Northern Province Research Articles

Optimal hydroelectric energy utilization with ATDOA: a case study of the Bumbuna Dam

Abstract Given that hydroelectric energy is regarded as the tertiary means of electricity production and furthermore the most crucial renewable energy producer globally, the imperative of maximizing the utilization of the vast and costly water resource, which depletion is increasingly conspicuous each passing day, is more pressing than before. In this study, the Advanced Tasmanian Devil Optimization Algorithm (ATDOA) is employed to optimize the utilization of hydroelectric energy derived from the Bumbuna Dam reservoir. This reservoir is situated in the Seli River, located in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. The research period includes 138 months, covering the duration from October 2010 to April 2022. The Tasmanian Devil Optimization Algorithm, which is bio-inspired algorithm, has been shown to be an effective optimization technique in multiple scholarly researches. The decision variables in the hydroelectric energy optimization model from the reservoir are the optimal release values of the monthly hydroelectric output from the reservoirs of the dams. After verifying the correctness of the ATDOA algorithm by using several standard benchmark functions, a model was developed for optimal hydroelectric utilization of the Bumbuna Dam.

Estimating the aboveground biomass of the Hulunbuir Grassland and exploring its spatial and temporal variations over the past ten years

In the past 10 years, extreme weather phenomena have increased, and global warming has markedly advanced; moreover, the intensity of human activity has gradually increased. These have an impact on the growth of global vegetation. Related studies have focused on the Tibetan Plateau and some northern provinces of China to estimate grassland AGB at a large scale but a low resolution. Hulunbuir Grassland is an important supplier of livestock products, and therefore, it is important to precisely map AGB and explore the response of Hulunbuir Grassland AGB to climate change and human activities at a high resolution to identify complex spatial details. In this study, we selected vegetation indices from Landsat 8 OLI and topographic indices and used multiple linear regression and machine learning algorithms to estimate the spatial distribution of AGB from 2013 to 2022. Then, we analyzed the correlations between AGB and cumulative precipitation and daily average temperature in summer and between population density and livestock density at the pixel level. Our results demonstrated that the RF model performed well, with an RMSE of 28.23 and R2 value of 0.74; the AGB was positively correlated with the cumulative precipitation in summer in 94.45 % of the area and negatively correlated with the daily average temperature in summer in 96.32 % of the area. We suggest that it is necessary to reduce grazing activities in future warm and drought years and to adjust sources of income to adapt to the decrease in AGB under global warming conditions. This study will provide reference for the countries or regions that depend on temperate grasslands for husbandry.

Factors Associated with Anaemia in Under-five Children in Zambia; Secondary Analysis of the 2021 Malaria Indicator Survey Data

Introduction: Anaemia is one of the major public health concerns in many developing countries including Zambia. Unless it is acute, the consequences of anaemia are not immediate but have long-term debilitating effects such as growth and intellectual retardation. As such it does not receive the necessary attention it deserves. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of anaemia in under-five children in Zambia.
 Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of the 2021 Malaria Indicator Survey. We extracted data from the datasets at the National Malaria Elimination Centre after obtaining permission from the Ministry of Health. The extracted data was analysed in STATA 14, summarised in frequencies, cross-tabulations between independent variables and the outcome and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the associations between variables and anaemia.
 Findings: The prevalence of anaemia was found to be 53.8%. Anaemia was found to be associated more with children below one year compared to older children, children whose household heads had no or only have primary education compared to those with secondary or tertiary education and in the northern parts of the country such as Luapula and Northern provinces compared to the southern province. Further anaemia was more common in those with malaria than those without malaria and those with febrile illnesses than those without febrile illnesses. In addition, anaemia was less common in those who slept under insecticide-treated nets.
 Conclusion: Anaemia in Zambia has been found to be higher than the average in Southern Africa, it is associated with younger age groups, poverty conditions and where diseases like malaria and other febrile illnesses are more common than where they are not. The use of interventions like insecticide-treated nets is associated with reduced prevalence of anaemia.

