Western Province Research Articles

Barriers to Entrepreneurial Intentions of Rural Women: A Case Study in North Western Province, Sri Lanka

Barriers to Entrepreneurial Intentions of Rural Women: A Case Study in North Western Province, Sri Lanka

Overweight and its Associated Risk Factors among Students in Tertiary Institutions of Learning in Mongu District of Western Province, Zambia; A cross-sectional Survey.

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are key public health issues in many high-income countries and have become a major public health concern affecting all ages, including adolescents in low-income and middle-income countries. This study determined the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their associated factors among undergraduate students at colleges and universities in the Mongu district of the Western Province of Zambia.
 Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Undergraduate students aged 18 to 26 years were sampled from two colleges and one university in Mongu. Data was collected electronically by trained research assistants using a structured questionnaire using Kobo Collect software. Data was analysed using Stata version 14 software. The analysis included descriptive statistics, using counts, frequencies, percentages, means and medians depending on the distribution of the data. Chi-squared tests of association, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression were done to test for association between overweight and independent variables. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
 Results: A total of 330 students were captured in the survey; over half of the respondents were female students 214 (64.85%), while 116 (35.15%) were male respondents. Body Mass Index (BMI) showed that 21 (6.8%) were underweight, 208 (63.0%) had normal weight, 76 (23.0%) were overweight, and 25 (7.6%) were obese. Factors associated with overweight and obesity included female sex aOR 1.68 (95%CI 1.02 – 2.76), age and alcohol intake.
 Conclusions: A third of the students were either overweight or obese. Sex, age and alcohol intake were significantly associated with overweight and obesity among students. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is high among young adults, and this calls for early interventions in learning institutions to combat obesity.
 Keywords: Overweight, obesity, body mass index, prevalence, diet, sex.

Developing Trip Generation and Attraction Models Using High-Frequency Proxy Data

The attraction and generation of a trip play a crucial role in transport planning and forecasting of trips. Multiple linear regression (MLR) is the most popular method of calculating trip attractions (TA) and trip generations (TG) to produce a distribution that can be used to forecast trips with updated values of independent variables such as electricity consumption, no of households, area of the land use etc. Literature shows that the surveys require independent variables to be updated; making them expensive and time consuming. This study aims to develop an MLR model for TA and TG based on available survey data from 2013 for Western Province, Sri Lanka and to update those independent variables using High Frequency (HF) proxy data for the predicted year (2019). Data from HF proxy sources such as electricity consumption, GPS customer points, and Landsat satellite imagery data have been used to update the independent variables of TG and TA for 2019. In the initial stage of this research, data from a home visit survey conducted in 2013 and land use data from the Western Province of Sri Lanka were used to develop the MLR model for TG and TA. A correlation and a regression analysis were performed using these surveyed data. According to the study, the MLR model for TG for home-based work trips has an r2 value of 0.79 and TA for general purposes (including shops and businesses) and industrial has an r2 value of 0.74 and 0.79, respectively, indicates the strong relationship between the considered variables to predict TG and TA. The model is validated with 2013 survey data and would be helpful for real-time estimation of the TG and TA of each zone.

The Spatiotemporal Impact of Digital Economy on High-Quality Agricultural Development: Evidence from China

China’s high-quality economic development is strongly supported by the high-quality development of agriculture, and the digital economy has emerged as a key driver for promoting shared prosperity and high-quality economic development. Against this backdrop, investigating the connection between high-quality agricultural development and the digital economy holds significant importance. This study utilized the entropy-weighted TOPSIS model to evaluate comprehensive evaluation indicators of the two according to panel data from 30 provinces in China between 2011 and 2021. Subsequently, GIS spatial analysis and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) were employed to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution features and spatial correlations. Finally, the spatiotemporal geographically weighted regression (GTWR) model was constructed to examine the spatiotemporal impact of the digital economy on the advancement of high-quality agricultural growth. The results indicate that: (1) from 2011 to 2021, China’s high-quality agricultural development and digital economy both demonstrated a general increasing trend. In terms of spatial distribution, there were significant spatial variations, with a general trend of “Southeast is higher, whereas the Northwest is lower”. The regions with significant value were primarily clustered in the coastal areas in the east and several provincial capitals. (2) Both of the two exhibited significant global spatial self-correlation, and there were also significant spatiotemporal clustering effects in high-quality agricultural growth, gradually forming a high-value cluster centered around Shanghai and a low-value cluster centered around western provinces. (3) The digital economy positively influences the enhancement of high-quality agricultural development, demonstrating notable spatial and temporal heterogeneity. In contrast to the southeastern areas, the influence is more pronounced in the northern and central-western areas.

