Shaping Policy Research Articles

Government Policy and Agribusiness Development in Indonesia

This study examines the relationship between government policy and agribusiness development in Indonesia through a quantitative analysis. Drawing on data collected from a sample of agribusiness enterprises, the study investigates the impact of government policies on key performance indicators such as investment, productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with Partial Least Squares (PLS) is employed to analyze the data and assess the direct and indirect effects of government policy on agribusiness outcomes. The findings reveal significant positive relationships between government policy effectiveness and agribusiness performance indicators, highlighting the importance of supportive policy frameworks in fostering sectoral growth and rural development. Moreover, mediation the mechanisms through which government policies influence agribusiness outcomes and underscore the importance of contextual factors in shaping policy impacts. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics shaping the Indonesian agribusiness landscape and provides actionable insights for policymakers, agribusiness stakeholders, and development practitioners to promote sustainable and inclusive sectoral development.

Integration policies shape ethnic-racial majorities' threat reactions to increasing diversity.

Increasing ethnic and racial diversity often fuels feelings of threat among ethnic-racial majorities (e.g., self-identified white Americans and European nationals). We contend that these threat perceptions depend on the policy context. Across four studies, we test whether more inclusive immigrant integration policies attenuate ethnic-racial majorities' threat reactions. Studies 1 to 3 (n = 469, 733, and 1745, respectively) used experimental methods with white American participants in the United States. Study 4 (n = 499,075) used secondary analysis of survey data comparing attitudes of nationals in 30 European countries and measured the impact of actual changes in diversity and policies over 10 years. Our results show that integration policies shape threat reactions even in those situations when increasing diversity could be seen as the most threatening: when narratives highlight the majority's impending minority position or when diversity suddenly increases. When policies are more inclusive toward immigrants, ethnic-racial majority participants report less threat (or no threat) in response to increasing diversity.

Big data and AI in employment: The dual challenge of workforce replacement and protecting customer privacy in biometric data usage

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data is ushering in profound transformations across various industries, with biometric data usage standing out due to its deep implications for workforce dynamics and customer privacy. This review article critically examines the dual challenges presented by AI-driven automation and the extensive use of biometric data analytics, focusing on the resultant job displacement and escalating privacy concerns. Biometric technologies such as facial recognition, fingerprint identification, and voice analysis are increasingly deployed across sectors including finance, healthcare, and retail. These technologies aim to enhance security measures, improve user experience, and optimize operational efficiencies. However, they also bring to light substantial ethical dilemmas, particularly concerning the privacy of individuals and the security of the data being collected. The pervasive collection and analysis of biometric data can lead to invasive surveillance and profiling, exacerbating risks to personal privacy. Moreover, the use of AI in automating tasks that were traditionally performed by human workers is leading to significant shifts in employment structures. While AI can increase efficiency and reduce costs, it also raises the specter of widespread job displacement. This potential for automation-driven unemployment is especially pronounced in sectors that heavily utilize routine, repetitive tasks, posing critical socio-economic challenges. This article also explores the regulatory and technological frameworks currently in place, and those that are needed to address these challenges. The effectiveness of existing data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, is assessed in the context of AI and biometric data. We discuss the role of policy in shaping the ethical use of AI and protecting workers, along with the technological safeguards that could be implemented to secure biometric data and ensure privacy. By synthesizing insights from recent research, case studies, and expert analyses, this article provides a comprehensive overview of how AI and Big Data are reshaping the landscape of work and privacy. It critically discusses the need for a balanced approach that harnesses the benefits of technological advancements while safeguarding individual rights and employment security.

The evolutıon of dıgıtal leadershıp: content and sentıment analysıs of the New York Tımes coverage