Региональные особенности доходов и потребительских расходов населения в Канаде

In the confrontation between the global West and the global South, Russia found itself directly on the fault line. The confrontation leads to changes in the world economy, which, of course, have an impact on the standard of living of the population. It becomes relevant to study this influence, both in Russia and in countries that impose economic sanctions against it. This study provides a brief analysis of household income and consumption expenditure in Canada for 20002022 across the provinces of the country. Based on the data obtained, a high degree of social support for Canadian citizens from the state was revealed, especially in areas densely populated by indigenous peoples. The conditional division of the country according to the standard of living of the population into four geographical sectors is determined: northern, western, central and eastern. It has been established that throughout the entire period under review, the indicators of the standard of living of citizens in the northern provinces are the highest, and in the eastern provinces the lowest in Canada. At the same time, about two-thirds of the total population of Canada live in the eastern provinces, and the Northern provinces are very sparsely populated (less than 1% of the total population). It has been recorded that relatively high incomes and savings of the population are not a determining factor in the country for choosing a place of residence. Much depends on other indicators of the quality of life of people, as well as on the local mentality, traditions and culture.

Assessment of Projected Temperature and Precipitation in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka through Statistically Downscaled CMIP6 Projection


 
 
 The issue of climate change has emerged as a paramount concern for the global community, with several nations grappling with the far-reaching effects thereof on their respective territories. Among these nations, Sri Lanka is ranked as the country facing the greatest potential threat. In the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, which has experienced a rebirth after years of internal conflict with the aid of international agencies, projections regarding climate change indicate a diverse array of potential impacts. To arrive at these projections, a comprehensive analysis was conducted, which leveraged downscaled data derived from the Coupled Model Inter-comparison Projects, Phase 6 (CMIP6), obtained via the grid for the Northern Province. Various models were employed to scrutinize this data, and to validate the findings, an analysis was performed by comparing the model-simulated past climate data to observed data. Multimodal ensembles provided insights into unique temperature and precipitation patterns under varying emis- sion scenarios, including the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) 4.5 and 8.5, between 2020 and 2100. Under the SSP2 4.5 scenario, for instance, the temperature increase would total 1.13°C, accompanied by 106.19mm of augmented rainfall. By contrast, under the SSP5-8.5 scenario, temperature would increase by 1.81°C, with a projection of 159.6mm increase in rainfall. Moreover, spatially, the future changes in temperature and rainfall for the Northern Province of Sri Lanka display consequential variations. Specifically, the western part is projected to witness higher rates of temperature and rainfall increase than the eastern part. However, it should be noted that variations exist in the values of the projections of temperature and rainfall across the different models. Regardless, the region must brace itself for elevated temperatures, resulting in heatwaves and an augmented frequency of scorching days, indicating an urgent need for policymakers and communities to incorporate these findings when developing and implementing climate adaptation strategies that aim to mitigate climate change’s adverse impact in the area of study.
 
 

Disrupting the “Tamil diaspora-terrorism” paradigm: the political mobilisation of younger generation Tamils in the London diaspora

ABSTRACT Following three decades of armed conflict, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009. The victory was framed as a successful counterterrorism operation, yet, the GoSL’s military campaign in the Tamil-populated Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka, faces credible allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. As the armed conflict reached its apex, the Tamil diaspora mobilised politically across the globe and the participation of younger generation Tamils (YGTs), namely, those who were born outside their parents’ country of origin, or had settled outside of their ancestral homeland as children, caught the attention of scholars and analysts. Within this small pool of literature, the pervasive and problematic counterterrorism-inspired concept of “radicalisation” surfaced. This article contributes to critical debates on terrorism by analysing the cursory application of a radicalisation framework to the political mobilisation and perspectives of YGTs. Based on critical ethnographic research on YGT activism in the London diaspora, this article provides an alternative to criminalising and marginalising approaches by utilising an emotion-based conceptual framework, derived from social movement studies, to unearth and understand the complex mechanisms, contexts, and processes surrounding their political mobilisation.

Investigation of Tropical Cyclones in the North Indian Ocean and the Linkage to Extreme Weather Events over Sri Lanka

Heavy rainfall due to tropical cyclones (TCs) in the North Indian Ocean (NIO) adversely impacts nations frequently. Though extensive research has focused on TCs in the NIO, less attention has been given to the connection between TCs and extreme events in Sri Lanka. This study examined atmospheric characteristics during sixteen extreme events, focusing on linkages between TCs, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and mechanisms behind heavy rainfall associated with TCs over Sri Lanka. The results showed that in the pre-monsoon period, TCs move northward with high water vapor (WV) content accumulated in the Southern Hemisphere. This main WV flow over the equatorial Indian Ocean (EIO) is connected with TCs, causing considerable damage in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka. During negative IOD years, strong westerly winds create cyclonic circulations on either side of the equator. Conversely, during the post-monsoon period, the IOD phase has no significant effect. TCs generally followed westward tracks, supported by winds from the Northern Hemisphere, and caused heavy rainfall in the Eastern, Northern, and Northcentral provinces in Sri Lanka. These TCs are isolated from the main WV flow over EIO. Such observed common characteristics during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons are key factors contributing to extreme rainfall in Sri Lanka.