Characteristics of Travel Mode Choice of Families with Children Below Five Years Old

Travel mode choices for children under five years old have not been fully explored in past research studies The main objectives of this study were to identify travel characteristics of children aged below five years, travel mode choices for them, and investigate the factors affecting their selection. A survey using a questionnaire was conducted with parents in the Western Province of Sri Lanka to collect data. It revealed that private cars as the most frequent vehicle choice followed by public buses. The Multinomial Logistic Regression analysis identified the age of the child, distance, income, type of vehicle owned, and walking time to the nearest public transport station as the main factors that affect the travel mode choice of children under five years old. Also, the habit of securing the child and the child’s familiarity with the use of a car seat when traveling in a private car were identified as factors that affect travel safety. The recommendations were provided to policy makers, parents, and the public in order for children to make safer, comfortable, economical, and sustainable trips. KEYWORDS: Travel Mode Choice, Multinomial Logistic Regression Analysis, child travel safety, child travel behavior

Does Gender Moderate the Mediating Effects of Public Opinion on Relationships Between Media Polarization and Voter Intention? A Simple Question and a Complex Answer

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify whether there is a moderating effect of gender on the mediating effects of public opinion on the relationship between media polarization and voter intention in Sri Lanka. Method: To achieve the research objectives, this study used the quantitative survey method with a self-administered closed-end questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale. The sample size was 500, and the sample was selected from registered voters in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Results and Conclusion: In the data analysis, it was found that the government news media and privately owned news media do not have a direct effect on voter intention. However, the government and privately owned news media shaped public opinion toward voter intentions. The data analysis of this study also revealed that public opinion also negatively affects voter intention. This effect is also moderated by gender, as the results showed. However, this study found that gender does not moderate the mediating effect of public opinion on the relationship between media polarization and voter intention. Implication of the research: The findings of this study highlight the importance of controlling the biased political behavior of media owners during elections by minimizing media cross-ownership and encouraging media horizontal ownership. This study further emphasizes that increasing the voter's political literacy can prevent the negative effects of factors such as gender on voter intention. Originality/value: This study provides insight into how media affects voter intention through public opinion according to its ownership interests and agendas. This study also highlights that public opinion is a mediating variable in the electoral context. This study confirms that there is no moderating effect of gender on the mediating effect of public opinion. It adds new knowledge to the public opinion research literature.

Adherence to Vitamin D Supplementation Recommendations for Breastfed Infants and Young Children: An Analysis of Canadian Community Health Survey Data Cycles From 2015 to 2018

BackgroundIn Canada, nutrition policy, as outlined in the Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants recommendations, includes a daily vitamin D supplement of 10 μg (400 IU) for breastfed infants and young children to support adequate vitamin D status. ObjectivesThis study aimed to report on adherence to vitamin D supplementation recommendations for breastfed infants (≤12 months); and for children breastfed >12 mo. MethodsCanadian Community Health Survey (paired-cycles 2015/2016 and 2017/2018) maternal experiences data for infants born 2012–2018 who received any breastmilk formed the sample (n = 7079). Whether the infant was given a vitamin D supplement (yes/no) and the frequency (daily/almost every day, 1–2/wk, or <1/wk) were surveyed. Weighted data (95% CI) were summarized according to breastfeeding history (exclusive to 6 mo and continuing; partial to 6 mo and continuing; and stopped ≤6 mo). Correlates of supplement adherence were explored using logistic regression. ResultsOverall, 87.1% (95% CI: 85.9%, 88.3%) of participants reported giving their infant (≤12 mo) a vitamin D supplement, and of these, 83.3% (95% CI: 81.9%, 84.7%) did so daily/almost every day, 12.4% (95% CI: 11.1%, 13.7%) did so 1–2/wk, and 4.3% (95% CI: 3.6%, 5.0%) did so <1/wk. Lower adjusted odds of adherence were observed among participants reporting: stopped breastfeeding ≤6 mo, lower education or income, recent immigration, and overweight prepregnancy body mass index; higher odds of adherence were observed in the western provinces. Regarding mothers of children >12 mo and breastfed (n = 2312), 58.0% (95% CI: 54.9%, 61.1%) gave a vitamin D supplement daily/almost every day. ConclusionsAdherence to providing a vitamin D supplement to breastfed infants is high in Canada. Nonetheless, we estimate that ∼27% of mothers are nonadherent to daily/almost every day administration of a vitamin D supplement and that adherence declines in children breastfed >12 mo. Further promotion to support uptake of the current guidance may be necessary, particularly for parents of recent immigration or lower socioeconomic status.

