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The study investigated the promotion of academic relationship leadership practice and productivity of lecturers in public universities in Delta and Edo states, Nigeria. Adopting an ex-post-facto design, it encompassed a population of 3,492 academic staff in four government-owned universities located in Delta and Edo States, Nigeria. A sample of 676 academic staff was selected through stratified random sampling techniques. The primary data collection instrument was a questionnaire with a high reliability coefficient of 0.97 achieved through the split-half method. The data obtained from the questionnaire were analyzed using correlation analysis. The findings revealed the existence of a positive and significant relationship between academic relationship leadership practice and the productivity of lecturers. Based on this result, the study recommended that academic leaders should create a friendly and warm environment that will engender and enhance the promotion of academic relationships to positively affect the productivity of academics.

The study explores the relationship between academic mentorship and the productivity of academics in universities. Two questions and a hypothesis were raised to guide the study. The research design employed ex-post-facto methodology with a population of 3,492 academic staff. The stratified random sampling technique was used to determine the sample size of 676 academics. The questionnaire served as the main instrument for data collection. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was 0.97 and the data collected were analyzed using SPSS. The analysis results indicated that the level of academic mentorship leadership practice exhibited in public universities in Delta and Edo States was low, and the academics showed a low level of productivity in research. Overall, the results showed a significant relationship between academic mentorship leadership practice and productivity in public universities in Delta and Edo States, Nigeria. Based on these findings, it is recommended that academic mentoring be emphasized, particularly in the area of research productivity, to enhance the overall research output of academics.

ObjectivesThis study aims to assess if an integrated simulation-based training on respectful maternity care (RMC) and management of obstetric and neonatal emergencies could improve the quality of antenatal care (ANC).MethodsThe data are from two cross-sectional surveys administered in the East Mamprusi District of Northern Ghana in 2017 to evaluate the impact of integrated simulation-based training for healthcare providers. Surveys were administered to two groups of women aged 15-49 who delivered in a health facility before (baseline; n = 266) and 6 months after (end-line; n = 320) the intervention began. We assessed the quality of antenatal care pre- and post-training across two dimensions: service provision and experience of care. Analyses included linear and logistic regression.ResultsWomen in the end-line group reported higher quality of antenatal care than those in the baseline group. The average ANC experience of care score increased by 10 points at the end-line (Coeff = 10.3, 95%CI: 9.0,11.6), whereas the mean ANC service provision score increased by three points (Coeff = 2.6, 95% CI: 2.2, 3.1). End-line participants were more likely to have an ultrasound (OR: 24.1, 95%CI: 11.5, 50.3). Parity, tribe, education, employment, partner occupation, six or more antenatal visits, ANC facility, and provider type were also associated with ANC quality.ConclusionsIntegrated simulation-based training for health providers has the potential to improve the quality of ANC. Incorporating such training into continuing professional development courses will aid global efforts to increase the quality of care throughout the maternity continuum of care.