Rock engineering evaluation of existing and planned Salang Tunnels with high overburden through Hindukush Mountains, Afghanistan

The Kabul – Mazar Highway connects Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, to northern provinces of the country, and further extends into Central Asian countries through the Hindukush mountains. The Salang Tunnel, which is 2600 m long, was designed by Soviet engineers in 1958 and constructed using conventional techniques in 1964. During its construction, the tunnel ranked the distinction of being the highest-altitude tunnel at 3400 m. The socioeconomic importance of the tunnel is exceptionally high, as the Hindukush Mountain range to the east and south of the country is crossed by it. Since 1964, there has been a significant increase in traffic volume. Due to the narrowness of the existing tunnel, the Ministry of Public Works (MOPW) of Afghanistan has planned the construction of new twin-tube tunnels. Although there have been rehabilitation and enlargement efforts for the existing tunnel, none of these renovation works have been proven effective, and challenges persist. In 2008, the MOPW initiated a pre-feasibility study for new tunnels, which was finalized in 2012, presenting various options. Subsequently, in early 2018, the MOPW commenced feasibility and detailed studies, leading to the proposal of new twin-tube tunnels, which are designated as the planned tunnels in this paper. In this study, the available geotechnical and environmental data are used to evaluate the rock engineering aspects of the tunnels, including an assessment of the in-situ stress state. A particular emphasis is placed on the reassessment and design of the support system for both the existing and planned tunnels according to RMQR and another system, respectively. The evaluation of the response and stability of the tunnels is concluded, and the implications are subsequently discussed.

The Mysterious in the Book of Daniel: An updated understanding of an ancient visionary

The biblical Book of Daniel (twelve chapters) is largely written in Kurdish Aramaic. One wonders why. This study offers a partial comparison of Chapters Seven and Eight ; it omits the latter half of each chapter, the chronicling of the Succession of Kings. Both chapters focus on some issues in the account of ancient visions of the Creation: the creation of human beings and the creation of the Temple site in Urshalīm al-Kuds. The source of this tradition is not dealt with. Both chapters are indicative of the traditions and beliefs governing the period of the building of the First Temple in the life of the King of Kings Suleimān (pen-name: Shlomo) and up to the time of the conquest of Judah (Judea) by the Chaldean King of Kings, Nebūchadnezzar King of Babylon. The northern province of the Kingdom of Israel had already been conquered by the Assyrians, and their fate needs to be further investigated. The ultimate objective of this research within a broader project is to show that the provincial First Temple was governed jointly by both proto-Kurds, such as Medians together with tribal notables of the Kingdom of Israel.

Estimation of the Population Size of Street- and Venue-Based Female Sex Workers and Sexually Exploited Minors in Rwanda in 2022: 3-Source Capture-Recapture.

HIV surveillance among key populations is a priority in all epidemic settings. Female sex workers (FSWs) globally as well as in Rwanda are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic; hence, the Rwanda HIV and AIDS National Strategic Plan (2018-2024) has adopted regular surveillance of population size estimation (PSE) of FSWs every 2-3 years. We aimed at estimating, for the fourth time, the population size of street- and venue-based FSWs and sexually exploited minors aged ≥15 years in Rwanda. In August 2022, the 3-source capture-recapture method was used to estimate the population size of FSWs and sexually exploited minors in Rwanda. The field work took 3 weeks to complete, with each capture occasion lasting for a week. The sample size for each capture was calculated using shinyrecap with inputs drawn from previously conducted estimation exercises. In each capture round, a stratified multistage sampling process was used, with administrative provinces as strata and FSW hotspots as the primary sampling unit. Different unique objects were distributed to FSWs in each capture round; acceptance of the unique object was marked as successful capture. Sampled FSWs for the subsequent capture occasions were asked if they had received the previously distributed unique object in order to determine recaptures. Statistical analysis was performed in R (version 4.0.5), and Bayesian Model Averaging was performed to produce the final PSE with a 95% credibility set (CS). We sampled 1766, 1848, and 1865 FSWs and sexually exploited minors in each capture round. There were 169 recaptures strictly between captures 1 and 2, 210 recaptures exclusively between captures 2 and 3, and 65 recaptures between captures 1 and 3 only. In all 3 captures, 61 FSWs were captured. The median PSE of street- and venue-based FSWs and sexually exploited minors in Rwanda was 37,647 (95% CS 31,873-43,354), corresponding to 1.1% (95% CI 0.9%-1.3%) of the total adult females in the general population. Relative to the adult females in the general population, the western and northern provinces ranked first and second with a higher concentration of FSWs, respectively. The cities of Kigali and eastern province ranked third and fourth, respectively. The southern province was identified as having a low concentration of FSWs. We provide, for the first time, both the national and provincial level population size estimate of street- and venue-based FSWs in Rwanda. Compared with the previous 2 rounds of FSW PSEs at the national level, we observed differences in the street- and venue-based FSW population size in Rwanda. Our study might not have considered FSWs who do not want anyone to know they are FSWs due to several reasons, leading to a possible underestimation of the true PSE.