A brooch with a name stamp from Győr-Ménfőcsanak-Széles-földek (Pannonia, Hungary)

Name stamps occasionally appear on early Roman Period bow brooches, such as Aucissa brooches, Nertomarus brooches, brooches with side knobs (Scharnierflügelfibeln), and rosette brooches (Kragenfibeln, Distelfibeln, Flache Distelfibeln). Aucissa brooches are known from the territory of the whole Roman Empire and were produced in multiple workshops, while the other types were typical of the western parts, having been manufactured primarily in the western provinces. According to current research, the 55 bow brooches from Győr-Ménfőcsanak-Széles-földek belong to different western types. The only stamped brooch is a fragmentary Nertomarus brooch with an abbreviated NERTOMARVS stamp (NORV). This brooch could reach Pannonia from the place of production in different ways. One option is that the brooch travelled with its owner, a military person, or someone who accompanied the troops.

COVID-19 Chest Manifestation on CT Scan and Associated Risk Factors for Developing Pulmonary Fibrosis.

This retrospective study describes the imaging findings on chest computed tomography (CT) scans of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients as well as the prevalence of pulmonary fibrosis and the potential risk factors for the disease. One of the major COVID-19 centers in the western province of Saudi Arabia,the King Abdullah Medical Complex in Jeddah, was the site of this study. All adult COVID-19 patients who got a CT chest scan between January 2020 and April 2022 were included in the trial. The imaging findings and pulmonary severity scores (PSS) were obtained from the patients' CT chest. Patients were divided into two groups according to the evidence of fibrotic-like lung changes; clinical and radiological data between the two groups were subsequently compared. Data from the patients' electronic records was collected. The average patient age was 56.4 years, and most (73.5%) patients were men. Two-thirds of the patients had comorbidities (69.1%). CT scans revealed that diffuse lung infiltration is reported in 61% of cases, followed by lower lobes in 19.9%. Ground glass opacity (94.1%), consolidation (76.5%), septal thickening, and/or reticulation (24.4%) were the main chest findings during the initial CT scan. Fibrotic-like lung changes were developed in 9.6% of patients. Patients known to have a positive history of hypertension (p-value = 0.031) and coronary artery disease (CAD) (p-value = 0.011) were found to be significantly more likely to develop lung fibrosis. The patients' pneumonia severity score was significantly higher among the lung fibrotic patients (p-value = 0.026). Also, patients who were diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis stayed longer in the hospital (p-value 0.001). Sex and age did not correlate significantly with risk of lung fibrosis. Pulmonary fibrosis was observed in 9.6% of COVID-19 patients. A close follow-up of patients with severe pneumonia, prolonged hospitalization, and pre-existing CAD and hypertension was necessary, as pulmonary fibrosis was more likely to occur as a result of these factors. There is a need for a thorough, long-term investigation with a large sample size.

Prevalence and associated factors of substance use disorders among people who use drugs: a population-based cross-sectional study in the Western Province of Sri Lanka

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of substance use disorders and associated factors among people who use drugs in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, using a respondent-driven sampling technique. Sampling was initiated with 20 seeds and peers were recruited by peers through handing out coupons. The number of recruited participants was proportional to the estimated number of people who use drugs in each district of Western Province. A total of 870 people who use drugs participated in the study. A validated Sinhala version of the Drug Abuse Screening Test was used to assess the drug use severity among the participants and a pre-tested validated questionnaire was used to collect data to assess the associated factors. RDS Analyst software version 0.64 was used to assess frequency estimates. To assess factors associated with substance use disorders multiple logistic regression analysis was performed using SPSS software version 22. Results: The median age of the study sample was 39 years. The incidence of substance use disorder among the sample was 88.4%. Being employed, using heroin as a psychoactive drug, using drugs daily, using more than one drug, being a heavy alcohol user, buying drugs, stealing money or exchanging goods to get drugs, spending a substantial amount per month on drugs (Rs &gt; 40,001), past or present medical history of tuberculosis and those who had disclosed their drug use behavior to their immediate family were found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of having a substance use disorder. Conclusion: A high prevalence of substance use disorder was found in the sample with multiple economic, behavioral, and health-related risk factors.

