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Background The global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis aims to reduce new hepatitis B infections by 90% by 2030. Yet, hepatitis B birth dose (HepB-BD) vaccination, which is effective in preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, remains low in sub-Saharan Africa. Given the essential role that midwives play in infants’ birth dose immunisation, we explore their perspectives on the reasons for delays and non-administration of HepB-BD to eligible neonates in Ghana. Methods We conducted interviews with 18 midwives, stratified by region (Greater Accra and Northern regions). Participants were selected purposively. The data were transcribed, coded, and analysed following the Braun and Clarke data analysis procedure. Results The participants conveyed a broad range of barriers to HepB-BD vaccination in Ghana. These include the mother's denial of hepatitis B seropositivity; the mother's ignorance of the impact of hepatitis B on their newborn; partners’ non-involvement in post-test counselling; and the high cost of hepatitis B immunoglobulin and hepatitis B monovalent vaccine. Other reasons included vaccine unavailability and midwives’ oversight and documentation lapses. Conclusion We recommend educating expectant mothers on the importance and effectiveness of HepB-BD vaccination during antenatal care (ANC) visits, as well as educating midwives on HepB-BD vaccination procedures. In addition, ensuring sufficient supplies and administering hepatitis B vaccines in the delivery ward should be done to guarantee that babies receive the vaccines on time. Importantly, Ghana needs policies that require HepB-BD vaccination as part of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) to ensure the investments and funding it needs.

Concurring to the World Health Organization (WHO) in (Fatimah 2020), that in creating nations the number of maternal passings amid pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium is still tall, in Indonesia in 2019 the maternal mortality rate is 305/100,000 live births. Around the world, information on the predominance ofpostpartum frailty are constrained. Thinks bout conducted in high-income nations have detailed that 10-30% of postpartum ladies are frail (WH0, 2016). The predominance of iron deficiency in postpartum moms (Urban Puducherry, 2019) was 76.2% (n= 173, 95% Cl: 70.4%-81.4%). Roughly 26% (59) had mellow iron deficiency, 49.8% (113) had direct iron deficiency and 0.4% (1) had extreme iron deficiency. The investigate The investigate was carried out by comparative examination with a quantitative approach.The ask approximately test summed to 52 pregnant women respondents with coincidental reviewing strategy, examination test utilizing combined test. The comes around of this consider showed up that there was a critical qualification within the normal hemoglobin level of unconstrained parturition and sectio caesarea of 1.611537. With an normal hemoglobin level of unconstrained parturition moms of 11.13846 and moms of sectio caesarea of 9.526923. Based on the comes about of the t-test, the sig esteem was gotten. = 0.000. To decide the contrast in hemoglobin levels of unconstrained parturition moms and sectio caesarea. There are contrasts in hemoglobin levels in moms with unconstrained labor and sectio caesarea. So, it is anticipated for wellbeing laborers to carry out an examination of hemoglobin levels in postpartum mothers.

