Statistical Package For Social Sciences Research Articles

Effect of Budget Process Reforms on Government Infrastructural Projects Success at the Ministry of Roads and Transport in Kenya

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine effect of budget process reforms on government infrastructural projects success at the Ministry of Roads and Transport in Kenya Methodology: The descriptive type of survey research design was utilized with the population targeted being 6 staff members at the Ministry of Roads and Transport, 27 budget and appropriation committee members at the parliamentary committee and 8 Parliamentary Budget Office members (PBO) and 3 senior officials from the Kenya National Highway Authority. Census sampling technique was employed to reach the sample size. Hence, all the 44 respondents were involved in the study. A questionnaire was employed to gather information and quantitative techniques adopted for analysis. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire was tested and it had an overall Cronbach Alpha of 0.826. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21) was integrated to code information gotten from the questionnaires and summarized into percentages and frequencies. The summary was then outlined in pie charts, figures, and tables. Findings: From the analysis, the study found that the major budget reform processes include accountability, enhancing public participation, and strengthening enforcement. The study established that budget reform process had a statistically significant influence on the success of government infrastructural project success. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: System theory can be used to anchor future studies on effect of budget process reforms on government infrastructural projects success at the Ministry of Roads and Transport in Kenya. Accountability measures should be introduced and the relevant bodies held responsible for any mishaps in the project implementation process. It was suggested that there is a need for further studies to be conducted to examine other factors impacting the government infrastructural projects success.

Effect of County Government Strategies in the Collection, Transportation and Disposal of Plastic Waste in Lodwar Town, Turkana County Kenya

Plastic waste management has become a major public health and environmental concern in urban areas of many developing countries. Economic growth and population increase in the developing countries in recent years has caused an increase in utilization of natural resources that has led to unprecedented plastic waste generation. The uncontrolled plastic waste disposal has become a challenge in Africa and other developing countries due to insufficient or lack of human and financial capacities to remedy the situation. This study investigated the effect of county governments’ strategies in place in the collection, transportation and disposal of plastic waste in Lodwar town, turkana county Kenya. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used. purposive sampling was used to select 345 respondents from Lodwar town and the county government employees including key informants from public health department at the county was adopted. Data were then analyzed for descriptive statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. The study findings showed that majority (78.6%) of the residents disagreed that there is reselling of plastic materials to avoid generation of wastage. Further majority (38%) also disagreed that they are reusing the plastics for other purposes in their households. Additionally, majority (55.9%) still disagreed that the municipality has recycling company, which has assisted in plastic material recycling. However, on the other hand majority (71.6%) of the residents were not aware if there is a new technological recycling machine in the county. The study revealed that majority of the respondents disagreed that there are waste collectors and transporters in the town (mean= 1.95, standard deviation=0.99). Majority of the respondents disagreed that the municipality have recycling company which has assisted in plastic material recycling (Mean=1.51, standard deviation=0.89). Majority of the residents strongly agreed that handling plastic waste in Lodwar municipality is of great concern (Mean=4.59, standard deviation=0.84). The study concluded planning and coordination have a significant effect on plastic waste handling in Lodwar municipality. There are no enough waste collectors and transporters in the town also Municipality has no clear waste management guideline/policy. Recycling methods have a significant effect on plastic waste handling in Lodwar municipality. The study recommended that the municipality administration should come up with waste management guideline/policy that will ensure efficient and reliable wastage handling.

Assessment of Species-Based Ecosystem Services and Its Usefulness in Forest-Savanna Ecological Zone

