sub-Saharan African Nations Research Articles

Effect of a 12-Week High Intensity Interval Training on Serum Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor of Obese Undergraduates

The study investigated the effect of a 12-week High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on Serum Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) among obese undergraduates of the University of Benin. The pretest-posttest randomized experimental design was employed for the study. The study involved a population of one hundred and twenty obese undergraduates, with a sample of twenty-four selected using simple random sampling. The participants’ anthropometric profiles were analyzed descriptively using mean and standard deviation, and the hypothesis was tested using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with statistical significance set at a p-value of <0.05. The Bonferroni post-hoc test was conducted to pinpoint the source of the differences between the groups. The results showed a significantly higher increase in Serum BDNF levels (2.07 ± 1.9 vs. 2.38 ± 2.1) in the experimental group. This suggests that the HIIT protocol had a notable impact on the serum BDNF concentration of the obese undergraduates. Therefore, HIIT may serve as an effective intervention for elevating BDNF levels and potentially enhancing brain health. The study recommends that policymakers in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African nations should prioritize addressing obesity due to its potential cognitive complications.

Severe acute malnutrition among children under the age of 5 years.

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) poses a significant threat to child health globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Zambia, like many Sub-Saharan African nations, faces high rates of child malnutrition, with SAM contributing significantly to under-five mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with SAM. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital in Zambia (LUTH). SAM was defined according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria as either weight-for-height less than -3 standard deviations, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) less than 115 mm, or presence of bilateral pitting edema in children between 6 months and 5 years old who were attended to between 2020 and 2022. Data abstraction from pediatric patient records was conducted between August 2023 and January 2024. The records without the age and outcome variable were excluded. A total of 429 participants between 6 months and 5 years old were included, with demographic, clinical, and hematological parameters analyzed. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were employed to investigate factors associated with SAM. Overall, 429 medical records were included in the study and the prevalence of SAM was 27.0% (n = 116). Age group 6-24 months (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 11.60; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 3.34-40.89, p<0.001), living with HIV (AOR:3.90; 95% CI: 1.14-13.70, p = 0.034), Tuberculosis (TB) (AOR:22.30, 95% CI: 4.53, 110.3, p < 0.001), comorbidities (AOR: 2.50; 95% CI 1.13, 5.88, p = 0.024) and platelet count (AOR: 1.00; 95% CI 1.00, 1.00, p = 0.027) were positively associated with SAM. This study found a high prevalence of SAM, exceeding the WHO target of reducing SAM to 5% by 2025. SAM was associated with younger age (6-24 months), HIV infection, TB, comorbidities and platelet count. Therefore, there is need to enhance strategies aimed at reducing SAM among young children, children living with HIV, TB and comorbidities, particularly by intensive treatment, continuing and strengthening nutrition services.

Impact of Stock Market Integration on Industrial Corporate Investment in Nigeria: An Empirical Study (1986-2023)

Nigeria, a sub-Saharan African nation, is endowed with an abundance of natural resources, particularly those needed for industrial purposes. Despite this, the present level of output in the industrial sector in Nigeria is too low, particularly when it comes to investment undertaking by corporate investors. Therefore, the study examined the effect of stock market integration on industrial corporate investment in Nigeria from 1986-2023. Data used were sourced from the Central bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin. The study used Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF), bound test and Autoregressive Distributed Lag. The ADF estimate indicated that money supply and all share index were integrated of order one; while, corporate investment, stock market integration, real exchange rate, and lending interest rate were integrated of order zero. The F-value for the bound test estimate was much higher than upper bound of critical value at 5% conventional level; therefore, suggesting a long-run link between the use variables. The short-run estimates showed that stock market integration, real exchange rate and all share index were significant with direct effect on corporate investment; while, money supply and lending interest rate were significant also with indirect effects. Furthermore, long-run estimate showed that money supply and all share index were significant with direct effect on corporate investment; while, real exchange rate and lending interest rate were significant with indirect effects. This suggests that stock market integration currently witnessing in Nigeria is tentative. The study concluded that the current growth witnessing by industrial corporate investment in Nigeria due to stock market integration is not sustainable. Therefore, recommended that the Nigerian Exchange Group’s management should ensure that stock market price exhibit low volatility rate by making sure that its stocks management policies reflect best global stock exchange practice.