Service delivery and care of street-involved pregnant women is recognized as a complex issue, and as such comorbidities, addictions, and risky behaviors can result in significantly higher risks of contracting HIV. We inquired into the experiences of service providers who work in community-based supportive intervention programs for vulnerable street-involved, pregnant, and early parenting women in precarious housing situations who are living with HIV or are at risk of contracting HIV, across the continuum of care. We used a qualitative descriptive design and interviewed 22 service providers from local government and non-governmental community agencies about their experiences delivering services to this population. Four key themes emerged from the data: focus on outcomes and success, understanding tensions in service delivery, challenges in accessing appropriate services and resources, and attention to moving forward. We highlight the complex tensions experienced by service providers in a health and social care system that centers on measurable and quantifiable outcomes while overlooking larger issues that shape equitable care. Our study highlights the need for alternative approaches to service delivery that are focused on the lives of women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast and cervical cancers pose significant health challenges for women globally, emphasizing the critical importance of effective screening programs for early detection. In Canada, despite the implementation of accessible healthcare systems, ethnic and racialized disparities in cancer screening persist. This study aims to assess ethnic and racialized disparities in breast and cervical cancer screening in Canada. Methods: Using 2015–2019 data from the Canadian Community Health Survey, we analyzed women aged 18–70 in distinct ethnic and racial groups. The primary outcome was mammography or Papanicolaou test (pap smear). The secondary outcome was time since the last screening. We used weighted multivariable logistic regression to estimate the odds of having a pap smear or mammography across the ethnic and racialized groups, adjusted for relevant covariates. Results were reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: We included 14,628,067 women of which 72.5% were White, 8.4% Southeast Asian, 4.7% South Asian, 3.4% Indigenous, 2.7% Black, 2.0% West Asian, and 1.6% Latin American. In comparison with the White reference group, a higher odds ratio of not having a pap smear was estimated for the West Asian (5.63; CI 3.85, 8.23), South Asian (5.19; CI 3.79, 7.12), Southeast Asian (4.35; CI 3.46, 5.46), and Black groups (2.62; CI 1.82, 3.78). Disparities in mammography screening were found only for the Southeast Asian group with higher odds of not having screening (1.85; CI 1.15, 2.98) compared to the White reference group. Conclusion: This study reveals significant disparities in pap smear and mammography screenings affecting various ethnic groups, particularly in West Asia, South Asian, and Black communities. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, policies, and healthcare strategies to address these gaps and ensure equitable access to essential breast and cervical cancer prevention across all ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities recruit international students for a number of reasons, including enhancement of global contacts and reputation, to increase enrolment, and to generate revenue from tuition. These students face unique challenges as compared with domestic students, but no published studies or reports exist on this issue. In this article we report our findings from a survey and interviews with international graduate students, university personnel, and service providers assisting students. Students reported difficulties with finding affordable, adequate, and suitable housing; with finances, stemming from their ability to work or find employment, and from currency fluctuations; and with integration into a new university and an unfamiliar society. Administrators described limits to the assistance they could provide. Both groups suggested changes to address international students' housing and financial issues. This study is part of a larger research project exploring housing and related issues among post-secondary students in a western Canadian city.

We recently identified protein kinase N1 (PKN1) as a negative gatekeeper of neuronal AKT protein kinase activity during postnatal cerebellar development. The developing cerebellum is specifically vulnerable to hypoxia-ischemia (HI), as it occurs during hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a condition typically caused by oxygen deprivation during or shortly after birth. In that context, activation of the AKT cell survival pathway has emerged as a promising new target for neuroprotective interventions. Here, we investigated the role of PKN1 in an in vitro model of HI, using postnatal cerebellar granule cells (Cgc) derived from Pkn1 wildtype and Pkn1−/− mice. Pkn1−/− Cgc showed significantly higher AKT phosphorylation, resulting in reduced caspase-3 activation and improved survival after HI. Pkn1−/− Cgc also showed enhanced axonal outgrowth on growth-inhibitory glial scar substrates, further pointing towards a protective phenotype of Pkn1 knockout after HI. The specific PKN1 phosphorylation site S374 was functionally relevant for the enhanced axonal outgrowth and AKT interaction. Additionally, PKN1pS374 shows a steep decrease during cerebellar development. In summary, we demonstrate the pathological relevance of the PKN1-AKT interaction in an in vitro HI model and establish the relevant PKN1 phosphorylation sites, contributing important information towards the development of specific PKN1 inhibitors.

