Occupational Services Research Articles

In or out of reach? Long-term trends in the reach of health assessments in the Swedish occupational setting.

This study aimed to investigate the reach of a large-scale health assessment delivered by the occupational health service in Sweden for almost 30 years. A total of 418 286 individuals who participated in a health assessment (Health Profile Assessment, HPA) between 1995-2021 were included. A comparative sample was obtained from Statistics Sweden, comprising the entire working population for each year (4 962 127-6 011 829 unique individuals per time period). Sociodemographic and work organization characteristics were compared between the HPA and comparative population for six different periods. Under- and overrepresented groups in the private and public sectors were identified using the most recent data (2015-2021). With negative per cent indicating underrepresentation, the most notable changes over time in representation in the HPA population compared to the comparative were observed for women (-1.2% to -12.8%), private sector employees (-9.4% to 14.9%), individuals with ≥3 years of employment (14.5% to 0.9%), in personal care (0.8% to -8.8%) and manufacturing (0.7% to 6.4%) occupations. Consistently overrepresented groups (median representation across periods) included individuals who had a single income source (6.3%) and were middle-aged (10.8%), born in Sweden (5.9%), associate professionals (8.7%), and employed in companies with high operating profit (17.9%) and low staff turnover (14.3%). Conversely, individuals with low income (-34.0%) and employed in small companies/organizations (-10.9%) were consistently underrepresented. Middle-aged women in education occupations were most underrepresented in the public sector, while in the private sector, it was young women in service and shop sales occupations. This health assessment has reached many professionals, including hard-to-reach groups, but did not fully represents the Swedish workforce throughout the years.

Estimated prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea by occupation and industry in England: a descriptive study.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can induce excessive sleepiness, causing work-related injuries and low productivity. Most individuals with OSA in the United Kingdom are undiagnosed, and thus, theoretically, workplace screening, might by identifying these individuals improve both their individual health and overall productivity. However, the prevalence of OSA in different workplaces is unclear. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of OSA by industries and occupations in England. The Health Survey for England 2019 dataset was combined with Sleep Heart Health Study dataset. We applied multiple imputation for the combined dataset to estimate OSA in the English population aged 40-64. We estimated the pooled prevalence of OSA by both industry and occupation by separating samples by Standard Industry Classification and Standard Occupation Classification. The overall OSA prevalence estimated by imputation for ages 40-64 was 17.8% (95% CI=15.9% to 19.9%). Separating those samples into industrial/occupational groups, the estimated prevalence of OSA varied widely by industry/occupation. Descriptive analysis revealed that the estimated prevalence of OSA was relatively higher in the Accommodation and food, Public administration and defence; compulsory social security, Construction industries, and Protective service occupations, health and social care associate professionals, and skilled construction and building trades occupations. In England in 2019, Accommodation and food, Public administration and defence; compulsory social security, Construction industries, and Protective service occupations, health and social care associate professionals, and skilled construction and building trades occupations showed a relatively higher prevalence of OSA indicating that they may be target populations for workplace screening.

Association between frailty and main work during the LIFE: A cross-sectional analysis of the UK Biobank

BackgroundThe role of main work during the life course in predicting frailty, a typical geriatric syndrome, is still largely unknown. Therefore, with this research, we aimed to investigate the potential association between the main work done during the life with frailty and pre-frailty among participants 60 years and older of the UK Biobank study. MethodsFrailty and pre-frailty presence were ascertained using a model including 5 indicators (weakness, slowness, weight loss, low physical activity, and exhaustion); the main employment status was ascertained using self-reported information. The association between frailty and main work was explored using an ordinal logistic regression model and reported as odds ratios (ORs) with their 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). ResultsThe final sample comprised a total of 50,447 individuals (mean age: 64.2 years, females: 50.2 %). Individuals with higher qualifications had a reduced risk of frailty (OR = 0.881, 95%CI = 0.83–0.95, p-value<0.001 for pre-frail and OR = 0.681, 95%CI = 0.63–0.73, p-value<0.001 for frail) compared to those with lower qualifications. Moreover, active participation in the workforce, compared to being inactive, emerged as a protective factor from frailty (OR = 0.753, 95%CI = 0.70–0.81, p-value<0.001). The categories of Associate Professional and Technical Occupations exhibited protective effects against both pre-frailty and frailty. Similarly, occupations categorized as Professional and Management demonstrated protective effects against pre-frailty and frailty when compared to Elementary Occupations. Additionally, engagement in Trades and Services occupations, as opposed to Elementary Occupations, appeared to be protective against frailty. ConclusionsIn this large cross-sectional investigation based on the data of the UK Biobank we found that work during lifetime could be an important factor in determining frailty later in life.