Forest ecosystems are the main species rich ecosystem on earth, having a significant role in the provision of massive benefits to the populace who depended on them for sustenance. This study aimed at assessing the forest provisioning ecosystem service and use in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The objectives of this study include the identification of forest provisioning ecosystem services and their uses, people’s dependence for livelihood and quantity of ecosystem services supplied by community forests. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 8 sampled communities while Nikolopoulou convenience sampling technique was adopted for selecting sampling size of 200 persons. Also, 31 key informants were interviewed across the study area. The responses from the entire sampled questionnaire and interview were analyzed using Microsoft excel and statistical package for social sciences. The study revealed that a good number of the forest resources such as Elaeis guineensis, Garcinia kola, Bambusa vulgaris, Azadirachta indica and Brophyllum pinnatum have multiple uses. The result also revealed that the nature of forest determines the quantity of ecosystem service benefits supplied. Hence, those community forests with weak policies supply less than 40% of resources because their traditional laws of entering and harvesting forest resources are no longer effective, while those with strong policies like restriction into their sacred groves, forest reserves and swampy forests supply above 40%. The chi-square value of 352.873 with 28 degrees of freedom (DF) proved that there is strong relationship between the nature of forest and the quantity of ecosystem services provided. This research concludes that forest ecosystem in Ihiala L.G.A, supplies a wide variety of plant and animal species to the populace, which they basically use for timber, firewood, food and medicine. Nonetheless, without alternative and diversified livelihood, the supply is becoming unsustainable. It recommends that since palm tree and its resources are averagely abundant in the study area, there is need to support the establishment of basket making training centre in various communities and as such, make it an attractive skill acquisition programme.

E-Procurement and Performance of Humanitarian United Nation Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations in South Sudan

Manual procurement processes are expensive in terms of human resource cost, purchasing cost, wastage due to errors of commission or omissions, cause of delay in delivery of goods, services and works which accounts for 40% of losses to inefficiencies, and attracts corruption in the system amongst others. The study was guided by four objectives: To assess the role of e-tendering on performance of humanitarian United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations in South Sudan. To examine effect of e-contract management on performance of humanitarian United Nations agencies non-governmental organizations in South Sudan. To evaluate effect of e-order processing on performance of humanitarian United Nations agencies non-governmental organizations in South Sudan and to explore influence of e-supplier management on performance of humanitarian United Nations agencies non-governmental organizations in South Sudan. The study methodology adopted explanatory research design of cross-sectional type for the population under study. There were over 235 National Non-governmental organizations, 150 International organizations in addition to over 15 United Nations agencies, bringing the total target population to 400 organizations. This study targeted 400 humanitarian organizations operating in South Sudan. Therefore, the sample size of 200 humanitarian organizations operating in South Sudan were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data was collected using structured questionnaires which was dropped and picked later or emailed. The data collected from two hundred (200) respondents was coded into statistical package of social sciences (IBM SPSS v29) data analysis tool. The researcher covered a total of 20 respondents for pilot testing. Content validity was also conducted while reliability was conducted using Cronbach alpha. The data was presented in inform of graphs, charts, bars for descriptive analysis. Reliability findings indicated that e-tendering had Cronbach Alpha Coefficient of 0.873, e-contract management had 0.852, e-order processing had 0.872, e-supplier management had 0.736, and performance had 0.859. All the variables had Cronbach Alpha Coefficients greater than 0.7 and this denoted that the questionnaire was reliable. Validity findings reported that KMO value was 0.623 which was above the recommended minimum threshold of 0.5. This statistic implies that the statements in the questionnaire were adequate. In addition, results of the Bartlett roundness test yielded a chi-square statistic of 41.373 and a p-value of 0.000<0.05. These statistics indicate that the statements were correlated and therefore suitable for further analysis. The study found that e-tendering, e-contract management, e-order processing, and e-supplier management have a positive and significant relationship with performance. The study hence concluded that e-tendering, e-contract management, e-order processing, and e-supplier management have a positive and significant effect on performance of humanitarian United Nations agencies non-governmental organizations in South Sudan. Based on these findings, the study suggested that all NGOs and humanitarian agencies should ensure they adopt the use of e-platforms in conducting activities relating to procurement. The study also recommends that the policy makers that make policies relating to humanitarian agencies and NGOs should formulate for them a policy that will enable them make use of the e-platform in conducting procurement activities without any limitations.