Factors Influencing Nurse Interns’ Competence in Physical Assessment for Adult Patients

Context: Physical assessment is essential to the overall health assessment, constituting the nursing process's first phase. The physical assessment competence of nurse interns has been observed as insufficient in evaluating and solving patients' health problems in the clinical environment. This insufficiency has negatively influenced their ability to make better clinical decisions for patients, thus contributing to poor quality of patient care.&#x0D; Aim: To investigate factors influencing nurse interns' competence in physical assessment for adult patients.&#x0D; Methods: Cross-sectional analytical research design guided the conduct of the study. The sample comprised 117 nurse interns in health facilities in the Western region of Kenya. Data collection was done using a self-administered questionnaire and health assessment observation checklist. The study was done in level 5 and 6 referral hospitals in the Western region of Kenya, covering the former Western, Nyanza, and Rift-valley provinces. These comprised Kericho, Nakuru, Kitale, Kakamega, Bungoma, and Kisii County Referral hospitals; Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospitals.&#x0D; Results: The overall assessment showed that 35% (n=41) of nurse interns were competent in physical assessment with a score of 90% and above in physical assessment skills, while 65% (n=76) were not competent. Factors that were statistically associated with higher competence scores (≥ 90%) included the year of completion between 2016 – 2019 (OR: 3.1; 95% CI [1.1-8.5]; p=0.02), longer internship period between 9–12 months (OR: 0.2; 95% CI [0.1-0.5]; p=0.0002), more than seven months previous clinical experience before internship (OR: 0.4; 95% CI [0.2-1.0]; p=0.05), self-confidence in performing physical assessment accurately (OR: 4.5; 95% CI [1.9-10.5]; p=0.003) and motivation to learn more and perform physical assessment (OR: 0.4; 95% CI [0.2-1.0]; p= 0.042).&#x0D; Conclusion: Nurse interns' competence in physical assessment skills is low, as shown by around one-third of study participants achieving a 90% and above score. Key factors that influence physical assessment competence are the year of completion, a longer period of internship, previous clinical experience before internship, self-confidence in performing physical assessment accurately, and motivation of nurse interns to learn more and perform physical assessment. The study recommends that nurse training institutions emphasize theoretical and practical sessions of physical assessment skills to enhance the competence and confidence of student nurses in physical assessment before the internship.

Decoupling Economic Growth from Carbon Emissions in the Yangtze River Economic Belt of China: From the Coordinated Regional Development Perspective

Decoupling economic growth from carbon emissions is crucial for combating the climate crisis and promoting green development. However, a uniform approach to climate mitigation exacerbates regional disharmony. As a microcosm of China’s regional heterogeneity, the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) is helpful in exploring regional collaborative climate governance. This paper uses the Thiel index, the Tapio decoupling model, and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition approach to explore the decoupling of economic growth from carbon emissions in YREB from 2005 to 2019. Results indicate that the carbon intensity difference is mainly from the difference within middle-rising provinces (MRP) and western less-developed provinces (WLP). YREB exhibits strong decoupling overall, but it is not sustained. The economic growth effect significantly promotes carbon emissions, which is more prominent in MRP. The energy intensity effect plays a vital role in restraining carbon emissions. The emission factor effect signals an improved energy structure in WLP. Regional coordination is needed to achieve green development; thus, provinces should set differentiated carbon emission reduction targets, and more potent tools are recommended in major carbon emitters.

Health cost impacts of extreme temperature on older adults based on city-level data from 28 provinces in China

Extreme temperature exposure can have a considerable impact on the health of older adults. China, which has entered a deeply aging society, may be obviously threatened by extreme weather. Based on data obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we apply a panel fixed effect model to investigate the impact of extreme temperature on medical costs for older adults. The results reveal a U-shaped relationship between temperature and older adults’ medical costs. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that medical costs for older adults in the South and older adults in rural areas are more significantly affected by low temperatures, mainly due to lower per capita heating facilities. Furthermore, the medical costs of older people with lower education levels are also more susceptible to temperature fluctuations. Our simulated prediction indicates that the medical costs of older adults in 2050 will be 2.7 trillion Chinese yuan under the RCP8.5 scenario, but can be reduced by 4.6% and 7.4% following RCP4.5 and RCP2.6 scenarios, respectively. Compared with base period, the medical costs of older adults in western provinces such as Guangxi and Sichuan will more than triple by 2050. Policymakers should prioritize addressing the health needs of these vulnerable groups and less developed regions with less adaptive capacity.

