bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Merton’s Criticism of Malinowski and Radcliffe-Brown’s Postulation as a Comparative Analyst to the Nigeria Social System
Authors: Bello Bashir
Published: March 2023

Structural Functionalism is a broad perspective in sociology and anthropology. It sees society as a structure with interrelated parts.Structural Functionalism assumes the society as a system of interconnected parts (which comprises of constituent elements such as customs, norms, traditions, institutions, etc.) that work together in harmony to maintain a state of balance and social equilibrium for the whole. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of society by focusing on how each part influences and is influenced by other parts. Fundamental assumptions of the Structural Functionalism can be traced to the Organicism of Comte of early 19th century (and subsequently in the work of Spencer and Durkheim). Timeless analysis by Durkheim and emphasis on social taxonomies (ideal types) by Weber also shape Contemporary Structural Functionalism. The analysis and emphasis influenced the Functional Anthropologists Bronislaw Malinowski (1884-1942) and Alfred Radcliffe-Brown (1881-1955). This paper takes a look at Merton’s criticism of some of the aspects of Structural Functionalism. The criticism has been seen as conceptual insights that helped give Structural Functionalism a continuing usefulness. Merton’s criticism of Structural Functionalism, particularly that of Malinowski and Radcliffe Brown postulates have been used in this paper to proffer explanation to what is obtainable in the Nigeria social structures and institutions.
Food Politics and Gendered Realities in Western Nigeria, 1939-1955
Authors: Oladejo Mutiat
Published: March 2023

This paper examines the dynamics of food production, distribution, and marketing in Western Nigeria. It emphasises thegendered realities, that is, the implication for the involvement of men and women in the food system. The work accounts for thepre-colonial transitions to the colonial era and the impact of colonial governance on food production and marketing. Furthermore, the analysis on food politics is connected to modern agricultural policies; therefore, the work discusses the nexus inmodern agriculture and food marketing in Ilesa and Akure provinces of Western Nigeria and its disparity in gender roles. Also, the politics of food marketing in Lagos during World War II implied a lot on gender disparity and complementary roles. Thepaper exposes how colonialism defined gender roles through food production and marketing in Western Nigeria. It uses thehistorical method and sources of writing were based on archival materials and newspapers retrieved from the National Archives,Ibadan.
Is Mimetic Desire a Root Cause of Religious Violence in Tanzania? An Analysis of Girardian – Mimetic Desire Theory
Authors: Ndaluka Thomas
Published: March 2023

Mimetic desire theory is widely available in the Western debates and has informed thinking and arguments in the disciplines ofliterature, sociology, anthropology, religion, theology, and political science in the Western Universities. Unfortunately, thereare rare or limited debates on the application of the mimetic desire theory in Africa in general and Tanzania in particular. This article, therefore, attempts to [re]introduce the theory founded by René Girard – the Mimetic desire theory focusing on the causes of religious violence in Tanzania. The article uses information gathered from two case studies i.e. from Dar es Salaam and GeitaRegions to argue that indeed religious violence in the country is the result of mimesis. The article argues that, Christians have imitated the act of slaughtering animals by Muslims, the resultant of which was violence between Muslims and Christians in the country. The article also adds that religion, however, was not the sole cause of violence in the country. Other factors such as economic marginalisation and power relations were at the core. Moreover, the masses actively and consciously chose the victims (scapegoats) for sacrificial purposes. The paper concludes that society must empower all citizens, regardless of their beliefs, to access the desired objects (scarce resources) in order to maintain peaceful coexistence. The article recommends more debate and studies on the analysis of the Girardian mimetic desire theory
Chuma Ulete as a Popularized Witchcraft Discourse in Small Businesses
Authors: Mgumia Jacqueline
Published: March 2023

This article investigates a particular discourse of witchcraft in Tanzania famously known as Chuma Ulete. Perceived as apractice that involves leaking or stealing wealth mysteriously, it has increasingly become popularized in both mainstream andsocial media within the context of a post-socialist neo-liberal economy. In this article it is conceptualized as the witchcraft ofthe poor as, purportedly, it is generally used to magically steal money from small businesses. Although the concept has receivedlittle attention in the sociological and anthropological literature, it could provide an explanation for some instances of marginal gains in the market economy, and how people make sense of it. The article argues that they do so through invoking, simultaneously or sequentially, religious, traditional, business, and poverty discourses. The concept has also been extended to express exploitation in the market economy, where issues of services and romantic relationships are concerned. As such, thearticle brings to light its definition, characteristics, and how people deal with it.
Communication for Change: Altering Die-hard Attitudes, Beliefs and Behaviour through Knowledge Sharing on Lake Victoria Pollution
Authors: Kaijanangoma Dietrick
Published: March 2023