This research paper examines the evolution of digital leadership as portrayed in The New York Times articles from 2020 to 2022, addressing the growing complexities and strategic roles influenced by digital technologies. The study identifies critical issues in digital leadership, including ethical dilemmas, cybersecurity threats, and the digital divide, which pose significant challenges to effective digital governance and strategy implementation. The objectives of this research were to uncover and analyze the prevailing themes and sentiments associated with digital leadership using advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, specifically Nvivo and Monkeylearn. Our methodology involved a content and sentiment analysis of 318 articles, chosen from an initial pool of 387, resulting in a dataset of 2,428 content blocks. This analysis enabled the identification of major themes: Digital Transformation, Innovation, Remote Working, and Cybersecurity. The results indicate that ‘Digital Transformation’ and ‘Innovation’ were the most prominent themes, with significant discussions around ‘technology adoption’ and ‘AI’. The sentiment analysis quantitatively underscores the public discourse, revealing that 60% of the analyzed content carried a positive tone, reflecting an optimistic view towards digital advancements. Conversely, 29% expressed negative sentiments, emphasizing the urgent need to address associated risks. Significantly, the statistical evaluation of theme prevalence and sentiment ratios provides a nuanced understanding of the digital leadership landscape, suggesting a critical balance is necessary between leveraging opportunities and mitigating risks. These findings contribute to the theoretical and practical discussions on digital leadership by highlighting the importance of strategic adaptability and ethical considerations in shaping policies that are both inclusive and effective. In conclusion, this study offers a detailed, numerical insight into the complexities of digital leadership, providing valuable evidence for policymakers and business leaders aiming to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by digitalization.

A phenomenological understanding of the intersectionality of ageism and racism among older adults: Interpersonal experiences

Summary This qualitative, phenomenological study explored the lived experience of the intersectionality of ageism and racism among older adults, with a focus on interpersonal experiences. Fifteen participants 60+ years of age (M = 67, SD = 7.45) in the U.S. Mountain West identifying as Black, Latino(a), Asian-American/Pacific Islander, or Indigenous engaged in a 1-hour interview. A three-cycle, inductive coding process involved five coders who independently coded interviews and engaged in critical discussion to resolve disagreements. An audit trail, member checking, and peer debriefing enhanced credibility. Findings The results detail four umbrella themes and nine subthemes. The subthemes demonstrate experiences of the intersectionality of ageism with racism reflected through (1) increased disrespect, (2) cultural differences in respect for elders, (3) tokenization, (4) physical appearance, (5) being ignored or discriminated against due to others’ discomfort, (6) intersecting experiences of pity, hate, and violence, (7) unspoken bias (including racial profiling), (8) microaggressions: questioning intelligence/ability, and (9) microaggressions: slurs. Multiple themes highlighted how ageism may be racialized through stereotypes related to mental (in)capability. Applications Social work practitioners and researchers can apply the findings from this study to explore interventions aimed at reducing interpersonal, racialized ageist microaggressions related to mental incapability. At the community level, anti-racism and anti-ageism initiatives should collaborate by applying an enhanced understanding of the ways ageism and racism intersect through pity, hate, and violence particularly in public settings such as shopping centers. The findings from this study can also help shape policies aimed at reducing racial profiling and hate crimes toward older adults of color.

Contamination, morphological and chemical characterization, and hazard risk analyses of microplastics in drinking water sourced from groundwater in a developing nation

Groundwater (GW) plays a crucial role as the primary source of potable water in numerous developing nations. However, the increasing presence of microplastics (MPs) represents a concealed danger, threatening activities that guarantee safe drinking water in these countries. Despite this, there is limited awareness about the widespread existence of MPs in these regions of the world. In this study, we investigated the contamination levels, distribution, morphological characteristics, chemical composition, and associated public health risk of MPs in groundwater samples from six coastal districts of Bangladesh using stereomicroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). MPs were prevalent at all sampling stations, with average concentrations of 24.63 ± 16.13 items/L and a range of 4–75 items/L. The majority of MPs (97.6%) were fibers, indicating a likely origin from fabric disintegration during drying, washing, discarded fishing nets, personal care items, and municipal waste. Smaller-sized MPs (<0.5 mm), transparent and violet-colored, were predominantly observed. Additionally, FTIR confirmed the presence of plastic polymers, including low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), and polyethylene terephthalate (PETE). Despite the high visibility observed or focus given for PETE, PE was found to be abundant. These are thought to have come from runoff from agricultural fields, seeping from landfills where plastic trash is disposed of, synthetic fabrics, and inappropriate plastic product disposal. Estimated dietary intake was recorded as 1.85 particles/person/day (i.e., 675 particles/year), suggesting the possible health risk to consumers. Hazard analyses based on the polymeric risk score revealed diverse risks associated with polymer levels, with PETE indicating a medium risk and other polymers, e.g., HDPE, LDPE, and EVA at 39%, 31%, and 17%, respectively, showing a minor risk to human health from drinking water from the studied sources. This is the first study from the regions, and the findings will be valuable for identifying sources, implementing control measures, shaping policies, and safeguarding public health against plastic pollution.