Estimation of the Population Size of Street- and Venue-Based Female Sex Workers and Sexually Exploited Minors in Rwanda in 2022: 3-Source Capture-Recapture.

HIV surveillance among key populations is a priority in all epidemic settings. Female sex workers (FSWs) globally as well as in Rwanda are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic; hence, the Rwanda HIV and AIDS National Strategic Plan (2018-2024) has adopted regular surveillance of population size estimation (PSE) of FSWs every 2-3 years. We aimed at estimating, for the fourth time, the population size of street- and venue-based FSWs and sexually exploited minors aged ≥15 years in Rwanda. In August 2022, the 3-source capture-recapture method was used to estimate the population size of FSWs and sexually exploited minors in Rwanda. The field work took 3 weeks to complete, with each capture occasion lasting for a week. The sample size for each capture was calculated using shinyrecap with inputs drawn from previously conducted estimation exercises. In each capture round, a stratified multistage sampling process was used, with administrative provinces as strata and FSW hotspots as the primary sampling unit. Different unique objects were distributed to FSWs in each capture round; acceptance of the unique object was marked as successful capture. Sampled FSWs for the subsequent capture occasions were asked if they had received the previously distributed unique object in order to determine recaptures. Statistical analysis was performed in R (version 4.0.5), and Bayesian Model Averaging was performed to produce the final PSE with a 95% credibility set (CS). We sampled 1766, 1848, and 1865 FSWs and sexually exploited minors in each capture round. There were 169 recaptures strictly between captures 1 and 2, 210 recaptures exclusively between captures 2 and 3, and 65 recaptures between captures 1 and 3 only. In all 3 captures, 61 FSWs were captured. The median PSE of street- and venue-based FSWs and sexually exploited minors in Rwanda was 37,647 (95% CS 31,873-43,354), corresponding to 1.1% (95% CI 0.9%-1.3%) of the total adult females in the general population. Relative to the adult females in the general population, the western and northern provinces ranked first and second with a higher concentration of FSWs, respectively. The cities of Kigali and eastern province ranked third and fourth, respectively. The southern province was identified as having a low concentration of FSWs. We provide, for the first time, both the national and provincial level population size estimate of street- and venue-based FSWs in Rwanda. Compared with the previous 2 rounds of FSW PSEs at the national level, we observed differences in the street- and venue-based FSW population size in Rwanda. Our study might not have considered FSWs who do not want anyone to know they are FSWs due to several reasons, leading to a possible underestimation of the true PSE.

Research on the spatial and temporal impact of commercial banks’ spatial agglomeration on PM2.5 pollution in China

Commercial banks are the main body of the finance industry in China. It is of great significance to study the impact of commercial banks’ spatial agglomeration on PM2.5 for China to develop a green economy. This article selects data from 30 provinces in China, covering 2000 to 2021. This study innovatively utilizes commercial banking institutions’ longitude and latitude geographic coordinate information to build a new indicator to characterize the spatial agglomeration degree of commercial banks. Then, we use the geographically and temporally weighted regression model to investigate the spatio-temporal heterogeneous effect of commercial bank agglomeration on PM2.5. The theoretical mechanism concludes that financial agglomeration exacerbates PM2.5 pollution through the scale effect and can also reduce PM2.5 pollution through technique effect and composition effect. Financial agglomeration and PM2.5 have obvious temporal and spatial differences as well as spatial autocorrelation characteristics. The geographically and temporally weighted regression model's results show that from a national perspective, financial agglomeration can inhibit PM2.5 pollution, but the inhibitory effect is gradually diminishing, indicating that it is imminent for China to further deepen its green financial reform. From the provincial level, the influence of financial agglomeration on PM2.5 has obvious temporal and spatial differences. The inhibitory effects of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei are becoming stronger, and these areas have the best situations. The promoting effects of the three northeastern provinces and Shanxi and other central and western provinces are becoming larger and larger, and these areas have the worst situations. Shanghai and other eastern provinces and Guangxi and other western provinces have respectively brought inhibitory effects and promoting effects, but the effects are all weakening, and the situations are in the middle. The scientific value of this study lies in the following: First, this study combines the environmental Kuznets curve theory for mechanism analysis, providing a scientific theoretical basis for subsequent related research. Second, the financial agglomeration index constructed in this study provides a scientific reference for academic circles to more accurately investigate the relationship between financial agglomeration and environmental pollution. Third, this study reveals the temporal and spatial differences in the impact of financial agglomeration on PM2.5 pollution by using the geographically and temporally weighted regression model for the first time, pointing out the focus and direction for decoupling economic growth and PM2.5 pollution under the influence of financial agglomeration in China provinces. With China's efforts to achieve green sustainable development, this study provides new ideas and valuable insights into the driving factors of green economic growth in China.