Evaluating Carbon-Emission Efficiency in China’s Construction Industry: An SBM-Model Analysis of Interprovincial Building Heating

In the pursuit of China’s ambitious carbon neutrality goals, optimizing carbon-emission efficiency within the construction sector, a significant emitter, becomes critical. This study employs a super-Slacks-Based Measure (SBM) model and a Tobit regression model to analyze buildings’ heating-related carbon emissions across China, considering urban population density, electricity usage, and building energy consumption and the influencing factors that cause differences in carbon-emission efficiency difference. The results of this study show that the average building carbon-emission efficiency of 30 provinces in China is 0.789; carbon-emission efficiency is 0.89 in the south, higher than 0.69 in the north. After excluding centralized heating emissions, the value of buildings’ carbon-emission efficiency in the northern provinces increases by 0.01, of which the buildings’ carbon-emission efficiency in Jilin Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region shows positive growth, respectively, by 0.12 and 0.17. In terms of influencing factors, there is a significant positive correlation between the scientific and technological levels, the regional economic scale, and carbon-emission efficiency; however, government intervention in the economy has a negative correlation with carbon-emission efficiency. Renewable energy utilization and green-policy adoption emerge as pivotal in enhancing efficiency. The contribution of this study is to underscore the necessity of fostering renewable energy, refining energy-consumption structures, and implementing green strategies to augment buildings’ heating-related carbon-emission efficiency.

Determination of crop water requirements and potential evapotranspiration for sustainable coffee farming in response to future climate change scenarios

Climate change (CC) is causing a significant threat to agriculture, a sector complicatedly tied to natural resources. Changes in precipitation patterns, atmospheric water content, and rising temperatures intensely affect global agriculture, especially in tropical regions. In this intense CC scenario, potential evapotranspiration (PET) and crop water requirement (CWR) are critical components of agricultural water management. This study evaluates the future impact of CC on precipitation, CWR, and PET in different provinces of Thailand's northern and northeastern regions. Three bias correction methods (Delta (DT), Empirical Quantile Mapping (EQM), and Quantile Mapping (QM)) were employed for precipitation downscaling from the CanESM5 CMIP6-GCM across selected 13 coffee farms with different coffee species. Arabica and Robusta coffee were carefully selected for this analysis. The DT method demonstrated superiority, exhibiting lower RMSE and higher correlation coefficients than EQM and QM. Farm-specific assessments illuminated water demand's complex dynamics during critical growth stages, showcasing variable CWR and PET. During the blooming stage in N-F1, CWR ranged from 16.7 to 33.7 mm/stage, highlighting the variability in water needs. Projected CC impacts on Arabica and Robusta coffee farms in Chiang Rai and Sisaket presented challenges, emphasizing farm-specific strategies to address potential water deficits or surpluses during critical growth phases. Projected 2023, 2028, and 2033 precipitation demonstrated incongruities with CWR and PET. The findings emphasize the crucial role of farm-specific adaptive strategies in mitigating the impacts of changing precipitation patterns on coffee cultivation.