Purpose: The main purpose of this article is to systematically review the papers published in the period 2005-2020 about the integration of production, inventory and distribution activities in perishable supply chains. Design/methodology/approach: The proposed research methodology is based on several steps. First, database and keywords are selected, with the aim to search and collect the main papers, dealing with the integration of production, inventory, distribution activities in perishable supply chains. Then, a bibliometric analysis is carried out, to detect: the main publishing sources, the chronological distribution, the most used keywords, the featured authors, about the selected papers. A five-dimension classification framework is proposed to carry out a content analysis, where the papers of the literature review are classified and discussed, according to: supply chain structure, objective, perishability issues, solution approach, approach validation. Findings: Interest in the application of optimization models for integrated decision-making along perishable supply chains is strongly growing. Integrating multiple stages of the supply chain into a single framework is complex, especially when referring to perishable products. The vast majority of the problems addressed are then NP-Hard. Only a limited quantity of the selected papers aims to solve real-life case studies. There is a need for further research, which is capable of modeling and quantitatively improving existing supply chains. The potentials of Industry 4.0 are currently little explored. Originality/value: Based on the analysis of the papers published, this article outlines the current state of the art on the optimization strategies for the integrated management of perishable supply chains, which are very complex to be managed. Research trends and gaps are discussed, future challenges are presented.

Increased migration rates demonstrate a rise in women seeking relocation as a means to access employment or academic opportunities; this is referred to as the feminization of migration. Migration stimulates female empowerment, increases access to financial opportunities, and promotes cultural diversity, all while simultaneously exposing women to detrimental conditions that impose risks to their physical and psychological well-being. Health is a fundamental human right that female migrants often are deprived of due to various social, cultural, political, and economic factors. A secondary analysis design was implemented to explore the impact of social determinants of health, specifically socioeconomic status, culture, and education, on health outcomes and health care access of Ghanaian internal and external female migrants. Interviews collected from two primary studies were analyzed using thematic analysis and an intersectionality approach. Ghanaian female migrants experienced cultural, financial, social, and health accessibility related barriers in accessing health care services. Our findings will serve as a foundation for improving health outcomes for female migrant populations and support health care professionals’ practice of cultural competence.

Several regional governments in Indonesia have implemented paid plastic shopping bags policy to reduce micro-plastic waste. However, there are only a few studies to evaluate this program. To fill the research gap, the researchers seek to implement the regulation by investigating policy effectiveness factors. The ultimate purpose of this paper is to illuminate what factors affect the policy. The researchers studied the implementation of paid plastic bags in Depok City, West Java, Indonesia, by employing a survey to achieve the objective. One hundred and thirty-four respondents had participated in this research and shared their responses on the policy. A partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to analyze the data. The results showed three factors contributed to policy implementation: knowledge, awareness, and compliance. The current research extends Grindle’s theory by examining individual determinants as predictors of policy implementation. This study also adds the researchers’ knowledge into how society responds to Indonesia’s paid plastic shopping bags policy and contributes to the government designing a suitable strategy to implement the program effectively.

Abstract The field of Human‐Robot Interaction (HRI) represents one of the fast‐growing focus areas of Digital Twins (DTs). However, the role of DTs applications in human‐robot collaborative systems is still uncertain. This review article provides a comprehensive perspective of DTs' critical design aspects (i.e. Objectives, associate technologies, and application scenarios) in the broad application areas of human‐robot systems. This article uses a multi‐faceted approach to comprehend 43 DTs' state‐of‐the‐art applications in HRI. The study investigates the literature body across two dimensions (i.e. DT roles and HRI application characteristics). The conclusion of this work draws the attention of the relevant scientific community towards potential DTs' application scenarios and provides insights into DT's future research directions.

Natural disasters affect the health and well-being of mothers with young children. During natural disasters, this population is at risk of discontinuation of their breastfeeding practices. Pakistan is a middle-income country that is susceptible to natural disasters. This study intended to examine sociocultural factors that shape the breastfeeding experiences and practices of internally displaced mothers in Pakistan. This critical ethnographic study was undertaken in disaster-affected villages of Chitral, Pakistan. Data were collected utilizing multiple methods, including in-depth interviews with 18 internally displaced mothers and field observations. Multiple sociocultural factors were identified as either barriers or facilitators to these mothers’ capacities to breastfeed their children. Informal support, formal support, breastfeeding culture, and spiritual practices facilitated displaced mothers to sustain their breastfeeding practices. On the other hand, lack of privacy, cultural beliefs, practices and expectations, covert oppression, and lack of healthcare support served as barriers to the breastfeeding practices of displaced mothers.