This paper reports the findings of a study that set out to establish the attitudes, knowledge, beliefs and behaviour of localresidents towards the environmental pollution on Lake Victoria in Tanzania. The study employed four methods in the collection ofdata, which were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively using SPSS and NVIVO computer programmes respectively. Themain findings are that: residents of Mwanza were aware that the lake was polluted mainly by their own activities, yet they hold thegovernment responsible for its failure to control the devastation. They also recognised that an effective communication framework among the stakeholders to avert the devastation does not exist. It is, therefore, concluded that, there was a need to initiate a strategic partnership between the government and the mass media to curb the increasing pollution on Lake Victoria.
Will the Sustainability of Lion Tourist Hunting be Certain Amidst Noncompliance to Conservation Legal Frameworks?
Authors: Gayo Leopody , Nahonyo Cuthbert , Masao Catherine
Published: March 2023

This paper examined the understanding and compliance with the IUCN sustainability principles among hunting practitioners of the Selous Game Reserve (SGR) for sustainable trophy hunting. Five administrative sectors of the SGR to include Ilonga, Msolwa,Liwale, Miguruwe and Kingupira were purposively sampled for assessment between August and October 2018. It applied the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to understand predictors of compliance, and the unmatched count technique (UCT) to estimate prevalence of unsustainable hunting practices. UCT, semi-structured interviews, key informants interviews, direct field observations and Documentary review were used to collect data. Analysis of compliance was conducted using multiple logistic regression models in SAS Version 9.4 software. The findings indicated that, majority of the hunting practitioners are not familiar with IUCN hunting principles. Accordingly, nearly a half of the respondents did not comply with the principles. The predictors of compliance could be working experience (p=0.0079) and awareness with IUCN principles (p=0.0034) as they were significant in expressing positive attitude towards sustainable trophy hunting. The paper recommends; (1) much emphasis on the awareness rising and clear understanding of IUCN sustainability principles to the licensed hunting practitioners; (2) effective monitoring and evaluation of the hunting activities to reinforce compliance of sustainability principles.
Knowledge Distortions in Tanzanian Secondary Schools
Authors: Matogwa Armstrong C. , Sambaiga Richard F.
Published: March 2023

Since the 1990s there have been serious concerns about the quality of formal knowledge1 in Tanzania. The centre of the concerns has been the relationship between formal knowledge and development. Most of the studies agree that, under-development in Tanzania is highly influenced by the poor quality of formal knowledge. Though this has been the case, little is known about the distortions of knowledge in materialist terms. As it is argued by various scholars, poor quality of formal knowledge has been associated with a poor learning environment, lack of teaching staff and other basic equipment. While these are important, this study aimed at explaining how systems of knowledge production and dissemination distort the quality of knowledge in Tanzania. By situating Tanzania in the context of European imperialism, it was observed that knowledge production and dissemination systems have been destroyed since colonial times, and the content of knowledge has been sporadically distorted to respond to the needs of the world capitalist system. The paper explains these distortions in various historical periods with a focus on secondary schools in Tanzania.
Women’s Spaces of Empowerment
Authors: Ibrahim Zakia Iddi
Published: March 2023

This study examined the relationship between chicken keeping and household food security and nutrition. Chicken keeping in particular is understood as an important aspect of women’s culturally constructed spaces. It was the interest of this study to explore how these women negotiate within these traditionally assigned spaces and benefit from them, including using them for household nutrition. To accomplish this, the study used the qualitative design. It was found that the value that women attach to chicken keeping was different from that of men. Men’s interest in chickens was also rising as their monetary value kept on increasing, hence interfering with women’s intentions and need for autonomy in chicken keeping activities as well as the covert contestations between men and women surrounding chicken sales. At the same time, the culturally defined women’s feeding responsibilities within the household shaped ways of chicken use and sale, which also inform on how chicken and chicken products can be used for household nutrition. This study, thus, argues that the taken-for-granted assumptions about women maintaining their households with what they own, such as chicken keeping, needs to be questioned by interrogating the cultural, and social factors to do with chicken keeping and different abilities in maintaining this therein.
Marginalised Groups’ Survival in an Informal Sector in Tanzania
Authors: Manyerere David J. , Mahundu Fabian G.
Published: March 2023

