Semi-urban Areas Research Articles

Climate actions on the neighbourhood level—Individual, collective, cultural, and socio-structural factors

This paper takes a multi-perspective approach to understand drivers and barriers of climate action on the neighbourhood level. We start with the assumption that climate actions on the level of citizens are most motivating and promising, when conducted jointly within established social systems like neighbourhoods. A survey implemented in neighbourhoods (3 in Austria, 2 in Norway, 2 in Italy, 2 in Finland). The neighbourhoods were partly in rural communities (4) and partly in urban or semi-urban areas (5). In total, 1.084 answers were retained between summer 2022 and summer 2023. The impact of factors from the different perspectives on the self-reported number of implemented climate actions were tested in a stepwise structural-equation-modelling-approach. The analyses show that intentions to act both on the individual and collective level impact climate actions as represented by behaviour in four domains (travel, diet, protest, and general climate action) implemented by citizens in the neighbourhoods, but individual intentions are more important. In addition, local cultural aspects have an impact on climate action, as indicated by the two extremely rural Finnish neighbourhoods being different on many variables. On the socio-structural level, males and households with younger children report less climate action, whereas larger households in general and people with university degree report more. Intentions to act individually are mostly determined by perceived individual efficacy and attitudes, but also selected cultural and socio-structural factors. Collective intentions to act depend on the social capital in the neighbourhood, collective efficacy, and social norms, as well as selected socio-structural and cultural factors. Concluding, this paper emphasises that in order to understand and stimulate climate-related action of citizens, the individual, collective, cultural and socio-structural factors must be taken into account and that the level of neighbourhoods, where everyday action takes place, is a relevant unit of analysis to do so.

An Assessment of the Level of Infrastructural Provisions in the Existing Farmhouses in Greater Yola

Farmhouses are integral component of agricultural practice all across Nigeria. This is owing to the fact that most of these activities are carries out in semi urban or rural areas. The quality of farmhouses and the level of infrastructural provisions available in farm settlements are factors that will enhance or inhibit effective agricultural practice in Greater Yola. This paper seeks to assess the level of infrastructural provision in the study area in order to proffer suggestions that would promote the practice agriculture thereto. Ten farmhouses were randomly selected from the study area, seven of which were found to be Large Plantation Farm Type and three were Small Owners or Latent Farm settlements. Check list was used in generating data about the availability of infrastructural provisions in each of the farmhouses, and the study reveals that most of the farmhouses were not built in line the standards and quality of modern farmhouses, while some large plantation farm type have considerable infrastructural provisions, the small owner or latent farm type do not have them, this is likely affecting agricultural practice negatively. It is therefore recommended among others that efforts should be geared towards improving the quality of farmhouses as well as increasing infrastructural provision in order to encourage agricultural practice in Greater Yola.

Constraint Analysis and Suggestion of Respondents Regarding Dairy Management Practices in Semi-Urban and Rural Areas

India needs to increase milk production which can be possible by narrowing down the gap between the existing technology and their adoption. Ensuring domestic demand and enduring top most position in the world, India needs to produce 300-400 million tones of milk by 2050 (Vision 2050, 2015). The dairy is a business which provides the continuous source of income to the occupants and in case of landless person who are economically week, livestock farming is a better option. The research was based on a survey done in 2022-23 to analyzing constraint and suggestion of respondents regarding dairy management practices in semi-urban and rural areas of Fatehpur district in Uttar Pradesh. 15 respondents from each selected semi-urban and rural villages were randomly selected to constitute 120 samples (60 semi-urban + 60 rural). The perceived constraints have been studies under different aspects like: personal constraints, economical constraints, technological constraints and marketing constraints. The semi-urban respondents has perceived most serious type constraints viz., lack of poor economic condition of farmers, dysfunctional of animal insurance schemes, A.I. and BAIF centers are away from the village, lack of remunerative milk prices. Whereas rural respondents has perceived most serious type constraints viz., lack of interest of other family members, veterinary medicines are very costly for treatment of sick animals, A.I. and BAIF centers are away from the village, poor transportation also affects adversity in proper disposal of milk products. Suggestions as perceived by semi-urban respondents viz., ‘educational programmes regarding cattle breeds improvement for higher milk production should be initiated’ was ranked first whether in case of rural dairy farmers ‘government must provide marketing facilities at village level for selling the milk and milk products’ was ranked first.