A Revisionist History Approach to the Study of Emotional Labor: Have We Forgotten Display Rules and Service Contexts?

We take a revisionist approach to study emotional labor—commoditization of emotions for a wage—to delineate how organizational scholars must “revive and resubmit” two crucial elements of the emotional labor phenomenon that have been left behind as research within this space evolved. First, we argue that scholars have not paid enough recent attention to display rules that prescribe what emotions are acceptable within service interactions, instead assuming classic conceptualizations (i.e. show positive emotions and hide negative emotions) still prevail. Second, we highlight that the shift away from service occupations to more white-collar occupations may have minimized our understanding of the complexity of emotional labor in modern service arrangements, such as multiple job holders, and employees in the gig economy. We hope that future emotional labor scholarship will dig into several taken-for-granted assumptions about the phenomenon moving forward to help “go back to the basics” regarding display rules of those in service work.

Effects of generative AI on service occupations with social interaction

Effects of generative AI on service occupations with social interaction

Illegitimate work tasks: an investigation of psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the BITS instrument and its suitability in human versus ‘non-human’ service occupations

BackgroundIllegitimate tasks, i.e. working tasks that are perceived as unnecessary or unreasonable, are commonly measured by the Bern Illegitimate Tasks Scale (BITS). Despite a growing research attention paid to illegitimate tasks, the Swedish version of BITS needs yet to be properly evaluated. Moreover, previous multiorganizational studies in this field have taken for granted, without really testing it, that the instrument functions invariantly in different contexts; a prerequisite for meaningful comparisons.MethodsTwo occupational groups that differs hugely—966 human services workers (teachers and registered nurses) and 750 non-’human service’ workers (construction and IT-workers) were targeted utilizing questionnaires data collected 2018 within the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) study. Psychometric properties, i.e., reliability, dimensionality, and measurement invariance between the occupations were examined using confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation models. Also, the associations between the two dimensions of illegitimate tasks and job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion, respectively, were tested.ResultsGood reliability was supported and two- versus one-dimensionality showed better psychometric properties. Partial scalar measurement invariance was satisfactory supported with only 25% relaxed constraints of equal intercepts between groups. Examining the two subdimensions revealed different associations with emotional exhaustion, where the associations was more substantial for unreasonable tasks. Nevertheless, the findings point to potential improvements for future investigation.ConclusionsThis study shows that the Swedish version of BITS is working satisfactory and allows for meaningful comparisons of occupational groups. Furthermore, construct validity of the two dimensions was corroborated.

Modelling Transformation of Communities by Public Universities in Post Conflict Northern Uganda Using Economic and Demographic factors

