attainment (exposure) and the potential mediator diabetes. The outcome of cognitive function was assessed using age-standardized reaction times from the psychomotor function and attention tasks, as measured by the Cogstate Brief Battery. The Cogstate Brief Battery was only conducted at the follow-up assessment, not at the baseline assessment. Faster reaction times correspond to higher cognitive performance. The study employed linear and logistic regression models, in addition to a causal mediation approach which estimated the average causal mediation effect (ACME).ResultsHigher education was associated with a lower risk of diabetes (b= -0.1976, 95%CI= -0.3354; -0.0597) compared to low or middle education as well as with faster reaction times (b= -0.2023, 95%CI= -0.2246; -0.1798), implying better cognitive function. Diabetes was associated with slower reaction times (b = 0.0617, 95%CI = 0.0162; 0.1072). Most importantly, the mediation approach identified a significant indirect effect of education on cognitive function via the diabetes status (ACME= -0.00061, 95%CI= -0.00142; -0.00011).DiscussionThe findings emphasize the potentially importance of diabetes in explaining the role of education in promoting healthy cognitive function and mitigating the risk of cognitive decline. Early detection and treatment of diabetes may be particularly beneficial for individuals with low or middle levels of education in order to maintain good levels of cognitive function.

Characteristics of people with type 1 diabetes influence the educational process for starting insulin pump therapy: an observational study.

Limited data exist on educational programs for people using insulin pump (IP) therapy or those considering its initiation, and the influence of individual characteristics on their educational pathway remains unclear. Our aim was to analyze the characteristics of people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) referred for IP therapy and how these characteristics may influence their educational process. A retrospective descriptive observational study was carried out on people with T1D referred for participation in a structured pre-IP educational program in a hospital setting. Educational, sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected and analyzed. Participants were followed up 5 years after IP placement. Seventy-one people finalized the educational program, of whom 10 experienced major barriers to completing it. People with lower educational level required more sessions and weeks to complete it compared to those with higher educational levels. People referred due to suboptimal metabolic control and hypoglycemia also required more time to complete the process. It is essential for diabetes educators to recognize the diversity of characteristics, needs and challenges among the participants in an educational program. Based on this, they must adapt strategies to provide more effective, person-centered diabetes education and support, fostering positive and sustained outcomes and engagement for participants.

Changes in 10-Year Predicted Cardiovascular Disease Risk for a Multiethnic Semirural Population in South East Asia: Prospective Study.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors tend to cluster and interact multiplicatively and have been incorporated into risk equations such as the Framingham risk score, which can reasonably predict CVD over short- and long-term periods. Beyond risk factor levels at a single time point, recent evidence demonstrated that risk trajectories are differentially related to CVD risk. However, factors associated with suboptimal control or unstable CVD risk trajectories are not yet established. This study aims to examine factors associated with CVD risk trajectories in a semirural, multiethnic community-dwelling population. Data on demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, mental health, and cardiovascular factors were measured at baseline (2013) and during follow-up (2018) of the South East Asia Community Observatory cohort. The 10-year CVD risk change transition was computed. The trajectory patterns identified were improved; remained unchanged in low, moderate, or high CVD risk clusters; and worsened CVD risk trajectories. Multivariable regression analyses were used to examine the association between risk factors and changes in Framingham risk score and predicted CVD risk trajectory patterns with adjustments for concurrent risk factors. Of the 6599 multiethnic community-dwelling individuals (n=3954, 59.92% female participants and n=2645, 40.08% male participants; mean age 55.3, SD 10.6 years), CVD risk increased over time in 33.37% (n=2202) of the sample population, while 24.38% (n=1609 remained in the high-risk trajectory pattern, which was reflected by the increased prevalence of all major CVD risk factors over the 5-year follow-up. Meanwhile, sex-specific prevalence data indicate that 21.44% (n=567) of male and 41.35% (n=1635) of female participants experienced an increase in CVD risk. However, a stark sex difference was observed in those remaining in the high CVD risk cluster, with 45.1% (n=1193) male participants and 10.52% (n=416) female participants. Regarding specific CVD risk factors, male participants exhibited a higher percentage increase in the prevalence of hypertension, antihypertensive medication use, smoking, and obesity, while female participants showed a higher prevalence of diabetes. Further regression analyses identified that Malay compared to Chinese (P<.001) and Indian (P=.04) ethnicity, nonmarried status (P<.001), full-time employment (P<.001), and depressive symptoms (P=.04) were all significantly associated with increased CVD risk scores. In addition, lower educational levels and frequently having meals from outside were significantly associated to higher odds of both worsening and remaining in high CVD risk trajectories. Sociodemographics and mental health were found to be differently associated with CVD risk trajectories, warranting future research to disentangle the role of psychosocial disparities in CVD. Our findings carry public health implications, suggesting that the rise in major risk factors along with psychosocial disparities could potentially elevate CVD risk among individuals in underserved settings. More prevention efforts that continuously monitor CVD risk and consider changes in risk factors among vulnerable populations should be emphasized.