Screening for Frailty According to Rural and Suburban Health Areas in the Context of Adapted Integrated Care for Older People Approach: The FRAGING Study.

The integrated care for older people (ICOPE) program, developed by the World Health Organization, serves as a public health initiative to maintain older adults' functional abilities and promote healthier aging. Here, we adapted the ICOPE approach to assess overall prevalence of frailty in rural and semi-urban areas. We also investigated health-related quality of life and physical activity and sedentary behavior in older people. The FRAGING multicenter cohort study was performed on screening days dedicated to older adults (≥65 years) without chronic disease in a rural area (RU) and in a semi-urban area (SU). The study included a total of 105 participants: 98.4% of participants were frail, with a mean of 4.3 [SD:2.5] frailties per participant. RU participants had higher number of frailties (p = 0.02) and a higher percentage of frail participants in the dimensions of health-related quality of life (p<0.0001), socioeconomical level (p = 0.008), colorectal cancer screening (p = 0.022), and tetanus booster doses (p = 0.008). Globally, women were less sedentary than men (p = 0.02) and engaged more in low physical activity (LPA) than men (p = 0.01). RU participants engaged more in LPA than SU participants (p = 0.03). The prevalence of frailty is alarmingly underestimated in older adults without chronic disease. This study demonstrated the need to propose appropriate, validated screening tests that consider territorial issues and organization of care delivery. The ICOPE framework serves as a good startpoint for reorganizing person-centered healthcare pathways.

Understanding public health risk from unsafe dry fish consumption in Bangladesh.

Dried fish holds a significant place in the Bangladeshi diet particularly for people living in coastal regions. However, there is a growing concern regarding its adverse effects on human health, as it contains high levels of illegal preservatives, heavy metals, and other harmful substances. In this study, we aimed to explore the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding health hazards due to unsafe dried fish consumption among people across the country. We conducted a cross-sectional study among consumers to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices about the health risks associated with consuming hazardous dried fish. We interviewed a total of 415 participants, of whom 52.8% were male; the majority were students (55.9%), aged between 18 and 30 years (63.9%), and living in urban areas (81.7%). Most of the participants (60.7%) had less accurate knowledge of the health hazards of unsafe dry fish, 92.8% had more positive attitudes to buying safe dry fish, and 26.8% used unsafe dry fish more frequently. Many respondents were unaware of the presence of harmful substances in dried fish, such as illegal pesticides (66.5%), microplastics (77.6%), and heavy metals (67.4%). A significant number of participants (13%) reported that they had a history of cancer in any of their family members. Many individuals (57.4%) were not familiar with the proper storage and preparation methods of dry fish. The majority of participants (81.4%) strongly prefer packed dried fish. Most of the respondents (67.7%) agreed to participate in awareness programs. Female consumers were more likely to have more accurate knowledge (AOR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.03-2.29, p = 0.0.37) than males, and participants whose present residence were in rural were more likely to have accurate knowledge (AOR = 2.64; 95% CI = 1.30-5.36, p = 0.007) than those whose present residence were in urban or semi-urban areas. A targeted education campaign focused on improving awareness of the risks associated with eating unsafe dry fish is needed, particularly in coastal areas.