Scarcity of knowledge exists on how economic and demographic factors of surrounding communities influence the capacity of universities to transform them. This study examines the dimensions that contribute to community transformation in the context of the community surrounding Gulu University in post-conflict northern Uganda and the economic and demographic factors of the surrounding community that influence their transformation by Gulu University. The study employed a cross-sectional research design with a sample of 390 households. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on household economic and demographic factors and data on dimensions of community transformation. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the contributions of the dimensions of community transformation, while logistic regression model was employed to determine economic and demographic factors that influence community transformation by Gulu University. The independent variables tested in the economic and demographic categories included age, gender, household size, occupation, alternative income, savings, credit, remittances, and education, while transformation formed the dependent variable. Findings revealed that the economic, physical, political and spiritual dimensions contribute more to the transformation of the community surrounding Gulu University, while the economic and demographic factors that had a significant influence on community transformation included occupation in civil service, business, and commercial farming (P=.004); and the level of education (P=0.044). The study concludes that the economic, physical, political and spiritual dimensions with their associated variables contributed more to community transformation. These can be used by other related studies to measure community transformation by universities in the context of developing countries. Furthermore, policies need to focus more on supporting the improvement of the business environment to promote commercial farming and university education since they have a higher multiplier effect on community transformation. Consequently, community members need to focus on business, harness commercial farming and achieve university level of education

1인 가구 특성이 주택점유에 미치는 영향

Single-person households are closely associated with the social issue of housing poverty. The purpose of this study is to present policy alternatives for addressing the challenges faced by single-person households by examining the influence of socio-economic and locational characteristics on occupancy patterns. The results of this study are as follows. The results of the binary logistic regression analysis are as follows. The results revealed that bereavement, increased management costs, residing in the Seoul metropolitan area, being employed in labor, sales, or service occupations, living in officetels or one-room apartments, and owning a car showed statistically significant associations with self-probability. Ragarding of regional characteristics, it was observed that the closer people reside to the metropolitan area, the higher the probability of leasing. Specifically, Gyeonggi-do Province has a higher likelihood of leasing than Seoul. This suggests that tenants may be moving to Gyeonggi Province due to the steep monthly rent increase in Seoul, which they cannot afford. Based on the results of this study, housing support measures and policy implications are presented. The younger generation requires priority housing support measures compared to other generations to address the low birth rate. During a period of continuous increase in housing prices and rents, it is essential to implement housing support measures to prevent involuntary displacement from current residences.

Working Hours, Shift, and Remote Work by Industry and Occupation in U.S. Full-time Workers.

This study examines working hours, shift work, and remote work patterns by occupation and industry among U.S. full-time workers, along with the association between working and sleeping hours. Utilizing data from 2011 to 2020 American Time Use Survey, this national household survey examines how individuals aged 15 years or older in the United States spend their time within a 24-hour period. In 2011 to 2019, U.S. full-time workers averaged 8.1 hours of work and 7.8 hours spent sleep on workdays, increasing to 9.6 hours on non-workdays. Among all occupations, Emergency medical technicians and paramedics had the longest average working hours (10.4 hours). Protective services occupations had the highest percentage (41.7%) of workers reporting often working shifts other than daytime. Among all industries, truck transportation industry had the longest average working hours (9.2). Food services and drinking places industries had the highest percentage (28.6%) of workers reporting often working shifts other than daytime. Working hours showed a negative association with sleeping hours. In 2020, 34.0% of full-time workers reported remote work due to COVID-19, with the largest percentage (72.3%) occurring in business and financial operations. The study findings offer essential benchmarks for comparing working hours and schedules across diverse occupations and industries. These insights empower occupational health practitioners to advocate for prevention measures, addressing health concerns arising from prolonged working hours and shift work.

Disparities in sleep duration and quality by industry of employment and occupational class among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders and non-Hispanic Whites in the United States