Level of Maturity in Sustainable Innovation Practices: an Application of the Eco-Mi Model in a Red Ceramics Company

Objective: To identify the level of maturity with sustainable innovation practices of a company in the red ceramics segment in the state of Paraíba, according to the concept and application of the Eco-Mi model. Theoretical Framework: The thematic contextualization recalls the concepts of sustainable development, innovation, sustainability and sustainable innovations. In this sense, (BARBIERI et al., 2010) defends the importance of considering the understanding of sustainable innovation practices, fully incorporated into the company's strategic objectives. The better this relationship between sustainable development through sustainable innovation practices and company objectives is defined, the greater the likelihood of success. Method: This is a descriptive and exploratory study conducted in the form of a case study, using a descriptive statistics approach with quantitative data extracted by applying a questionnaire. The type of sampling is defined as non-probabilistic by intentionality. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) was used to analyze the data. Results and Discussion: The evolution of the level of maturity weighs up quantitative and qualitative aspects, since the author herself, who designed the Eco-Mi Model, warns that there are some limitations, mainly of a qualitative nature due to the participants' self-assessment, since the analysis requires knowledge of strategy, structure, resources and organizational culture. These limitations highlight promising directions for future research and for consolidating the model and spreading knowledge about eco-innovation. Based on the results obtained from the research, it is possible to conclude that it was possible to answer the research problem by showing that, among the 4 dimensions analyzed, the company moves through levels of maturity evolving between scale 2 and 5. The Strategy and Structure dimensions are not satisfactory, and the Resources and Culture dimensions are more satisfactory. In this case, the company needs to review its choices and practices of sustainable innovation, seeking greater homogeneity in the dimensions of the model used. The field of knowledge still offers ample scope for further research and consolidation of the Eco-Mi maturity model. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing insights into how the results can be applied to or influence actions in the field of sustainable innovation. These implications can cover the organizational areas of companies in the context of sustainable innovation practices. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature, as the topic of sustainability has incorporated the role of humans as equally responsible as industries, in a way that seeks to balance the relationship between human society (consumption and waste), natural resources, the current mode of production and the socio-economic system. The relevance and value of this research is evidenced by the results of the level of maturity perceived by the four dimensions studied: strategy, structure, resources and culture. The result reflects on the company's performance from the moment it characterizes in detail the levels of maturity according to the Eco-Mi model.

Evaluation of perfusion index to predict hypotension in lower segment caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia

Background: Spinal Anaesthesia is the most popular choice for elective caesarean section. Both general anaesthesia and regional anaesthesia are acceptable techniques for anaesthesia for elective and emergency caesarean sections. Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the role of the perfusion index in predicting the incidence of hypotension following spinal anaesthesia in parturients undergoing elective lower segment caesarean sections. Methods: A prospective, observational study was carried out among sixty parturients posted for elective caesarean section. The study was conducted in the operation theatres of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. About 60 participants were interviewed for the study. Data were entered and analysed with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version.16. Results: Sixty eligible ASAI (American society of anaesthesiologist’s physical status classification) parturients scheduled for elective caesarean section were divided into two groups pre-operatively after determining their baseline Perfusion Index (PI) as those with PI ≤ 3.5 and those with PI > 3.5 using a Masimo® pulse oximeter probe. When comparing the heart rate at time intervals among the two groups, it became increasingly clear that those with baseline PI > 3.5 had generally higher heart rate especially immediately after the block and at 2nd, 4th, 6th,8th, 10th, 12th, 14th and 20th minutes. Conclusion: The study concludes that a Perfusion Index > 3.5 is associated with a higher incidence of hypotension in lower segment caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. The hemodynamic parameters such as increased heart rate and significantly lower systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures in parturients with baseline PI > 3.5 suggest that these patients have lower baseline SVR and depleted autonomic resilience to hypotension compared to those with baseline PI ≤ 3.5. High BMI seems to be significantly associated with high baseline PI.

School Social Environment and Psychological Wellbeing among Learners in Junior Schools in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

