Tertiary Level Of Education Research Articles

Internally Displaced Persons’ Experiences and the Predictors of Social Support and Adjustment to Displacement in Northeast Nigeria: A Mixed-Method Study

Boko Haram insurgency is a significant problem in Nigeria, leading to the loss of lives and properties and the displacement of hundreds of people. This study explored the internally displaced persons (IDPs) adjustment experiences and the predictors (socioeconomic factors and religiosity scale) of social support for adjustment to displacement in Northeast Nigeria. A mixed-method approach guided this study. One hundred and eighty participants completed a survey on religiosity and perceived social support, of which 15 were qualitatively interviewed. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using multiple regression and thematic analysis. Older (B = 0.407), male (B= −1.203), married participants (B = −1.890), being Muslim (B = 0.136), having high (secondary and tertiary) education level (B = 0.423), and income (B = 0.019), were significantly associated with receiving social support for adjustment to displacement. Across the four dimensions of the religiosity scale, only preoccupation (B = 0.49) was significantly associated with social support among IDPs. Six themes emerged from the experience of IDPs regarding social support, and they include: adapting in camps and not adjusting is the ideal concept; men adapt faster than women; younger capers adapt faster than older campers; concern for their children’s education fosters adaptation; family/friends were emotionally/financially supportive and limited government support. Some of these predictors are modifiable, such as religious preoccupation, social support, income, and education; therefore, strategies to leverage these modifiable predictors in reducing the impact of displacement on individual’s health and wellbeing are recommended.

Correlates of adherence to a posteriori derived dietary patterns of an Italian sample of adults

Abstract There is emerging evidence that the Italian population is switching away from the traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern towards unhealthy eating habits. We derived adults’ dietary patterns (DP) using a principal component analysis (PCA) on food groups intake of a representative sample of the Italian population (INRAN-SCAI 2005-2006), and correlated diet adherence scores with sociodemographic characteristics through multivariable linear regressions. After PCA, “High-fat”, “Western”, “Health-conscious”, “Italian, traditional” and “Junk, out of meal” DPs were retained. Female gender (β = 0.5103; p < 0.001) showed an association with higher adherence scores on the Health conscious pattern. Conversely, being female was associated with lower Z-scores on the High fat (β=-0.1849; p = 0.024), Western (β= -0.0711;p= 0.004) and Italian traditional (β=-0.4799;p<0.001) patterns. Age (β per one year increase=-0.0077;p<0.001) was associated with lower adherence scores in the Western and in the Junk, out of meal (β=-0.0078;p<0.001) pattern. Having either a secondary (β=-0.1301;p=0.016) or tertiary (β=-0.2156;p= 0.001) education level were independently associated with lower dietary Z- scores in the Italian traditional” pattern. Finally, there was wide regional variation, coming from different regions predicted adherence to different DPs. A substantial share of our sample showed unhealthy eating habits, which is consistent with the latest Italian dietary trends. Key messages • Future policies to improve diet quality at the national level should promote food literacy interventions targeting the differences between women and man among different age groups. • This work will provide the basis to investigate the environmental impact of higher pattern adherence scores.

Content-Based Instruction in The Preparatory Program of an English-Medium University: Reflections & Practices

In English preparatory programs of English medium instruction (EMI) universities, it is significant to give content-based instruction to students related to their majors. By doing so, students can both improve in English and increase their knowledge and experience in their field of study and become more prepared for their future studies. On the other hand, it is not so common in the tertiary-level English preparatory programs in Türkiye to arrange curricula related to students’ majors. This study aims to integrate translation-related training and practices into the preparatory program of Translation and Interpreting major students studying at an English-medium university through a project-based framework and test the perceived effectiveness of these applications through students’ reflection papers and translation outcomes. The data analyzed by qualitative content analysis show that integrating meaningful and purposeful content related to the students’ majors into English preparatory programs may lead to a productive process serving students’ needs.
 Keywords: Content-based instruction, English preparatory programs, English-medium instruction (EMI), Tertiary-level education, Translation in English language teaching

Poor Cervical Cancer Knowledge and Awareness among Women and Men in the Eastern Cape Province Rural Community.

