Secondary Education Level Research Articles

Determinants of active trachoma among rural children aged 1–9 years old in Aw-Bare Wereda, Somali Region of Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionChronic and highly contagious, trachoma is a condition characterized by recurrent bacterial infection with ocular strains of Mycoplasma trachoma. It spreads through fingers, flies, and fomites, especially in situations where there is overcrowding. If untreated, the illness may result in blindness. Trachoma is an ancient disease and has previously been a significant public health problem in many areas of the world, including parts of Europe and North America. There are at least 400 million cases of active trachoma in the world, 8 million of which have resulted in blindness. Trachoma is a serious public health issue that is very common in Ethiopia. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify the determinants of active trachoma among rural children aged 1–9 years old in Aw-bare woreda, Somali region of Ethiopia.MethodA cross-sectional community-based study involving children aged 1–9 who lived in six selected rural kebeles in the Awbare woreda Somali region and carried out using an ordinal logistic regression model. The study comprised 377 children in total. Our sample youngsters were chosen through a two-stage cluster sampling procedure. Then also chose our sample kebeles by simple random sampling. The main environmental, personal, and demographic factors that influenced the outcomes of active trachoma status were modeled using partial proportional odds modeling and descriptive statistics.ResultThe study showed that the prevalence of active trachoma was found to be 47.7%. The covariate secondary level of education of mother OR = 1.357; 95% CI (1.051, 1.75), P-value = 0.0192, Inside house cooking place of children family OR = 0.789:95% CI (0.687, 0.927), P-value = 0.0031, children stay at home OR = 2.203:95%CI (1.526, 3.473), P-value = 0.0057,rich income family OR = 1.335:95%CI(1.166,1.528),P-value = 0.0001,Amount of water fetched per day OR = 2.129,95%CI(1.780,2.547),P-Vaue = 0.0001 were significant effect on active trachoma. PPOM represents the best fit as it has the smallest AIC and BIC. It is also more parsimonious.ConclusionThe mother’s educational level, the location where the children spent the majority of their time indoors cooking, the fly density during the interview, the family’s income, the child’s age in years, the distance to the water source, the quantity of water fetched daily, and the number of people sharing a room have all been found to be significant predictors of the child’s active trachoma status. Thus, increasing maternal education, access to clean water, and socioeconomic position are all crucial measures in preventing trachoma. Preventing trachoma also involves reducing the number of kids in a room and enhancing activities linked to personal cleanliness, such as giving kids a thorough facial wash to remove debris and discharge from their eyes.

Entrepreneurship Education Attainment Levels in Secondary Education: A Delphi Study

Entrepreneurship Education Attainment Levels in Secondary Education: A Delphi Study

Knowledge and Awareness about Anesthesia and Perception about Anesthesiologists and their Role during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Patients at a Zonal Hospital: A Cross-sectional Survey

Abstract Background: Anesthesia forms the cornerstone of the practice of modern medicine as we know it today. The field of anesthesia has evolved beautifully since its conception in the 1800s and today the reach of the anesthesiologist goes far beyond his role in the OT. The most critical patients are managed by this fraternity, witnessed by the world during the tough times of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, even today, in the 21st century, anesthesia functions in relative obscurity, succinctly labelled as a ‘behind the screen’ specialty by the medical fraternity itself. Aims and Objectives: Conducted in the aftermath of the pandemic, the research was aimed to assess the general knowledge among patients regarding the branch of Anesthesia and understanding the public perception regarding Anesthesiologists, including their role inside and outside the OT, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the sources of patient information and significant association with age, gender, literacy level and employment status were explored by our study. Materials and Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted at a secondary-care government hospital and a total of 307 participants were enrolled in the study. After a detailed structured interview with participants, the data was tabulated in Excel form and statistical analysis was done for association with demographic variables. Results: The results, viewed against a background of previous similar national and international studies, revealed significant ignorance regarding this specialty and poor improvement as compared to previous data, despite having been in the limelight owing to the recent pandemic. Only 58% participants had heard the term ‘Anesthesia’ and 38% were aware of what it achieves in a patient. About three-fourths of them knew the anesthesiologist as a qualified doctor but only 50% considered his job equivalent to that of the surgeon. The main source of knowledge was by word of mouth followed by prior exposure to anesthesia. Furthermore, the study revealed that the level of the patient’s education controlled with the patient’s age and employment factors was the significant predictor of their knowledge, awareness and perception regarding anesthesia and role of anesthesiologists (p<0.05). The patients with secondary and above level education, the younger age groups and those who were currently employed were significantly better informed. Conclusion: The results of the research, compared with previous data of Indian and International studies since the last two decades, demonstrated a clear lack of improvement in public knowledge levels. This was unexpected considering how the recent pandemic brought the entire medical community into the limelight, some of which should have been shed on Anesthesiologists as well. Additionally, there is a stark difference between the populations of developed and developing countries seen in several post pandemic studies. The ignorance continues to pervade all aspects of the anesthesiologist’s job including his purview beyond the OT. A fresh perspective was obtained through the demographic factors brought out by the study, elucidating that the anesthesia fraternity needs to focus on improving communication with certain subsets of their patients (like the elderly, the unemployed and illiterate). Several conjoint endeavors are required between the government the professional community to increase the public cognizance and appreciation that all current and future anesthesiologists, deserve.

