Low Levels Of Formal Education Research Articles

New forms of employment: development of take-away delivery and urban–rural wage inequality

PurposeSince smartphones became ubiquitous, online grocery and food purchases through take-away delivery platforms have steadily increased in China. Nevertheless, whether the development of take-away delivery can ameliorate urban–rural wage inequality still requires further analysis. The purpose of this paper is to clarify whether this positive effect exists.Design/methodology/approachThis paper makes estimations based on city and individual levels combining the Chinese Household Income Project (CHIP) 2008, CHIP 2013, CHIP2018 survey data and the take-away delivery site data. At the city level, the Oaxaca-Blinder (O-B) decomposition method is employed to construct wage inequality index of urban and rural labors. At the individual level, this paper analyzes urban–rural wage differentials with high or low formal education level.FindingsThe rapid establishment of take-away delivery sites has resulted in an increase of 52.425 yuan on average in the annual wage of rural labors with low formal education level. When the cumulative number of sites increases by 1 unit, the annual wage inequality index decreases by 0.007 on average. Labors with the characteristics of rural household registration and low education can enjoy more dividends. Through inter-/within-industry decomposition, this paper elaborates formal education, age and cross-industry transfer as the main factors for the improvement of urban–rural wage inequality. Narrowing effect of wage differences between different groups in multiple sample slices also contributes to the mechanism analyses.Originality/valueTo the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first to analyze the impact of take-away delivery development on the urban–rural wage inequality from the perspective of the establishment of take-away delivery sites. This empirical study will enrich the existing theoretical perspectives on urban–rural divide under the emergence of new forms of employment. The results indicate that new forms of employment represented by take-away delivery can not only promote economic growth, but also eliminate urban–rural inequality.

Eliciting risk preferences in an artefactual field experiment via replication and an alternative approach

AbstractThis paper investigates risk preferences using an artefactual field experiment conducted with a non-standard subject pool of farmers in Ghana. I introduce an alternative methodology for studying preferences following replication of a seminal risk elicitation procedure by Binswanger (Am J Agric Econ 62(3):395407, 1980). An important feature of both approaches is that they are easy to understand and, hence, are particularly suitable for eliciting preferences among subjects with low levels of formal education. I successfully replicate Binswanger’s study, documenting how his original result of the moderate level of risk aversion for an average farmer can be generalized to a different country. However, using my alternative approach, whereby lotteries are presented in the loss domain, I find that half of my experimental subjects violated expected utility theory. This approach is of relevance to the current literature on studying risk preferences among subjects with poor literacy skills.

Willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccines, associated factors and reasons for not taking a vaccine: a cross sectional study among persons aged 13–80 years in Wakiso, Central Uganda

BackgroundVaccination has been recommended as one of the approaches for the control of COVID-19 pandemic. However, adequate vaccine coverage is critical to the effectiveness of the vaccine at population level. Data on acceptability of the vaccine in Ugandan urban areas are limited. This study examined the prevalence, factors associated with willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccine including reasons for not taking COVID-19 vaccine in a predominantly urban population of Wakiso, central Uganda.MethodsData were obtained from a cross-sectional study conducted between March 1st, 2021 and September 30th, 2021 in the urban population-based cohort of the Africa Medical and behavioral Sciences Organization (AMBSO). A Multivariable modified Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) and 95% confidence intervals of willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine.ResultsA total of 1,903 participants were enrolled in this study; 61% of whom were females. About 63% of participants indicated their willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. Persons aged 13–19 years (aPR = 0.79; [95% CI: 0.74, 0.84]) or 20-29years (aPR = 0.93; [95% CI: 0.88, 0.98]) were less likely to accept the vaccine compared to persons aged 40–49 years. Persons with post-primary level of education (aPR = 1.05; [95% CI: 1.02, 1.09]) were more likely to accept the vaccine compared to persons with primary level of education. Additionally, students or individuals working in government (aPR = 1.13; [95% CI: 1.04, 1.23]) were more likely to accept the vaccine compared to individuals doing construction and Mechanic work as their main occupation. Reported reasons for not taking a COVID-19 vaccine included; concerns about side effects of the vaccine 154(57.0%), 64(23.7%) did not think the vaccines were effective, while 32(11.9%) did not like the vaccines.ConclusionA substantial proportion of individuals were not willing to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. Health education campaigns on vaccination within urban communities could help reduce COVID-19 vaccine misconceptions in the urban populations more especially the young and persons with low levels of formal education.