Global dynamics of a periodic brucellosis model with time delay and environmental factors

In China, brucellosis has always been a significant public health issue, especially in the pastoral regions of northern provinces where animal husbandry is well-developed. However, the impact of control measures, breeding characteristics and temperature fluctuations on the transmission dynamics of brucellosis outbreaks remains unclear. We construct a periodic mechanism-driven dynamic model with latent delay coupled with the regional breeding and temperature characteristics of Xinjiang Region. Theoretically, the global dynamics of periodic solutions are demonstrated by the theory of monotone dynamical system. In the application, the monthly human brucellosis cases and average temperature data of Xinjiang from 2015 to 2020 are fitted, and the basic reproduction number of brucellosis transmission is evaluated as 0.6691. Nonetheless, it is yet unable to attain the national control standards in the short term. The findings suggest that: 1. Interactions of periodic fluctuations in Brucella survival time and sheep shearing are key factors leading to the periodic outbreaks of brucellosis. 2. Improving the frequency of environmental disinfection could quickly eliminate the brucellosis epidemic. Specifically, when the disinfection frequency was once a month, the national control standard could be reached 5 years ahead of schedule. 3. In extreme cases, when the immunization rate κ=0 or the detection rate γ=0, the basic reproduction number might still be less than 1. From an epidemiological perspective, non-immunization control measures may be implemented with the reduction of brucellosis cases. The aforementioned statement may also bear resemblance to the preventive and control measures implemented in our country.

Trends and Preferences of Rhinoplasty Among Chinese Patients: A Social Media Analysis.

This study investigated the trends, motivations and preferences of rhinoplasty in China. Data on rhinoplasty were collected from Xiaohongshu and analyzed for trends. Text analysis and word frequency statistics were performed on the notes and comments using Python modules. We obtained 1065 notes with 102,153 comments, 239,383 collections and 640,579 likes. The number of rhinoplasty-related publications increased annually, correlating with per capita disposable income of households (DI) growth (r2=0.609, P=0.041<0.05). In the Southern provinces, there was a notably higher volume of publications compared to the Northern provinces (P=0.001). Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between publication data, population size, and the DI (r2=0.786, P<0.001). The nasal tip (3197) and nasion (1409) were the most mentioned nasal subunits. "Good-looking" (9672) and "natural" (2811) were the most used words to describe the nose shape. The "doctor" (4377), the "hospital" (2182) and "hyaluronic acid" (2106) were the most mentioned rhinoplasty procedure related vocabulary. Discussions about rhinoplasty in China are increasing, and more people express their desire for rhinoplasty on social networks, related to China's DI growth. The Southern provinces show a higher inclination toward these discussions, a trend that correlates with our findings of a positive association between NOPs and both DI and population size. Netizens pay more attention to the shape of nasal tip and nasion, and prefer the good-looking and natural appearance. Most people consider autologous cartilage or hyaluronic acid injection for rhinoplasty. Doctors are the primary consideration for patients. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Contribution of USAID Soma Umenye to the Performance of Learners of Kinyarwanda Language in Lower Primary Schools: A Case of Public and Government Aided Schools of Musanze District, in Northern Province, Rwanda

Contribution of USAID Soma Umenye to the Performance of Learners of Kinyarwanda Language in Lower Primary Schools: A Case of Public and Government Aided Schools of Musanze District, in Northern Province, Rwanda

Remote Sensing-Based Lithological Mapping of the Qena-Safaga Shear Zone Juxtaposing Northern and Central Tectonic Provinces of The Egyptian Nubian Shield

Remote Sensing-Based Lithological Mapping of the Qena-Safaga Shear Zone Juxtaposing Northern and Central Tectonic Provinces of The Egyptian Nubian Shield

Economic analysis of China’s grain for green policy: theory and evidence

First phase of the grain for green (GFG) policy, one of the China’s forest policies, was implemented in the late 1990s and ended in 2012. The first phase of the GFG policy was successful from a macro perspective, although there were some failures. Based on these outcomes, the second phase of the GFG policy was implemented from 2014 to 2020. This study used panel data to develop an empirical land use model and conduct a comparative static analysis focusing on the GFG policy. Results of the static analysis confirmed factors that affect GFG for the years 2002–2018. In addition, differences in the explanatory variables between the first (2002–2012) and second periods (2014–2018) were determined. Furthermore, differences in GFG subsidies between the northern and southern provinces in the first phase were analyzed for their effects on a reforestation area. The main results revealed that the amount of investment in GFG and rural livelihood security had a positive effect on the expansion of the area of GFG. In addition, the amount of investment in GFG was more effective during the second period than the first period.