Promoting institutional collaboration through a joint project-based learning course: a case study of upper secondary school and university students’ experienced relevance

There is a great need to develop research-based models for supporting collaboration between educational institutions. Collaboration models are needed, for example, to assist the transition from lower educational level to higher education or from higher education to working life. In this research, collaboration was conducted through a joint course between upper secondary school and university, which addressed global challenges by using a project-based learning approach. There is a shortage of research exploring students’ perceptions of collaboration. Therefore, the main purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore the relevance of the joint course for upper secondary school students and university students. The research was guided by the following research question: What kind of relevance did the students experience in the joint project-based learning course? The data were gathered using questionnaires, interviews, and reflective study reports. The data were analyzed via theory-based content analysis, where research-oriented relevance model was used as the analysis framework. The analysis framework enabled categorizing experienced relevance on individual, vocational, and societal dimensions. Altogether, the analysis produced seven relevance categories for upper secondary students and nine for university students. According to the analysis, upper secondary school students felt that the course offered the most on an individual relevance dimension, whereas university students experienced the vocational relevance dimension a the most diverse. As the main conclusion, this research produced new insights on the experienced relevance of upper secondary level and higher education cooperation from the students’ point of view. The acquired knowledge can be useful for everyone developing new cross-institutional collaboration models.

Distribution of human papillomavirus in women by genotype, age, education, and geography in Baghdad, 2021-2022

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main causative agent of cervical cancer and genital warts. HPV infection can be persistent with high-risk HR-HPV genotype. Objective: Investigate the distribution of HPV genotype in Baghdad province, to afford a scientific source for initial detection policies and immunization for cervical tumors in the province. Methodology: From January 2021 to September 2022, 400 women who were tested for HPV genotyping, were referred to the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) in Baghdad province. They have one or more of the following (intermenstrual bleeding, post-menopausal bleeding, post-coital bleeding, vaginal discharge, and warts). Results: The prevalence of HPV infection showed a high percentage in Rusafa about 74.17%, however, Al-karkh showed about 25.83%. Both regions appeared high distribution for genotypes (16&18) as predominant types for HR-HPV. Two major rates of HPV infection have been found in women aged group (20-30) years, about (45.31%) and (36.72%) in women aged (30-40) years, these groups consider reproductive age therefore HR-HPV risking persistent infection. In comparison, HPV infections show (13.28%) among women aged 40-50 years. finally, HPV infection in the elderly group 50-65 years was (4.69%) showing the lowest percentage, also women with secondary education level appeared higher percentage of HPV infection about (42.63%) compared with primary and higher education. Conclusion: The prevalence of high-risk-HPV infection showed a high percentage in Baghdad providence and there was an important for age specificity, in addition to an inverse relationship with the education level.