ObjectiveTo investigate disparities in the work-sleep relationship between Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) and non-Hispanic (NH)-White populations. MethodsUsing data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults (n = 20,828) in the 2014 National Health Interview Survey, we estimated prevalence of short sleep duration (<7 hours) among NHPIs (10%) and NH-Whites for each of 7 employment industry categories and 3 occupational classes. Mean age was 41 ± 0.5years for NHPIs and 49 ± 0.2years for NH-Whites. Women comprised 52% of both groups. ResultsNHPIs were more likely than NH-Whites to report short sleep duration across all industry of employment categories (except for food and accommodation services) and occupational classes. The disparity was widest among NHPI and NH-White workers in the “professional/management" industry category, with NHPIs having higher prevalence of very short (<6 hours; 20% vs. 7%) and short sleep (30% vs. 22%) durations and lower prevalence of recommended sleep duration (45% vs. 68%) and waking up feeling rested (53% vs. 67%). Among the occupational classes, the NHPI-White disparity was widest among participants who held support service occupations. Although professionals had the lowest and laborers had the highest prevalence of short sleep among the three occupational classes in both NHPI and NH-White groups, short sleep duration prevalence was higher among NHPI professionals (35%) than NH-White laborers (33%). NH-White workers across industry and occupational classes had higher sleep medication use prevalence compared to NHPI workers. ConclusionsThe work environment via occupation type may contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in short sleep. Further investigations are warranted.

Suicide mortality according to occupation and method of suicide, Massachusetts, 2010-2019.

Suicide rates in the United States have been increasing. Work-related factors may contribute to risk for suicide. These work-related factors may be reflected in a varied risk for different suicide methods between occupations. This study sought to assess occupational differences in suicide rates according to the method used. Death certificate data about suicide deaths in Massachusetts between 2010 and 2019 were used to calculate mortality rates and rate ratios with univariable and multivariable models controlling for age, sex, race ethnicity, and educational attainment for suicides overall, and for three specific methods of suicide (hanging/strangulation/suffocation, firearms, and poisoning) by occupation. In multivariate models, the risk for suicide was significantly elevated for workers in arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media (relative risk [RR] = 1.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.53, 2.22); construction trades (RR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.53, 1.84); protective services (RR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.26, 1.77); and healthcare support occupations (RR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.25, 1.93). Occupational risk for suicide differed across different methods. For hanging/strangulation/suffocation, workers in arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations had the highest RR (2.09, 95% CI = 1.61, 2.71). For firearms, workers in protective service occupations had the highest RR (4.20, 95% CI = 3.30, 5.34). For poisoning, workers in life, physical, and social science occupations had the highest RR (2.32, 95% CI = 1.49, 3.60). These findings are useful for identifying vulnerable working populations for suicide. Additionally, some of the occupational differences in the risk for suicide and for specific methods of suicide may be due to workplace factors. Further research is needed to understand these workplace factors so that interventions can be designed for prevention.

Whistleblowing and Corrupt Tendencies among Selected Employees in Three Public Organizations

Anti-corruption efforts are often predicated on how to encourage whistleblowing and discourage corruption. To strengthen the anti-corruption drives, previous studies underscored the need for more research on psychological variables that may be connected with whistleblowing and corruption. This study, therefore, tested the extent to which employees in public sector service occupations are likely to engage in corruption and whistleblowing when they condone corruption, are less apprehensive about punishment, and can justify punishable work behaviors. This correlational study involved 331 employees (155 males; 176 females) of public sector organizations (110 health workers; 116 police personnel; 105 teachers), whose had a mean age of 43.01 years (SD = 7.86). They completed measures of corruption tolerance, punishment anxiety, workplace neutralization, whistleblowing intentions, and corrupt tendencies. Results of the 2-step hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that whistleblowing intentions significantly reduced as employees condoned corruption, were afraid of punishment, and justified punishable work behaviors. Corrupt tendencies significantly increased as employees overlooked corruption and were able to justify punishable work behaviors, but decreased significantly as they became apprehensive of punishment. Based on these results, public sector organizations, especially the police, health, and education, should institute policies and implement psychological strategies that reduce the corruption-tolerant climate in the workplace; by increasing the fear of punishment for corruption and encouraging moral obligations to whistle-blow corruption among employees.