For a prolonged time, bus passengers condemn the touts in bus stands as distressing individuals. This perception is, being challenged by strong criticism, especially where the unemployment problem in the formal sector is rapidly increasing and poverty in most developing nations is extensively growing. Hence, making people choose informal jobs as the case of touts is apparent. Some scholars perceive the informal sector as a source of living and survival for the unemployed and young people not in the formal job. However, little is known about how touts as marginalised individuals survive in an informal sector setting such as bus terminals, where there are multiple working challenges. Primarily, this is due to data limitations about touts’ survival strategies in informal job. This research paper examines the networking strategies employed by touts in selected bus terminals - Temeke, Ubungo and Kimara in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to survive in the informal sector. The findings indicate that touts working in bus terminals are among the impoverished groups in the country. Touts’ economic survival in such an unsecured informal sector depends on the establishment of better social relations among themselves and their family members.
Participation by Marginalisation
Authors: Silvano Pilly , Kweka Opportuna L.
Published: March 2023

This paper highlights ways in which marginalisation of women in forest management participation is happening within community-based forest certification programmes. Drawing from interviews, focus group discussions and observation with men and women in Kilwa District, the paper examines how women are excluded from participating in forest-related activities and in leadership positions. It reveals discourses which institutionalise marginalisation and shows how these discourses have re-produced culture, distance and time as the main constraints to women’s participation in forest management. The paper’s main contribution is to show how the factors which lead to women’s exclusion are woven and become normalized in everyday discourses and continue to exclude women. We show how the institutionalisation of women exclusion from forest marginalisation happens even in the very programmes which claim to bring equal participation of men and women.
Adherence to Health and Safety Measures in Building Materials Retail Shops: Experiences from Ilala District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Kamugisha Gozibert , Kitaly Devota
Published: March 2023

This article examines knowledge and practices of employers and workers about health and safety measures in building materials retail shops in Ilala District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The article is based on quantitative data collected from 152 employers and workers from such shops. Structured questionnaires were used for collecting data. The data were analysed using Chi-square tests and Pearson’s correlation. The findings revealed that a big majority of employers and workers in building materials retail shops are aware of health and safety measures, but exhibit poor health and safety practices. There is a collective sense of responsibility for ensuring occupational health and safety in the workplaces by employers and workers. Major obstacles for lack of adherence to health safety include financial costs for instituting health and safety measures, as well as limited knowledge and lack of monitoring and inspection systems. It is recommended that formal and appropriate knowledge can be acquired through formal trainings provided by OHS authorities.
Revealing Common Misconceptions in Marxian Sociology
Authors: Matogwa Armstrong C.
Published: March 2023

Sociology is one of the social sciences disciplines which analyses various social issues for the benefit of the society. However, for this assumption to materialize, sociologists must consume and disseminate undistorted knowledge. This paper provides a reflection of Marxian sociology by showing how contemporary scholars have tried to produce a misleading version of the same, and therefore, distorts the central argument of Marxian sociology. To reveal these misconceptions, this paper focuses on three common concepts namely conflict, structure and economy. For contemporary scholars, these concepts are said to characterize Marxian Sociology. So, they claim, Marxism is a conflict theory, a structural theory and also a theory of economic determinism. To what extent are these claims true? This paper provides answers by reviewing the original premises of Marxism together with these claims. It then provides the root causes of the misconceptions and advises contemporary sociologists to work on original premises of Marx rather than consumee these distorted versions. The author has used qualitative–interpretive methodology and documentary review method of data generation to analyze this complex phenomenon.
Can Environmental Tax Reduce Dilapidated Motor Vehicles Importation and Pollution? Insights from Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Mwangoka Brown , Lema Godwin
Published: March 2023