PEMETAAN CAPAIAN PEMBELAJARAN DAN MATERI AJAR PAI DAN BUDI PEKERTI ELEMEN Al-QURAN DALAM KURIKULUM MERDEKA

Al-Quran as an element of PAI and Budi Pekerti in the Merdeka Curriculum has continuous learning outcomes and teaching materials from primary to secondary education levels. However, the reality on the ground shows that the level of Quran literacy among students in Indonesia is still low. To overcome this, it is necessary to map based on Quran literacy components such as reading according to tajweed, writing, memorizing and interpreting. This is the purpose of this study to ensure that the Learning Outcomes and Teaching Materials for PAI and Budi Pekerti in the Merdeka Curriculum are in accordance with the development of students and the concept of Islamic teachings about the Quran. This research is a qualitative research with content analysis method. The data sources are curriculum documents and PAI and Budi Pekerti textbooks for the Merdeka Curriculum version, which are analyzed through a document study approach. The results of the study provide findings in the form of mapping learning outcomes and teaching materials for PAI and Budi Pekerti elements of the Al-Quran in the Merdeka Curriculum on the Al-Quran literacy component from primary to secondary education levels.

Knowledge Regarding Breast Self-Examination Among Reproductive Age Women

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer and the fourth-leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Breast self-examination (BSE) plays an important role in the early detection of breast cancer. In developing countries like Nepal, breast cancer is diagnosed at late stages due to inadequate knowledge. Thus, this study assessed the knowledge regarding BSE among reproductive-age women. Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study among 100 reproductive-age women of Khairahani Municipality, Chitwan. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample and a face-to-face interview was conducted using a structured interview schedule to collect information related to the knowledge of BSE. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22. Results: The mean age was 32.45 years and 82% were married. Likewise, 40% of women had completed primary and 35% secondary level education. Nearly half (47%) of women were homemakers and 13% had a family history of breast cancer. Out of 100 women, 72% knew the meaning and 96% knew the purpose of BSE. However, 21% of women knew the appropriate timing to perform BSE and only 20% technique of perming BSE. The majority of women had poor (48%) to moderate (36%) levels of knowledge and only (16%) had a good level of knowledge regarding BSE. Conclusion: The knowledge regarding BSE among reproductive-age women was found poor to moderate level. Whereas, they had good knowledge on purposes and observation during procedure but had poor level of knowledge on appropriate timing and technique of BSE.

The Role and Place of Translation in The French Department: The Case of 3rd Year Students At University of Oran 2

Pedagogical translation is a specific type of translation employed in language education to enhance students' literacy skills. It is recognized that didactic translation involves transferring meaning between languages with the aim of improving language proficiency. This case study was conducted to emphasis the role of translation within the French Language Department at the University of Oran 2. The researcher aimed to explore the benefits of translation in teaching French and preparing students for careers as French language educators at both primary and secondary educational levels. The study focused on students and teachers within the French Language Department, who are pivotal in the teaching-learning environment. Established in 2014, the French Language Department at the University of Oran 2 was formerly part of the Foreign Languages Institute. This investigation took place during the second semester of the academic year 2022-2023 and employed a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject. The study systematically addressed the issue from various scientific and practical perspectives. Data collection involved student questionnaires, teacher interviews, and observations to ensure the reliability and validity of the findings. Participants included third-year students at the University of Oran 2 (Algeria). The findings indicated that didactic translation significantly enhanced students' reading comprehension and written expression, particularly at grammatical, syntactic, and semantic levels. The study also proposed strategies to assist future French teachers in overcoming challenges and limitations in their careers. It recommended integrating translation as a core module across all academic levels to ensure thorough mastery of the French language.

