Volume 12, Issue 12, December 2024 Edition - GSJ Journal Publication

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Title: Infertility: A Journey Between Hope and Heartache []


Objective: To identify the modifiable risk factors contributing to subfertility and explore strategies for improving fertility outcomes in middle and lower socioeconomic groups. Design: A retrospective study at Chaudhry Muhammad Akram Research and Teaching Hospital. A detailed proforma was developed to collect information on women's age, type of subfertility, duration of attempts to conceive, causes of infertility, education level, body mass index (BMI), sexual health, family structure, treatments received, and outcomes. Methods: A total of 234 couples were recruited. Data was extracted from patient records, and the proformas were filled out accordingly. Women under 17 years and over 46 years of age, as well as couples who had undergone intrauterine insemination (IUI), in-vitro fertilization (IVF), or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), were excluded from the study. Results: Among the 234 women recruited, 47% were aged 27–36. Primary subfertility was seen in 58%, while 42% had secondary subfertility. The most common cause was polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in 22%, followed by tubal blockage due to pelvic inflammatory disease (5%), endometriosis (3%), and male infertility (8%). Additionally, 8% had underlying medical issues, and 9% were in second or multiple marriages. Overall, 21% of the women conceived, with 33% of these having primary subfertility and 67% having secondary subfertility. Conclusion: A comprehensive medical history is essential in diagnosing subfertility and guiding further investigations and treatment options. Improving public education on reproductive health and raising awareness among healthcare providers, spiritual leaders, and policymakers regarding the significance of subfertility can lead to better outcomes.

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF FOUNDATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF HEALTH LITERACY []


Abstract The aim of this review was to synthesise operational definitions and concepts of health literacy for students and researchers. A comprehensive review incorporating qualitative syntheses was conducted. Included in the analysis were studies that focused on health literacy in various situations. The studies conducted prior to Aug 10, 2024 were retrieved from PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycARTICLES, and the Cochrane Library. The collection provided definitions of health literacy and in addition, a comprehensive description of health literacy. A total of 29 original research matched the criteria for inclusion. Health literacy was widely understood as a collection of knowledge, a set of abilities, or a hierarchy of functions (functional-interactive-critical). From the review, health literacy encompasses three main themes: (1) expertise in health, healthcare, and health systems; (2) proficiency in processing and utilising information in different formats associated to health and healthcare; and (3) the capability to maintain personal health through collaboration with healthcare practitioners and self-management. Health literacy therefore refers to an individual's capacity to acquire and comprehend information and knowledge, enabling them to effectively maintain and enhance their health in a manner that is suitable for both the individual and the surrounding system. This definition emphasises the variety of requirements among individuals and the significance of interactions among individual customers, healthcare professionals, and healthcare systems. Keywords: Health literacy, developed and developing countries, health systems, self-management

Health Literacy and Health Outcomes in developed and developing countries: A correlational database analysis focusing on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 4 and other correlates. []


Accessible and responsive health systems are crucial for achieving positive health outcomes that underlie the well-being of people and their advancement. Although advancements have been achieved in global health and development goals, substantial disparities still exist within and among nations. These notwithstanding, the increasing inequality in health indicates among others, widespread and systemic gaps in reaching the disadvantaged as well as a failure to fully incorporate into laws the obligation to customise healthcare based on the diverse abilities of the vulnerable. Patients with higher educational attainment and presumably, higher health literacy are more likely to access health than those with lower educational attainment and low health literacy. It is incumbent upon each country to therefore accelerate the filling of the identified gaps in pertinent areas such as health and social policies that shape the development of health systems, services, goods, and infrastructure to make them more responsive and accessible to all particularly the literary vulnerable. This correlational study explores the relationship between health literacy and health outcomes, with a focus on SDGs 3 and 4. In addition, it examines national policies with a focus on the WHO Framework for Integrated People-Centred Health Services, analyses the systems and services that contribute to the improvement of health literacy and services that address health literacy requirements

The double burden of disease in Africa: Prospects for self-managed health care Journal Article 5 []