IDEAL: Maintaining PHC-focused training in a MBChB programme through a COVID-induced innovation.

Responding to the need for authentic clinical training for students in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Stellenbosch University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences developed an innovative 12-week longitudinal, integrated rotation for pre-final-year medical students, the Integrated Distributed Engagement to Advance Learning (IDEAL) rotation. This saw 252 students being placed across 30 primary and secondary healthcare facilities in the Western and Northern Cape provinces. With a focus on service learning, the rotation was built on experiences and research of members of the planning team, as well as partnership relationships developed over an extended period. The focus of student learning was on clinical reasoning through being exposed to undifferentiated patient encounters and the development of practical clinical skills. Students on the distributed platform were supported by clinicians on site, alongside whom they worked, and by a set of online supports, in the form of resources placed on the learning management systems, learning facilitators to whom patient studies were submitted and wellness supporters. Important innovations of the rotation included extensive distribution of clinical training, responsiveness to health service need, co-creation of the module with students, the roles of learning facilitators and wellness supporters, the use of mobile apps and the integration of previously siloed learning outcomes. The IDEAL rotation was seen to be so beneficial as a learning experience that it has been incorporated into the medical degree on an ongoing basis.Contribution: Longitudinal exposure of students to undifferentiated patients in a primary health care context allows for integrated, self-regulated learning. This provides excellent opportunities for medical students, with support, to develop both clinical reasoning and practical skills.

Disability-adjusted Life Years of Hepatitis B in Iran during 2009–2019: An Analysis Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background and Purpose Hepatitis B virus infection is currently among the ten leading causes of death from infectious diseases in the world. The aim of the current study is spatial analysis related to life years adjusted by hepatitis B disability in Iran from 2009 to 2019. Materials and Methods The study is ecological. Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD), cause-specific mortality served as the basis for estimating disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Time trend analysis of DALYs attributed to hepatitis B from 2009 to 2019 and spatial pattern analysis and identification of high-risk and low-risk clusters of DALYs attributed to hepatitis B in Iranian provinces were performed. Time trend changes were evaluated using joinpoint regression analysis. Results The most likely high-risk cluster with LLR=238.59 in the West of Iran includes the western provinces of the country (Lorestan, Kermanshah, Hamedan, Markazi, Khuzestan, and Ilam) (relative risk of occurrence 2.31). The three provinces of Lorestan (RR=2.22), Sistan and Baluchistan (RR=1.73), Golestan (RR=1.46) have the highest relative Khazar, and the three provinces of Gilan (RR=0.41), Mazandaran (CIR=0.48) and Kurdistan (CIR=0.51) had the lowest relative risk. During the years 2009 to 2019, the total DALYs decreased by 1.5% annually (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion According to the results of the disease control and prevention programs, it can be effective in reducing the disease burden in the country by giving priority to the provinces that are among the high-risk disease clusters.

Research On the Uneven Distribution of Educational Resources in China

Taking the current situation of education in China as the starting point, firstly this paper points out the healthy changes such as educational reform. It focuses on the analysis of the uneven distribution of educational resources in China's current education, which focuses on the uneven distribution of educational resources in the eastern and western regions and the uneven development of education in urban and rural area. Finally, the article concludes the imbalance of China's education development through the analysis of specific data such as the average salary of high school teachers and the overall national education expenditure. One of the most intuitive problems caused by the difference in educational resources is the huge difference in the illiteracy rate between the east and the west of China, with the illiteracy rate in most eastern provinces being less than 7%, while that in some western provinces is as high as 40%. It also puts forward suggestions for increasing investment in education expenditure, increasing teachers' salaries, and strengthening supervision.