Many questions remain about the prevalence and effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in malaria-endemic African countries like Uganda, particularly in vulnerable groups such as pregnant women. We describe SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM antibody responses and clinical outcomes in mother-infant dyads enrolled in malaria chemoprevention trials in Uganda. From December 2020-February 2022, among 400 unvaccinated pregnant women enrolled at 12-20 weeks gestation and followed through delivery, 128 (32%) were seronegative for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM at enrollment and delivery, 80 (20%) were infected prior to or early in pregnancy, and 192 (48%) were infected or re-infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy. We observed preferential binding of plasma IgG to Wuhan-Hu-1-like antigens in individuals seroconverting up to early 2021, and to Delta variant antigens in a subset of individuals in mid-2021. Breadth of IgG binding to all variants improved over time, consistent with affinity maturation of the antibody response in the cohort. No women experienced severe respiratory illness during the study. SARS-CoV-2 infection in early pregnancy was associated with lower median length-for-age Z-score at age 3 months compared with no infection or late pregnancy infect (-1.54 versus -0.37 and -0.51, P = 0.009). These findings suggest that pregnant Ugandan women experienced high levels of SARS-CoV-2 infection without severe respiratory illness. Variant-specific serology testing demonstrated evidence of antibody affinity maturation at the population level. Early gestational SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with transient shorter stature in early infancy. Further research should explore the significance of this finding and define targeted measures to prevent infection in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Poor person-centered maternal care (PCMC) contributes to high maternal mortality and morbidity, directly and indirectly, through lack of, delayed, inadequate, unnecessary, or harmful care. While evidence on poor PCMC prevalence, as well as inequities, expanded in the last decade, there is still a significant gap in evidence-based interventions to address PCMC. We describe the protocol for a trial to test the effectiveness of the Caring for Providers to Improve Patient Experience (CPIPE) intervention, which includes five strategies, targeting provider stress and bias as intermediate factors to improve PCMC and address inequities. METHODS: The trial will assess the effect of CPIPE on PCMC, as well as on intermediate and distal outcomes, using a two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial in 40 health facilities in Migori and Homa Bay Counties in Kenya and Upper East and Northeast Regions in Ghana. Twenty facilities in each country will be randomized to 10 intervention and 10 control sites. The primary intervention targets are all healthcare workers who provide maternal health services. The intervention impact will be assessed among healthcare workers in the study health facilities and among women who give birth in the study health facilities. The primary outcome is PCMC measured with the PCMC scale, via multiple cross-sectional surveys of mothers who gave birth in the preceding 12 weeks in study facilities at baseline (prior to the intervention), midline (6 months after intervention start), and endline (12 months post-baseline) (N = 2000 across both countries at each time point). Additionally, 400 providers in the study facilities across both countries will be followed longitudinally at baseline, midline, and endline, to assess intermediate outcomes. The trial incorporates a mixed-methods design; survey data alongside in-depth interviews (IDIs) with healthcare facility leaders, providers, and mothers to qualitatively explore factors influencing the outcomes. Finally, we will collect process and cost data to assess intervention fidelity and cost-effectiveness. DISCUSSION: This trial will be the first to rigorously assess an intervention to improve PCMC that addresses both provider stress and bias and will advance the evidence base for interventions to improve PCMC and contribute to equity in maternal and neonatal health. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06085105. Protocol version and date: v2-11-07-23.

The study focus mainly on the cognizance of collective bargaining and its benefits in relation to teacher's welfare and working condition in public secondary school in Delta State, Nigeria. Two research questions were asked and answered in regard to the extent of awareness of Delta State public secondary school teachers of the principle of collective bargaining and the benefits of collective bargaining in public secondary school in Delta State. One hundred and twelve teachers were randomly selected from fourteen secondary schools in Delta Central Senatorial District in Delta State, Nigeria. The questionnaire which was rated on a five point Likert Scale was administered as the main instrument and the reliability coefficient was 0.90. Descriptive statistical procedures were employed in the analysis of data. The study revealed that the awareness of collective bargaining in public secondary school in Delta State was moderate as the respondents were not all members of the teachers' union. The resolution of issues relating to better working conditions, welfare, promotion, recognition and reward of staff were done through collective bargaining. Furthermore, some of the benefits revealed from findings of the study were better working condition, staff welfare, recognition and promotion. The study recommends that teachers should have better and clear understanding of collective bargaining; finding out their grievances and discussing various issues leading to addressing general school disputes and not just focusing on wage increment only.

BACKGROUND: Despite research that has shown that the presence of support persons during maternity care is associated with more respectful care, support persons are frequently excluded due to facility practices or negative attitudes of providers. Little quantitative research has examined how integrating support persons in maternity care has implications for the quality of care received by women, a potential pathway for improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate how integrating support persons in maternity care is associated with multiple dimensions of the quality of maternity care. METHODS: We used facility-based cross-sectional survey data from women (n = 1,138) who gave birth at six high-volume facilities in Nairobi and Kiambu counties in Kenya and their support persons (n = 606) present during the immediate postpartum period. Integration was measured by the Person-Centered Integration of Support Persons (PC-ISP) items. We investigated quality of care outcomes including person-centered care outcomes (i.e., Person-Centered Maternity Care (PCMC) and Satisfaction with care) and clinical outcomes (i.e., Implementation of WHO-recommended clinical practices). We used fractional regression with robust standard errors to estimate associations between PC-ISP and care outcomes. RESULTS: Compared to low integration, high integration (≥four woman-reported PC-ISP experiences vs.