Abstract The coexistence of communicable and non-communicable diseases is a challenging phenomenon for global, public, and community health. The challenges of dealing with this burden vary in intensity depending on many factors. Whereas developed countries seem to have found comparatively effective panacea in areas that require expertise, technology, and resources Africa, given its limited resources seems to be getting progressively overwhelmed by the growing enormity of the burden of the coexistence of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. One of the prospects of dealing with this burden appears to be self-management of diseases particularly, the NCDs. How prepared is Africa? The objective of conducting this systematic review is to ascertain the prospects for self-managed healthcare as a solution for handling the issue. We synthesized various studies to understand the extent of the double burden; prevalence, risk factors, health care response, and what role self-management plays in enhancing health in African communities. Results show that self-management can be a path to addressing the burden but there are challenging barriers yet surmountable, that need to be addressed. Keywords: double-burden of disease, Africa, and self-managed care

Understanding the relationship between educational levels of women aged 18-40 (single and married) and their health choices regarding 3 health behaviors (physical activity, diet, and substance use): A systematic review []


Abstract Physical activity is a vital health behavior that significantly enhances quality of life (QoL) and mitigates age-related health issues. This study investigates the association between physical activity levels and health-promoting behaviors in women aged 18 to 45, focusing on differences between single and married adults. A systematic review was conducted utilizing databases such as CINAHL, ProQuest, PubMed, and Google Scholar, employing a rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria process, ultimately assessing 12 peer-reviewed articles from the 41 that qualified for inclusion. The findings reveal a positive correlation between physical activity and various dimensions of QoL, with married women generally reporting higher participation rates. However, overall evidence supporting the effectiveness of mobile health applications in improving health outcomes was minimal, indicating that less than 25% of behavior change outcomes showed significant improvement. This research highlights that marital status, educational background, chronic illness, and lifestyle choices (e.g., smoking and alcohol consumption) substantially influence physical activity levels and QoL. Despite the limitations of geographic and age constraints, the results underscore the necessity for tailored interventions to promote physical activity among women in this age category, aiming to enhance individual and societal health. Future research should explore the theoretical frameworks of mobile health applications and their behavioral change techniques to optimize health interventions and drive sustainable health behavior change. Keywords: Quality of life (QoL), lifestyle, physical activity, diet, substance use, and behavior change

Ouverture commerciale, inégalités de revenus et croissance économique en République Démocratique du Congo []


Cette recherche examine la relation entre l’ouverture commerciale, les inégalités de revenus et la croissance économique en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) de 1990 à 2020. En utilisant un modèle économétrique ARDL (Auto Regressive Distributed Lag), l’étude évalue comment l’ouverture commerciale et les inégalités de revenu influencent la croissance économique. Les résultats de cette étude démontrent qu’à court terme, L’ouverture commercial exerce un effet positif et significatif sur la croissance économique. Toute ouverture commercial supplémentaire de 1 point entraine une augmentation de la croissance économique de 26.85 % ; Les inégalités de revenu mesurées par l’indice de GINI exerce un effet négatif et significatif sur la croissance économique. Toute augmentation des inégalités de 1 point entraine une diminution du de la croissance économique (PIBH) de 141.8667%., et qu’à long terme, L’ouverture commerciale mesurée par le degré d’ouverture (OUVCOM) exerce un effet positif et non significatif sur la croissance économique. Toute ouverture commerciale supplémentaire de 1 point entraine une augmentation de la croissance économique de 84.85 % ; GINI exerce un effet négatif et significatif sur la croissance économique.

Cultural Challenges and Preservation: The Case of Higaonon of Rogongon, Iligan City []


This paper aimed to investigate the cultural challenges and preservation of Higaonon people in Rogongon, Iligan City. Specifically, this study sought to answer the following questions; what are the cultural practices of Higaonon in Rogongon? what are the factors affecting cultural preservation of Higaonon? and how does the community respond to cultural threats? The data were gathered through a semi-structured interview of the Higaonon key informants. The research is qualitative in nature and used descriptive analysis. This study revealed that the Higaonon tribe has rituals and practices for each significant occasion. Rituals are led by the Baylan—who is the sole person in the community to perform the rituals. They have their cultural practices for weddings, planting, harvesting, welcoming guests, and imposing punishments. Moreover, the factors that affect their cultural preservation include intermarriages, generational gap of cultural knowledge, and misrepresentation. In response to the challenges in preserving their language and cultures, a joint effort between the locals and the government is being made to revitalize language and traditions of the Higaonon people.