Educating patients about health helps slow the progression of chronic kidney disease in the eastern region of India

Abstract Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a well-documented burden, necessitating patient awareness of the importance of healthy lifestyle modifications to mitigate co-morbidities and mortality risks. Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of education-based conservative management in mitigating disease progression among CKD patients in the eastern region of India. Materials and Methods: A total of 248 CKD patients receiving outpatient department and inpatient department care at the nephrology and dialysis department of Belle Vue Clinic, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, were included in the study. Comprehensive data encompassing demographic details, socioeconomic status, clinical co-morbidities, and conservative management interventions via patient education were examined. The study compared the rise in creatinine levels with adherence to five key factors: dietary restrictions, medication compliance, follow-up appointments with physicians, management of co-morbidities, and adherence to lifestyle modifications. Each strategy was graded on a scale of 0, 1, or 2 based on compliance, with 0 indicating minimal or no compliance, 1 indicating moderate compliance, and 2 indicating strong compliance. Results: In this study, several factors were linked to elevated creatinine levels among CKD patients, including being in the middle-age range, male gender, living predominantly in urban areas, and working in business or service occupations. Additionally, a higher prevalence of co-existing conditions such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension was noted among CKD patients, along with documented instances of polycystic kidney disease, obstructive uropathy, and renal cell carcinoma. After educating CKD patients, those who scored 8–10 on compliance exhibited a decrease in creatinine elevation (0.35 mg/dL) among 120 cases from January 2022 to June 2023. Conversely, those with scores ranging from 5 to 7 (81 cases) showed moderate creatinine elevation (1.24 mg/dL), while those with scores of 0–4 (47 cases) demonstrated higher levels of creatinine elevation (5.48 mg/dL). Conclusion: This study concludes that the conservative management of CKD patients educates individuals about primary prevention of the disorder and provides a comprehensive understanding of secondary and tertiary prevention strategies. This cost-effective approach significantly impacts physical, mental, social, and psychological adjustment behaviors.

Racial Disparities in Occupational Distribution Among Black and White Adults with Similar Educational Levels: Analysis of Middle-Aged and Older Individuals in the Health and Retirement Study.

Occupational classes play a significant role in influencing both individual and population health, serving as a vital conduit through which higher education can lead to better health outcomes. However, the pathway from education to corresponding occupational classes does not apply uniformly across different racial and ethnic groups, hindered by factors such as social stratification, labor market discrimination, and job segregation. This study seeks to investigate the relationship between educational attainment and occupational classes among Black, Latino, and White middle-aged and older adults, with a focus on their transition into retirement. Using cross-sectional data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this research examines the impact of race/ethnicity, educational attainment, occupational classes, and timing of retirement among middle-aged and older adults. The analysis includes a sample of 7,096 individuals identified as White, Black, or Latino. Through logistic regression, we assess the additive and multiplicative effects of race/ethnicity and education on six defined occupational classes: 1. Managerial and specialty operations, 2. Professional Specialty, 3. Sales, 4. Clerical/administrative support, 5. Services, and 6. Manual labor. Participants were Black (n = 1,143) or White (n =5,953). This included Latino (N =459) or non-Latino (n = 6,634). Our analysis reveals a skewed distribution of Black and Latino adults in manual and service occupations, in stark contrast to White adults who were more commonly found in clerical/administrative and managerial positions. Educational attainment did not equate to similar occupational outcomes across racial groups. Key findings include: Firstly, Black individuals with a college degree or higher were less likely to occupy clerical and administrative positions compared to their White counterparts. Secondly, holding a General Educational Development (GED) credential or some college education was generally linked to reduced likelihood of being in managerial roles; however, this inverse relationship was less evident among Black middle-aged and older adults than White ones. Thirdly, having a GED reduced the chances of working in sales roles, while having a college degree increased such chances. An interaction between race and some college education revealed that the impact of some college education on sales roles was more significant for Black adults than for White ones. We did not observe any interaction between ethnicity (Latino) and educational attainment on occupational classes. Given the stability of occupational classes, these findings could also apply to the last occupation held prior to retirement. This study highlights significant racial disparities in occupational classes among individuals with comparable levels of education, underscoring the profound implications for health and wellbeing disparities. Future research should explore strategies to alleviate labor market discrimination and job segregation as ways to close these occupational gaps. Additionally, the influence of social stratification, job segregation, and historical legacies, such as the repercussions of the Jim Crow era, on these disparities merits further investigation. Addressing these issues is crucial for enhancing the health and wellbeing of all populations.