INTRODUCTION: Person-centred care (PCC) is provision of care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs and values, and ensures that patient values guide all clinical decisions. While there is a large body of evidence on the benefits of PCC in high-income countries, little research exists on PCC in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa at large. Most studies on PCC have focused on maternity care as part of the global movement of respectful maternity care. The few studies on patient experiences and health system responsiveness beyond maternal health also highlight gaps in patient experience and satisfaction as well as discrimination in health facilities, which leads to the most vulnerable having the poorest experiences. The protocol for this scoping review aims to systematically map the extent of literature focused on PCC in Ghana by identifying patient expectations and preferences, barriers and facilitators, and interventions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The protocol will be guided by the Arksey and OMalley methodological framework and recommendations by Levac et al. A comprehensive search strategy will be used to search for published articles in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and the African Journals Online from their inception to August 2022. Grey literature and reference lists of included studies will also be searched. Two independent reviewers will perform the literature search, eligibility assessments and study selection. Any disagreements will be resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flow diagram for the scoping reviews will be used to outline the study selection process. Extracted data from the included articles will be synthesised and reported under key concepts derived from the outcomes of the scoping review. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This scoping review does not require ethical approval. The findings will be disseminated through publications and conference presentations. SCOPING REVIEW REGISTRATION: OSF Registration DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/ZMDH9.