EFFECT OF SEEDING RATE AND INTER ROW SPACING ON YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENT OF RICE IN JAWI DISTRICT, NORTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA []


The aims of this study was to determine the effects of seeding rate and inter row spacing on yield and yield components of rice. A field experiment was conducted in Jawi district, Northwestern Ethiopia during 2023 main cropping season under rain-fed condition. Optimum seeding rate and proper adjustment of row spacing are the most important factors for higher rice grain yield production. Therefore the objective of the present study is to determine the optimum seed rate and inter row spacing. Factorial combinations of three levels of row spacing (20, 25 and 30cm) and four level of seeding rate (60, 80, 100 and 120 kg ha-1) were arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. ANOVA results revealed that row spacing, seeding rate and their interaction effect were significantly (P<0.05) influenced, panicle length, filled grain per panicle, unfilled grain per panicle, straw yield and grain yield. Generally, the interaction of 20cm inter-row spacing and 120 kg ha-1 of seeding rate is recommended to improve rice yield for Jawi district and similar agro-ecologies.

ANALYSE DES DONNEES DE SURVEILLANCE EPIDEMIOLOGIQUE DE LA ROUGEOLE AU MALI DE 2014 A 2023 []


Introduction: Measles remains a public health problem because it causes many child deaths despite the existence of an effective vaccine. Measles surveillance is one of the key strategies in the fight against this disease. The objective of this study is to describe the epidemiolog-ical profile of measles cases in Mali. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study on measles surveillance data from the General Directorate of Health and Public Hygiene. We used Excel® and Epi info® 7.2.4.0 software for statistical analysis and described the cases in time, place and person. Results: A total of 9,811 cases of measles were recorded in the database from 2014 to 2023. The regions of Koulikoro, Bamako and Sikasso recorded more cases of measles from 2014 to 2023 with 1,849 (18.88%), 1,689 (17.25%) and 1,638 (16.73%) respectively. The sex ratio was 1.1 for males. The under-five age group was the most represented with 5,098 cases or 52.06%. Regarding the place of residence, 6,181 cases (63.12%) were reported in rural areas. As for the vaccination status of the cases, 2,169 (22.9%) had received at least one dose. The time limit for feedback of serology results by the laboratory at the district level was respected in 35.8% of cases with a median time of 11 days. Conclusion: measles is avoided in several regions with low coverage, especially in unvac-cinated children under 5 years of age. Strengthening epidemiological surveillance of measles is necessary for its elimination

APPLICATION OF E-COMMERCE IN THE CHINESE TEXTILE INDUSTRY []


E-Commerce, defined as online trading of goods and services through electronic means, has broadened the scope of business transactions and modified the entire language of doing business by allowing the formation, modification, and even redefinition of the interface between organizations and between individuals, and enabling a new way to create value. Two prominent examples This paper discusses the Chinese textile industry’s e-commerce advancement in the last decade, which greatly influenced the industry on a global scale. While at the same time, the most important factor of change came from the prevailing global trend of e-commerce. This specific focus on the Chinese context allows for a more detailed analysis of e-commerce applications which are increasingly reshaping the supply chain of the textile industry. Although e-commerce channels seem to have long-term benefits for cost reduction and for entering new markets zones, they also cause problems such as conflicts in distribution members of the channel and investments in digital transformation. Furthermore, it helps shed light on how e-commerce in the Chinese textiles industry is developing amid changing global trends. Considering the case of e-commerce’s effects and creative application on the Chinese textile industry this research seeks to find out ways in which digital platform can be utilized for competitive advantages, more so, in responding to specific demands of the market while simultaneously aiding in the further globalization of the textile value chain. This study intends to assist target groups in understanding the changing paradigms of the digital economy and make use of the new possibilities in the industry.

Age, Gender and Worker Motivation []


Theoretical framework provide structure that hold or support of a research study and supports explanation on how researchers engage in using the theory and its fundamental assumptions to examine the research problems. Motivational theories provide a basis for making inferences on what controls, organizes and motivates people. This study is based on Hierarchy of needs theory, The ERG Theory, Two Factor Theor and the Transactional Theory of Stress. This review utilized data collected from 180 employees of the Kenyan National Police Service Commission, Kenya One of the independent institutions created under Chapter 15 of the 2010 Kenyan Constitution. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and survey data analysed through descriptive statistic. The study concluded that employees age influences individual work motivation; similarly, employees respond to staff motivation differently across their age but Gender attribute has weak influence on employee motivation. study recommends that for organizations to holistically motivate their employees, it will be necessary to consider aligning employee motivation strategies and programs to employees’ age and gender. Human resource professionals are advised to adopt better and more age and gender specific and targeted decisions when managing employee motivation. Key Words: Employee, Age, Gender, Motivation