Трансформация советской системы образования в 1920–1930-е гг. (на примере Саратова)

During the 1920–1930s, the young Soviet state faced numerous challenges, including the establishment of new governmental bodies and the development of an educational model aimed at fostering citizens with Soviet consciousness. However, the almost total illiteracy of the country’s population at that time brought to the forefront the urgent need for the development of campaign against illiteracy. Saratov, as one of the largest cities in the Volga region, was no exception in this regard. Based on the analysis of archival materials and published sources, application of methods of system, statistical and structural analysis, the author of the article comes to the conclusion that as part of the campaign against illiteracy in Saratov in the 1920–1930s, a modern model of education was created, consisting of secondary mass schools, vocational and higher education. By establishing a comprehensive educational framework, including primary schooling and pathways to vocational and higher education, Saratov played a vital role in advancing the Soviet agenda of literacy and ideological indoctrination. Furthermore, the case of Saratov underscores the complex interplay between educational policy, societal needs, and political imperatives in shaping the trajectory of educational development in the early Soviet era. Moving forward, continued research into local initiatives and their broader implications for national educational strategies will deepen our understanding of the dynamic evolution of education in the Soviet Union.

Students' perspectives on racism and anti-racism in physical education: a systematic review.

Sports, with their various social manifestations, exhibit racist structures and incidents. Physical education (PE) has the potential to serve as an environment to combat racism, but it can also perpetuate and (re)produce racist attitudes and behaviors. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of national (German) and international literature concerning racism and anti-racism within the context of PE specifically from a students' perspective. The research methodology followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standard and encompassed a four-step process: (1) searching 11 electronic databases using 70 keyword combinations in both German and English; (2) selecting studies based on five predetermined inclusion criteria; (3) evaluating the quality of selected studies using established appraisal tools; and (4) conducting descriptive and template analyses. Of 5,213 publications, 16 met the inclusion criteria, demonstrating diverse theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches. Five themes were constructed: "How racism is understood" (1); "What students experience," encompassing discriminatory incidents in PE, sports, and daily life classified as racial stereotypes, prejudices, and everyday racism (2); and "What physical education teachers (3)/Institutions (4)/researchers (5) can and should do." These themes provided recommendations for teachers, institutions, and researchers, including training and curriculum reforms. While valuable international literature was identified, no German PE specific publications were found emphasizing the necessity of a local (German) survey to comprehend students' experiences, knowledge, and potential for anti-racism efforts. Such insights are crucial for shaping teacher-related training programs and policy demands in an informed and targeted manner.

Adult Safeguarding Inequalities in Northern Ireland: An Exploratory Study

Abstract Whilst studies of child welfare inequalities have identified the impact of socio-economic deprivation on child protection rates, little is known about how this relates to intervention with adults who have care and support needs. This article examines the impact of area-level deprivation on adult safeguarding (AS) rates in Northern Ireland (NI). Routinely gathered statistics for community AS referrals (2015–2017) were linked to area-level deprivation across NI using service users’ postcode. The relationship between deprivation and the screening, investigation and safeguarding planning stages of intervention was examined. Our analysis identified a clear social gradient in relation to AS referrals; the higher the level of deprivation, the higher the rates of AS screening and protection plans. Findings for investigations showed more variability. Further research is needed to explore the factors associated with areas of high deprivation that shape AS social work responses. To our knowledge, this is the first time AS rates have been explored in relation to deprivation. The study findings, that structural factors play a significant role in AS interventions, will help to determine how and where social work interventions are best focused, helping to shape policy and AS theory.

The psychological impact of the rise in media reporting of sexual violence after COVID-19 pandemic on Pakistani women's mental health.