Problem By 31 December 2021, only 5.5% (861 879/15 670 530) of the Somali population had been fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Approach To rapidly increase COVID-19 vaccine coverage in 2022, the health ministry and its partners (World Health Organization and United Nations Children&apos;s Fund) adopted a more responsive strategy. This strategy included careful microplanning, better targeting of populations and providing people-centred vaccination services close to their homes. These services were combined with childhood vaccination and basic health-care provision using the existing polio network and community health workers. Additionally, a digital tool for recording COVID-19 vaccination data and a mobile phone-based electronic registration system were introduced. Local setting Somalia, a fragile and conflict-affected state, faced challenges when implementing COVID-19 vaccination, including inexperience in managing mass adult vaccination, inadequate infrastructure and health workforce. Furthermore, insecurity in some areas and severe drought resulted in large-scale displacement of people. Relevant changes The implementation of a more context-specific strategy helped Somalia reach substantially more people with COVID-19 vaccination and 42.1% coverage by 31 December 2022. Additionally, 84 600 zero- dose children received their first childhood vaccine during the integrated campaigns. The increased coverage has led to public health benefits that outweigh the investment in the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. Lessons learnt Successful roll-out of adult vaccination is achievable even in a fragile and conflict-affected setting through implementation of a tailored contextualized approach. Key factors include good microplanning, use of digital tools, better population-targeting, bundling vaccines together and delivering vaccination services close to people&apos;s homes. Probleme Au 31 decembre 2021, seulement 5,5% (861 879/15 670 530) des Somaliens etaient totalement vaccines contre la maladie a coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Approche Afin d&apos;accroitre rapidement la couverture vaccinale contre la COVID-19 en 2022, le Ministere de la Sante et ses partenaires (l&apos;Organisation mondiale de la Sante et le Fonds des Nations Unies pour l&apos;enfance) ont adopte une strategie plus reactive. Celle-ci comprenait une microplanification minutieuse, un meilleur ciblage des populations et la fourniture de services de vaccination centres sur les personnes, a proximite de leur domicile. Ces services etaient combines a une vaccination des enfants et a des soins de base, grace au reseau actuel de lutte contre la polio et des agents de sante communautaires. En outre, un outil numerique d&apos;acquisition des donnees relatives a la vaccination contre la COVID-19 ainsi qu&apos;un systeme d&apos;enregistrement electronique via telephone mobile ont ete deployes. Environnement local La Somalie, un Etat fragile et en conflit, a ete confrontee a des difficultes de mise en reuvre de la vaccination contre la COVID-19, notamment en raison de son manque d&apos;experience dans la gestion de campagnes de vaccination massive des adultes, de ses infrastructures inadaptees et d&apos;une penurie de soignants. De plus, l&apos;insecurite qui regne dans certaines regions et la secheresse extreme ont entraine des deplacements a grande echelle. Changements significatifs L&apos;instauration d&apos;une strategie mieux adaptee au contexte a aide la Somalie a vacciner nettement plus de gens contre la COVID-19, et a atteindre 42,1% de couverture vaccinale au 31 decembre 2022. Par ailleurs, 84 600 enfants <> ont recu leur premier vaccin pediatrique durant les campagnes combinees. L&apos;amelioration de la couverture vaccinale a engendre de nombreux benefices pour la sante publique, depassant l&apos;investissement dans les campagnes de vaccination contre la COVID-19. Lecons tirees En definissant une approche contextualisee et sur mesure, il est possible de proceder a la vaccination des adultes, meme dans une region fragile et en conflit. Parmi les facteurs cles figurent une bonne microplanification, le recours aux outils numeriques, un meilleur ciblage des populations, le regroupement des vaccins et la mise a disposition de services de vaccination non loin des habitations. Situacion A 31 de diciembre de 2021, solo el 5,5% (861 879/15 670 530) de la poblacion somali habia sido completamente vacunada contra la enfermedad por coronavirus de 2019 (COVID-19). Enfoque Para aumentar rapidamente la cobertura de la vacuna contra la COVID-19 en 2022, el Ministerio de Sanidad y sus asociados (la Organizacion Mundial de la Salud y el Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia) adoptaron una estrategia mas receptiva. Esta estrategia incluia una cuidadosa microplanificacion, una mejor seleccion de las poblaciones y la prestacion de servicios de vacunacion centrados en las personas y cercanos a sus hogares. Los servicios se combinaron con la vacunacion infantil y la prestacion de atencion sanitaria basica mediante la red antipoliomielitica existente y los agentes de salud comunitarios. Ademas, se introdujeron una herramienta digital para registrar los datos de vacunacion contra la COVID-19 y un sistema de registro electronico por telefono movil. Marco regional Somalia, un estado fragil y afectado por conflictos, atraveso dificultades a la hora de implementar la vacunacion contra la COVID-19, como la inexperiencia en la gestion de la vacunacion masiva de adultos, la falta de infraestructuras y de personal sanitario. Asimismo, la inseguridad en algunas regiones y la grave sequia provocaron desplazamientos de poblacion a gran escala. Cambios importantes La implementacion de una estrategia mas adaptada al contexto ayudo a Somalia a llegar a un numero mucho mayor de personas con la vacunacion contra la COVID-19 y a una cobertura del 42,1% a 31 de diciembre de 2022. Ademas, 84 600 ninos con dosis cero recibieron su primera vacuna infantil durante las campanas integradas. El aumento de la cobertura ha propiciado beneficios para la salud publica que superan la inversion en las campanas de vacunacion contra la COVID-19. Lecciones aprendidas El despliegue exitoso de la vacunacion de adultos es posible incluso en un entorno fragil y afectado por conflictos mediante la implementacion de un enfoque contextualizado y adaptado. Los factores clave consisten en una buena microplanificacion, el uso de herramientas digitales, una mejor orientacion de la poblacion, la agrupacion de vacunas y la prestacion de servicios de vacunacion cerca de los hogares., Introduction Somalia received its first 300 000 doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines from the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative on 15 March 2021, (1) and the first [...]

This article explores student perceptions of writing online examinations for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, examinations at an open and distance learning institution in South Africa were conducted as venue-based examinations. From March 2020, all examinations were moved online. Online examinations were introduced as an emergency measure to adhere to safety and health protocols. Although students in developed countries have indicated benefits to online examinations, less is known about students living in the Global South when it comes to writing examinations online. Not enough is known about the benefits and challenges of online examinations since they were implemented as an emergency measure. We aimed at exploring student perceptions of writing online examinations for the first time, to improve examination processes by including student views. Through an analysis of 336 written responses to an open-ended question posed at the end of an online survey, we established that digital access, duration of the examination, and the examination system interface affected students' success in online examinations. Based on the findings, we recommend that students need to be given tools and data to participate in online examinations. Furthermore, students should be granted ample opportunity to practise writing online examinations while receiving the necessary support.