The study sought to establish the relationship between school social environment and psychological wellbeing among learners in Junior Schools in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. It adopted descriptive survey and correlational research designs. Multistage sampling was used to select 377 respondents comprising of 328 grade 8 learners, 42 grade 8 class teachers and 7 Sub- County Quality Assurance and Standards Officers. Psychometric test instrument, questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect data from sampled respondents. Reliability of the instruments was ascertained through Cronbach analysis of data obtained from a pilot study carried among 53 respondents sampled from the same study area but who were not involved in the actual study. Data was collected from 325 grade eight learners, 41 grade eight class teachers and 5 Sub-County Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (SQASO) in Tharaka Nithi County giving the study a return rate of 98.41%. Qualitative data obtained was analyzed thematically while quantitative data was analyzed descriptively and inferentially with the aid of the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0 computer software. Frequencies and percentages were used to describe the existing relationship between the variables while hypothesis was tested using regression analysis at 95% level of significance. The study established that a positive social relationship between among peers and positive interactions between learners and teachers catalyze the social environment which promotes junior school learners psychological wellbeing. It concluded that the school’s social environment is negatively and significantly related to the psychological wellbeing of junior school learners.The study recommended that management of public junior school in collaboration with other education stakeholders launch and monitor turn-around initiatives aimed at fostering quality school social environment for learners’ improved psychological wellbeing. Areas of focus could include workshops on peer relations, stress management techniques, seminar on teacher-learner interaction, problem-solving techniques, and goal-setting for social and academic success could be part of the initiatives.

Prevalence and Pattern of Urinary Tract Obstruction in Patients with Urolithiasis in Southeast Nigeria

Abstract Background: Urolithiasis is a global problem and its prevalence is steadily increasing. This trend is also true in tropical and sub-Saharan Africa. Urinary tract obstruction is a common complication of untreated urolithiasis. Data on the prevalence and pattern of this obstruction are limited in the literature. Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and pattern of urinary tract obstruction in patients with urinary stone disease. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out over 9 years between April 2013 and June 2022. Records of patients who had abdominopelvic computerized tomography scans done at Hansa Clinics Enugu were retrieved for this study. From the medical records, the age and gender of the patients were extracted. The pattern and degree of obstruction noted on the imaging were recorded. Data were described using frequencies and proportions in tables and graphs. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows, version 26.0. Results: Out of 2467 subjects reviewed, urinary tract stones were identified in 356 subjects (14.4%). The mean age of the subjects was 49 ± 15.7 years. The majority were males (57.0%). In those with urinary tract obstruction, the majority had hydronephrosis (67.9%) followed by hydroureter (43.0%) and pelvocaliectasis (37.6%). Conclusion: Urinary tract obstruction with stones is common, and often associated with hydronephrosis and hydroureter. Therefore, early detection and management using relevant imaging techniques will go a long way in reducing the burden of renal failure which is a serious possible sequelae.

Awareness and Frequency of Encounter With Subjects With Antiphospholipid Syndrome by Medical Practitioners in Tertiary and Some Other Health Institutions in Southeast Nigeria

Abstract Background: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune multisystem disorder. There has been a limited number of reported cases from Nigeria. Objectives: To determine the awareness and frequency of encounters with APS cases by medical practitioners in health institutions in South East Nigeria. Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study. All medical doctors met in the clinics who were willing to participate in the study were recruited during the period of the study. Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for data entry, validation, and analysis. Results: A total of 581 study questionnaires were distributed to medical doctors met at the clinics and clinical meetings of five hospitals in Southeast Nigeria however, 581 were approximately filled and retrieved, giving an response rate of 94.84%. Males were 383 (69.5%) and females were 168 (30.5%). A total of 445 (80.8%) were unaware of the autoimmune multisystemic nature of APS. Of the 551 respondents, 348 (63.2%) were aware that Rheumatologist is the primary care physician for APS, 290 (52.6%) reported rarity of APS, and 366 (66.4%) had up to 50% overall knowledge of APS. Respondents’ encounters with unexplained thrombotic events and unexplained stroke in the young were limited. A total of 62 (11.3%) were aware of the international classification criteria for APS. Conclusion: The authors conclude that APS awareness among medical practitioners in South East Nigeria is suboptimal.