Cervical cancer knowledge and awareness is low among South Africans despite high cervical cancer prevalence. This study aimed to investigate knowledge about the symptoms, signs, risk factors, and methods of prevention of cervical cancer among women and men in the rural Eastern Cape province, South Africa. This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the rural community of the OR Tambo municipality in the Eastern Cape province. 252 women and men aged ≥ 25 years were randomly recruited. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires. A knowledge score was categorized as "good" if it was ≥65%. The majority of participants (69.8%) were women. Only a proportion of 25.6% (51/199) of the participants had good overall knowledge about cervical cancer, and the majority of these (84.3%) were women. Women previously screened for cervical cancer had a significantly higher median cervical knowledge score than those who had never been screened (p = 0.002). Only among women, good knowledge about cervical cancer was associated with a tertiary education level (OR: 3.17, 95% CI: 1.08-9.57, p = 0.044) and high household income (OR: 3.40, 95% CI: 1.24-9.75, p = 0.027). Both women and men in rural Eastern Cape had limited knowledge about the risk factors and prevention methods of cervical cancer. Public health strategies to improve knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer among both men and women are necessary.

Willingness of Voluntary Counseling and Testing Among Long Distance Truck Drivers: A Window of Opportunity in Control of Retroviral Disease

Objective: To evaluate the factors influencing the practice of voluntary counselling and testing among long-distance truck drivers as it affects the spread of retroviral disease.
 Design: This was a quantitative cross-sectional study conducted in the major bus terminals in Enugu State, Nigeria. A questionnaire-based tool was used to collect data from a population of adult bus drivers.
 Setting: It was conducted at the 3 main motor parks in Enugu metropolis from January 2019 – March 2020. 
 Participants: 500 long-distance truck drivers aged 19-65 years.
 Intervention: The knowledge and practices of the participants were assessed using a semi-structured interview guide. They were interviewed on various aspects of HIV/AIDS.
 Main Outcome Measures: Knowledge and practices. On Knowledge and practice performance scale rating; < 50% is poor, 50 -75% is fair, and > 75% is good.
 Results: Among the five hundred (500) long-distance truck drivers (LDTD) studied 68.0% showed a fair knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The prevalent high-risk behaviour was multiple sexual partners (73.2%). The practice of voluntary counselling and testing was poor, as (17.0%) had practised it; however, their risk perception was high at (76.0%). Fortunately, there was also a high willingness to screen 302 (60.4%) which was significantly higher in those with a tertiary level of education (100%) and the married participants (75.8 %) (χ2=174.4, p < 0.01).
 Conclusion: There was a high-risk perception in this study population with a high willingness to be tested. We hereby recommend regular screening service at the motor packs of truck drivers in Enugu State.

Gender Inequality and Foreign Direct Investment: Empirical Evidence from Asian Countries

In Asian countries, the relationship between gender inequality and foreign direct investment (FDI) is a sensitive topic. Due to labor market limits and the advantageous effect of women's empowerment, gender inequality is thought to have a detrimental impact on economic development and FDI. This study aims to look into the influence of gender disparity on FDI inflows to Asian countries. Our data includes 43 Asian nations and spans the years 1990 to 2018. We discover that reduced tertiary-level education and health gaps play a decisive role in FDI inflow into Asian countries using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). The findings are crucial to devising policies to minimize the gap in gender equality and promote FDI.JEL Classification: J01, J10

How Far Is Progress? Gender Dimensions of Student Enrollment in Higher Education in Ghana: The Case of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Despite the World Declaration on Higher Education for the 21st Century that education is the ultimate support of human rights, and that access and participation remain key catalysts to accelerating equal educational opportunities for all, females continue to trail their male counterparts in educational outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa. This study focuses on the Ghanaian context and assesses the gender dimensions of student enrollment in higher education, highlighting the disparities therein. We adopt a typical case study design, and a mixed method approach, involving quantitative analysis of student enrollment data, qualitative interviews, and focus group discussions with administrators and students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. We find generally low female participation across all colleges of the university, except for the College of Health Sciences. We also find low female participation across three dimensions: qualified applicants, admissions, and enrollment. The causes of disparity in the dimensions of student enrollment are rooted in four main factors: institutional, socio-cultural, economic, and awareness of STEM policy and opportunities. The present findings have implications for the implementation of STEM and other gender policies at both the pre-tertiary and tertiary levels of education across sub-Saharan Africa.