Rehabilitation Potential Among Institutionalised Homeless Persons with Mental Illness during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: To assess the rehabilitation potential and social well-being among homeless persons with mental illness. Methods: The study utilised quantitative methodology to assess rehabilitation potential and social well-being. It was conducted at Udayam Shelter Home, Kozhikode, Kerala. The district administration initiated the Udayam Project in Kozhikode to rehabilitate destitute individuals rescued from the streets during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in March 2020 and to provide shelter across various camps in the district. The researcher prepared a rehabilitation potential checklist, validated by experts, and a standardised scale was used to assess social well-being. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data analysis. Ethical clearance was obtained from the NIMHANS Institute's ethics committee. Results: Over one-third (40%) of the participants were older adults aged above 60 years. All the participants in the study were male. The homeless women identified as needing care and protection were shifted to other centres due to the lack of facilities at the Udayam shelter care home. Previous occupational status revealed that before coming to the rehabilitation centre, most respondents were employed as unskilled labourers. They included daily wagers, lottery sellers, and helpers in hotels and restaurants. Others were skilled labourers, including masons, carpenters, and electricians. Most respondents were from urban and semi-urban areas. Homeless persons with mental illness (HPMI) with mood disorders exhibited better social well-being compared to those with other diagnoses. HPMI diagnosed with psychosis were reported to have very little social actualisation compared to others.

Policies for sufficiency: factors influencing acceptance in the Swiss population

Adopting strategies for sufficiency is crucial to meeting climate and sustainability objectives. However, this requires a societal shift which depends on favorable framework conditions pertaining to infrastructure, incentives, regulations, and social and cultural values. Sufficiency policies are essential for influencing and creating such conditions and acceptance by the affected population are important. This article presents two related studies that investigated the acceptance levels of policies supporting sufficiency among the Swiss population and the factors influencing this acceptance. The first study involved a quantitative survey of 834 individuals to assess acceptance of ten policy measures at national and communal levels. The second study entailed interviews with 15 individuals with the same sociodemographic criteria as a critical subgroup identified in the quantitative survey, namely respondents with little environmental affinity, with a low or medium level of education, and from rural or semi-urban areas, and considered on an in-depth basis three of the ten policy measures: the real price of meat, the potential of reduced working hours, and the ban on fossil-fuel powered cars. We further discussed the obstacles and drivers associated with each of these measures with seven experts from relevant fields, leading to recommendations on increasing their acceptance. The findings show that sufficiency policy can gain public support if implemented equitably and seen as effective by the population. When implementing such measures, it is essential to consider fairness and evaluate compensation strategies. Avoiding consideration of sufficiency measures is not advisable and it is crucial to build on existing favorable assessments and counter misleading perceptions with specific arguments and positive framings.

Analytical Examination of the Nutritional Status of Drinking Water Resources: A First Case Application in Africa

Water quality assessment is crucial for public and ecosystem health, yet traditional approaches often overlook the nutritional aspects of drinking water. This study introduces the Drinking Water Nutritional Quality Index (DWNQI) to Africa, presenting its first application in the continent. The research evaluated the nutritional status of drinking water resources in semi-urban areas of Southeast Nigeria, shifting from a contaminant-focused paradigm. Water samples were strategically collected from various drinking water sources. Five key elements (Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+) that play crucial roles in both human health and environmental processes were considered. The DWNQI model revealed a concerning nutritional trend, with DWNQI scores ranging from 9.76 to 78.54 (average 32.02). The analysis showed that 73.33% of samples fell within the “Poor” category, 13.33% in “Marginal,” 6.67% in “Fair,” and 6.67% in “Good” categories, with no samples reaching the excellent range, indicating a low nutritional water quality trend in the area. Sensitivity analysis reveal that Mg2+and Ca2+ exerted the most influence on the DWNQI scores for the studied water samples. Removal of Mg2+ from the index resulted in a 23.77% decrease in the average DWNQI score, while removal of Ca2+ led to a 23.42% decrease. Key recommendations include implementing targeted mineral enrichment programs and developing public health initiatives to address potential mineral deficiencies. This research contributes to environmental sustainability and public health by providing a new perspective of water quality, potentially informing water management policies and guiding public health interventions in African settings and beyond.