The Effect of Crime on Foreign Investment and Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Panel Data Analysis

This study investigates the effect of crime on economic development in 22 sub-Saharan African countries between 2000 and 2020, using data from global sources. The study utilized a panel vector autoregression (VAR) approach to analyze the dynamic correlations between variables. This was achieved through the examination of impulse response functions and error variance decomposition. The study established a definitive cause-and-effect connection between the crime rate and growth indicators. The panel vector autoregression (VAR) technique resolves the issue of endogeneity by permitting endogenous interaction among the variables in the system. The findings indicate that the crime rate has a significant effect on economic growth in sub-Saharan countries, though with very low magnitude. The economic prosperity of most sub-Saharan African countries may be attributed to the abundant availability of natural resources in the region. The causality test findings indicate a diverse causal connection between the crime rate and growth indicators. While there is no direct causal relationship between economic growth and the crime rate, there is a one-way causality between economic growth and foreign investment. This means that economic growth can enhance foreign investment, suggesting that in sub-Saharan countries, economic growth plays a crucial role in improving foreign investment. However, as indicated by the findings, there exists a bidirectional causal relationship between foreign investment and crime rates. In summary, it is clear that the crime rate in sub-Saharan African nations has a significant impact. In the future, countries with higher crime rates are likely to see slow economic growth and less foreign investment.

On the fiscal deficit and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa: A new evidence from system GMM.

Using a two-step approach GMM, this study examines the short- and long-term effects of fiscal deficit on the economic growth of 42 Sub-Saharan African nations between 2011 and 2021. The World Development Index, the most reliable source, is where the panel data is taken from. Using the Levin-Lin-Chu and Hadri LM tests for unit root, it was determined that there is no risk of a random walk in the data. The study's findings indicate that while the fiscal deficit has short-term, positive, and significant benefits on the economic growth of SSA countries, it has long-term, negative repercussions. According to the system GMM's results, an increase in the fiscal deficit of SSA countries is linked to a short-term increase in economic growth of 0.036 percent, while an increase in the fiscal deficit of one percentage point is linked to a long-term decline in economic growth of SSA countries of 0.013 percent, holding all other factors constant. The study's findings also showed that the budget deficit has a larger positive short-run coefficient than a negative long-run coefficient. The study also revealed that while real effective exchange rates and inflation short-term hinder economic growth, gross fixed capital creation and real interest rates are the primary drivers of economic expansion. Long-term economic growth in the SSA countries is also found to be positively and significantly impacted by gross fixed capital formation. According to the study, SSA nations should manage their fiscal deficits and, in the long run, provide more funds for gross fixed capital development.

SOIL MICRONUTRIENT CONTENT ANALYSIS AND MAPPING OF AGRICULTURAL SALT-AFFECTED SOILS AROUND ABAYA AND CHAMO LAKES, SOUTH ETHIOPIA RIFT VALLEY