Exploring the Efficacy of Video Project Assignments in English Language Learning through the Lens of Tertiary-Level EFL Students

Convenient methods for the instruction of foreign languages are constantly in quest as a consequence of incessant technological breakthroughs at a rapid speed. Video-making project has turned out to be a prominent technique that allows learners to be actively involved in the target language and utilize L2 in real-world situations with “intake” they obtained from in-class setting. English language students’ perceptions concerning the effectiveness of these multimodal resources in their learning experience as non-examination assessment tools have not, however, been the objective of many studies within online EFL contexts. Hence, this study was directed at seeking the relationship between EFL learners’ perceptions of the efficacy of group project assignments on their L2 competence, language learning process, and implementations in online classes. To that end, 75 sophomore Turkish students in tertiary-level education enrolled in a compulsory online module of English partook in the research by filling out a 17-item questionnaire. The results portray the positive relations between their perceptions towards the influences of those projects on language proficiency and target language learning phases, whereas a significant relationship was not detected between their implementations in online settings and contributions to the L2 learning process. Nevertheless, the optimistic approach of EFL students to exploit these projects as effective tools for English proficiency mediated the link between these two foregoing sub-dimensions. Accordingly, some suggestions were provided for future research directions.

Implications and Implementation of Biological Philosophy on Biological Topics: Plant Growth and Development

This article comprehensively discusses growth and development in plants, explaining the differences between these two concepts, as well as their implications in the world of education, especially at the junior high school (SMP), senior high school (SMA) and tertiary education (PT) levels. Growth is explained as an increase in the size and number of cells which is quantitative, while development is a process towards maturity which is qualitative. Growth and development in plants are interrelated and occur continuously. In middle school, students understand the various systems in plant life and the importance of growth and development. In high school, they analyze the relationship between internal and external factors and growth and development processes and carry out experiments related to external factors in plants. The College provides students with the opportunity to conduct in-depth research on plant growth and development, developing their metacognitive abilities. This article highlights the importance of integrating plant growth and development concepts in educational curricula to create deeper understanding and better quality learning.

Associations between socio-demographic characteristics of pregnant women and birth outcome: The Nutritional status of Expectant Mothers and their newborn Infants study.

Low socio-economic status is associated with poor birth outcomes, however, few studies on this topic have been conducted in South Africa. We determined associations between socio-demographic variables of pregnant women and birth outcome in their offspring. This study was nested in a prospective cohort study conducted at an antenatal clinic at a regional hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Questionnaires on socio-demographic information were completed on 682 pregnant women in a structured interview. Post-delivery, 331 participants provided the Road to Health Booklets for 347 infants, in which birth data were recorded. Associations between socio-demographic variables and birth outcome (defined as premature delivery or low length-for-age or low weight-for-length at birth) were investigated. Logistic regression with backward selection (p < 0.05) was used to select independent factors that were significantly associated with birth outcome. Variables with a p-value of <0.15 on bivariate analysis were considered for inclusion in the model. Poor birth outcome was observed in 36.3% (116/320) of women. The odds of experiencing poor birth outcome were lower for women who owned a stove versus those who did not (OR 0.11, 95% CI: 0.02-0.67), and higher for women with grade 8-10 (OR 5.84, 95% CI: 1.90-17.91) or grade 10-12 (OR 4.33, 95% CI: 1.50-12.49) as their highest level of education versus tertiary education. The odds of experiencing poor birth outcomes were also higher for those employed part-time (OR 2.55, 95% CI: 1.10-5.93) versus full-time and/or self-employed. Our findings confirm that the presence of basic amenities such as a stove, better education and employment improve the chances of better birth outcomes. Early screening of pregnant women for the identification of socio-demographic risk factors that may impact on birth outcome is recommended.