The influence of tax regime in reducing dilapidated vehicles’ demand and attendant pollution is puzzling global south cities. This article provides an assessment on how environmental tax is or is not curbing down the importation of the Dilapidated Motor Vehicles (DMVs) with a view to reduce vehicular emissions in the city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A multilevel perspective employing mixed methods of data collection was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data through document review, group discussions, in-depth interviews from selected Members of Parliament, policymakers, government officials, and brand new as well as DMVs dealers. Content, trend and discourse analysis enabled to interpret qualitative data. Findings reveal that taxing importation of DMVs is not significantly reducing air pollution. The side effects of the increased DMVs import in polluting the environment are increasing due to the rise in income levels, population increase and technical challenges of estimating marginal social cost. As DMVs tax was not reflected in the exporter’s cost schedule, the non-inclusion gives a market failure scenario a la Pigou Theorem. Rethinking of an optimal environmental tax remains a complex sociopolitical issue calling for research and policy attention.
Rock art Conservation and Tourism in Iringa Region, Tanzania
Authors: Itambu Makarius , Bushozi Pastory
Published: March 2023

Much of the archaeological research in Tanzania over the last three decades has focused on sites that have yielded early hominin fossils and the resulting data has been analysed and discussed with the goal of generating knowledge about hominins bio-cultural evolution. Previous research focused on monumental, built heritage sites along the coast of the Indian Ocean and the interregional trade networks that existed from 1000 to 1500 A.D located along the coast of the Tanzania. This regional research prioritization in Tanzania and bias has resulted in the marginalization of some geographical regions in Tanzania from a research perspective and a resultant lack of understanding of important sites in the interior archaeological sites. Our research shifts attention from the famously well researched sites to the less investigated sites in the interior of Tanzania. We have noted that many of these sites currently face many natural and anthropogenic threats. Thus, we propose a number of sustainable management and conservation strategies to mitigate threats to these non-renewable heritage resources of Iringa Region, particularly the rock art sites. We highlight the roles of different stakeholders including the Government of Tanzania in the conservation and management of the country’s patrimonies.
Do Students’ Personality Characteristics Predict COVID-19 Safety Measures Compliance? Evidence from University Students at University of Dar es Salaam
Authors: Singogo Patrick
Published: March 2023

The study aimed at investigating the predictability of personality characteristics on COVID-19 safety measures compliance. Specifically, the study aimed at examining the influence of agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, extraversion, openness to experiences on COVID-19 safety measures compliance. The study is based on cross-sectional research design whereby data were collected from university students. Through a questionnaire survey, data were collected from 450 university students at the University of Dar es Salaam. Based on SmartPLS estimates, it was found that four students’ personality characteristics i.e. agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion and openness to experiences significantly predict COVID-19 safety measures compliance. The study revealed that agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experiences have a positive prediction on COVID19 safety measures compliance. Moreover, the study revealed that extraversion personality has a negative prediction on COVID-19 safety measures compliance. However, the study failed to establish the predictability of emotional stability as one of students’ personality characteristics on COVID-19 safety measures compliance. The study suggests a unique perspective on the predictability of personality characteristics on COVID-19 safety measures thus complementing previous studies based on university students’ perspective. The positive predictability of agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experiences as well as the negative predictability of extraversion on COVID19 safety measures compliance tend to increase the soundness of personality characteristics in complying with established standards. Thus, understanding personality characteristics of people such as university students is essential in determining the extent of COVID-19 safety measures compliance.
The Role of Traditional Methods and Case Management Approach in Preventing Teenage Pregnancy in Tanzania: A Case of Temeke Municipality, Dar es Salaam Region
Authors: Omari Leah
Published: March 2023

This article presents an empirical evidence-based analysis of traditional methods that include initiation ceremonies and a modern approach called case management approach in preventing teenage pregnancy in Tanzania. It is based on a qualitative study with a sample size of 20 participants. The first objective was niched around the premises of assessing traditional methods of preventing teenage pregnancy, premised on cultural norms and values, which have been weakened. The second objective was focused on a case management approach (introduced by the researcher) as a child protection mechanism and behavioral control that filled the gap left by traditional methods. The findings indicate that, through symbolic interactionism, traditional values and norms that held the community together are on the wane. Therefore, case management approach has proven to help in controlling early pregnancy to teenage girls. This study recommends that by combining traditional methods and a case management approach, pregnant teenagers will be actively involved in decision making and being part of the solution and change agents for community's attitudes and perceptions. The study concludes that case management is increasingly becoming important as the social fabric on which traditional methods are anchored in preventing teenage pregnancy.
Transforming the Tanzania Charcoal Sector Project and Sustainability of Community Based Forest Management in Kilosa District, Tanzania
Authors: Sawe Jackson
Published: March 2023