Investigating the Prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Patients Who Have Recovered From COVID-19

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients who have recovered from COVID-19. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 97 individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 and had a history of hospitalization were selected using a cluster sampling method. Data was collected through demographic questionnaires created by the researcher. The studied variables were first analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, followed by appropriate statistical tests to examine the relationships between variables. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered for all tests. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 21 statistical software. Results: The average PTSD score was severe in 48% of the recovered patients. Regression results indicated that variables such as age, education, marital status, occupation, and illness positively affected the development of PTSD. The relationship between PTSD and age was direct, with men having higher average PTSD scores than women. Additionally, individuals with lower levels of education were more likely to exhibit PTSD. Married individuals showed higher rates of PTSD than others. Retired individuals had higher PTSD scores compared to those in other occupations. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between PTSD and physical or mental illness (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results, at least half of the individuals who faced COVID-19 are at risk of psychological effects and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Timely counseling and treatment services may prevent potential long-term consequences.

A Majority Of Americans Have No Or Low Awareness Of Paxlovid, The At-Home COVID-19 Treatment.

Oral Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir) is highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19, yet it has been remarkably underused, even by patients at highest risk from COVID-19, since its December2021 introduction in the US. The reasons behind this underuse are still unclear. To examine public awareness and perceptions of Paxlovid that might help explain its underuse, we conducted a nationally representative survey of 1,430 US adults in July2023. A majority of respondents (85percent) had no or low awareness of Paxlovid, including 31percent who had never heard of it. Even among those who were aware of the drug, many held misperceptions about its effectiveness (39percent), adverse effects (86percent), and requisite timing (61percent) that could lead to underuse. Lower awareness and misperceptions were more common among medically vulnerable and disadvantaged populations who might benefit most from Paxlovid access, including adults unvaccinated against COVID-19, those with lower levels of education, and Black and Hispanic or Latino adults. Results suggest that Paxlovid underuse may be partly driven by a lack of effective public communication to generate awareness and knowledge about the drug, leading to low demand. As Paxlovid loses full government subsidies, further public outreach is needed to ensure that the public accesses it when needed.

Association between Education and Fertility: New Evidence from the Study in Pakistan

Pakistan is one of those nations that is suffering from the complications of higher fertility and lower levels of education and struggling to improve these demographic factors. In any country, education is considered the reason to control fertility levels. To shed some light on the importance of this fact, education attainment and total children ever born have been considered by taking micro-level data from the Pakistan Demographic Health Survey (PDHS) of 2017–2018 to examine the relationship of education with fertility for women. Due to the nature of the response variable, children ever born, which is a count variable, Poisson regression was used. The results provide evidence that women with secondary and higher education have a negative and significant association with fertility and thus support the hypothesis that educated women have lower fertility. Women with secondary and higher education have fewer children compared to women with no education, while female education at the primary level did not significantly affect fertility in the research. Furthermore, the age of first cohabitation, age at first birth, and wealth index were revealed to be significant determinants of fertility. It interprets that the increase in education is related to greater opportunities and facilitates the participation of women in other activities of the economy.