The role of constraints and information gaps in driving risky medicine purchasing practices in four African countries.

Substandard and falsified (SF) medical products pose a major threat to public health and socioeconomic development, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In response, public education campaigns have been developed to alert consumers about the risks of SF medicines and provide guidance on 'safer' practices, along with other demand- and supply-side measures. However, little is currently known about the potential effectiveness of such campaigns while structural constraints to accessing quality-assured medicines persist. This paper analyses survey data on medicine purchasing practices, information and constraints from four African countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Uganda; n > 1000 per country). Using multivariate regression and structural equation modelling, we present what we believe to be the first attempt to tease apart, statistically, the effects of an information gap vs structural constraints in driving potential public exposure to SF medicines. The analysis confirms that less privileged groups (including, variously, those in rural settlements, with low levels of formal education, not in paid employment, often women and households with a disability or long-term sickness) are disproportionately potentially exposed to SF medicines; these same demographic groups also tend to have lower levels of awareness and experience greater levels of constraint. Despite the constraints, our models suggest that public health education may have an important role to play in modifying some (but not all) risky practices. Appropriately targeted public messaging can thus be a useful part of the toolbox in the fight against SF medicines, but it can only work effectively in combination with wider-reaching reforms to address higher-level vulnerabilities in pharmaceutical supply chains in Africa and expand access to quality-assured public-sector health services.

Climate Change Perceptions and Associated Characteristics in Canadian Prairie Agricultural Producers

Climate change (CC) poses a threat to agricultural sustainability, which is important in the Canadian Prairies, as agriculture is a major occupation and driver of the economy. Agriculture involves both the creation and mitigation of emissions related to CC. To implement adaptation and mitigation practices, producers should accept CC as fact. This study is based in Saskatchewan, Canada, where CC denial is prevalent in public comments. To assess the validity of this anecdotal impression, this study provided a snapshot of Saskatchewan agricultural producers’ perceptions and observations of CC and assessed whether views on CC are associated with characteristics of political orientation and affiliation, mental flexibility, systems thinking, time orientation, climate knowledge, climate observations, and demographic variables. A survey was developed with the following four sections: (1) individual characteristics; (2) observed changes in climate-related variables; (3) knowledge and perceptions about CC; and (4) demographic variables. The survey included multiple-choice questions and items scored on a Likert scale. The survey was completed by 330 Saskatchewan agricultural producers (i.e., farmers and ranchers). The results indicated more CC denial in Saskatchewan producers than in other Canadian samples. Individual and socioeconomic characteristics of lower levels of formal education, identifying as male, conservative political affiliation and ideation, low trust in science, and low mental flexibility were associated with less acceptance and concern of CC. It is therefore necessary to consider socioeconomic and individual characteristics of producers in measures aiming to increase the acceptance of the reality of CC. Future intervention research should target male producers with lower levels of formal education, low trust in science, low mental flexibility, and right-leaning political ideation for the improvement of CC perceptions and examine different teaching methods (e.g., lectures, workshops, webinars) and dissemination methods (e.g., online versus in-person sessions) to see how various techniques may influence learning, as well as the way the information is used by particular groups.

Shared Risk Factors Among Women for Intimate Partner Violence in the United States: A Secondary Analysis.