Internet Addiction among Egyptian Teens during COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: Teens’ lifestyles have changed significantly during and after COVID-19 epidemic and they have started engaging in risky health behaviors like using smartphone more frequently. Everyone is compelled to use their smartphone more frequently than usual to access daily necessities during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. AIM: We aimed to evaluate the problem of internet addiction and the increasing use of smartphone among teenage Egyptian youth during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Online surveys were sent to Egyptian teens (12–18 years old) in several governorates in June 2020, and they were completed by 154 youths over the course of one month. Different teenagers were required to respond to and share in this poll, and versions in both English and Arabic were used. At the outset of the questionnaire, the question about consent was viewed as mandatory. The extent of Internet use was evaluated using Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT). The survey was divided into four sections and created with the goals of understanding the modes (frequency, patterns, and goals) of internet use, the negative effects, linked parental behaviors, as well as the eventual occurrence and severity of addiction. The same data from the time before the epidemic was also looked into and analyzed. Version 23 of IBM SPSS Statistics was used for the analysis. The p-value threshold for significance was established at 0.05. RESULTS: The mean age of the teens was 14.38 ± 2.87 years and equal gender frequency (males of 50.6% and females of 49.4%. About 79.9% of them live in urban environment, 18.8% suffered from family problems and 40.9% were in the secondary educational level. Increased physical inactivity of participants was noticed after COVID-19 among participants (55.8%). About 87.7% of them used smartphone for online access (87.7%). Half of the subjects (50%) spent 1–3 h online before COVID, while more than half of them (59.1%) spent more than 6 hours online after COVID, with a statistically significant difference. Mean IAT was 61.91 ± 16.77 after COVID versus 45.26 ± 12.45 before COVID. The prevalence of internet addiction was increased from 67.5% before COVID-19 to 77.9% after COVID-19 infection. IAT score was normal, mild, moderate, and severe in 5.8%, 16.2%, 65.6%, and 12.3% after COVID-19, respectively, compared to normal, mild, moderate, and severe IAT score in 26.6%, 5.8%, 61.0%, and 6.5% before COVID, respectively, with significant differences between them before and after COVID (p < 0.000). Increasing mother’s and father’s educational, increasing time spent online, decreasing duration of sleep, and lower the number of days of exercise for more than 30 min/week were associated with higher IAT score. CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, internet addiction was extremely common among teenagers (77.9%). The amount of time spent online, the length of sleep, and the number of days that a person exercises for more than 30 min/week were all predictors of addiction.

Utilization of integrated community-based case management of childhood illness and associated factors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundDespite significant progress being made in reducing under-five mortality, three-fourths of under-five deaths are still caused by preventable conditions such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, and newborn issues. Integrated community case management of childhood illnesses (ICCM) could serve as a means to reduce preventable child mortality in Low- and Middle-Income countries. Our aim was to assess the overall level of ICCM utilization and its associated factors in Ethiopia.MethodsCandidate studies for inclusion in this review were identified through searches across various databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and university repositories online databases, spanning from February 1, 2024, to March 18, 2024. The quality assessment of the studies included in this systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). Data extraction and analysis were carried out using Microsoft Excel and Stata 17 software, respectively. Heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using Cochran’s Q test and I2 statistics, while the presence of publication bias was evaluated through funnel plots and Egger’s regression asymmetry test. Subgroup analysis was performed based on sample size and study site.ResultsIn this study, the pooled level of ICCM utilization was found to be 42.73 (95%, CI 27.65%, 57.80%) based on the evidence obtained from ten primary studies. In this review, parents’ awareness about illness (OR = 2.77, 95%, CI 2.06, 3.74), awareness about ICCM service (OR = 3.64, 95%, CI 2.16, 6.14), perceived severity of the disease (OR = 3.14, 95%, CI 2.33, 4.23), secondary/above level of education (OR = 2.57, 95%, CI 1.39, 4.77), and live within 30 min distance to the health post (OR = 3.93, 95%, CI 2.30, 6.74) were variables significantly associated with utilization of ICCM in Ethiopia.ConclusionThe utilization of ICCM was found to be low in Ethiopia. Factors such as parents’ awareness about the illness, knowledge of ICCM services, perceived severity of the disease, attending a secondary or more level of education, and living within 30 min distance to the health post were significantly associated with the utilization of ICCM. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on creating awareness and improving access to high-quality ICCM services to reduce child morbidity and mortality from preventable causes.

Physical Inactivity Increases Impairment of Daily Activities Due to Pain in Workers: An Ordinal Regression Logistic and Correspondence Analysis.