The Relationship Between Caffeine Intake and Cognitive Abilities in Office Workers []


This article examines the connection between office workers' cognitive function and coffee intake. The study uses the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) to measure cognitive failures in people between the ages of 20 and 40. Although there were no discernible relationships between caffeine intake and cognitive function, the results indicate that moderate caffeine use may improve cognitive attention. These results underline the need for more research and show how complex caffeine's effects on job productivity are.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCING JUVENILE DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR AMONG STUDENTS IN OGBA, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA. []


This study was carried out to examine socio-economic factors influencing juvenile delinquent behaviour among students of African Church Model College, Ogba, Lagos State. Variables such as parents’ occupation, household facilities, level of education and weekly income were considered interrelated with juvenile delinquency. Theories were highlighted and expounded on to explain socio-economic factors influencing delinquent behaviour. The theories considered in this study were social disorganization theory, sub-culture theory and social learning theory. In this study, the non-experimental research design was adopted, which consisted of a cross sectional survey and with the use of survey research instruments which are questionnaire and qualitative guide respectively. The simple random sampling was used in picking 240 (Two hundred and forty) respondents for this quantitative study and 10 for the qualitative study. However, only 228 questionnaires were properly filled and retrieved. Content analysis, simple percentage and chi-square analysis were used to analyze data obtained from the study. Results from this study showed no relationship was found between parent’s occupation and delinquent behaviour, household facilities had a relationship with delinquent behaviour, no relationship was found between parent’s level of education and delinquent behaviour, and a relationship was found between student’s weekly income and delinquent behaviour. Recommendations were made in tandem with the findings of this study.

RESPONSE OF OKRA Abelmoschus esculentus TO PLANT POPULATION AND PRE-EMERGENCE HERBICIDES IN SUDAN SAVANNAH ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA. []


Abstract Research was conducted to study the response of okra Abelmoschus esculentus to plant population and pre-emergence herbicide at Biu and Hawul, local government area in Borno state, Nigeria during the 2024 rainy season. The treatments consisted of four plant populations (30,000, 50,000, 100,000, and 150,000 plant per hectare), factorially combined with three rates of (metolachlor 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0kgai/ha, hoe weeded check at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing and un weeded check). The results showed that at both Biu and Hawul, yield per hectare were significantly affected by weed management strategies with hoe weeding and 2.0kgai/ha producing the highest means. Plant population recorded significant yield per hectare with 30,000 per hectare giving the highest yield per plant while 50,000 plant per hectare gave the highest yield per hectare. The interaction between weed management strategies and population was significant on fruit yield per hectare and weed control efficiency. However, hoe weeding and 50,000 plant per hectare gave the highest means of fruits yield. Thus, it is suggested that farmers should adopt these agronomic practices of using 50,000 plants per hectare and use of hoe weeding or application of metolachlor 2.0kgai/ha for increased Okra yield in the Sudan Savannah ecological zone of Nigeria.

EXPLORING THE NEXUS BETWEEN TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME AND REGIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES IN WEST AFRICA: A JOURNAL OF POLITICS, ECONOMIC, AND STATE RESPONSE ON DRUG TRAFFICKING, VIOLENCE, AND ILLICIT FIREARMS TRADE []


This journal explores the intricate relationship between transnational organized crime (TOC) and regional security challenges in West Africa with emphasis on drug trafficking and violence and the illegal firearms trade. This journal provides evidence of the fact that transnational organized crime makes existing vulnerabilities worse, disrupts governance, and results in violence. By taking a case study and a scholarly controversies approach, this journal intends to contribute to the knowledge on drug trafficking, violence, and arms smuggling as security threats that hinder development and necessitate the use of strategies and policy changes to counter them. This work aims to target the policymakers and other relevant actors on the need to urgently adopt a more integrated approach in dealing with the issues of TOC and the instability in West Africa. This Journal is based on a sketch developed in conformity with the UN General Assembly Resolution 50/148 which was adopted on December 21, 1995, whereby the Assembly encouraged member states to combat threats and assist in sabotaging financial operations for criminal groups. This Journal adheres to resolution 65-25 of the 2022 Commission on Narcotic Drugs which requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to give further assistance to member countries in data collection, carrying out reconnaissance, and when appropriate, disseminating intelligence to explore the instances where the efforts of drug trafficking and arms smuggling connect.