A Primary focus on progress of Small Finance Banks in India

Financial inclusion has been the focus of the policies of the Reserve Bank of India since 2005-06. Along with various initiatives of the Government of India, the RBI approved the setting up of differentiated banking namely Payments Bank (PB) and Small Finance Banks (SFB). SFBs are niche banks set up to undertake basic banking activities for the unserved and underprivileged sections of the population. SFBs mainly cater to the sections like small business units, micro and small enterprises, small and marginal farmers, and the unorganized sector. This paper focus on the progress of SFBs in India in terms of the number of banking outlets, regional spread, population spread and growth of business of Small Finance Banks over the years. It was found that since their establishment, over the period of seven years, there has been considerable expansion of SFB branches with a wider regional spread and substantial increase in their volume of business. Towards the end of the study period it was also found that more SFB branches were set up in semi-urban and rural areas. The preliminary examination of SFBs suggests that they are progressing in the right direction as envisaged in the objectives behind setting them up.

A Review on Determination of Efficiency of Soil Parameters Below Multi-Storied Building

Abstract: The construction of high-rise structures is widely utilized in urban and semi-urban areas of developed and developing countries. These tall structures, including residential apartments, commercial, and semi-commercial spaces, are characterized by their efficient use of construction area relative to their footprint. During the structural analysis stage, significant characteristics such as vertical load, horizontal load, superstructure design, and foundation design are considered. However, prior to this stage, the larger construction area is planned by architecture. It is essential that this preliminary selection not only considers structural design configurations but also incorporates soil parameters, which should be assessed beforehand. This paper presents a review of past research on the aforementioned topics and draws conclusions based on the reviews. It is concluded that the location parameter, determined based on soil investigation reports, should be prioritized for the selection of the construction area's optimal Soil Bearing Capacity (SBC), ensuring the suitability of the soil for structural performance.

Social patterning of health misinformation in two Eastern Mediterranean populations

Abstract Background Health misinformation, the spread of false or misleading information relevant to health, has been proposed as a major global public health thread by the WHO. We aimed to identify the major social determinants of health misinformation in the general Greek and Cypriot populations. Methods Following proportional quota sampling we recruited a nationwide sample of 585 adults from Greece and Cyprus between January 2022 and May 2023. A newly developed, culturally adopted questionnaire comprising 48 items, was used to assess misinformation on COVID-19 vaccines and the pandemic. Sociodemographic determinants of interest included gender, age, marital status, area of residence, educational attainment, and income. Multiple linear regression was used to determine associations between the aforementioned social factors and the two dimensions of health misinformation, applying mutual adjustment. Results Misinformation about both vaccination and the pandemic was higher in younger age groups (p-trend 0.026 and 0.007, respectively), among those separated, divorced, or widowed (mean difference, 95% CI compared to those single: 9.73, 0.45, 19.01), and among those living in semi-urban compared to urban areas (11.14, 1.32; 20.97 and 9.44, 1.96; 16.92, respectively). We also detected strong inverse socioeconomic gradients in health misinformation based on educational attainment and income (p-trend &amp;lt;0.001, for both). Conclusions Younger individuals, those living alone, those residing in semi-urban areas, and those with lower educational attainment and income are particularly prone to health misinformation. Our adjusted models show that this social phenomenon is not simply explained by differences in education, hence more complex, cultural, political, perceptual, and psychosocial dynamics might be in place. Addressing the social patterning of health misinformation would help manage the issue more effectively and also reduce health inequalities. Key messages • Health misinformation is strongly socially patterned in two Eastern Mediterranean European populations. • Targeting efforts to tackle health misinformation to those more vulnerable, would render such programmes more effective, also helping reduce social inequalities in health.