Socio-Demographic and Clinical Profile of Admitted Patients for Psychiatric Illness in a Tertiary Care Military Hospital in Bangladesh

Background: Mental health problems are becoming a public health issue in all countries around the world. It’s often ignored and unnoticed by patients, their relatives and society as well. Treatments for all these disorders are as available as efficacious. The purpose of this study was to assess the socio-demographic and clinical profile of admitted patients for psychiatric illness in a tertiary care military hospital. Materials and methods: This hospital based retrospective study was performed by analyzing the medical records of admitted psychiatric patients, carried out in the Department of Psychiatry at Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Chattogram from 01 July 2022 to 31 December 2022. For this purpose, 41admitted patients in psychiatry ward of CMH Chattogram were enrolled in the study. Psychiatric diagnoses of the patients were assigned by the consultant psychiatrist as per International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10th Revision diagnostic criteria. Statistical analyses were carried out by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)-version 16. The quantitative observations were indicated by frequencies and percentages. Ethical issues were maintained all through the study. Results: The results showed that more than half of (56.09%) patients were in 19-35 years of age with male preponderance (63.41%) and most of the cases reported from urban area (58.53%). The most common psychiatric morbidity among the patients were major depressive disorder (26.82%) followed by Anxiety disorder (17.07%) and Obsessive- compulsive disorders (17.07%). In this study majority of patients stayed 15-28 days (80.48%) on an average of 21.5 days. Conclusion: Neurotic cases were predominant in psychiatric admission. Results of this study may help in the planning for better mental health service integrated with primary healthcare system of our country. Findings of this study will also act as an eye-opener for psychiatrists regarding a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses as well future research in psychiatric fraternity. IAHS Medical Journal Vol 6(2), December 2023; 19-23

Patient-Related Factors Influencing Drug Non-Compliance among Hypertensive Patients in Selected State Hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria

Drug non-compliance for some time has remained a major health-related issue among chronic diseases, especially among hypertensive patients. Drug non-compliance in middle and low-income countries including Nigeria is attributed to many factors but aggravated by economic recession. There have not been sufficient studies, particularly theory-based, which explored drug non-compliance among hypertensive patients at the secondary health facilities. Understanding major factors that could influence drug non-compliance is a key step in controlling hypertension. Thus, this study aims to explore patient-related factors influencing drug non-compliance among hypertensive patients in selected state hospitals in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study adopted quantitative and qualitative research designs using descriptive surveys and Key Informant Interviews (KII) with a sample size of 349 participants among patients with hypertension in cardiac outpatient clinics of the selected general hospitals. Responses were also collected from purposively selected healthcare providers through oral interviews and their responses were analyzed qualitatively. Survey data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25.0. The study revealed that both old and young patients are ignorant of the disease thus, they tend to forget their drug prescriptions. The study further discovered that poverty and inability to procure their drugs regularly often make them turn to unorthodox medicine, and these were responsible for drug non-compliance. The study recommended that government and healthcare-providing institutions should intensify efforts to educate patients on drug compliance so as to prevent complications resulting from drug non-compliance.

Knowledge and Practices of Dysmenorrhea and its Effect of Life Among Female Medical Students in Jalalabad

Dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation is defined as a severe, painful, cramping sensation in the lower abdomen that is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as sweating. headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tremulousness, all occurring just before or during the menses. This study aimed to assess the Knowledge and Practices of dysmenorrhea and its effect of life among female medical students in Jalalabad. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done through online Google forms for a period of 3 months from January to March 202 A structured questionnaire was administered to 173 randomly selected Undergraduate Medical students. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Objective: To gain more insight should think about dysmenorrhea is, if not it's can have alarming consequences sexual life of female. To gain knowledge about dysmenorrhea. To study and practice about dysmenorrhea increase the awareness of immature hygiene and self medication. Results: In total,173 medical students from 1st year and 2nd year were selected for this study where age range was 17-22 years with mean age of (20±1). Majority of 74% of the participants were found in to have good knowledge about dysmenorrhea. Majority of students who has good knowledge and also had good practices where as students with poor knowledge has poor practice (p value 0.021) Conclusion: Majority students concluded that dysmenorrhea is a very common problem of female students, and they experience a number of physical and emotional symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea. Mostly students are silently suffer the pain by dysmenorrhea and discomfort associated with it due to lack of knowledge about dysmenorrhea also affects their academic performance. However, their practices were found to be a matter of concern. An educational intervention can be introduced to bring about changes their life style regarding practices about dysmenorrhea among students.