Multilevel risk factors may increase the risk of experiencing intimate partner violence among women. The overall goal of this study was to provide a comprehensive view of factors that may be associated with three forms of intimate partner violence. The primary aim was to explore associations between understudied factors and women's experiences of physical and sexual violence and stalking by an intimate partner. Secondary analysis of existing health registry data was conducted. Our evidence-driven strategy was based on a multipronged analytical approach informed by existing literature and the social-ecological model. We created an evidence-based hierarchical list comprised of three tiers. Three separate multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Several shared risk factors were retained across all three forms including low levels of formal education, past experiences of non- partner sexual violence, residential instability, presence of children, experiences of a traumatic event and panic attacks, status of receiving US government benefits, and barriers to healthcare access. Results contribute to future research on intimate partner violence prevention by providing preliminary evidence of emerging factors associated with experiencing three forms of intimate partner violence.

Economic effects of the war in Ukraine and recession.

The economic effects of wars and recessions can have significant impacts on consumer attitudes and behaviors. Understanding how these attitudes and behaviors change impacts during challenging economic times is crucial for financial education and management. A survey was conducted to investigate the financial attitudes and behaviors of individuals during a recessionary period. The survey was distributed from January 15th to February 28th, 2023 and included questions about age, financial education level, savings behavior, attitudes towards debt, gender and financial management behavior, age and financial education, and income and savings behavior. Data were analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA. Participants with higher income levels had higher levels of savings and investing behaviors than those with lower income levels. Participants with a higher level of formal education in finance had higher levels of budgeting and investing behaviors than those with a lower level of formal education in finance. Additionally, participants who reported higher levels of self-rated financial knowledge had higher levels of all financial management behaviors (budgeting, saving, investing, and debt management) compared to those with lower self-rated financial knowledge. The findings suggest that financial education and management programs should target individuals with lower income levels and less formal education in finance. Additionally, promoting self-rated financial knowledge may be a useful strategy for improving financial management behaviors. Future research could explore the effectiveness of different financial education and management programs on improving financial attitudes and behaviors during recessionary periods.

A - 41 The Association between Education, Literacy, and Performance on the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scale for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) in African American (AA) Older Adults.

The LASSI-L, a cognitive challenge test, has been found to be highly discriminative between AA elders with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) versus cognitively unimpaired (CU) counterparts. Given potentially lower levels of formal education and literacy in some AA groups, it is important to determine whether such factors might adversely influence performance. 41 AA adults (53.7% males), with a mean age of 63.9 (SD = 5.1years, range = 54-83) were deemed to be CU after a clinical interview resulted in a CDR = 0, and scores from a neuropsychological battery were deemed normal by experienced neuropsychologists. The LASSI-L was not used in diagnosis. Level of educational attainment was 13.3 (SD = 2.3years: range = 9-20). Level of reading literacy, as assessed by the WRAT-4, yielded an average grade equivalent (GE) of 9.6 (SD = 3.5 range = 2.0-12.9); substantially lower than reported educational attainment. Association between formal education and literacy was 0.52 which accounted for 27% of the shared variance. There were no statistically significant correlations between formal education or WRAT-4 scores in any LASSI-L variables, including initial learning (Cued Recall 2 List A), proactive semantic interference (PSI) (Cued List B1-List B2), failure to recover from PSI, or semantic intrusion errors. Performance on the LASSI-L among AA-CU did not suggest biases associated with formal education or word literacy, making it a promising tool for research. Many neuropsychological measures do not have acceptable diagnostic accuracy when used among individuals that are racially diverse, have lower-education levels, and lower socioeconomic status. This is important in consideration for potential use of LASSI-L in clinical settings.

Tata Kelola Badan Usaha Milik Desa untuk Meningkatkan Pendapatan Asli Desa: Studi pada Bumdes Ngudi Raharjo Desa Girikulon, Kabupaten Magelang

This research study aims to analyze the Governance of a Ngudi Raharjo Village-Owned Enterprise to Increase the Original Income of Girikulon Village, Secang District, Magelang Regency. This study collected data through observation, interviews, and documentation using qualitative methods to describe and explain the management of the Ngudi Raharjo BUMDes. The results of this study indicate that the management of the Ngudi Rahardjo BUMDes to build Girikulon Village, Secang District, Magelang Regency is still not optimal. This is caused by several factors, including the human implementers caused by the low level of formal education in Girikulon Village and then the equipment factor caused by the lack of facilities and infrastructure at the Ngudi Raharjo BUMDes. In BUMDes Ngudi Rahardjo itself, there is positive community participation in a number of areas, financial management and organizational management.