Pandemics usually have inequitable effects on the most vulnerable groups of society. Since the start of COVID-19, there has been a horrifying upsurge in cases of sexual and gender-based violence against women, globally. Consequently, frequent breaking news of sexual violence in media aggravated mental distress and worry among women. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the impact of the rise in active circulation of news of sexual violence on the mental health of working women and students using the validated DASS-21 questionnaire. A total of 303 women with diverse socio-demographic backgrounds participated in the study. We performed a chi-square test to analyze the association of increase in media reporting with DASS-21total and sub-categories scores. Multivariate linear regression was performed on propensity score-matched subjects to identify psychosocial predictors of mental distress. Increased self-reported worries in response to rise in media reports of sexual violence was found to be significant predictor of mental distress (p < 0.002). Moreover, highly significant correlation between the increase in media reports and scores of depression, anxiety, and stress was observed (p < 0.001). The rise in media reporting of sexual violence in the after math of COVID-19 was found to have a significant psychological impact on the mental health of Pakistani women. This is the first study of its kind on the subject and provides fundamental findings for shaping policy change on responsible media reporting of sexual violence.

Assessing urban resilience to pandemics with a hybrid framework of planning, absorption, recovery, and adaptation abilities: A case study of Ahvaz, Iran

This research advances urban resilience assessment beyond conventional social, economic, environmental, and institutional dimensions by introducing a hybrid framework integrating systemic resilience characteristics across planning, absorption, recovery, and adaptation abilities. Our study focused on Ahvaz, Iran, during the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing a questionnaire survey involving 705 residents between May and November 2022. The results show that urban resilience in Ahvaz is low in all four capacities, especially in absorption, which indicates the city's limited ability to isolate disruptive events and prevent cascading impacts. We found that there is no significant difference in urban resilience across different districts of the city. However, a positive relationship exists between socio-economic status and urban resilience, underscoring its role in bolstering a city's ability to deal with adverse events. Ensuring fair distribution and accessibility of assets and resources within the city is crucial to minimize adverse effects on low-income groups. The findings highlight the necessity of reinforcing absorption capacities and addressing socio-economic inequalities to enhance urban resilience. The insights from this study can help shape policies and planning efforts aimed at building more resilient cities capable of withstanding pandemics and other stressors, including climate change.

Behavioral Patterns of Social Media Users toward Policy: A Scientometric Analysis

This research explores the behavioural patterns of social media users in response to policies, bridging a gap in the literature by providing in-depth insights into the interaction between user behaviour and public policies relating to social media. An important contribution of this research lies in its holistic approach to understanding how social media users respond to various public policies and their impact on their behaviour. This research aims to explore the influence of the interaction between social media and public policy, understanding how user behaviour on these platforms affects responses to government policies. This study uses qualitative research methods with a scientometric approach. The main results underline the crucial role of social media not only as a communication channel but also as a significant influence tool in shaping public opinion and policy. These studies show that social media has a dual potential, which can support professional and community development, as well as influence government policies and actions through social interaction and information dissemination. However, negative impacts are also evident, such as in the spread of fake news that can significantly alter political views. The practical implications of this research emphasise the need for proactive and systematic government strategies in using social media for the dissemination of accurate information and combating fake news, thereby improving the effectiveness of policy communication and responsiveness to public needs.

Data-driven approach for air pollutant concentrations forecasting: A window-based multi-output GBRT approach

Air pollutant concentrations forecasting is essential for detrimental public exposure prevention, air quality enhancement, and effective environmental policy shaping. Recently, air pollutant concentrations forecasting based on machine learning has been considerably advanced with the development of data-driven approaches. However, multi-source data constraints and architectural complexity in machine learning approaches limit the use of machine learning in actual scenarios. Herein we present a window-based multi-output gradient boosting regression tree (WM-GBRT) approach to predict air pollutant concentrations for the next 48 h at each monitoring station, considering air pollutant monitoring data, meteorological monitoring data, NECP-GFS data, and GEOS-CF data. The key innovation of our approach lies in the flexible input window configuration and the implementation of an multi-step independent strategy. The experiments were conducted in China and compared to existing data-driven baselines, we show that our approach achieved the superior performance in forecasting concentrations of six air pollutants, with a considerable improvement of 6.94 % (PM2.5), 12.3 % (PM10), 3.84 % (O3), 30.6 % (SO2), 9.84 % (NO2), and 93.9 % (CO) when compared to the second-best baselines. This simple yet efficient approach can be easily applied, providing a reliable technical method for predicting air pollutant concentrations.