Research on Digital Upgrade of Human Resources Management Professionals in Higher Vocational Education

As a functional service occupation for social and economic industries, its work content, working methods and workflows should be transformed rapidly with the overall industrial upgrade, and the industrial upgrade and the development requirements of the entire industry should be quickly adapted to the overall industrial upgrade. With the promulgation of the "Fourteenth Five -Year Planning of the National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China and the Outline of the 2035 Far View Target", the digital upgrade trend of the entire industry has been further strengthened, and the requirements for human resources management and human resources services are also synchronized. Improvement, thereby also put forward great challenges to the training of talents in this major. As a type of higher education for cultivating high -quality technical and skills talents, vocational education should also quickly upgrade talent training goals and specifications, focus on digital upgrading to match the needs of industrial upgrading.

“How Do I Prepare for This?” Patient Perspectives on Providers’ Employment-related Support During Pregnancy

BackgroundHealth care providers can offer employment-related support to pregnant patients by providing information about occupational risks and benefits, discussing adjustments, and/or completing paperwork to help patients obtain accommodations or benefits, but little research has examined whether and how this support is provided. MethodsWe conducted interviews with 20 adults who had been employed while pregnant within the 5 years preceding data collection. Eligible participants had low incomes, were hourly wage earners, or were employed in service or retail occupations. Applied thematic analysis was used to identify emergent themes. ResultsPeople who had been employed while pregnant described a range of experiences during that time, including physical and psychological demands from work, lack of access to appropriate accommodations, difficulties combining breastfeeding with work, and work-related challenges accessing health care. Participants described four primary roles that health care providers played: 1) completing paperwork needed to apply for benefits or receive work modification; 2) providing information about how to mitigate employment-related risks; 3) providing referrals to social or medical services; and 4) advocating for patients to ensure receipt of accommodations, resources, and information. Strategies identified by patients that could be enacted within health care to help them better navigate the work-pregnancy interface include increasing appointment flexibility, providing information about work-related risks and benefits programs and referrals to legal support, and helping providers to understand and support their patients’ individual work-related concerns. ConclusionsHealth care providers have a critical role to play in supporting employed pregnant people to achieve flexibility in managing their work and to be active participants in discussions about recommended workplace accommodations.

Can democracy at work deliver mutual gains in the digital economy?

Digital and AI-based technologies provide new tools to discipline workers, intensify monitoring, and deskill jobs. This article asks under what conditions these technologies can instead be used to generate mutual gains for employers, workers, and the broader public. Two developments are discussed, which provide opportunities for new coalitions in support of strengthened collective worker voice in technology adoption and deployment. First, the growing use of these tools in a range of service occupations provides opportunities for coalitions with customers or service users focusing on technologies' impact on service quality. Second, the importance of worker knowledge and skills as both inputs to and output of new AI-based technologies provides opportunities for a more collaborative approach to improving their accuracy and performance. To realize these opportunities for mutual gains, governments and labor unions first need to place institutional constraints on employers that strengthen bargaining rights and that protect minimum employment standards, workers' privacy and control over data, and job security.