Prolonged grief during and beyond the pandemic: factors associated with levels of grief in a four time-point longitudinal survey of people bereaved in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a devastating and enduring mass-bereavement event, with uniquely difficult sets of circumstances experienced by people bereaved at this time. However, little is known about the long-term consequences of these experiences, including the prevalence of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) and other conditions in pandemic-bereaved populations. A longitudinal survey of people bereaved in the UK between 16 March 2020 and 2 January 2021, with data collected at baseline (n = 711), c. 8 (n = 383), 13 (n = 295), and 25 (n = 185) months post-bereavement. Using measures of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) (Traumatic Grief Inventory), grief vulnerability (Adult Attitude to Grief Scale), and social support (Inventory of Social Support), this analysis examines how participant characteristics, characteristics of the deceased and pandemic-related circumstances (e.g., restricted visiting, social isolation, social support) are associated with grief outcomes, with a focus on symptoms of PGD. At baseline, 628 (88.6%) of participants were female, with a mean age of 49.5 (SD 12.9). 311 (43.8%) deaths were from confirmed/suspected COVID-19. Sample demographics were relatively stable across time points. 34.6% of participants met the cut-off for indicated PGD at c. 13 months bereaved and 28.6% at final follow-up. Social isolation and loneliness in early bereavement and lack of social support over time strongly contributed to higher levels of prolonged grief symptoms, while feeling well supported by healthcare professionals following the death was associated with reduced levels of prolonged grief symptoms. Characteristics of the deceased most strongly associated with lower levels of prolonged grief symptoms, were a more distant relationship (e.g., death of a grandparent), an expected death and death occurring in a care-home. Participant characteristics associated with higher levels of prolonged grief symptoms included low level of formal education and existence of medical conditions. Results suggest higher than expected levels of PGD compared with pre-pandemic times, with important implications for bereavement policy, provision and practice now (e.g., strengthening of social and specialist support) and in preparedness for future pandemics and mass-bereavement events (e.g., guidance on infection control measures and rapid support responses).

Economic effects of the war in Ukraine and recession

Background: The current situation from economic effects of war, as political uncertainty, geographic proximity,and the impact of new sanctions against Russia,has led to negative reactions in European stock markets.Previous research has shown that economic crises can have significant impacts on consumer financial behaviors and attitudes. Methods:The purpose of the study was to examine how consumer attitudes and behaviors change during periods of recession and to identify the implications for financial education and management during challenging economic times.Demographic data and financial management behavior data were collected from a sample 428 respondents.By examining consumer attitudes and behaviors during a recession,this study can provide insights into how financial education and management can be improved to support consumers during challenging economic times.A survey was conducted to investigate the financial attitudes and behaviors of individuals during a recessionary period from January 15th to February 28th,2023 and included questions about age, financial education level,savings behavior,attitudes towards debt,gender and financial management behavior,age and financial education, and income and savings behavior.Data were analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA. Results:Participants with higher income levels had higher levels of savings and investing behaviors than those with lower income levels. Participants with a higher level of formal education in finance had higher levels of budgeting and investing behaviors than those with a lower level of formal education in finance. Participants who reported higher levels of self-rated financial knowledge had higher levels of all financial management behaviors compared to those with lower self-rated financial knowledge. Conclusions:The findings suggest that financial education and management programs should target individuals with lower income levels and less formal education in finance. Promoting self-rated financial knowledge may be a useful strategy for improving financial management behaviors. Future research could explore the effectiveness of different financial education and management programs on improving financial attitudes and behaviors during recessionary periods.