Challenges and Problems of Rural Entrepreneurship in India

Rural entrepreneurship is now a significant possibility for those who relocate from rural or semi-urban areas to urban settings. On the contrary, it is also true that the majority of rural businesses face numerous challenges due to a lack of essential amenities in rural parts of developing countries such as India. Lack of education, financial constraints, limited technical and conceptual competence, and other factors make it difficult for rural entrepreneurs to create industries in remote areas. This paper makes an attempt to find out the Problems and Challenges for the of Rural Entrepreneurship. It also focuses on the major problems faced by rural entrepreneurs especially in the fields of Marketing of products, financial amenities and other primary amenities, i.e. availability of electricity, water supply, transport facilities and required energy etc

Different Food Coping Strategies in Urban and Semi-urban Areas During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Consumption-related behavior implemented as an effort to maintain household food security is referred to as a food coping strategy (FCS). This study aims to describe the selection of FCS by families in urban and semi-urban areas in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research is a cross-sectional study with a total sample of 517 people who live in urban (Jakarta) and semi-urban (Depok) areas. The research data was taken from primary research data that had been collected online and purposively through Posyandu cadres who had access to family/community in October-December 2020. Data analysis used the chi-square test and multiple logistic regression. Results of multivariate analysis showed that the level of household food security (AOR = 12.182; 95% CI = 7.636 – 19.434) and spouse's education (AOR = 2.184; 95% CI = 1.091 – 4.375) were significantly related to the application of household FCS. Food insecured household had 12 times higher risk of implementing FCS than food secured household. Spouse with low education had 2 times higher risk of implementing FCS. Household food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic caused households to implementing several types of FCS. Special attention is needed for food insecured households as not to apply extreme coping strategies, such as not eating at all.

Modelling and forecasting mobile money customer transaction volumes in rural and semi-urban Malawi: An autoregressive integrated moving average spatial decomposition

Mobile money technologies in Malawi have revolutionised banking and monetary transactions across geographical barriers. Prospects of profit have drawn mobile money agents to invest in the business but find it is more profitable when substantial customers subscribe to the cash-in and cash-out facilities of mobile money. Despite the initial success, several challenges have emerged, including regulatory hurdles, network reliability issues, and the need for increased financial literacy among users. The volumes of transactions in the rural areas are observably lower compared to urban areas. This study uses Bvumbwe township in Malawi to model and forecast the discrepancy of mobile money transactions in rural and semi-urban Malawi. The study uses ARIMA modelling to understand the temporal manifestation of mobile money subscription in these localities. Using ARMA (1,1) models decomposed for the semi-urban and rural area, the study finds that the semi-urban area has a disproportionately higher and lasting volume of mobile money transactions compared to the rural area. The study also finds that mobile money transactions are more susceptible to long-lasting effects of external shocks in the rural area compared to the urban area. Intuitively, the day-to-day relationship in the transactions is also stronger in the rural area. These findings highlight the need for tailored policy interventions to enhance mobile money adoption and utilization in different geographical contexts.

Investigating soil physicochemical factors influencing trace element contamination at the semi-urban-rural home gardening interfaces on the Fiji Islands

Due to its ecological and public health implications, home gardening soil pollution is challenging. However, the physicochemical factors of trace element pollution in semi-urban-rural home gardening soil interfaces in Fiji are unclear. Self-organizing map (SOM), chemometrics, compositional data analysis (CDA), and soil quality indices were used to evaluate spatial patterns, contamination characteristics, sources, and factors affecting trace element contamination in 55 soil samples from semi-urban and rural Fiji. The average contents of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable forms of trace element levels (mg/kg) increased in rural areas as Fe (55.7) > Mn (40.4) > Zn (9.4) > Cu (5.9) and semi-urban areas as Fe (55.2) > Zn (35.9) > Mn (37.1) > Cu (16.1). Rural soils have less ecological risks to home gardening than semi-urban soils. SOM and CDA analysis showed four spatial clusters: clusters 1 and 3 are natural geogenic in rural regions while clusters 2 and 4 are human-induced non-point sources in semi-urban areas. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis showed that semi-urban Cu-Zn was more affected by manufacturing emissions or fertilization, whereas rural Fe-Mn was more likely to be lithogenic. The research found that pH and organic matter significantly affect Cu and Zn pollution in semi-urban soils (p < 0.05). For rural and semi-urban soils, trace element subsets explained 44 %–87 % of soil contamination changes using the stepwise regression model. These findings aid to establishing a primary database of eco-environmental risks and facilitate comprehensive strategies for assessing soil contamination and potential threats to food safety.