Vitamin D Status among Patients Visiting an Urban Tertiary Care Hospital, Dhaka

Background: Majority of the Bangladeshi population lives in an areas receiving ample sunshine throughout the year. Despite this fact multiple studies have shown wide prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in our country in all ages and both sexes. Adequate vitamin D status has an important clinical advantage for maintaining various activities as well as preventing diseases. In this lab based retrospective study, it was determined the prevailing condition of vitamin D deficiency among adult patients visiting MH Samorita Hospital and Medical College outdoor. The present study aimed to focus on assessing Vitamin D status of adult patients visited a tertiary care hospital of Dhaka city. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study. A total of 72 cases were chosen by random sampling with records of vitamin D status, age and sex from July to December, 2022.The results were statistically analyzed with Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS-24). Results: Out of total subject (n=72) none of them showed toxic serum concentration of vitamin, 12.5 % had sufficient, 23.6% had insufficient and 63.9% had deficient levels of vitamin D. Gender wise comparison of vitamin D status showed male patients, 28.3% were deficient in vitamin D, 47.1% were insufficient, and a substantial 77.8% had sufficient levels. In contrast, a much higher proportion of female patients were deficient (71.7%) or insufficient (52.9%) in vitamin D, with only 22.2% having sufficient levels. According to age wise distribution, the highest percentage of vitamin D deficiency (58.7%) was observed in the youngest age group (18-30 years), while the proportion decreased in older age groups (30.4% for 31-50 years and 10.9% for 51-65 years). Conclusion: Vitamin D is an important vitamin which impacts many systems of the body .This study indicates that 63.9 % of subjects are vitamin D deficient which is very much alarming. So, it becomes paramount to further scrutinize the associated factors apart from age and gender. To this end, further studies are needed. IAHS Medical Journal Volume 6(2) December 2023; 68-72

Highly active antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV-POSITIVE women in Southern Ethiopia.

Adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) medication is the major predictor of HIV/AIDS treatment success. Poor adherence to HAART creates the risk of transmitting HIV, deteriorating health conditions, treatment failure, increased occurrences of drug-resistant HIV, morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study was to explore and describe factors influencing HAART adherence among HIV-positive women in Southern Ethiopia. A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional survey was used among 220 randomly selected respondents. Data was collected with a structured interview guide after each respondent had given consent to take part in the study. The collected data was entered into and analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software program version 27. The level of self-reported adherence (measured by dose) to HAART in the past 30days was found to be 82.7%. In multivariate analysis, the divorced/separated HIV-positive women had poor adherence to their HAART medication as compared to those who were married [AOR: 2.94, 95% CI: (1.02-8.44)]. Respondents who used reminders in their medication were 75% less likely to be poorly adherent to their HAART medication than those who did not use reminders [AOR: 0.25, 95% CI: (0.06-0.97)]. Those who self-reported depression, perceived stigma, and low perceived susceptibility had poor adherence to their HAART than those who did not report depression, perceived stigma, and low perceived susceptibility [AOR:2.34, 95% CI: (1.01-5.42)], [AOR:2.37, 95% CI: (1.06-5.34)], and [AOR: 4.1, 95% CI: (1.53-11.1)] respectively. HIV-positive women who self-reported low perceived severity were poorly adherent to HAART than those who self-reported high perceived severity [AOR: 2.92, 95% CI: (1.14-7.47)]. Factors including being divorced/separated, not using reminders, depression, perceived stigma, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity negatively impact HIV-positive women's adherence to HAART.

Influence of Available Instructional Resources on the Acquisition of Language Skills among Early-Year Learners in Kiambaa Sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya

Language entails the ability to communicate with other people with significant variations between understanding of speech and language. Although language acquisition largely depends on the learner's ability, the access and availability of instructional resources play a pivotal role in language acquisition among children in Early Childhood Education Centres. The main aim of this study was to assess the influence of available instructional resources on the acquisition of language skills among early-year learners, to determine the impact of teachers' competence on the use of instructional resources on the acquisition of language skills among early-year learners and to determine the influence of challenges in use of instructional resources on the acquisition of language skills among early year learners in Kiambaa sub-county, Kiambu County. The study was based on the constructivists and overlapping spheres of influence theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was 98 head teachers and 210 ECD teachers who were considered for the study. Purposive sampling was used to obtain 12 head teachers, and simple random sampling was used to obtain 44 teachers. Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used to analyse the quantitative data, while content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative information gathered using open-ended questions, where findings were reported in a narrative form under each theme. Descriptive analysis was done through frequencies and percentages. A multiple Linear Regression model was used to model the relationship between the independent variable and the response variable (Acquisition of language skills). The study concludes that the availability of Instructional resources has a significant positive effect on the acquisition of language skills as denoted by the p-value (P <0.05). The study recommends that stakeholders, including head teachers, teachers, and parents, should understand the importance of having sufficient instructional resources. Efforts should be made to improve access and availability based on recommendations from ECD teachers, thereby fostering language acquisition among early learners.

Stakeholders’ Support on School-Based Academic Camps for Improved Students Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools

The study assessed the stakeholders support on school based academic camps to improve students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Ulunga district, Tanzania. The study comprised five specific objectives. This study adopted the stakeholder theory as it was propounded by Edward Freeman (1980). The study used a convergent research design supported by a mixed methods research approach. The study used simple random and purposive sampling techniques to select the sample size. The participants in this study were: 1 DEO, 10 WEOs, 10 HoSs, 20 parents, 90 students, 10 teachers, 2 chairpersons, and 1 Member of Parliament (MP). Data collection instruments were questionnaires, semi-structured interview guides, and documentary reviews. Quantitative data were analyzed us Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25, while qualitative data were analyzed using structural-functional and content analysis approach. The study also found that major stakeholders who support academic camps were parents (M = 4.4 and SD = 1.2), school chairpersons (M = 4.1 and SD = 1.4), and students (M = 4.2 and SD = 1.2). The major approach used to solicit stakeholders is school meetings (M = 3.9 and SD = 1.3). Types of support from stakeholders are teaching and learning material (M = 3.70 and SD = 1.1) and light (electricity) mean score (M = 3.5 and SD = 1.2). . Teachers and students perceive uncertainty about stakeholders support; counseling and guidance (M = 3.4 and SD = 1.2), security (M = 3.2 and SD = 1.0), clean and safe water (M = 3.2 and SD = 1.3), and food (M = 2.9 and SD = 1.2). Respondents agree that stakeholders support enhances students’ performance by completing topics (M = 3.5 and SD = 1.1) and interacting in group works (M = 3.5 and SD = 1.3). Based on the findings, appropriate recommendations are proposed.

Assessment of Knowledge and Practice on Prevention of Pressure Ulcer among Nurses in Palestine- Cross Sectional Study

Pressure Ulcers (PUs) are localized skin injuries caused by long-term compression of soft tissue between an external pressure source and a bony prominence. They are one of the iatrogenic causes of extra morbidity for hospitalized patients. This study aimed to assess knowledge and practices regarding preventing PUs among nurses in Palestine. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 430 nurses in various Palestinian hospitals and health centers between February 15, 2024, and April 14, 2024. Convenience sampling was used to collect samples for this study. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 27. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed that 65.61% of participants correctly answered questions about PU prevention. Regarding practice, 55.3% of nurses demonstrated a good level, with an average score of 2.37. Additionally, there was a significant association between demographic variables and levels of knowledge and practice in PU prevention, with P values ranging from 0.01 to 0.05. The study found that male nurses had higher knowledge and practice scores than female nurses, with significant differences in mean scores. The overall level of knowledge and practice among Palestinian nurses was found to be good; however, there is room for improvement in several aspects of both knowledge and practice. Variables such as gender, age, marital status, qualification, and job experience were found to have significant correlations with the level of knowledge and practice among nurses.