Eliciting farmers’ preferences towards agriculture education in Northern Ireland

ABSTRACT Purpose Agriculture education promotes farmers and societal welfare through a more efficient use of resources and the adoption of sustainable farming practices. Nevertheless, farmers’ educational attainment is limited across countries. This study explores farmers’ intention to participate in formal agriculture education. Design/methodology/approach A discrete choice experiment survey with 363 farmers exploring their preferences for different specifications within a diploma in agriculture was employed. We focus on Northern Ireland, a country with a relatively large agricultural sector and were farmers have a low level of formal education. Findings Our results show that farmers exhibited a preference for short courses delivered in the evenings, with 75% of the teaching time delivered online, favouring educational topics linked to farm performance against those related to socio-environmental outcomes. Part-time younger farmers, operating in small farms located in less favoured areas, reported the highest willingness to pay for the course. However, farmers that had previously participated in a Young Farmer Payment Scheme reported the lowest interest in undertaking the course. Practical implications The study provides useful information to education providers in relation to the design of agriculture courses to better meet farmers’ preferences and therefore encourage levels of uptake. Secondly, the study can help policymakers to make informed decisions about policy instruments incentivising farmers to engage in education. Theoretical implications By drawing from random parameter choice models, the study highlights that the heterogeneity of farmers’ preferences should be considered when modelling their decision to engage in agriculture education. Originality/value This is the first study that elicits farmers’ preferences towards agriculture education via a discrete choice experiment. Secondly, the study explores preference heterogeneity based on farmers and farms’ characteristics.

The state of women’s empowerment in fisheries in rural Bicol, the Philippines

ABSTRACT This study examined the state of women’s empowerment in fishing communities in the Bicol Region, the Philippines. Using the Alkire-Foster (AF) methodology, the results revealed that the ability to participate in making decisions related to productive resources (e.g. boat, fishing gear, fish processing equipment) and having access to and control over such resources were the key factors that contribute to women’s disempowerment in the study area. Furthermore, women were found to be in a less favourable position due to lower levels of formal education, large household size, limited sources for livelihood diversification, patriarchal norms shaping household headship, and meagre share in household income. On a positive note, control over household income and leadership in the community emerged as sources of women’s empowerment. Drawing on these findings, efforts to empower women should focus on providing them more access to formal and informal education, social infrastructure, microfinance services, and labour-saving technologies.

Gendered perceptions and adaptations to climate change in Ghana: what factors influence the choice of an adaptation strategy?

Climate change poses a significant threat to various sectors, including agriculture, affecting men and women unevenly. Although gender-based perceptions of climate change have been studied, there remains a gap in understanding how these perceptions influence the adoption of adaptation strategies among men and women smallholder farmers in the production of leguminous crops in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigated the gender differences in the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies among bean and cowpea farmers in Ghana. The findings revealed that socioeconomic and institutional factors significantly influenced the choice of adaptation strategies, with notable differences between men and women. Higher levels of education, farming experience, marital status, access to credit, and education determined the choice of adaptation strategies. On the other hand, women farmers, despite having lower levels of formal education, showed a higher utilization of extension services, possibly due to targeted efforts to reach out to more women farmers. Larger households were less likely to adopt mixed cropping and changing cropping patterns, while married individuals were less likely to use crop rotation. Training and access to credit significantly increased the likelihood of adopting crop rotation, changing cropping patterns, and using improved seeds. The study also found that [f]armers perceptions of the impacts of dry spells and delayed onset of rains influenced the use of climate change adaptation strategies. Furthermore, farmers who participated in climate change planning were more likely to use diverse adaptation strategies, underscoring the importance of a locally focused, inclusive planning process. However, gender differences were observed in the determinants of the use of these strategies. For instance, while access to extension services was found to be more influential for women, men’s decisions were more influenced by their marital status, access to credit, and education. Policy makers and local institutions need to encourage and facilitate farmers’ involvement in climate change planning processes to enable designing of effective, context-relevant, inclusive, and sustainable climate change adaptation strategies. Distinct differences in the factors underlying the use of adaptation strategies by men and women demand creation of and implementation of gender-sensitive programs that effectively reach and benefit both women and women.