This paper explored the impact of the Transforming Tanzania Charcoal Sector Project (TTCSP), on the sustainability of Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) in Kilosa District, using the Ihombwe CBFM as a case study. The study used a qualitative research design. A sample of 47 participants was used to collect data. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used to select participants. Data were collected through document reviews, in-depth interviews, focused group discussions and observation. Thematic analysis was used in data analysis. The findings showed that the project has implemented several activities such as capacity building to village institutions, supporting the village land use plan, village resources assessment, and forest harvest plans, training charcoal producers and timber processing groups on modern techniques. Moreover, the Project supported the construction and furnishing of the village office and the development of village by-laws. Furthermore, the Project has strengthened the operationalization CBFM as well as the introduction of a sustainable forest harvest management model. The Ihombwe CBFM has been formalized and made able to generate significant income from forest products such as charcoal and timber. After all these initiatives, deforestation was perceived to decrease thus, ensuring the sustainability of the community forest.
Are Biometric Attendance Registers a Panacea for Workplace Absenteeism in Tanzania? A Lesson from Public Secondary Schools in Nyamagana Municipality
Authors: Mgonja Michael , Makulilo Alexander
Published: March 2023

Teachers’ workplace absenteeism is widely reported in countries like Tanzania. Left unaddressed, the problem negatively affects institutions and students’ academic excellence. In response, use of digital technology, including deployment of biometric fingerprint attendance registers is thought to bring a novel opportunity for mitigating the problem. However, the extent to which biometrics is effective in managing employees’ attendance in countries like Tanzania is yet to be known. This study draws experience from Nyamagana Municipality to ascertain the effectiveness of biometric fingerprint attendance registers in addressing teachers’ workplace absenteeism. The findings unveil challenges that blur the effectiveness of biometric fingerprint attendance registers in the studied district. With ICT, teachers can still falsify their workplace attendance. More so, unreliable power supply and COVID-19 pandemic have heightened the challenges related to effective utilisation of the fingerprint machines in managing teacher absenteeism. The study recommends that an effective design and use of digital technology in managing teachers absenteeism should take into account the sociological aspects in educational industry.
Perception towards Level of Job Commitment of Public Secondary School Teachers in Ogun State, Nigeria
Authors: Gbenga Bawalla , Samuel Omolawal
Published: March 2023

This paper investigated the perceived decline of teachers’ job commitment as compared to the past in the late 80s and early 90s among the present public secondary schools teachers in Ogun State. The study adopted rational choice theory which helps to model teachers in decision making of choice and alternative (cost and benefits). Six former top retired education officers and former retired Teachers union officials were interviewed through Key Informant Interview and In-depth Interview respectively. The findings revealed 80s and 90s teachers were more committed to academic work unlike most present day teachers who do not have flair for teaching but rather majority live a flamboyant lifestyle. In addition, participants highlighted some reasons for the poor academic performance of public secondary school teachers such as government not strictly adherent to policies on education as well as low remuneration package which paved for teachers to engage in moonlighting. The study however recommends, however, for proper monitoring and inspection team to visit public secondary schools on a regular bases to discharge their duties appropriately and also total compliance of government with the recommendation of UNESCO policy of 26 percent budget on education.
The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health among Individuals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Shagembe Magolanga , Kinanda Jonas , Senga Mathew , Ndaluka Thomas
Published: March 2023

This study aimed at examining the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Specifically, this study was guided by the assumption that the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted on individuals’ mental health in Tanzania in various ways. The study used a Social Cognitive Theory to illuminate insights generated from the empirical findings from the field. Using a survey questionnaire, the study collected data from a sample of 258 respondents. The findings have shown that COVID-19 affected individuals differently, with fewer symptoms of substance use disorders, depression, and schizophrenia experienced by the respondents interviewed. Overall, there were high symptoms of obsession and bipolar disorder. In conclusion, people’s cognitive perception influenced their view of severity of COVID-19 and consequently predisposed their behaviour. Given the changing nature of the virus globally, this study recommends for a countrywide survey to determine the trend and magnitude of mental disorders in the country.
Tanzanian Popular Songs Disapprove Modern Harmful Masculinities: Analysing Mwana FA’s Dume Suruali
Authors: Mwakibete Edwin
Published: March 2023