Evalution of shear bond strength of brackets bonded using different hydrophobic and hydrophilic adhesives: An invitro study

A review of the long history of orthodontic bonding adhesives shows that many evolutional developments have occurred from the first chemically-cured composite resins to the most recently introduced light-cured color-change adhesives. An ideal orthodontic adhesive should have adequate bond strength while maintaining unblemished enamel after debonding. Therefore, researchers have been working hard to achieve the best quality and gentlest materials for bonding orthodontic brackets.To evaluate the shear bond strength of brackets bonded using four different adhesives in both dry and in moist environment.A total of 80 orthodontically extracted premolars will be selected. They are divided into 4 equal groups of different adhesives which are further sub-divided into 2 group each (dry and in presence of moisture). All the selected teeth will be cleaned and store in saline until it use. All teeth will be mounted on acrylic block. The shear bond strength will be measured by Lloyd’s Universal testing machine. The obtained data will be statistically evaluated using SPSS22 for Windows using ANOVA test at statistical significance.: The shear bond strength of the four groups were tested with Instron universal testing machine; breaking load at which bond failure occurred was recorded and bond strength was calculated. Data obtained was compiled on MS Office Excel Sheet (2007, Microsoft Redmond Campus, Redmond. Washington, United States.)Data was subjected to statistical package for social sciences (SPSS v 21).Statistically significant difference seen between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic adhesives. In the present study we did Tukey’s post hoc test for pairwise comparison of different hydrophobic and hydrophilic adhesives. It show highly significant values. : The greatest bond strength values were achieved with TransbondXT in both dry and saliva contamination condition. These values were significantly greater than those achieved with Greengloo, RMGIC and Aqualine LC. The overall study conclude that TransbondXT was considered the feasible adhesive material for orthodontic bonding followed by Aqualine LC.

Prevalence of newly diagnosed hypertension and its associated factors in an opportunistic screening program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundHypertension is a recognized risk factor that underlies the epidemic of cardiovascular diseases. Guidelines, including those from the European Society of Hypertension, recommend opportunistic screening for hypertension in all adults. However, there have been no institution-based studies on the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors with an opportunistic screening program in Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of newly diagnosed hypertension and its associated factors in an opportunistic screening program in Ethiopia.MethodsThis was an institution-based cross-sectional study conducted on adult participants in an opportunistic hypertension screening program at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from November 1, 2023, to February 1, 2024. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, constructed as per the WHO STEPwise approach to non-communicable disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS). The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26. Descriptive analysis was used to compile the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the participants, and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with hypertension.ResultsA total of 301 adult participants were included in this study. The mean age of the participants was 47.6 years (standard deviation: 13.5), and 62.5% were males. The prevalence of newly diagnosed hypertension was 36.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.6, 66.8). Male sex (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.06, 95% (CI): 1.05, 4.04), being married (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI: 1.84, 2.77) or widowed (AOR = 5.14, 95% CI: 1.23, 1.46), less frequent intake of vegetables and/or fruits [< 3 days per week (AOR = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.12, 7.39), and 3 to 5 days per week (AOR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.02, 4.86)], physical inactivity (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.21, 4.22), and body mass index (AOR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.26), had significant associations with hypertension.ConclusionThis study demonstrated a high prevalence of newly diagnosed hypertension in an opportunistic screening program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It also revealed that most of the factors significantly associated with hypertension were modifiable, underscoring the importance of promoting lifestyle changes. Most importantly, expanding institution-based opportunistic screening programs could be an effective approach to maximize the detection of hypertension and improve access to its treatment.

Influence of Mentorship Programs on Students’ Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Imenti North Sub- County, Meru County, Kenya

Management practices are an important ingredient in an organization. They offer a unique environment needed to attain set goals, create a good public image and build a productive relationship among the stakeholders. The main aim of this study was to determine the influence of teacher satisfaction on the academic performance of learners in public secondary schools in Imenti North sub-county, Meru County. The study was based on organizational theory, which was developed by Jaques in 1951. The study adopted a mixed methods methodology where both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed. The sampling unit consisted of public secondary schools where 6 principals were selected through purposive sampling from the top three and bottom three performing schools. Ten form three and form four students were also randomly selected from the top three and bottom three performing schools to obtain a sample size of 120 students. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of the statistical package for social scientists, version 26.0. A multiple Linear Regression model was used to model the relationship between the independent variable and the response variable (academic performance). The study concludes that mentorship programs have a significant positive effect on academic performance, as indicated by their p-values (P&lt;0.05). The study recommends that schools should ensure that there are functional mentoring programs in schools, as they have been shown to positively influence academic performance. Such programs may provide guidance, support and career direction.