Reduced mother-to-child transmission rates of HIV between 2017 and 2020 in Kenya. What changed?

In 205 health facilities, mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rates were reduced from 7.4% to 2.1% between 2017 and 2020, respectively. To determine characteristics that potentially correlate to the change in MTCT rates between two time points. Study was conducted in Kenya, semi-urban and rural areas. A retrospective, cross-sectional, exploratory analysis of programme implementation at two points in time (2017 and 2020). Between 2017 and 2020, we compared over 170 mother-infant pairs where MTCT occurred to over 6000 mother-infant pairs where MTCT did not occur through the following factors: (1) location of health facilities, (2) mother and infant characteristics, (3) access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and (4) viral load suppression. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with MTCT. Factors significantly associated with reduced MTCT rates were time points, mother's age, infant age at first test, proportions of mothers receiving ART, and maternal viral load. When restricting the analysis to the sub-counties contributing data at both time points, the results were similar; however, counties' location became significant in the updated model, as did the interaction term for mother and infant receipt of antiretrovirals (odds ratio [OR]: 0.228; p = 0.04). What changed between 2017 and 2020 is a higher proportion of pregnant women living with HIV received ART. Also, unlike in 2017, in 2020, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate was the backbone of the ART regimen for the prevention of MTCT. The findings can potentially inform efforts on elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Hesperetin-7-rutinoside mitigates erythrocyte dyslipidemia and oxidative stress induced by dichlorvos

In many rural and semi-urban areas of Nigeria, dichlorvos (DDVP) is a commonly utilized pesticide. However, it provokes remarkable health hazards, including erythrocyte toxicity. Hesperetin-7-rutinoside (Hesp-7-Rut), a citrus flavanone glycoside with antioxidant, anti-dyslipidemia and acetylcholinesterase-modulating properties has been investigated for its protective effects against various xenobiotic-mediated toxicities. This inquiry probed the chemotherapeutic role of Hesp-7-Rut in mitigating erythrocyte damage in rats. Forty-two rats were randomly `apportioned into seven groups (6 rats/group): control, DDVP alone (8 mg.kg⁻¹day⁻¹), DDVP + Hesp-7-Rut (50 mg.kg⁻¹day⁻¹), DDVP + Hesp-7-Rut (100 mg.kg⁻¹day⁻¹), DDVP + atropine (0.2 mg.kg⁻¹day⁻¹), Hesp-7-Rut only (50 mg.kg⁻¹day⁻¹), and Hesp-7-Rut only (100 mg.kg⁻¹day⁻¹). Rats were orally administered DDVP for 7 days followed by Hesp-7-Rut or atropine for another 14 days. Blood samples were collected to assess for biochemical assays. Hesp-7-Rut significantly (p < 0.05) rescinded DDVP-prompted increases in erythrocyte nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, cholesterol, phospholipids, and cholesterol: phospholipids ratio. Additionally, Hesp-7-Rut reversed DDVP-elicited decreases in red blood cell glutathione levels, activities of GST, SOD, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and acetylcholinesterase. Overall, Hesp-7-Rut efficiently counteracts DDVP-elicited erythrocyte dysfunction by mitigating oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition. These findings highlight the potential of Hesp-7-Rut as a promising therapeutic agent for mitigating the harmful effects of DDVP exposure.

Perceived social, economic, environmental and health effects of solid waste management practices in logia town, afar, ethiopia