Time Series Model to Forecast Fresh Coconut Exports from Sri Lanka

Coconut accounts for approximately 12% of all agricultural produce in Sri Lanka with the total land area under cultivation covering 409, 244 hectares ranking second to rice production. The primary regions for coconut cultivation are the Puttalam and Kurunegala districts in North-Western Province and Gampaha district in the Western Province, forming what is known as the Coconut Triangle. This region accounts for 232,270 hectares (50.94%) of the overall coconut cultivation area. The remaining coconut cultivation areas are found in the Southern Province, specifically in the districts of Galle (13,833 hectares), Matara (14,946 hectares), and Hambantota (25,837 hectares), and in non-traditional regions of the Eastern and Northern provinces. The annual coconut production varies between 2,800 to 3,000 million nuts. Having advanced knowledge of exporting coconuts offers numerous advantages to Sri Lanka, particularly in terms of establishing forward contracts with other countries. Based on secondary data of annual fresh coconut exports from 1981 to 2020 obtained from the Coconut Development Authority (CDA) of Sri Lanka, the paper developed ARIMA (2,1,0) model to forecast export. The model was selected out of three parsimonious models which were identified from the Sample Autocorrelation Function (ACF) and Partial Autocorrelation Function (PACF) of the stationary series and a comparison of significant parameters and lowest values of Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Schwarz Bayesian Information Criterion (SBIC) and Hannan-Quinn Information Criterion (HQIC). The errors of the fitted model were found to be random and constant variance. The model was validated using 2021 and 2022 data. The percentage errors for 2021 and 2022 are 20.23% and -29.57% respectively. The predictions for 2023 and 2024 are 14696 and 15052 respectively. The model can be used effectively by the Coconut Development Authority for decision-making. However, it is suggested to develop the model further to reduce the percentage error. Keywords: ARIMA model, Forecast, Fresh Coconut Exports and Validate

Factors associated with terminated pregnancies in Sri Lanka: A case study of the Sri Lankan Demographic and health survey (DHS) 2016.

Pregnancy termination is considered to have adverse effects on women's health and to have created financial, economic, and social problems in their lives. This study aimed to identify factors associated with pregnancy termination in Sri Lanka. The study used 2016 Sri Lanka Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data of 16,323 ever-married women aged 15-49, who were clustered in selected enumerated areas. A binary logistic random intercept multilevel model was fitted to find the association between pregnancy termination and the predictor variables in this study. The overall pregnancy termination rate among Sri Lankan women was 16.14%. Increasing age of women was found to be associated with increasing odds of pregnancy termination. Women who were overweight or obese had higher odds of pregnancy termination, with 14% and 36%, respectively, compared to women with a normal weight. With increasing parity, the likelihood of pregnancy termination decreased. Women who used contraceptives had a 24% higher likelihood of pregnancy termination than those who refrained from using them. Cohabiting women had a 57% higher chance of pregnancy termination. Working women had 15% higher odds than unemployed women. Women who experienced domestic violence had a 14% higher odds of pregnancy termination than those who did not. Women from the Northern, Eastern, and North Central provinces had a lower likelihood of pregnancy termination compared to those from the Western province. Women in the urban sector were more likely to terminate their pregnancy than those in the estate sector. Further, women residing in households where indoor smoking was permitted had a 13% greater chance of ending their pregnancy compared to non-smoking households. The study highlights the importance of restructuring education related to health and well-being, family planning, and work-life balancing for both women and their partners, and developing and implementing or strengthening policies and laws related to mitigating pregnancy termination including domestic violence for women.

Impact of language ideologies on educational choices in intermarriages

This paper explores how parents in intermarriages choose between the majority language (Serbian) and the minority language (Hungarian) as their children’s instruction medium in Vojvodina, the northern province of Serbia. Adopting language ideologies as a theoretical framework, the study sheds light on (systems of) cultural ideas concerning social and linguistic relations, encompassing family and societal contexts. Qualitative research involving interviews was conducted with spouses/partners of individuals from the Hungarian national minority who are in a marriage/partnership with members of the majority community in Vojvodina. The analysis reveals that the choice of education in the majority language is influenced by both objective factors (such as the absence of minority language schooling in the parents’ locality) and subjective considerations, which are connected to adopting various language ideologies supported by gender differences. The study highlights the crucial societal function of intermarriage, as family decisions significantly shape the identity and ethnic affiliation of children born into these unions. The choice of the language of instruction for their education plays a significant role in this process, with opting for the majority language accelerating acculturation and assimilation compared to choosing the minority language and maintaining the minority community.