Occupational Gender Segregation and Mental Health among Professionals: Women’s Risk Exposure in Five Micro Classes

This study explores the intricate interplay between gender, occupation, and mental health using data from the 2020 EU-LFS ad hoc module on 38,066 female professionals in Western Europe. We examine their exposure to work-related risks impacting mental health, focusing on variables such as work overload, violence, and challenging client interactions. Our primary objective is to discern how various occupations contribute to distinct experiences of work-induced strains. Key findings challenge the compensating differential theory, according to which the lower wages in female-dominated occupations are compensated by more friendly working conditions, revealing that interactive service-sector jobs pose higher risks to mental well-being. Health professionals, legal-cultural professionals, and teachers are particularly susceptible, with shift and weekend work exacerbating risk exposure to violence and violent behaviors. This study underscores the significance of a “within-gender” perspective, uncovering nuanced occupation-based inequalities for women. It introduces a novel approach to occupational segregation, highlighting the uneven distribution of work-induced strains among different occupations. It also urges to reassess customer-worker relationships and proposes gender-specific measures to alleviate heightened risks to mental well-being for interactive service occupations. In conclusion, this study analyzes the intersection of gender, occupation, and work-induced strains, emphasizing the role of micro-classes in shaping women’s mental health.

Demographic Dynamics in Investment Behavior: A Comprehensive Study on Gender, Occupation, and Financial Decision-Making Patterns

This study explores the intricate interplay between demographic factors, specifically gender and occupation, and various dimensions of investment behavior. A significant gender disparity in participation is acknowledged, emphasizing the need for equitable representation in financial research. The majority of participants perceive their investment knowledge as "Intermediate," underscoring a moderate level of confidence. The study investigates information sources, decision-making preferences, portfolio review frequencies, financial goals, and preferred investment types, unraveling nuanced patterns across genders and occupations. Findings reveal a shared reliance on "Financial News" and "Professional Advice" for investment decisions, with notable gender-based differences. Preferences for independent decision-making or financial advisor assistance exhibit balanced distributions. Weekly portfolio reviews emerge as a common practice, particularly in service occupations. "Wealth Accumulation" stands out as the dominant financial goal, though gender and occupation nuances surface. The most prevalent investment type is "Stock &amp; Mutual Funds," with variations by gender and occupation. The study concludes by offering recommendations for tailoring communication strategies, enhancing educational initiatives, adopting client-centric approaches, and aligning products and services with diverse investor goals and preferences. By shedding light on these demographic dynamics, the study provides actionable insights for financial institutions, advisors, and policymakers seeking to better understand and serve the diverse needs of investors in an ever-evolving financial landscape.

Knowledge of Postnatal Danger Signs and Associated Factors among Mothers in Nepal

BACKGROUND: The postpartum period is crucial, and it is essential to recognize warning signs. Unfortunately, maternal mortality rates remain high due to postpartum complications, especially in developing countries like Nepal. Many mothers are not aware of postnatal warning signs, which can delay them from seeking necessary medical care and increase the risk of maternal mortality. The main objective of study to identify mothers' knowledge of postnatal danger signs and the relevant factors. METHOD: A study was conducted in Chitwan, covering three municipalities: Madi, Rapti, and Ratnanagar. A stratified proportionate-based simple random sampling technique was used to recruit 527 mothers for the study. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire, and statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 21. A multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with the knowledge of postnatal danger signs. RESULT: Out of the total respondents, only 209 (39.7%) demonstrated good awareness regarding postpartum danger signs. To be considered informed, a woman must be able to list at least three common warning signs. However, the majority of respondents consistently identified vaginal bleeding as a dangerous sign postpartum. The study found that modern health care seeking behavior (AOR=1.63, 95% CI:1.04-2.55), occupation in service (AOR=3.19, 95% CI:1.39-7.29), and time to reach the health facility (AOR=1.96, 95% CI:1.18-3.25) were significantly associated with knowledge of postnatal danger signs. Of these, 67 (12.7%) faced postnatal danger signs during their postpartum period. Among those, the majority (39 or 7.4%) had a good practice of seeking a health facility for care and treatment. CONCLUSION: It is encouraging that mothers become more aware of postnatal danger signs despite their initial low level of awareness. Factors such as the mother's age, occupation, educational background, age of marriage and first childbirth, number of ANC visits, and healthcare-seeking behavior are significantly associated with their awareness of postnatal danger signs. Therefore, healthcare providers should focus on these factors to improve the mothers' knowledge of postnatal danger signs.