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Background.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt; Salt-affected soils cause a significant portion of land to become unproductive yearly; its impact is severe in sub-Saharan African nations, especially the arid and semiarid lowlands, and the Rift Valley regions of Ethiopia are typically host to naturally salt-affected areas. &lt;strong&gt;Objective.&lt;/strong&gt; To analyze the micronutrient content and map the micronutrient fertility status of agricultural salt-affected soils around Abaya and Chamo Lakes South Ethiopia Rift Valley. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology.&lt;/strong&gt; A systematic sampling technique was employed to obtain 300 soil samples for the investigation from two depths (0-20 and 20-40cm), with a 600m sampling interval, of which 30 were used. The research data was analyzed using the application of standardized analytical procedures for soil data and descriptive and geostatistical techniques. &lt;strong&gt;Results.&lt;/strong&gt; According to the study, there is low zinc available in the soil but an ample amount of iron, manganese, and copper. In addition, the study's findings revealed that, whereas the remaining micronutrient regional variability is found at long distances, available iron exhibited a regional variation in soil quality at small distances. &lt;strong&gt;Implications.&lt;/strong&gt; The study suggests applying organic matter for better soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Moreover, the results recommend that soils affected by salt might recover using various materials. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusions.&lt;/strong&gt; In the study areas, zinc fertilizer may still be needed for an optimal yield even though the research area has low amounts of zinc fertilizer. The study concluded with management recommendations to minimize the adverse effects of very high micronutrient content on human health and plant growth.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake and Experiences of Black African Immigrant Women in Canada

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death among African women. Unfortunately, in most sub-Saharan African nations, women are vulnerable if they are unaware that cervical cancer is preventable with frequent screening and early treatment. The aim of this study was to examine Black African immigrant women’s perceptions and experiences of cervical screening in British Columbia, Canada. Twenty Black African immigrant women were interviewed using the qualitative research method Interpretive Description. Data collection approaches included indepth interviews and analytic memos. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative technique guided by a socioecologic framework to capture subjective experiences and perceptions. Four key themes were identified, including confusing conceptualizations about cancer and cancer screening, competing priorities, concerns for modesty, and commitment to culture. The study findings point to the need for more active approaches to promoting cervical screening for this population.

Commonalities and differences in injured patient experiences of accessing and receiving quality injury care: a qualitative study in three sub-Saharan African countries

ObjectivesTo understand commonalities and differences in injured patient experiences of accessing and receiving quality injury care across three lower-income and middle-income countries.DesignA qualitative interview study. The interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed...

Prescribing patterns of statins and associated factors among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundIn sub-Saharan African nations, there's a documented shortfall in the utilization of statins, despite established clinical guidelines advocating their use for reducing cardiovascular risks and overall mortality among Type 2 diabetes patients aged 40–75 years old. Most clinical guidelines recommend prescribing statins to individuals with type 2 diabetes to reduce the chances of cardiovascular disease. There is currently a lack of extensive research on statin utilization specifically for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in Africa. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prescription patterns of statins for preventing cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes patients. MethodsThe findings of the review were presented following the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA-2020) checklist. We conducted searches on electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, African Journal Online, and Google Scholar. This systematic review and meta-analysis included articles that met specific inclusion criteria: observational studies such as cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies focusing on determinants, risk factors, or correlates associated with statin prescription within Africa. Only published articles up to June 2, 2024, published in English, and conducted in either community or healthcare facility settings were considered. Data import was initially conducted using Microsoft Excel, and statistical analysis was performed using STATA software. Cochran's Q test was employed to assess whether there was a significant variance in prevalence among the studies. Additionally, the I2 statistic was utilized to quantify the extent of heterogeneity. A funnel plot, a visual tool, was utilized to evaluate publication bias. ResultsThe search strategy resulted in 7695 published original articles. The full texts of the 89 papers were assessed for eligibility and quality. Moreover, some articles were rejected due to inaccuracies in the outcome variable. Ultimately, only ten studies focusing on the prevalence of statin prescription were examined. The research suggests that the pooled prevalence of statin prescription among Type 2 diabetic individuals in Africa is found to be 48.82% (95% CI: 35.41–63.24). Age greater than 65 years (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 1.70–7.45; I2 = 54.7%), comorbidity (AOR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.27–4.63, I2 = 96.4%), dyslipidemia (AOR = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.54–6.44, I2 = 61.7%), DM duration greater than ten years (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.81–2.28, I2 = 77.3%), and government insurance (AOR = 8.85, 95% CI: 2.72–28.76, I2 = 81.5%) were factors associated with statin prescription among type 2 diabetic patients. ConclusionsIn general, the extent of statin prescriptions for individuals with type 2 diabetes who are eligible for statin therapy was below the target outlined by clinical practice guidelines. Being over 65 years old, having comorbidities, experiencing dyslipidemia, having type 2 diabetes for more than ten years, and having government insurance were all identified as independent factors predicting the prescription of statins. This finding is concerning and underscores the urgent need to enhance adherence to clinical practice guidelines for the well-being of this vulnerable population at high risk.