Worldwide, harmful masculinities have been liable for men’s depression and other health issues, violence, or even deaths. This study explored what masculinities are accountable for in Tanzania. Some popular Tanzanian songs that provide discourses about modern harmful masculinities have been studied. The findings show that in Tanzania, the masculinities have mainly been accountable for gender problems and moral degradation mainly through social beliefs and popular songs. Also, while various popular Tanzanian songs have been promoting the masculinities, some including the song “Dume Suruali” by Mwana FA, address them critically and by observing Tanzanian cultural morals. The study uses R. W. Connell's gender order theory to analyze the songs.
The importance of human supervision in the use of ChatGPT as a support tool in scientific writing
Authors: Castillo-González William
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Chat GPT could be a supportive tool in scientific research and writing, allowing researchers to focus on generating results and data analysis. However, it is important to consider possible biases and limitations in text generation, as well as ethical and quality implications in scientific knowledge production.
Methods: a literature search was conducted on PubMed and Scopus with the keyword "ChatGPT," establishing inclusion and exclusion criteria to select 10 relevant articles on the use of ChatGPT in scientific research and writing in the last 5 years and open access.
Results: various authors point out the potential of ChatGPT as a supportive tool in scientific research and writing, highlighting its ability to provide useful comments and suggestions, as well as its use in the development of coherent text and the management of references and citations. However, possible ethical biases and limitations in its use and the need for human supervision are also cautioned. The journal Nature establishes ethical and transparency principles for its use and recommends excluding ChatGPT as an accredited author in a research work.
Conclusions: ChatGPT is a useful tool in scientific writing, but its use must be regulated to avoid the substitution of human experience and ensure ethical and quality standards, and caution and human supervision must be exercised to ensure the accuracy of results and recognize its use in research works without attributing authorship.
THE EFFECT OF SUITABILITY BETWEEN PERSONALITY TYPES AND WORK ENVIRONMENT MODELS ON JOB SATISFACTION
Authors: Ariani Alpha , Karyati Faridah
Published: March 2023

Job satisfaction is essential in improving employee performance and productivity so that the institution can realize its goals. One factor that influences job satisfaction is employees' personality characteristics. This study aims to determine the effect of suitability between personality types and work environment on job satisfaction. The research was conducted at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, XYZ University, with a sample of 24 lecturers. Data was collected through the questionnaires and analyzed with simple linear regression analysis. The results showed no significant effect of the suitability between personality type and work environment on job satisfaction; the contribution is only 5.3%.
Editor’s Welcome
Authors: Guo Joyce , Sreedhar Uma S.
Published: March 2023

Tēnā koutou katoa and welcome to Issue 35 of Te Hautaka o ngā Akongā Rongoā, the New Zealand Medical Student Journal (NZMSJ). The theme of this issue is “Health Literacy”, which has become an increasingly important topic for medical professionals and the general public alike. It is our great privilege to share with our readers the insightful and high-quality articles by authors both domestic and abroad. The health literacy of both the medical workforce and the general public is crucial to successful patient-centred healthcare. Health literacy is not solely understanding the pathophysiology of a disease, but also the changing dynamics of one’s health amongst other bi- opsychosocial factors. Health professionals are not by nature more “health-literate” than patients, and it is dangerous for the patient-doctor relationship to assume the patient knows less. Health literacy has been associated with a myriad of factors, however, new frameworks of patient-centred care now focus on the role of health professionals in accommodating for and traversing the range of patient health understanding that they encounter. Clear communication between the two parties is arguably more important than the knowledge either holds.
Narrative review: The role of nature, plants, and art in post‐operative outcomes
Authors: Rektorysova Michaela
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND Recovery from surgery is a stressful experience for patients, both physically and psychologically. Previous research has shown that in- creased stress has effects on post-operative outcomes. Non-pharmacological therapies, such as experiencing nature, may be potential avenues to further improve patient care.