Creative work in higher education institutions

Creativity at the tertiary level of education refers to analyzing creativity in higher education institutions through segments such as creativity among teachers and students and creativity in the business/functioning of the institution, which is one of the goals of this paper. A chapter on increasing the level of creativity in organizations/faculties was specially presented, with a special emphasis on increasing creativity with the help of creative techniques. The focus is also on the question of how management can encourage creativity in faculties, without excluding employees and their creative behavior in organizations. It tries to show the specificity of creativity in higher education institutions; do teachers and students use creative strategies in the teaching process and what is needed to encourage creativity in higher education institutions.

Predictors of Diabetes Health Literacy and Numeracy Among Urbanized Older Adults in Malaysia

Introduction: Diabetes health literacy and numeracy are health indicators of increasing attention to empower diabetic self-management. This study aimed to explore the predictors of diabetes health literacy and numeracy among urbanized older adults. Methods: A total of 408 older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, aged 50 years and older were recruited using stratified random sampling from eight health clinics in Petaling district. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to measure knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, self-care behavioral skills, diabetes health literacy and numeracy related to diabetes mellitus, as well as the sociodemographic background. Multivariable linear regression was used to understand and rank the predictors of diabetes health literacy and numeracy among the respondents. Results: The total mean score for diabetes health literacy was 53.74 ± 0.60, which was significantly predicted by age (β = -0.21, p=0.01), secondary (β =12.21, p&lt;0.001) and tertiary (β = 16.37, p&lt;0.001) education levels, non-Malays (β = -5.83, p&lt;0.001), being employed (β = -2.77,p=0.02), have other comorbidities (β = -3.02, p=0.003), diabetes related self-efficacy (β = -0.37, p=0.02) and self-care behavioral skills (β =0.36, p&lt;0.001). Meanwhile, the total mean score for diabetes health numeracy was 1.50 ± 0.13 and was significantly predicted by age (β=-0.15, p&lt;0.001), secondary (β=1.09, p=0.002) and tertiary (β=2.24, p&lt;0.001) education levels, and attitude towards diabetes (β=0.16, p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Very low diabetic numeracy was observed, which was predicted by increased age, low education and low attitude score towards managing diabetes. Hence promoting diabetic numeracy should be targeted among older adults with identified risks.

Factors of engagement: Secondary Pasifika student learning

Education within Aotearoa has not effectively engaged Pasifika students (Ministry of Education, 2023a), and has led to Pasifika students being less likely to continue to tertiary level education (Ministry of Education, 2023b). This review focuses on the published literature about factors that improve the conditions of schooling in Aotearoa to facilitate higher levels of engagement in Pasifika students. For this paper, 20 studies that were carried out in Aotearoa secondary schools with Pasifika students were collected. These studies were then analysed to understand what factors increased their engagement in secondary school. The findings suggest that student-teacher relationships, teachers’ perceptions of Pasifika students, and effective implementation of culturally responsive pedagogies have the greatest impact on Pasifika student engagement in their secondary school career.

Sociodemographic factors associated with depression in people living with epilepsy in Kano, Nigeria

Background: A high level of co-morbidity exist between epilepsy and depressive disorder, and in fact it has been found to be the commonest psychiatric disorder in people with epilepsy, with consequence of huge psychosocial burden and poor quality of life. Sociodemographic factors that have been implicated in the association between depression and epilepsy include age, female gender, unemployment, low level of education amongst others.&#x0D; Objective: To determine the sociodemographic factors associated with depression in people living with epilepsy (PWE) in Kano, Nigeria.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: In this cross- sectional study, two hundred and fifty- five consecutive patients with epilepsy attending the outpatient epilepsy clinics of Kumbotso Health Centre and Neurology/Psychiatry clinics of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano were recruited.&#x0D; Inclusion criteria were age above 18years and being seizure free for two weeks. Patients with severe neurological and cognitive deficits were excluded. Sociodemographic characteristics were obtained using a structured proforma. Diagnosis of depression was made using the M.I.N.I. International Neuropsychiatric Interview.&#x0D; Results: The age range of participants was 18-76 years with a mean of 32 years (SD=1.31). Majority of participants (57.6%) were males. Prevalence of depression was 20.4%. There was no difference in the mean age of depressed and non-depressed participants. Females had a higher frequency of depression (32%) and association between gender and depression was statistically significant (p ˂ 0.001). Being divorced/widowed and having tertiary level of education were more associated with depression.&#x0D; Conclusion: Depression is common in PWE with being female a significantly associated factor.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education: A New Curriculum Paradigm in the Gambia