Advancements in Fatigue Detection: Integrating fNIRS and Non-Voluntary Attention Brain Function Experiments.

Driving fatigue is a significant concern in contemporary society, contributing to a considerable number of traffic accidents annually. This study explores novel methods for fatigue detection, aiming to enhance driving safety. This study utilizes electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to monitor driver fatigue during simulated driving experiments lasting up to 7 h. Analysis reveals a significant correlation between behavioral data and hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal lobe, particularly around the 4 h mark, indicating a critical period for driver performance decline. Despite a small participant cohort, the study's outcomes align closely with established fatigue standards for drivers. By integrating fNIRS into non-voluntary attention brain function experiments, this research demonstrates promising efficacy in accurately detecting driving fatigue. These findings offer insights into fatigue dynamics and have implications for shaping effective safety measures and policies in various industrial settings.

Catch me if you can: how episodic and thematic multimodal news frames shape policy support by stimulating visual attention and responsibility attributions

Using media coverage of animal welfare as an example, this study examines how the perception of multimodal news frames shapes recipients’ visual attention, attributions of responsibility, emotions, and policy support. To investigate the mechanisms of multimodal-episodic versus thematic framing, we combined eye-tracking measurements with a pre-post survey experiment in which 143 participants were randomly assigned to an episodic or a thematic multimodal framing condition. The results show that episodic multimodal frames are viewed longer than thematic frames, elicit stronger individual and political responsibility attributions, and increase political support for stricter animal-welfare laws. Understanding multimodal framing as a multistep process, a serial mediation model reveals that episodic frames affect viewing time, which leads to stronger attributions of political responsibility and, in turn, stronger policy support. Our results support the idea of a complex interplay between subsequent stages of information perception and processing within a multimodal framing process.

Public Health: Policy, Law and Right

Public health, as delineated in legal parlance, emanates as the discipline devoted to safeguarding the collective well-being, enhancing community health through educational initiatives, policy formulation, and diligent research aimed at injury prevention. Characterizations of public health may vary contingent upon individual perspectives. Practitioners within the realm of public health facilitate global engagement, addressing communal health challenges comprehensively, and wielding influence over policies shaping societal health. Public health law, in turn, constitutes the systematic study of governmental authority and obligations pertaining to the maintenance of conditions conducive to public health, while also delineating constraints on state power vis-à-vis fundamental rights such as privacy, liberty, and other legally safeguarded interests of individuals. This legal framework regulates the operational ambit of public health endeavors. Integral to the multifaceted domain of public health are an array of disciplines including biology, education, sociology, business, and others, each contributing distinctively to its overarching objectives. The imperative for bolstering public health infrastructure becomes conspicuous amidst a workforce deficit juxtaposed against a burgeoning populace within the United States. Notably, one-third of the requisite workforce remains unfilled, jeopardizing the capacity to identify, mitigate, and forestall emergent public health exigencies. The raison d'être of public health lies in its mission to foster and safeguard the populace's well-being. Whereas medical practitioners focus on remedial interventions for the ailing, public health practitioners’ endeavour to preclude afflictions and injuries proactively, thereby espousing a paradigm of wellness promotion through advocacy for healthy behaviours.

The role of regulatory policies in organizational culture: Insights from the education industry.

On February 26, 2018 and July 24, 2021, the Chinese government respectively issued two significant regulatory policies to address the problems caused by off-campus training institutions in terms of students' extra-curricular and family financial burdens. These policies have had a tremendous and far-reaching impact on the off-campus training industry in China. With the help of these two events, we explored the role of industry-level regulatory policies in shaping and forming organizational culture. This paper adopts a text analysis method, combined with the dimensions of the Denison Organizational Culture Survey (DOCS) and MAXQDA 18 software, to obtain data on corporate culture. Then, the approaches of regression discontinuity in time (RDiT) and regression discontinuity (RD) designs with multiple cutoffs are used to estimate the policy treatment effect. This empirical research suggests that regulatory policies have a significant impact on corporate culture. Moreover, regulatory policies of varying degrees of strictness have differential effects on different dimensions of corporate culture. The research findings contribute to the theories of corporate culture and can guide enterprises to evaluate the impact of policies on corporate culture more clearly, thereby enabling them to make wiser operation decisions.