Background: The evidence for the health benefits of physical activity is growing; however, the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles continues to contribute to the increase in chronic non-communicable diseases. We know that occupational-time physical activity does not provide the same benefits as leisure-time physical activity, which has been shown to reduce mortality and pain. We also know that multiple factors influence pain; however, there are no studies that specifically analyze the impact of type of working time and occupational-time physical activity on the impairment of daily activities due to pain. We aimed to study the influence of both personal and occupational factors on the impairment of daily activities due to pain, assessing whether leisure-time physical activity acts as a protective factor. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based design was used based on the 2017 National Health Survey in Spain (ENSE). Sociodemographic, leisure-time physical activity, and work-related variables were collected. The outcome variable was the impairment of daily activities due to pain. Ordinal logistic regression was applied, and the analysis was complemented with simple correspondence analysis. Results: A total of 1,441 workers between 18 and 65 years of age were studied. Significant differences were found between sexes for all variables except age and leisure-time physical activity. Logistic regression revealed significant associations between sex, primary and secondary education levels, no leisure-time physical activity, and overweight with impairment of daily activities due to pain. Simple correspondence analysis showed that the categories doing leisure-time physical activity several times a week as well as several times a month are closer to the categories of little or no pain. Conclusion: Female gender, low educational level, overweight, and lack of leisure-time physical activity were associated with increases in impairment of daily activities due to pain. Occupational-time physical activity and work shift were not related to impairment of daily activities due to pain. Implications for Occupational Health Practice: Occupational Health Nursing interventions through education and counseling on the importance of leisure-time physical activity promotion programs potentially can reduce the impairment of daily activities due to pain in working populations.

Knowledge, attitude and practice related to anthrax among livestock farmers in West Kazakhstan.

Anthrax is the most prioritized zoonotic disease in Kazakhstan due to its threatening potential to the public health and agricultural sector. Sporadic anthrax outbreaks are being reported annually among human and livestock populations throughout the country, with the highest frequency occurring in West Kazakhstan. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a survey-based face-to-face interview. From January to May 2022, 489 randomly selected participants were surveyed in 6 districts of the Baiterek province in West Kazakhstan oblast to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding anthrax among community members. This is the first KAP study conducted relating to outbreaks of anthrax in Kazakhstan. In this study, most participants (74%) surveyed were males, and 40% of respondents had a secondary level education. Overall, 91% of the community respondents were engaged in agriculture and livestock rearing. Among these community members, cattle rearing was the most common (67%) occupation compared to other livestock species. Additionally, over a 50% of the population studied had no knowledge about the zoonotic nature of the disease, and about 82% and 87% of respondents were unaware of any animal and human anthrax symptoms, respectively. About 70% of the respondents were interested in vaccinating their livestock against anthrax. Individuals aged 45-54 displayed notably higher animal vaccination rates (45%; 95% CI: 38.4-52.0; p<0.025) compared to those aged 25-34 and 65-74. Respondents residing in the Beles district (20%; 95% CI: 17.1-24.7; p<0.005) exhibited a significantly higher level of awareness concerning the fatality of anthrax in contrast to participants from Bolashak. Roughly 61% of respondents held the belief that anthrax is a lethal disease. An overwhelming majority of the survey participants (99%) affirmed their non-participation in the slaughter of infected animals. The findings of this study indicate that KAP among community members relating to anthrax is low and requires swift implementation of education programmes in building awareness of anthrax under the One Health approach, especially in anthrax prone regions.

Educational policy: Strategies for successful implementation of Independent Curriculum in transformational schools secondary education levels

Educational policy: Strategies for successful implementation of Independent Curriculum in transformational schools secondary education levels

Strategies for Resource Management in the Department of Education: A Systematic Review of Efficiency and Effectiveness

This systematic review examines the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department of Education's resource management strategies, with an emphasis on budgetary planning, technological integration, and policy implementation at the elementary, secondary, and higher education levels. Using the PICOS paradigm, the study critically evaluates 39 papers published between 2019 and 2024 that were chosen based on precise inclusion criteria outlined in the report. Efficiency is defined as the ideal allocation and utilization of resources to achieve desired results with little waste, as opposed to effectiveness, which assesses the impact of these strategies on educational quality and stakeholder satisfaction. The analysis focuses on significant results on how strategic resource allocation improves institutional sustainability and academic achievement. This assessment intends to recommend to policymakers, school leaders, and teachers to maximize resource management strategies to accomplish educational goals while improving operational efficiency.