This paper discusses on the new curriculum approach being pursued in The Gambia, which is introducing innovation and entrepreneurship courses in all educational programmes at tertiary and higher education levels. The Government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) has in 2021 taken up a policy decision to introduce through and embedded approach innovation and entrepreneurship modules in all educational courses at tertiary and higher education levels (MoHERST, 2022). The paper relying on existing literature and policy documents discusses on the education structure of the Gambia and the qualifications frameworks in place to guide the deployment of this new curriculum approach, identifying the collaboration pathways with industry actors and in alignment with international best practices (NAQAA, 2022). The paper further elaborates on the role of each of the actors of the innovation ecosystem and how they coordinate in promoting the development and implementation of the new curriculum in The Gambia. It has detailed how the academic institutions, industry actors, regulators, students, as well as communities interrelate in nurturing and pursuing innovation and entrepreneurship skills towards strengthening the innovation ecosystem in The Gambia. This paper further discusses on the potential benefits of the new curriculum approach and the impact it will create in supporting and ensuring a sustained socio-economic development is achieved in The Gambia. Finally, the paper concluded by proposing policy recommendations for adoption in enriching and upgrading the new curriculum approach in a bid to improving its impact in the overall national development drive in the Gambia.

Teaching critical thinking to Chinese students in English as a foreign language writing class: A review

&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Critical thinking (CT) is important for English as a foreign language (EFL) writing. However, the EFL writings of Chinese students are usually negatively commented on in terms of CT in writing. The study reviewed relevant studies on how CT in writing was taught to Chinese EFL learners at the tertiary education level. It shows most EFL writing teachers adopted existing western CT definitions in a general knowledge background and mainly used teacher-centered assessment techniques to teach CT. Students’ CT development was mostly assessed by self-designed CT assessments. Facing the globalization of CT teaching, the study thus updates the assessment techniques to meet the increasing needs of CT teaching in EFL writing in China. Relevant suggestions are also given to education practitioners.&lt;/span&gt;

Breast cancer screening and its associating factors among hungarian women aged 45–65: a cross-sectional study based on the European health interview surveys from 2009 to 2019

BackgroundIn 2020, globally 685,000 people died, and 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer. The main cause of cancer deaths among women is breast cancer, which account for 15.5% of all cancer deaths. Most of these could have been avoided with timely diagnosis.The aim of our study was to determine the proportion of breast screening participation in Hungary, and to identify possible factors that may influence breast screening attendance.MethodsOur data were gathered from the cross-sectional European Health Interview Surveys conducted in Hungary in 2009, 2014, and 2019. In terms of categorical characteristics, Pearson’s chi-square test was performed to evaluate the differences between people who have attended breast screening within two years and who have only attended more than two years ago. To determine the factors that may have an impact on the uptake of screening, generalized linear model with logit link function regarding binomial probability distribution was executed.ResultsThe responses of 2626 women between the age 45-65 were included in our study. In 2009 85% (n=741), in 2014 90% (n=851) and in 2019 87% (n=699) of the respondents claimed to have ever attended a breast screening in their life. In 2009 68% (n=594), in 2014 66% (n=630) and in 2019 64% (n=515) said that they have taken part in breast screening within two years (p=0.331). From 2014 to 2019 (AOR=0.72 [0.57-0.89]) the chance of attending breast screening was decreasing. We observed that both secondary (AOR=1.97 [1.60-2.44]) and tertiary educational level (AOR=2.23 [1.67-3.00]), higher perceived income (AOR=1.54 [1.25-1.90]), and more frequent meeting with the doctor (AOR=1.77 [1.39-2.27]) and with the specialist (AOR=1.88 [1.54-2.28]) appeared as protective factors of breast screening attendance.ConclusionsOur results show that the lifetime prevalence of breast screening participation is high, however the recommended biennial rate is relatively low. To increase the participation rate, various initiatives would be needed, especially for women in identified risk groups, which are lower educational level, lower perceived income, and less frequent meeting with the doctor and with the specialist.