Safeguarding maritime transport: disclosing the paradox of safety in domestic ferry operations

ABSTRACT The domestic ferry sector plays a significant role in transportation but faces complex challenges requiring a comprehensive examination within a sociotechnical systems framework. This study explores into the inherent paradoxes of the sector, analyzing the interplay between safety dynamics and operational exigencies. Through a systematic review across micro (firm/operations), meso (industry), and macro (national/global) levels, it uncovers a landscape where safety awareness competes with operational demands, creating a paradoxical coexistence. Micro-level challenges like poor enforcement and inadequate safety awareness lead to noncompliance and unsafe practices, as seen in incidents like the Eastern Star tragedy. Strategic planning is vital for long-term industry improvements, requiring policymakers to address regulatory complexities. Interconnected dynamics across meso and macro levels highlight the International Maritime Organization's role in shaping safety standards and policy evolution. Insights into transitioning to international safety standards highlight the need for attitudinal shifts aligned with proactive risk management. This research provides a holistic view of challenges (Themes A to C) and enablers (Themes D to F), traversing micro, meso, and macro levels. By advocating for cross-industry collaboration and emphasizing a more secure and sustainable future for the domestic ferry sector, contributes significantly to the enhancement of safety and sustainable operations.

Proposing the Community Triad Model to action social accountability in medical schools

This article is the third in a series exploring drivers of social accountability (SA) in medical schools across Canada. Findings from the two previous articles have highlighted a central relationship between community, students, and faculty at medical schools, and led to the emergence of a new social accountability model– the Community Triad Model (CTM). The CTM proposes an interconnectedness between community, students, faculty, and the broader institution, and the pathways through which community-based learning directly and indirectly influences decision-making in medical institutions. This article explores the relationships between the three arms of the CTM by examining the literature on community engagement and SA, as well as by revisiting popular models and foundational SA reports to garner insights into authentic community engagement in health professions education. While there is an abundance of literature demonstrating the impact of community placements on students, there are limited studies describing the influence of communities on faculty and the broader institution either directly, or indirectly via students. The authors recommend that institutions be more intentional in engaging students and faculty, and learn from their experiences with community to shape curriculum, practices, policies, and culture of the broader institution. This study offers an operational model of SA that is easy to adopt and implement. It intends to demonstrate how the components of the triad (students, faculty/leadership, community) function together in the community engagement and social accountability of medical schools.

Trends in Water Quality in a Tropical Kenyan River-estuary System: Responses to Anthropogenic Activities

Aims: To determine the spatial variation in physico-chemical water quality attributes in estuarine ecosystems of South Coast Kenya to inform its management. Study Design: We employed diagnostic research design where such factors as anthropogenic activities, hydrology, and accessibility were considered in choosing 12 sampling stations. A mixed sampling design (probability and non-probability) was used to sample. Place and Duration of Study: Four discharging rivers into estuarine system with a reference point were identified. 12 sampling points were earmarked and sampled for 12 months. Methodology: Nine selected water quality parameters were collected in triplicates monthly for 12 months. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, salinity and TDS were collected in situ using YSI Multiparameter meter (Professional plus) while nutrients were analyzed in the laboratory calorimetrically. Data was tested for normality and homogeneity of variances using Levene's and Shapiro-Wilk tests. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were done using the 64-bit R Software version 4.3.0 to test for significant differences and correlate the parameters among the sampling sites respectively. Observed differences were considered statistically significant at P &lt; 0.05. Results: The measured environmental variables differed significantly among the sampling stations (P &lt; 0.05). temperature and salinity exhibited moderate to strong effect on water quality, while pH and nutrients (phosphates, nitrates, and ammonia) exhibited mixed effects with both negative and positive loadings on the Principal Components. It is demonstrated that the south coast estuary, Kenya is affected by two gradients: mineralization from the sea and the organic matter gradient at the upstream stations dominated by the fluvial inflows from the respective rivers. Conclusion: The south coast of Kenya estuary is impacted by natural processes and anthropogenic activities. we recommend for continued regular water quality assessment and monitoring to acquire sufficient data to shape policy frameworks towards its sustainable management.