Pre-service teacher education (PSTE) has largely been excluded from investments in foundational literacy and numeracy in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This approach has consequences for sustainability due to the central role of PSTE in supporting lasting educational change. In this literature review, we examine key challenges facing PSTE in LMICs and draw on the evidence to suggest areas for teacher educators and stakeholders to focus attention--including curriculum revisions to make PSTE more applied and relevant, enhanced focus on the practicum, and high-quality professional development for teacher educators--to promote alignment of content and pedagogy with evidence-based practices.

This study explored learning which occurred when mature distance education students co-developed an open educational resource (OER) with their lecturers using Smith's critical reflection as a method to guide reflection on their learning. This study is significant since student learning on the co-development of an open educational resource could not be found in the literature. Within an interpretative paradigm, we used questionnaires with mainly open-ended questions to determine a particular group of students' learning. Findings indicate learning about themselves, their interactions, and their contexts. The study puts forward specific implications to improve future practices based on the findings. The specific contribution is that students who engage in critical self-reflection change their perspectives, allowing them to self-examine and reflect on future actions. This learning experience assists students, lecturers and institutions of higher education in their approach toward critical reflection and the co-development of OER.

Candace Barrington interviews Patience Agbabi about her relationship to Geoffrey Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales.

Adequate preparedness of health systems, particularly healthcare workers (HCWs), to respond to COVID-19 is critical for the effective control of the virus, especially in low- and middle-income countries where health systems are overburdened. We examined Ghanaian HCWs perceived preparedness to respond to the pandemic and the factors that shaped their preparedness and that of the health system. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with n = 26 HCWs responsible for the clinical management of COVID-19 patients and three administrators responsible for developing and implementing COVID-19 policies at the facility level. Interviews were conducted over the phone in English, transcribed, and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Generally, HCWs felt inadequately prepared to contain the spread of COVID-19 due to resource shortages and inadequate training. HCWs, similarly, perceived the health system to be unprepared due to insufficient clinical infrastructure and logistical challenges. The few who felt prepared identified readiness in managing high consequence infectious disease cases and pre-existing protocols as enablers of HCW preparedness. The health system and HCWs were unprepared to manage the COVID-19 pandemic due to inadequate training, logistical challenges, and weak clinical infrastructure. Interventions are urgently needed to improve the health systems preparedness for future pandemics.

Most ultrasound-based processes root in empirical approaches. Because nearly all advances have been conducted in aqueous systems, there exists a paucity of information on sonoprocessing in other solvents, particularly ionic liquids (ILs). In this work, we modelled an ultrasonic horn-type sonoreactor and investigated the effects of ultrasound power, sonotrode immersion depth, and solvents thermodynamic properties on acoustic cavitation in nine imidazolium-based and three pyrrolidinium-based ILs. The model accounts for bubbles, acoustic impedance mismatch at interfaces, and treats the ILs as incompressible, Newtonian, and saturated with argon. Following a statistical analysis of the simulation results, we determined that viscosity and ultrasound input power are the most significant variables affecting the intensity of the acoustic pressure field (P), the volume of cavitation zones (V), and the magnitude of the maximum acoustic streaming surface velocity (u). V and u increase with the increase of ultrasound input power and the decrease in viscosity, whereas the magnitude of negative P decreases as ultrasound power and viscosity increase. Probe immersion depth positively correlates with V, but its impact on P and u is insignificant. 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ILs yielded the largest V and the fastest acoustic jets - 0.77 cm3 and 24.4 m s-1 for 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride at 60 W. 1-methyl-3-(3-sulfopropyl)-imidazolium-based ILs generated the smallest V and lowest u - 0.17 cm3 and 1.7 m s-1 for 1-methyl-3-(3-sulfopropyl)-imidazolium p-toluene sulfonate at 20 W. Sonochemiluminescence experiments validated the model.