Praktik Budi Daya Padi Berwawasan Ekologis: Kasus di Indramayu

Climate change affects the agricultural sector, which has an impact on droughts or floods. Ecological agriculture is expected to be an adaptation method for reducing losses due to climate change. This study aims to describe the characteristics of farmers, ecological rice cultivation practices, and the relationship between the two parameters. The research in Kendayakan Village, Terisi District, Indramayu Regency, involved 60 farmers surveyed using accidental sampling techniques in February 2022. The data collected include farmer characteristics (age, education, land area, land ownership status), length of farming, sources of farming knowledge, participation in groups, and rice cultivation practices. Data on the application level of ecological agricultural practices were analyzed descriptively and tested usin the Spearman Rank correlation between farmer characteristic variables and rice cultivation practices. The results showed that farmers were of productive age, with a low level of formal education but experienced and active in local organizations. The level of application of farmers' ecological agriculture is moderate. The return of straw, tillage, and control of plant pests are the components of cultivation that are least following the principles of ecological agriculture. Internal factors of farmers that correlate with the components of ecological rice cultivation are age, education, length of farming, source of farming knowledge, and land ownership status.
 
 Keywords: climate change, paddy field, paddy’s straw return

Economic effects of the war in Ukraine and recession

Background: The economic effects of wars and recessions can have significant impacts on consumer attitudes and behaviors. Understanding how these attitudes and behaviors change impacts during challenging economic times is crucial for financial education and management. Methods: A survey was conducted to investigate the financial attitudes and behaviors of individuals during a recessionary period. The survey was distributed from January 15th to February 28th, 2023 and included questions about age, financial education level, savings behavior, attitudes towards debt, gender and financial management behavior, age and financial education, and income and savings behavior. Data were analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA. Results: Participants with higher income levels had higher levels of savings and investing behaviors than those with lower income levels. Participants with a higher level of formal education in finance had higher levels of budgeting and investing behaviors than those with a lower level of formal education in finance. Additionally, participants who reported higher levels of self-rated financial knowledge had higher levels of all financial management behaviors (budgeting, saving, investing, and debt management) compared to those with lower self-rated financial knowledge. Conclusions: The findings suggest that financial education and management programs should target individuals with lower income levels and less formal education in finance. Additionally, promoting self-rated financial knowledge may be a useful strategy for improving financial management behaviors. Future research could explore the effectiveness of different financial education and management programs on improving financial attitudes and behaviors during recessionary periods.

Capacity deficit and marginalisation of artisanal fishers hamper effective fisheries governance in Ghana: Insights and propositions for promoting sustainable small-scale fisheries

Ghana’s artisanal small-scale fisheries (SSF) is collapsing despite the existence of numerous governance structures and regulatory and policy frameworks for the development of the sector. To sustainably manage the SSF, a deeper understanding of the complexity of its governance and the precursors for transformation is imperative. Using a qualitative approach and non-probability sampling techniques, we unravel the inherent and exogenous factors driving capacity deficit in SSF governance groups and how this cascades into their marginalisation and consequent disharmony, challenging effective governance and sustainable management of the sector. Low level of formal education, long-held perception of the fishery as a traditional heritage that requires no formalised management regime, lack of structured training in fisheries management for the leadership, and the leadership selection process were identified as the main areas of capacity deficit in the artisanal sector. Artisanal fishers felt inadequately engaged in the fisheries decision-making processes and uninformed about fisheries laws and policies; stemming from a predominantly top-down governance dispensation. The current dispensation discourages grassroots participation and compliance during policy implementation, which has led to the further marginalisation of artisanal fishers, causing disharmony in the industry and ultimately steering overexploitation of the marine small pelagic fishery to the brink of collapse. We make propositions for effective and transformational governance reforms to promote sustainable fisheries in Ghana’s SSF sector, principally capacity building, inclusion, leadership selection reforms, and co-management.

Awareness of Preeclampsia among Antenatal Clinic Attendees in Northwestern Nigeria.