Pattern of Breastfeeding Adopted By Working Class Nursing Mothers in South-South Nigeria

Breastfeeding is one of the important and natural mode of feeding a child and it should be encouraged in every society irrespective of your occupational status. Every woman owes a duty to breastfed their child to ensure a healthy living. This study is to ascertain the Pattern of Breastfeeding Adopted by Working Class Nursing Mothers in South-South Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study involving 320 working class nursing mothers who were within the age of 18 to 47 years. A well-structured questionnaire was administered to participants. Each participant had one questionnaire to fill appropriately and independently after instructions were given to them by the Research Assistants. The study lasted for a period of 6 months. The research findings revealed that 20(6.30%) were within 18-22 years, 40(12.50%) were within 23-27years, 50(15.60%) were within 28-32 years, 120(37.60%) were within 33-37 years, 60(18.80%) were within 38-42 years while 30(9.40%) were within 43-47 years. The study also revealed the educational status of the participants which shows that 50(15.60%) had primary level of education, 80(25.00%) had secondary level of education, while 190(59.40%) had tertiary level of education respectively. The occupational distribution of the respondents shows that 80(25.00%) were farmers, 100(31.30%) were business women, and 140(43.80%) were civil servants. 300(93.80%) of the participants were nursing mothers whereas 20(6.30%) were not nursing mothers. 300(93.8%) of the participants agreed that they are aware of exclusive breastfeeding and 20(6.3%) said no awareness. The findings also revealed that 250(78.10%) of the participants do not breastfed their child / children while 70(21.90%) agreed that they do. 20(6.30%) of the respondents agreed that they carried out exclusive breastfeeding and 300(93.80%) did not. 280(87.50%) of the participants who are working class women said they preferred non-breastfeeding methods of child’s nutrition.

Implementation of 21st Century Skills in EFL Classroom: Perceptions of Lecturers and Students

Twenty-first century skills refer to a broad set of skills that are critically important in the educational system to meet the complex and rapid changes around the world. Of particular concern in the context of Afghanistan is the failure to produce graduates with the essential competencies necessary for success in the workplace. In education, incorporating these skills is important to meet the current and future demands of society. This study investigates Afghan lecturers’ and students’ perceptions toward the implementation of 21st century skills in EFL classrooms. Quantitative approach was used, whereby data were collected through questionnaires from 197 participants at three public universities in Afghanistan. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25 was used for descriptive and inferential analyses. The findings revealed that all of the eight 21st century skills were implemented to some degree in the EFL classrooms. In addition, the level of implementation varied between key skills, subcategories, and specific practices listed within each domain whereby none of the skills were fully and consistently incorporated into the classroom. The findings of this study will provide EFL lecturers and students, educationists, and curriculum developers with insights into implementing 21st century skills at tertiary level education.

Virtual Reality as Experiential Learning to Promote STEM-DRR in Tertiary Education

Efforts and discourses of the need to integrate disaster education into a science curriculum for university students in Indonesia are well documented. However, lecturers need more room to introduce Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in a way that involves students as experiential learners. Integrating DRR into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects is a crucial point. The current study used virtual reality (VR) as a pedagogical tool for learning through experience to promote STEM-DRR at tertiary levels of education. This experimental study aimed to determine the effects of VR use on students' experiential learning based on the VR online training developed activities. The methods for data collection included observation and survey. Ten participants were in the final year of their study and were recruited based on their interest in using VR media for their thesis. The results showed that half of the participants understood the training content, and 40% were classified as knowledgeable before training. In addition, significant contributions to the learning process were observed in training, where half participants were satisfied with the new skills attained, and 80% of the participants argued that the training was beneficial to their final projects. Thus, in the present study integrating STEM-DRR into the VR training content to promote students' awareness of disaster risk is considered successful. In conclusion, the results suggest that technology-enhanced learning supports distance learning and is proven economical and efficient.