Revisiting the resource curse hypothesis from the viewpoint of green growth: The role of Fintech as the de-cursing agent

Conventionally, the resource curse hypothesis highlights the economic growth-inhibiting impacts that are often associated with the expansion of natural resource-based industries. However, not much focus has been given to assessing whether natural resource consumption hinders green growth establishment, as well. Hence, this study makes a novel attempt at evaluating the validity of the resource curse hypothesis from the viewpoint of green growth in the context of selected Sub-Saharan African countries. Notably, this study focuses on whether natural resource abundance upholds green growth in the concerned Sub-Saharan African nations, especially by reducing their annual carbon emission-adjusted economic growth levels. More importantly, this study ascertains whether Fintech development, via the channel of Fintech-based startup financing, can promote green growth in these countries and thereby act as a de-cursing agent for tackling the possible economic and environmental curses imposed by their natural resource sectors. Accordingly, by employing a recently developed two-stage instrumental variable regression method, the resource curse hypothesis is verified from the perspective of green growth establishment. On the other hand, Fintech development is found to not only promote green growth on its own but also act as a de-cursing agent that partially offsets the green growth-impeding effects associated with natural resource consumption. Furthermore, capital accumulation is identified as a green growth-restricting factor while institutional quality improvement is observed to stimulate green growth across the selected Sub-Saharan African countries. Therefore, considering these major findings, a couple of green growth-promoting policy suggestions are put forward.

Genetic diversity and spread dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 variants present in African populations.

The dynamics of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) have been extensively researched in many settings around the world, but little is known about these patterns in Africa. A total of 7540 complete nucleotide genomes from 51 African nations were obtained and analysed using the National Center for Biotechnology Information and Global Initiative on Sharing Influenza Data databases to examine the genetic diversity and spread dynamics of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lineages circulating in Africa. Using various clade and lineage nomenclature schemes, we examined their diversity and used maximum parsimony inference methods to reconstruct the evolutionary hypotheses about the spread of the virus in Africa. According to this study, only 465 of the 2610 Pango lineages found to have existed in the world circulated in Africa three years after the COVID-19 pandemic, with five different lineages dominating at various points during the outbreak. We identified South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria as key sources of viral transmission among sub-Saharan African nations. These findings provide insights into the viral strains that circulate in Africa and their evolutionary patterns.

Analyzing Macroeconomic Indicators that May Affect Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan African Countries: A Panel Data Analysis in the Context of Income Level Classification (1990-2019)

The purpose of the study was to ascertain whether the export-import coverage ratio (EXIM), the income of natural resources (NATR), labour force participation rate (LFPR), and foreign direct investment (FDI) had a positive or negative impact on economic growth for 34 Sub-Saharan African countries using data from 1990 to 2019. The change in Gross Domestic Product Per Capita (%) is used in the study as a proxy for the economic growth variable, and Sub-Saharan African nations were categorized based on the United Nations' income classification system to create more homogeneous groups and consequently more accurate analysis results. To do this, 34 Sub-Saharan African nations were divided into three income categories: lower-middle-income, upper-middle-income, and low-income. The income categories established by the UN were considered while drawing this distinction. This divide led to the analysis of 18 low-income nations, 12 lower-middle-income countries, and 4 upper-middle-income countries. One of the dynamic panel data analysis techniques, the two-step system GMM panel data analysis, was used as the econometric analysis approach. According to the estimations, FDI in lower-middle-income sub-Saharan African countries was statistically significant and inversely related to economic growth; it was observed that the coverage ratio of exports to imports has a statistically significant and linear relationship. None of these independent variables were found to influence economic growth in low-income sub-Saharan African countries. There is a statistically significant correlation between the LFPR and NATR and economic development in the upper-middle income category of nations analyzed. As a result, the influence of factors varied and fluctuated on economic growth based on the income levels of different groups.