Determinants of Backyard Livestock Farming amongst Households in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

This study analysed the determinants of backyard livestock farming among households in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. The sample size was 166 randomly selected from 6 towns in two local government councils in the FCT, Abuja. Primary and secondary data were used for the study and questionnaire and interview schedules were used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were respectively used to analyse the objectives and hypotheses of the study. Results revealed that the average age, household size and farming experience of respondents was 43.01 years, 7 persons and 10.14 years respectively. Also revealed was the fact that female-dominated backyard livestock farming (76.51%), most (56.63%) of who were married and of secondary school educational level (51.81%). Most (71.69%) of them were into full-time farming and of Christian religion (59.64%). The majority (40.36%) of the farmers realized an annual income level of N100,001 - 200,000 and realized an average income of N194,578.31 on a per annum basis. Several benefits like provision of income (mean = 3.55), source of food to the family (mean = 3.40) and source of savings (mean = 2.87), amongst others were derived from backyard livestock farming. Most of the respondents were favourably disposed to the derived benefits derived from the farming practice even though they were confronted with some challenges like, lack of finance with a mean of 3.16, outbreak of pests and diseases (3.03) and theft (mean = 2.93), amongst others that plagued backyard livestock farming practice. However, socioeconomic variables such as respondents’ gender, age, marital status, education and farming experience were significant variables and related to the annual income earned from the backyard.

Relationship between Past and Present Academic Performance among Undergraduate Medical Students of Bangladesh

Background: Education is one of the most essential factors in producing a human resource &amp; the academic performance becomes important since it is commonly used as a reflection of education. To find out the relationship between past and present academic performance among medical students of Bangladesh. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the relationship between past and present academic performances of the medical students of Bangladesh. A total of 436 student respondents participated in this study from eight purposively selected of Bangladesh those are located at Dhaka and outside Dhaka) from January to December 2022 using a pretested semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. Results: This study find that out of 436 medical students’ majority i. e. 416 (95.4%) students got GPA score 5 and very few i.e. 20 (4.5%) got GPA score &lt;5 in the Secondary School Certificate examination. In Higher School Certificate examination majority i.e. 386 (88.5%) students got GPA score 5 and 50 (11.5%) students got GPA score &lt;5. This study also find that out of 130 responses about the result of first MBBS Professional examination, most of them (92.3%) passed regularly and 7.6% passed irregularly. Out of 83 responses about the result of second MBBS Professional examination, most of them (96.3%) passed regularly and 3.6% passed irregularly. Out of 30 responses about the result of third MBBS Professional examination 100% passed regularly and no irregularly passed was found. In the fourth MBBS Professional examination 50% passed regularly. There was an inverse relationship between the combined scores of Secondary School Certificate examination and Higher School Certificate examination with the result of professional examinations. Conclusion: Academic performance at the secondary education or pre-university college level is generally considered the strongest indicator of academic merit in tertiary education. CME J 2024; 3(2); 16-19

WORK OF CROATIAN LANGUAGE TEACHERS WITH STUDENTS WITH SPECIFIC DIFFICULTIES IN READING AND WRITING

Although teacher competencies are acquired during initial training in faculties of education, among which methodological competencies have a special place, many teachers are not trained to work with students with specific learning difficulties and do not know how to deal with them in the classroom. Research on specific learning difficulties has begun recently as the symptoms of such students have been gradually explored and efforts have been made to adapt teaching methods to each student. The purpose of this paper is to explain the specific learning difficulties - dyslexia and dysgraphia - and to describe the ways in which teachers can work with students who suffer from these difficulties. A survey was conducted to investigate how Croatian language teachers adapt their work to students with reading and writing difficulties. The teachers’ awareness of the students’ difficulties, the way they prepare teaching materials, the use of teaching methods when working with these students, the way they give work instructions, the way they check their knowledge, and effective examples of teaching students with specific reading and writing difficulties were investigated. The sample included 40 Croatian language teachers at primary and secondary level of education. The result are generally satisfactory, and it can be said that teachers’ handling of students with these difficulties in teaching language expression is good, although additional training could improve the quality. Keywords: Croatian language teacher; dysgraphia; dyslexia; language expression teaching; specific learning difficulties

Socio-Economic Implications of Domestic Violence in Thenmaradchi Divisional Secretariat in Jaffna District