Sociodemographic Characteristics, Hope and Information in the Media as Predictors of the Fear of COVID-19

The research examines the severity of fear of Covid-19 its relation to the frequency of obtaining information on Covid-19 through the media and hope, as well as differences in relation to social and demographic variables. The aim was to examine whether and how the frequency of obtaining information in the media on the topic of Covid-19 affects the level of fear of Covid-19. Additional aim was to examine in which way are hope and certain sociodemographic variables related to fear of Covid and informing oneself through media. The sample comprised 316 respondents (214 females). The instruments: Scale of fear of Covid-19, Scale of Hope, as well as 4 questions related to the frequency of receiving information on the topic of Covid-19 from the media and sociodemographic questionnaire. Respondents who have children are more frequently attentive to the Covid-19 statistics in the media, expert presentations on the topic of Covid-19 and information on the Internet. Respondents living alone and with a lower level of education are more often informed on Covid-19 through the media, in all four described ways. Positive correlations were obtained between the fear of Covid-19 and all four described ways of receiving information in the media. In the first model, 6.5% of the variance in fear of Covid-19 is predicted by sociodemographic variables and hope; parenting and level of education stand out as significant factors. The second model included variables related to obtaining information on the topic of Covid-19 through the media. This model explains 17.9% of the variance in fear of Covid-19, with significant predictors being parenting, level of education and the frequency of keeping track of expert presentations on the topic of Covid-19.

Sociodemographic Characteristics, Indicators of Quality, and Hospital Visits in Patients With COPD During COVID-19.

Evidence on quality of care and sociodemographics in patients with COPD needing care during the COVID-19 pandemic is scarce. We aimed to examine indicators of quality and clinical outcomes (eg, readmissions, death) and sociodemographics in patients with COPD in need of hospital care during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic. This was a nationwide register-based study of subjects with a hospital contact due to COPD from January 1, 2015-December 15, 2021, in Denmark. A generalized linear model using Poisson distribution was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) for variables of interest. During the pandemic, the early average of admissions was 36% lower than before the pandemic; the average number of out-patients was 23% lower. The proportion of readmissions for exacerbation within 30 d of discharge decreased during the pandemic (PR 0.93 [95% CI 0.90-0.96]). The proportion of subjects who died within 30 d of admission remained unchanged (PR 0.98 [0.94-1.03]). Among out-patients, the proportion with 2 or more exacerbations in the preceding year was lower during the pandemic (PR 0.82 [0.80-0.84]). During the pandemic, both in-patients and out-patients were less likely to be younger, to live alone, and to have a lower educational level. In this nationwide study of subjects with COPD, hospital contacts decreased during the pandemic due to lockdowns and isolation, which led to a decrease in infections overall in the society. Meanwhile, in-hospital care remained unaltered. However, concerns are raised about patients with COPD and low educational level and immigrants not seeking relevant health care.

Job computerization, occupational employment and wages: A comparative study of the United States, Germany, and Japan

This study adds to the growing literature on wage and employment responses to the risk of job computerization. Specifically, it revisits the original occupational perspective and inquires into the nature of the adjustments of occupational wages and employment, i.e., the potential benefits and costs associated with professional careers in such occupations. The investigation further aims at identifying whether these adjustment processes are universal — as suggested by the global availability of the respective technology — or reflect country-specific peculiarities. To this end, it conducts a comparative analysis with data from the United States, Germany, and Japan, three G7 lead countries which share the commitment to fostering technological progress, but which are also characterized by distinctly different labor market institutions and approaches to industrial policies. Generally consistent with the country-specific employment institutions and common corporate strategies, transmission channels — as reflected by the relationship between adjustments of occupational employment and wages — differ between countries. In all three countries, though, higher risks of computerization are associated with relative wage losses in occupations which require low levels of formal education or training.

Climate change distress and impairment in Germany.