Midwives’ experiences of frontline healthcare delivery in rural maternal and newborn care have been minimally explored over the past two decades in low and middle-income countries but particularly in resource-limited settings, the situation is concerning. Understanding the dynamic influences that impact health care delivery in rural and remote settings is important for averting deaths, improving health outcomes and rural health care practice. Purpose: This study aimed to understand, unveil the meanings and articulate the experiences of midwives who practice in rural settings in rural Ghana. Sample: Thirteen (13) midwives who voluntarily participated in the study were purposively and conveniently sampled. Methods: Interpretive phenomenology that integrated African philosophy was used to explore and unveil the meanings embedded in the experiences of midwives practicing in South rural Ghana. Findings: The findings establish that midwives make sustained serial efforts to save maternal and newborn lives however, midwives’ ethnic background, age, gender and family situation influence their retention in rural health care settings where they work alone under stressful conditions as skilled care birth attendants. Community recognition and supportive community participation positively impact midwives’ practice in spite of unattractive living and working conditions. Future research needs to investigate the dynamic influences of chiefs, queen mothers and community leaders on emergency obstetric and newborn health care service delivery. Conclusion: The rural environment poses significant risks and barriers to safe and ethical health care delivery for women and newborns in Ghana. The intricate dynamics of midwives’ age and family life, limited support in skilled care delivery and community participation influences midwives’ intention to stay in rural practice. Keywords: Rural, Midwives, Pregnant Women, Labour, Newborns, Ghana DOI: https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v21i2.654

Community engagement is central to a research process called integrated knowledge translation (IKT), which is characterized by the co-creation of knowledge among various partners. Families First Edmonton used an IKT partnership model to address poverty issues over a 15-year period. The purpose of this study is to describe barriers to the sustainability of this IKT partnership and how these were overcome. We generated interview data with 23 IKT partners who worked with or within municipal and provincial governments; we used qualitative description to frame our data and conventional qualitative content analysis for data analysis. Partners described the ways in which election cycles threatened the sustainability of the IKT partnership and posed barriers to their work. Three barriers were identified by partners: 1) narrowed windows of opportunity, 2) muddled directions and priorities, and 3) changed project partners. According to partners who collaborated across academic, government, and community settings, relationships offset these barriers through various mechanisms, including long-term relationship building, ongoing contact, and a recognition that while success may be subtle, resulting ripple effects can have important impacts over time. Relationships represent an important investment for partners who continue to work in narrow time frames imposed by election cycles. Partners indicated that relationships are a key strategy to ensuring sustainability of the IKT partnership and can have a farther-reaching impact than policy change.

Plain language summary Child migration is increasingly becoming a common feature of many African countries as children migrate within and away from their countries of origin in search of better livelihoods due to widespread poverty, instability and rapid urbanisation. Many of the migrating children have little or no education and limited employable skills, thereby exposing themselves to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) risks. This paper is a scoping review of existing literature from 2000 to 2019 to document relevant findings on SRH of African migrant and refugee children. The review identified migrant children within refugee camps to experience overcrowding and sexual exploitation amidst limited and underutilized reproductive health services. Language barriers are also key obstacles against young migrants’ access to SRH information and services as these services are delivered in local languages unfamiliar to them. Child migrants continue to suffer from cultural practices including genital cutting with serious reproductive health implications. SRH risk factors of unaccompanied migrant minors remain as a gap in the review and, therefore, more SRH studies on unaccompanied child migrants are needed. Attention should also be paid to the different dimensions of SRH challenges among child migrants to reflect gender differences, whether documented or undocumented, within or across national borders, and within or outside refugee camps for better understanding. In conclusion, child migration in Africa will continue to be economic-driven and will expose the actors to diverse sexual and reproductive health risks. Further in-depth quantitative and qualitative research is required to inform relevant policies on child migrants’ SRH.