Improper solid waste management in urban and semi-urban areas has led to adverse impacts on the environment, public health, and the economic well-being of communities. Therefore, this study analyzes the status of household solid waste management practices and their effects in Logia Town, Afar, Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, the study utilizes both descriptive and econometric models (binary logistic regression model). The descriptive results of the study revealed that there is general awareness of the importance of solid waste management (SWM) and its impact on the environment, economy, and human health among the respondents. Regarding respondents’ attitudes, the majority of households understand the responsibility of proper waste disposal and its impact. However, in terms of solid waste management practices, 80% of households do not properly segregate their waste, 59.3% do not separate solid waste (SW) before disposal, and 74% of households engage in improper disposal practices. About 95.9% of respondents were aware that improper waste management can lead to diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, and cholera. Around 65% of the sampled households considered solid waste as a source of wealth, and, as a result, 56% of them reuse, recycle, and reduce waste. This indicates that solid waste has economic value for society. Regarding the environmental impact of SW, about 89% of respondents argued that SW adversely affects the environment by polluting rivers, lakes, wells, and air. This environmental impact negatively affects the well-being and economic status of the community. The binary logistic regression model found that having adequate solid waste landfills, access to door-to-door solid waste collection, knowledge of SWM rules and regulations, treating waste as a resource, and understanding the 3Rs (recycle, reuse, reduce) had positive and significant effects on the adoption of proper solid waste management practices in the study area. Therefore, to reduce undesirable effects and improve the value of SW, the relevant authorities should provide adequate solid waste landfills and door-to-door collection services, create awareness about SWM rules and regulations, and promote knowledge of the 3Rs.

Estimation of human airway deposition of size-segregated particulate and their health impact in monsoon and post-monsoon season in semi-urban area of northern India

Numerous studies have shown the negative association between Particulate Matter (PM) exposure and health impact, understanding this risks associated with PM exposure for generating appropriate risk-control strategies, an accurate evaluation of PM concentration and respiratory deposition is necessary. So, the present study aims to describe the temporal and diurnal variation of Particulate Matter and Black Carbon concentrations, as well as their health risks. Real-time monitoring of PM and BC was conducted near a national highway (NH-19) in the semi-urban area. Our findings indicated that the washout effect played its role in reducing the PM level in monsoon season while meteorological parameters, local anthropogenic activities, and stubble-burning influenced the high PM concentration in the post-monsoon season. The current study also estimates the particle deposition in the human respiratory tract using Multiple Path Dosimetry Model (MPPD) for understanding the health effects of particle inhalation. The results revealed that different seasons exhibit different deposition patterns. For example, during the monsoon season, the trend was PM10>PM2.5>PM1.0 while in post-monsoon season PM2.5 >PM10 > PM1.0 respectively. The findings indicate that small particles easily deposited deeper into the lungs have a significant impact on various age groups, particularly children, who are the most affected. Furthermore, the health risks of PM and BC exceeded the safer limit (HQ = 1) and ELCR≥10−6, suggesting prolonged inhalation exposure to particulate could lead to cancer. The present study will give an insight into designing interventions and policies to control PM pollution in smaller cities, where a significant portion of the population resides.

Purchasing Power as a Major Determinant of Food Security in Rural and Semi-Urban Areas: A South African Household Experience

This study examined the complex role religion plays in both promoting and ending sexual and gender-based violence against women in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana. While major religious traditions emphasize equality and non-violence, certain interpretations of religious texts and cultural traditions have enabled patriarchal norms that subjugate women. Qualitative data from interviews with 18 respondents across Christian, Muslim, and traditional African religious communities revealed ongoing oppressive practices like forced marriage and early marriage of young girls, divorce, physical abuse such as wife battering, sexual abuse, and victim-blaming. However, religious institutions are increasingly initiating efforts to combat this violence through advocacy, education, counselling services, and partnerships with civil society groups. While these initiatives exist, significant challenges remain in transforming deeply entrenched sociocultural norms that enable violence against women. These initiatives demonstrate how religious institutions can leverage their moral authority to transform sociocultural norms enabling violence against women. The study highlights the need for sustained engagement with religious communities, reinterpretation of doctrine promoting gender equality, and collaborative efforts across sectors to eliminate this pervasive human rights issue. Harnessing the influential role of religion through a progressive, rights-based approach is crucial for addressing sexual and gender-based violence in the Tamale Metropolis and similar contexts. By delving into this intricate dynamic within the context of the Tamale Metropolis in Ghana, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how religious beliefs, interpretations, and institutions can either perpetuate or combat this form of violence. Keywords: Sexual Violence, Gender, Religion, Tamale Metropolis, Ghana