Background Preeclampsia (PE) is among the five main causes of maternal mortality in low resource countries. This study was designed to assess PE awareness and its socioeconomic determinants among antenatal clinic attendees in northwestern Nigeria. Methods Two hundred twenty-one antenatal clinic attendees in northwestern Nigeria were selected through systematic random sampling for this quantitative study. Women who were 9 months pregnant and had consented to participate were included; those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes mellitus were excluded. Data on respondents' sociodemographic variables, and PE awareness were collected using a validated questionnaire. Associations between variables were tested using chi-square test and multiple regression analysis. Results Ninety-one percent of respondents were aged 20 to 40 years, 53.9% were multiparous, 27% had no or low level of formal education, and 52% had attended antenatal care (ANC) at least four times in the index pregnancy. Only 37% ( N = 83) were aware of PE. Women with formal education were 3.8 times more likely (odds ratio [OR] = 3.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4-10.3) to be aware of PE compared with those with no formal education ( p < 0.05). Also, women who experienced hypertension in their previous pregnancies were 2.8 times more likely (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.37-5.71) to be aware of PE than those women who had not ( p < 0.05). Conclusion There was a low level of PE awareness among pregnant women in this study; being formally educated and having had hypertension in a previous pregnancy were positively associated with PE awareness. PE education should be part of ANC.

The short-term effects of activity engagement on working memory performance in older age.

Does a single bout of activity engagement have short-term effects on cognition in daily life? Using a smartphone-based ambulatory assessment design, this study examined the duration of the effects of three types of activities (i.e., sociocognitive, passive leisure, and physical activities) on working memory performance. For seven times per day (i.e., approximately every 2 hr) over 15 days, 150 healthy older adults (aged 65-91 years) in Switzerland reported their present activities and completed working memory assessments. In an examination of within-person concurrent associations, results from a multilevel model showed that passive leisure activities were negatively associated with working memory. Extending this to time-lagged dynamics, results from multilevel vector autoregression models showed that the negative effect of passive leisure activities and a positive effect of sociocognitive activities on working memory performance appeared 6 hr later and faded out completely by 8 hr later. Follow-up analyses showed that the time-lagged effects of activity engagement were evident among relatively younger individuals with lower levels of formal education. In sum, our findings suggest that a single bout of activity engagement has an impact on cognitive performance as quickly as 6 hr. In line with the "use it or lose it" hypothesis, our findings highlight the importance of continuous and active engagement in sociocognitive activities in older age. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Reference Infliximab (Remicade) Compared to its Biosimilar (Remsima) in Iraqi Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (Conference Paper )#

The study objective was to conduct Pharmacoeconomics study (cost-effective analysis) between infliximab reference (Remicade) and its biosimilar (Remsima) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Iraqi hospitals.&#x0D; This is a retrospective multicenter pharmacoeconomic analysis conducted at two large teaching governmental hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq which provided infliximab to patients with RA. Data were collected from patient’s medical records and face-to-face interviews with the patients from December 2021 to April 2022.&#x0D; The study included 57 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The patients were categorized into two groups according to the type of infliximab they received over 30 weeks: 27 patients received reference infliximab (Remicade) and 30 patients received biosimilar infliximab (Remsima). The two groups had comparable demographic and baseline disease parameters, with a mean age of 49.6 years and a BMI of 30.0. The vast majority of participants were women (82.5%) with low level of formal education (65%). Overall, both infliximab biopharmaceuticals had good effectiveness to reduce the RA disease activity (CDAI) and improve patient quality of life. They both had comparable adverse reactions including UTI, fatigue, and headache. There was no significant difference (P-value &gt;0.05) in disease activity between the two groups according to RA clinical disease activity index (CDAI) score across all three-time measures: before biological therapy, 14 weeks post-therapy and 30 weeks post-therapy.&#x0D; In 2019, Remicade was slightly more effective and provide better quality of life, but costlier ($41,896 per QALY) compared to Remsima. It was not clear whether the reference biologic (Remicade) or its biosimilar (Remsima) was more cost effective. In 2021, Remicade was more cost effective compared to Remsima because Remicade was less expensive and relatively more effective according to CDAI and EQ-5D-5L scores. Registering and purchasing both reference infliximab and its biosimilar was good idea to keep the competition in the price and maintain infliximab for RA patients.