Determinants of digital technology development in sub-Saharan African countries: evidence from panel data analysis

The primary objective of this research is to explore the elements that shape the progression of digital technology in Sub-Saharan African nations. The study employs data obtained from 16 countries, covering the period between 2000 and 2020. Employing fixed effect panel regression analysis, our research indicates that various non-technological factors significantly impact digital technology development in the region. The results highlight that variables including general government final consumption expenditure, inflation rate, employment growth rate, financial development, ease of doing business index, logistics performance index, international migration, access to electricity, and access to safe drinking water have a positive impact on the development of digital technology. Conversely, international trade is identified as a negative influence, primarily due to insufficient infrastructural development. These findings underscore the significance of non-technological elements, encompassing aspects like globalization, economic conditions, favorable digital ecosystems, and the fulfillment of basic human needs, in shaping the landscape of digital technology in the region. The study, while acknowledging limitations in terms of selected indicators, years, and countries, emphasizes the need for broader investigations in future research. Practically, the study suggests that governments in the region should prioritize addressing these non-technological factors to fully leverage the potential of digital technology development. The originality and value of this research lies in its exploration of non-technological determinants, shedding light on their pivotal role in shaping the digital technology landscape in sub-Saharan Africa.

Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among reproductive age women in Liberia

IntroductionAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continues to be a deadly pandemic and a serious threat to public health. Globally, reproductive age women are more likely to be infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS is pivotal in the fight against AIDS. However, comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge is low in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) nations including Liberia, which contributes to the high incidence of HIV in these nations. This study assessed the level of comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and its associated factors among reproductive age women in Liberia.MethodsThe prevalence and associated factors of comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS among reproductive age women in Liberia were determined using secondary data analysis of 2019–2020 Liberia Demographic and Health Surveys (LDHS). Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS was a composite variable computed from six variables available in the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). The study included 7,621 reproductive age women in weighted samples. A generalized linear mixed model with robust error variance was used. For the variables included in the final model, adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.ResultsThe prevalence of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among Liberian women aged 15–49 was 33.5%. Women’s age and education, and distance to health facility were positively associated with comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS among Liberian reproductive age women. In contrast, community poverty level was negatively associated with comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS.Conclusion and recommendationsThis study demonstrates that the prevalence of good comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge was relatively low among reproductive age women in Liberia. Hence, health practitioners and policymakers should strengthen HIV/AIDS sensitization programmes to increase women’s knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

Does foreign direct investment influence carbon emission-related environmental problems?Contextual evidence from developing countriesacross Sub-Saharan Africa.

Sub-Saharan African nations face multifacetedenvironmental problems, especially those associated with carbon discharges. Hence, this study calculates a composite carbon index in the context of 39 developing nations from this region and uses it as a proxy for the carbon emission-related environmental problems they have faced during the 2000-2020 period. This index is estimated by utilizing data regarding annual carbon dioxide discharges, output-based carbon productivityrates, and energy consumption-based carbon intensity levels in the concerned countries. Hence, policy takeaways from this study have critical relevance for the selected sub-Saharan African nations to help them achieve the objectives related to the Sustainable Development Goals agenda and the Paris Accord. Overall, the findings from the econometric analysesverify that morereceipt of foreign direct investment initially raises but later on reduces environmental problems. Thus, the nexus concerning these variables depicts an inverse U-shape. Besides, the results endorse that greening the energy consumption structures of the sampled sub-Saharan African countries helps to abate their environmental problems in the long runwhile financial development aggravates the extent of environmental adversitiesthat take place. Lastly, improving the quality of regulatory agencies enables the Sub-Saharan African nations to furthermitigate their environmental problems. Moreover, these aforementionedfindings are observed to be heterogeneous across low- and middle-income categories of the selected Sub-Saharan African countries. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of the findings is also confirmed by the outcomes derived from the country-specific analyses. Nevertheless, these nations should attract clean energy-embodying foreign direct investment, make their energy consumption structures greener by amplifying renewable energy adoptionrates, introduce green fundsto develop their financial sectors, and make theirenvironmental regulatory agencies more transparent with their activities.