Peluang investasi dan daya dukung lingkungan usaha penangkapan ikan di Kabupaten Majene Provinsi Sulawesi Barat

Background: Majene Regency, which is located in West Sulawesi Province, is part of the Republic of Indonesia State Fisheries Management Area (WPPNRI) 713. It has a coastline length of approximately 125 km2, a sea area of more than 13,124 km2, and a land area of around 947.84 km2. The potential fish resources are 1,026,599 million tonnes per year, mainly consisting of small pelagic fish, large pelagic fish, demersal fish, coral fish, penaeid shrimp, lobsters, crabs, and squid. Methods: This research uses scientific literature sources, government publications, policy documents, academic databases including scientific journals, and books to obtain a comprehensive and up-to-date view. Findings: Data shows that capture fisheries production in Majene Regency produces 7,458 tonnes of marine fisheries products. Conclusion: This increased from the previous year's 4.36 percent from 2017 to 2018. The largest marine fisheries production came from Banggae District, contributing 21.87 percent to Majene Regency's fisheries production. Aquaculture production originating from ponds decreased by 46.36 percent from 2017 to 2018. The amount of investment entering Western Province is still relatively low, namely being ranked 30th out of 34 provinces in Indonesia and in last position. out of 5 provinces in Sulawesi.

Epidemiological survey of cystic echinococcosis in southwest China: From the Qinghai-Tibet plateau to the area of Yunnan.

Echinococcosis is prevalent in 9 provinces in Western and Northern China. An epidemiological survey of echinococcosis in 2012 and 2016 showed cases of echinococcosis in Yunnan Province. To understand the spatial distribution and epidemiological characteristics of echinococcosis in Yunnan for the prevention and control of echinococcosis and to reduce the risk of infection in Yunnan Province. Based on the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention (CISDCP), echinococcosis cases reported from 36 hospitals and 34 Centers for Disease Control were investigated and epidemiologically analyzed from 2021 to 2022. The exclusion criteria included suspected cases, same case only counted once and cases not from Yunnan. A total of 705 cases were investigated, of which 397 cases were suitable for statistical analysis. In these 397 cases, epidemiological investigation was tracked in 187 cases. All data were inputted using double entry in the Excel database, with error correction by double-entry comparison. The data on echinococcosis cases in Yunnan Province were analyzed by ArcGIS 10.1 software to generate a density map of echinococcosis distribution. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 17.0, including the chi-square test, linear regression test and logistic univariate and multivariate regression analyses. A total of 397 cases were found in 89 counties in Yunnan Province. The number of cases in the top three prefectures were Dali (38.1%), Diqing (10.1%), and Kunming (8.3%), and the top five counties were Jianchuan (9.1%), Shangri La (8.3%), Eryuan (7. 6%), Heqing (6.9%), and Dali Districts (5.0%). There were significant differences between the different areas. The case reporting rate by CISDCP (33.8%) was low; the first case was reported by CISDCP in 2002, and the highest number of cases was 50 (2017). Confirmed and clinical cases accounted for 62.5% and 37.5%, respectively. However, 90.9% of the cases of hydatid disease were reported by the hospital system, and only 9.1% of the cases of hydatid disease were found in the community through active screening. The difference between the two methods of case detection was statistically significant. Most of the cases of echinococcosis were found in farmers/herdsmen (75.1%) and students (9.1%). In addition, Han (43.6%) and Bai (26.2%) had a higher incidence of infection than other nationalities, and the liver (87.7%) and lung (6.8%) were the most common sites of cyst formation. Among the analyzed cases, 187 were epidemiologically analyzed and the clinical symptoms were not obvious in the early stage in 47.1% of cases. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the age group, education level, presence of dogs in the family (either previously or currently), and handwashing (occasionally or not) were factors related to echinococcosis infection. 55.6% of cases were in endemic areas, and 44.4% of cases were in non-endemic areas. Among 83 cases in non-endemic areas, only 4 cases had been to endemic areas and had a history of living, working, travelling, or hunting in echinococcosis epidemic areas. Cases of echinococcosis were reported throughout the entire Yunnan province, with the majority distributed in Western Yunnan, suggesting that echinococcosis control should be strengthened in this area. We suggest that an epidemiological investigation should be carried out in the future, based on the clues from newly discovered cases in hospitals or from the CISDCP. The newly discovered cases in the hospital provided clues to comprehensively determine the location of cases and where epidemic spot investigation should be conducted.