Climate change has been widely recognized as one of the most challenging problems facing humanity and it imposes serious mental health threats. It is important, however, to differentiate between the affective experience of distress over climate change and the functional impairments associated with climate change. Such a distinction is crucial because not all negative affective states are pathological, and they might even motivate pro-environmental behavior. Functional impairments, like not being able to work or maintaining social relationships, however, might require immediate treatment. This study assesses climate change distress and climate change impairment within the population of Germany using a population-representative sample. The results identify vulnerable subgroups and thereby can help to facilitate the development of target group specific intervention programs. Furthermore, this study explores whether climate change distress and climate change impairment are associated with general health, physical health, mental health, and diverse health behaviors. Study participants were drawn from a panel which is representative of the German-speaking population in Germany with Internet access. Participants answered a series of questionnaires regarding their climate change distress, climate change impairment, general health, physical health, mental health, and diverse health behaviors. To evaluate differences between subgroups, Bayesian independent samples t-tests were calculated. To evaluate associations between constructs, Bayesian correlations were calculated. Especially women, younger people, people from West Germany, and people with a high level of formal education seem to experience higher levels of climate change distress. Regarding climate change impairment, the results suggest that especially women, older people, people from West Germany, people with a low level of formal education, people with a low or middle social status, and people with an inadequate/problematic health literacy seem to experience higher levels of climate change impairment. Furthermore, climate change distress and climate change impairment were weakly and differently associated with general health, physical health, mental health, and diverse health behaviors. Climate change distress and impairment are not evenly distributed within German society. The results of this study provide a starting point for the development of target group specific intervention programs.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Women of Reproductive Age Regarding Fertility and Elective Oocyte Cryopreservation: A Study from the Al-Qassim Region.

Oocyte cryopreservation is used for fertility preservation, medical reasons, and social reasons to overcome physiological decline in fertility with age. There was no research to find the knowledge, attitude, and perception of women regarding oocyte cryopreservation in our region. This study thus aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of women of reproductive age in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia, regarding fertility and elective oocyte cryopreservation. An Arabic-language online survey was conducted over six months targeting women aged 18-45 years in the Al-Qassim region. A total of 612 participants completed the questionnaire, which covered topics such as reproductive aspirations, knowledge of fertility, knowledge of elective oocyte cryopreservation, and concerns regarding fertility preservation. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0 (Released 2012; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). The majority of participants (47.1%) wereaged 18-25 years. Participants' perceptions towards fertility preservation and social egg freezing were mixed, indicating varying levels of awareness about fertility issues. A statistically significant relationship was found between education level and knowledge of oocyte cryopreservation (p-value=0.004). Women with higher education levels (bachelor's, master's, and PhD degrees) demonstrated significantly greater knowledge(p-value=0.004) about oocyte cryopreservation compared to those with lower education levels. The study highlights the influence of educational attainment on knowledge of oocyte cryopreservation. These findings align with broader trends in health education, suggesting that higher educational attainment correlates with betterfertility health literacy. Enhancingfertility health literacy through educational programs may lead to more proactive health behaviours and betterawareness about available assisted reproductive technologies.

Psychological Wellbeing and Life Satisfaction among Chinese Older Immigrants in Canada across the Early and Late Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study compared the psychological wellbeing, life satisfaction, and perceived social support in Chinese older immigrants living in Canada between the early (i.e., Wave 1: September-November 2020) and late (i.e., Wave 2: January-February 2023) stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it assessed perceived social support from family, friends, or others as predictors for psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction in this population. These questions were addressed with a cross-sectional survey design with two independent samples at Wave 1 (n = 171) and Wave 2 (n = 191), respectively. The results revealed lower levels of psychological wellbeing, life satisfaction, and perceived social support in Wave 2 compared to Wave 1. The hierarchical regression models identified social support from friends (but not from family or others) as a significant predictor for psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction. Additionally, a higher level of income and being a male predicted better psychological wellbeing. A higher level of income and a lower level of education predicted greater life satisfaction. The findings suggest a deterioration in psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction from the early to late stages of the pandemic and highlight the protective effect of social support from friends among Chinese older immigrants.