Navigating antenatal care: The lived experiences of adolescent girls and young women and caregiver perspectives in Zambia.

Adolescent pregnancy remains a global concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Sub-Saharan African nations, including Zambia, bear a disproportionate burden of adolescent pregnancies, contributing to high rates of maternal and child mortality. Despite efforts to improve antenatal care (ANC) services, utilization rates remain suboptimal, especially among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). To explore the barriers and facilitators to ANC services among AGYW and how these factors might differ by age and HIV status. This qualitative study employs a combination of in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) to gather comprehensive insights into the experiences of AGYW regarding ANC services. The study design follows a socio-ecological framework (SEF) to identify multiple levels of influence on ANC utilization. We conducted 40 IDIs with AGYW aged 15-24; and 2 FGDs with caregivers of AGYW (n = 16). IDIs explored AGYWs barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilizing healthcare services during pregnancy, as well as social support and HIV treatment and prevention. FGD topics included social support, barriers and facilitators to ANC, and HIV services. We developed a codebook based on the SEF and coded transcripts using Dedoose software. Results showed that early pregnancy knowledge did not always translate to AGYW seeking ANC services right away or within the first trimester. More than half of the AGYW did not initiate ANC until well into the second trimester. Factors including lack of motivation, denial of pregnancy, desires to terminate pregnancies, social norms, policies, clinic environment, and financial constraints contributed to delays in ANC initiation. Social support from family, partners, peers, and the community were crucial motivators for early ANC. Lastly, challenges to ANC continuation included lack of transportation, long clinic waiting times, perceived provider indifference, and stigma at both community and clinic levels. In conclusion, gaining insights from qualitative data is essential for comprehensively understanding the barriers and challenges to accessing ANC among this specific age group. By identifying and addressing these barriers while enhancing facilitators, effective programs can be developed and implemented to improve the health and well-being of young mothers and their children.

Corruption and growth in Sub Saharan African countries: Do differences in government effectiveness matter?

Corruption remains a significant global concern and affects economic growth ( ). Despite extensive research on the relationship between corruption and economic growth in developed countries, the effects of corruption and governance on economic growth in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain unclear. This study aims to fill this gap in the literature by examining the impacts of corruption, government effectiveness ( ), and their joint interactive effects on economic growth in a panel of 37 countries in SSA from 2012 to 2022. The data were from multiple sources (the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and Transparency International) and analyzed using a two‑step generalized method of moments (SGMM) technique. The results of the SGMM demonstrate that corruption has a detrimental effect on the economic growth of countries in the SSA. Furthermore, the findings of the analysis reveal that government effectiveness significantly lowers the economic growth of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most importantly, the results of regression analysis indicate that the joint interactive effect of corruption and government effectiveness ( ) depresses economies in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is a novel finding. Therefore, this study recommends that in order to support the long-term economic growth of Sub-Saharan African nations, governments should create policies and strategies to combat corruption and improve institutional quality.