Domestic violence against women is one of the most contemporary social issues in Sri Lanka. This study aimed to identify the socioeconomic implications of domestic violence experienced by women. All 107 women were selected in Thenmaradchi Divisional Secretariat. The mixed method research design was undertaken with the help of a questionnaire survey and interviews. The Chi-square for univariate analysis was employed to analyze quantitative data with the usage of SPSS version 21 and qualitative data were analyzed thematically using the thematic analysis. According to the results, Hinduism (98.1%) was the predominant religion and 24.3% of the respondents’ age range was 26-30 years. The majority of the victims (54.2%) were educated up to secondary educational level. Wage labour was the primary livelihood of many women and most of the respondents’ monthly income was less than 20,000 Sri Lankan Rupees. There was a significantly high status between economic domestic violence and the variables including education (p&lt;0.000); occupation (p&lt;0.000) and income (p&lt;0.000). Further, financial instability, low income, financial insecurity, unemployment, debt, poverty, low level of living standards, helplessness, lack of social recognition, and lack of social support were the significant economic and social impacts on women. In addition, stress, fear, tension, low self-esteem, and eating and sleeping disorders were the major psychological impacts on women. Additionally, cultural norms, fear, and stigma often cause women to stay silent about their experiences with abuse. Most of the women used coping mechanisms to cope with their implications. The research concludes that psychological implications were the most severe implication among the participants. This study suggests that vulnerable communities should be identified and services such as counselling and legal aid should be made easily accessible.

Vaccination awareness in adult patients at a tertiary care hospital

Background: As global birth rates decline and life expectancies rise, the geriatric population is rapidly increasing. The growing geriatric population worldwide necessitates improved vaccination awareness among older adults to mitigate the increased risk of infectious diseases due to immunosenescence - the gradual deterioration of the immune system with age. The main objective of our study was to create awareness, explain the benefits of adult vaccination and brief about the CDC recommended vaccinations and their schedules. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study conducted for 3 months on outpatient basis through a pamphlet survey in around 150 patients. Results: 64.6% of patients completed their Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). Secondary level education and out of them 49.3% of them residing in urban areas doesn’t know about adult vaccination. Conclusion: Findings reveal that patients' decisions are influenced by sociocultural factors, access to information, and misconceptions. The results highlight the importance of targeted immunization programs for older adults and implementing National guidelines in a country like India with highest population can prevent vaccine-preventable diseases, reduce healthcare costs, and improve public health outcomes. Enhanced education and healthcare provider engagement are recommended to address vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccination rates among the elderly, especially in underprivileged communities. Keywords: adult vaccination; awareness; immunosenescence

Portable spirometer-based pulmonary function test willingness in China: A nationwide cross-sectional study from the "Happy Breathing Program".

Understanding willingness to undergo pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and the factors associated with poor uptake of PFTs is crucial for improving early detection and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to understand willingness to undergo PFTs among high-risk populations and identify any barriers that may contribute to low uptake of PFTs. We collected data from participants in the "Happy Breathing Program" in China. Participants who did not follow physicians' recommendations to undergo PFTs were invited to complete a survey regarding their willingness to undergo PFTs and their reasons for not undergoing PFTs. We estimated the proportion of participants who were willing to undergo PFTs and examined the various reasons for participants to not undergo PFTs. We conducted univariable and multivariable logistic regressions to analyze the impact of individual-level factors on willingness to undergo PFTs. A total of 8475 participants who had completed the survey on willingness to undergo PFTs were included in this study. Out of these participants, 7660 (90.4%) were willing to undergo PFTs. Among those who were willing to undergo PFTs but actually did not, the main reasons for not doing so were geographical inaccessibility ( n =3304, 43.1%) and a lack of trust in primary healthcare institutions ( n =2809, 36.7%). Among the 815 participants who were unwilling to undergo PFTs, over half ( n = 447, 54.8%) believed that they did not have health problems and would only consider PFTs when they felt unwell. In the multivariable regression, individuals who were ≤54 years old, residing in rural townships, with a secondary educational level, with medical reimbursement, still working, with occupational exposure to dust, and aware of the abbreviation "COPD" were more willing to undergo PFTs. Willingness to undergo PFTs was high among high-risk populations. Policymakers may consider implementing strategies such as providing financial incentives, promoting education, and establishing community-based programs to enhance the utilization of PFTs.