Global corporations are characterized by a large number of employees and geographically dispersed offices. Moreover, the competitiveness in the global market requires them to invest in their human resources to be able to remain a step ahead of competition. Implementing large scale classical education in such environments is challenging and costly. Mobile e-learning (m-learning) allows users to tailor their professional training and education to their needs and time constraints. However, in self-paced education, it is very hard to keep user retention and engagement. To achieve the latter, we have designed and developed an m-learning platform for corporate environments based on the triggering persuasive technology principle that try to incite users in regularly using the platform. We have evaluated the application in-the-wild in corporate environments of differently sized companies with 300 users. Users were subjected to three different conditions: no triggering, simple regular triggering, and adaptive triggering. The results show that the use of adaptive triggering in m-learning increases user engagement as well as course completion rates more than simple regular triggering and no triggering.

Understanding the technical properties of the subsurface soil is essential for carrying out any building project correctly. In sandy soils in Phuket, Thailand, a correlation between electrical resistivity and the SPT N-value should be established in design to cut down on the time and expense of engineering field work for site investigation operations. Using the least squares method, the data of electrical resistivity and SPT N-values were fitted for regression analysis, and the behavior of the fitting coefficients was examined under various soil conditions found in the field. The factors affecting the link between electrical resistivity and the SPT N-value were found using data classifications of geology and climate. Phuket is located in a humid tropical region with frequent heavy rainstorms and extended periods of high temperatures and is composed of two main distinct geological areas: (1) igneous rock and (2) sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. According to the geological classification, the regression parameter (R2) of the relationship between the electrical resistivity and SPT N-values somewhat increased from a straightforward plot (R2 = 0.0171) to 0.1721, and the geology and climate data categorization revealed the best fit which is an exponential model (R2 = 0.6175). By re-examining the two VES lines under the identical bedrock and climate characteristics as the original model, the relative R2 of 0.5519 validates the association between electrical resistivity and SPT N-values. It is important to emphasize that the geology and climate of the collected data have an impact on the correlation model. Furthermore, a geotechnical investigation should be used to confirm the findings of an electrical resistivity survey as a preliminary tool to assess any problematic subsurface zones. However, more field test data from diverse places must be acquired in order to establish the relationship between the SPT N-value and electrical resistivity of sandy soils.

This research delves into the ramifications of oil palm expansion on the forest stewardship methods of the Dayak Benawan community in Cowet Village, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. It particularly sheds light on the adaptive strategies of indigenous women in response to diminishing forestlands. By intersecting traditional wisdom with evolving environmental realities and economic challenges, this study offers a comprehensive perspective. Employing ethnographic methodology, the research involved conducting interviews with Dayak Benawan women, providing rich, qualitative insights. Our findings unveil a profound shift in both livelihoods and cultural practices as a direct consequence of oil palm plantation encroachment. Notably, the study quantifies the impact, revealing an 18% loss of forest area in the Sanggau Regency attributable to oil palm plantation expansion. This expansion exerts a discernible negative influence, compelling the Dayak Benawan community to undergo significant livelihood transformations. This study not only highlights the environmental and socio-cultural costs of agricultural industrialization but also stresses the resilience and adaptability of indigenous communities in the face of ecological disruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in 2017 states that women are deemed important part of a trade. They take part in a wide range of activities in the industry - produce products, commerce of goods across borders, run and own trading firms, and make up a large part of the workforce in export-oriented businesses. Nevertheless, women's potential and skills in trade is still too often held back by the many constraints. Hence, the research endeavours to describe the current demographics, roles, and experiences of women involved in MSMEs, provide information on the current policies programs and services and how these are comparable and contrasting, not to mention recommend measures to address the impeding factors in the Philippines to be compared with Singapore and Myanmar using available secondary information. Through surveys and purposive sampling, the research results show that women’s participation in economic activity, in particular in MSMEs, is primarily affected by conditions that catalyze engagements.