How gender and political ideology impact women-focused aid to sub-Saharan Africa

ABSTRACT Foreign aid plays a critical role in actualising pro-women outcomes in the Global South. However, there is a paucity of research on how gender and political ideology inform gender-oriented foreign aid to sub-Saharan countries. This study examines how gender and political ideology inform the trends of women-focused foreign aid donations from Australia, Canada, Finland, and Germany to sub-Saharan African nations from 2002 to 2016. During this period, government leaders and ministers in the donor countries were from different genders and political ideologies. The study reveals that female heads of government gave more women-focused aid to sub-Saharan Africa than male heads of government. The study also found that right-wing heads of government allocated more women-focused assistance to sub-Saharan Africa than left-wing politicians. This study points to the importance of the active role of female heads of government in effectively mainstreaming and furthering the idea of gender equality on a global scale.

Accessing the impact of poverty age groupings on carbon neutrality targets: scenarios from developing Sub Sahara African countries.

Sustainable development aims to both alleviate poverty and protect the environment. Previous research has explored the connection between poverty and carbon emissions. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, nearly half of the population lives below the international poverty line, hindering economic growth and sustainable development. Therefore, this current study aims to further explore different age groupings of poverty and economic growth relates to environmental pollution, in 43 Sub-Saharan African nations. This study addresses existing gaps by employing the Driscoll-Kraay (D-K) standard error technique and the method of moments quantile regression to examine the connections between variables, yielding significant findings. The results indicate that youth and middle age poverty has an inverse relationship with environmental pollution. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the critical importance of addressing poverty in the formulation of policies aimed at mitigating environmental pollution and promoting sustainable development in Sub-Saharan African countries. Insights from this research can inform policymakers and other stakeholders in designing more effective interventions, programs, and initiatives to combat both poverty and environmental degradation, ultimately leading to a better and more equitable environment.

Teachers Retention and Recruitment in Rural Areas in Tanzania: A Narrative Review Based on the Chinese Experience

A narrative review of the literature on the practices of teacher recruitment and retention in rural China, with an emphasis on identifying the tactics employed to do so, served as the basis for this qualitative study. It then showed Tanzania how similar strategies may be applied to guarantee the successful recruitment and retention of Math and Science teachers in rural areas. The study found that while China's position is not as dire as Tanzania's, especially for teachers of science and math, both countries struggle with teacher recruitment and retention in rural areas. This results from the several strategies China has implemented to ensure successful teacher recruitment and retention in both rural and urban areas. Nonetheless, the study has demonstrated that Tanzania, like other Sub-Saharan African nations, lacks a strong framework for teacher policies that connects teacher recruitment and retention. Additionally, Science and Math teachers in Tanzania are not motivated, which leads to a teacher shortage in rural and remote areas. The study, thus, recommends that Tanzania should learn from China through the following; - Firstly, development of policies related to rewards and incentives and, an increase in salary and promotions for science and mathematics teachers recruited in rural areas. Secondly, creating huge investments in urbanizing rural areas to attract and retain afresh employed science and mathematics teachers. Thirdly, the development of teacher exchange and rotation policy. Fourthly, encouraging more gifted form six graduates in science and mathematics to work as teachers in remote regions and providing them with free access to both online and offline higher education. In this regard Tanzania will be able to comprehend the 2030 World Education for Sustainable Development, the SDGs of the UN, the African Union objectives of 2063, and Tanzania Vision 2025. Ultimately, the study concludes that, despite Tanzania's potential to learn from China, several challenges and considerations must be taken into account. These include the need for robust data collection and monitoring systems to assess the impact of adaptive interventions, as well as the importance of engaging local communities and stakeholders in the design and implementation of relevant strategies. Additionally, is essential to recognize the cultural and contextual differences between China and Tanzania, and to adapt strategies in a way that aligns with the unique needs and realities of the Tanzanian education system. This may include considering factors such as community engagement, and local governance structures in the development of adaptive interventions. To carry out frequent orientations for recently employed science and math teachers in rural schools. To establish science and technology centers, agricultural research facilities and environmental conservation projects in rural areas that encourage teachers to engage and advance knowledge in their profession. Resources that are currently spent to train more arts teachers could instead be allocated to training more math and science teachers. Creation of an online learning environment for math and science teachers that links teachers in rural and urban schools for knowledge sharing.