METHODS PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for the terms “nature,” “plants,” “surgery,” “post-operative outcomes,” and “pain.”

RESULTS There were very limited numbers of studies looking into the effect of plants, nature, and art on post-operative outcomes. Those that did exist were relatively low quality in design. Nevertheless, exposure to plants was associated with a slightly reduced systolic blood pressure and reduced self-reported stress levels and pain intensity. Similarly, a retrospective study found that patients in rooms with views of nature consumed less analgesia on days three to five post-operatively, and had a slightly shorter hospital stay. Views of artwork were associated with increased mobilization distance on day one post-operatively, but this association disappeared from day two onwards. Some evidence exists that nature and images of nature can improve pain tolerance in university students, but this may not generalize well to the clinical population.

CONCLUSION There is limited evidence to support the thesis that the view of plants, nature, or art can improve post-operative outcomes. The papers identified in this review were of low quality with limited statistical power. However, enabling access to nature and art could be an avenue for non-pharmacological improvement of patient outcomes, and high-quality studies are warranted.
Childhood Body Mass Index (BMI) and the Risk of Infection: A Narrative Review
Authors: Hashemian Houman , Esfandiari Mohammad Ali , Dalili Setila
Published: March 2023

Context: Infectious diseases are still one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in children, especially in developing countries. In various studies, the weight of children has been found to be influential in the risk of occurrence of these diseases or their severity, and sufficient information on this matter can be important in improving the management and prognosis of patients. This study aimed to determine the impact of being underweight or obese on the risk of infection in children Evidence Acquisition: The ISI Web of Sciences, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases were reviewed for relevant articles published from 2010 to 2022. The keywords used included: Infections, body mass index, obesity, thinness, underweight, and child. Results: Studies show that underweight children are associated with an increased risk of various parasitic, viral, and bacterial infections or their severity. Being overweight and obese have received less attention, but they have been shown to be effective in some respiratory and urinary infections in children. Conclusions: According to obtained results, being underweight or obese has been linked to an increased risk of various parasitic, viral, and bacterial infections or their severity in children. Therefore, determining the weight of children, even in emergency cases, and considering it, along with other initial evaluations of children with infection, can be effective in improving the management and prognosis of these children.
Problems and Solutions of Taxation to Control Unhealthy Goods: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Kooshkebaghi Mahdi , Dargahi Hossein , Emamgholipour Sefiddashti Sara
Published: March 2023

Background: Taxes on unhealthy goods, in addition to reducing the consumption of these goods, preventing related diseases, and promoting public health, can provide significant financial resources for the health sector. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the problems and solutions of taxation to control the consumption of unhealthy goods to improve public health. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in 2021. Semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions were held to collect information. Sampling was performed by purposive and snowball methods with 31 managers and key experts. The data were analyzed using the content analysis method. MAXQDA software (version 12) was used for classification and coding. Results: This study labeled 2 main themes and 10 subthemes. The main themes included problems of controlling unhealthy goods and solutions to controlling unhealthy goods. Poor decision-making, planning, and execution, production-related problems, smuggling and poor supervision, increased consumption of harmful goods, conflicts of interest, and advertisements of unhealthy goods are the most important of these problems. Imposing taxes, duties, and price hikes, providing alternatives, paying attention to all determinants of supply and demand, and taxation on advertising are also solutions to control unhealthy products. Conclusions: The health level of individuals should be improved by imposing taxes on unhealthy goods, determining accurate tax rates, and simultaneously using measures, such as providing alternatives to unhealthy goods and controlling advertisements. Paying serious attention to the list of harmful goods, coordination and cooperation of related organizations in formulating and implementing tax policies, and providing suitable alternatives to harmful products are the practical suggestions of this study.
Effect of Convalescent Plasma Therapy on COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Shojaei Mahboobeh , Shahrabi Saeid , Khodakarim Nastaran , Amrovani Mehran , Salah Alireza , Saleh Nassaj Zohre , Esmaeili Masoud
Published: March 2023

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Different treatments have been used to fight against the virus; however, one of the most effective and accessible is convalescent plasma therapy (CPT). Objectives: The present study investigated the effect of CPT on improving the clinical conditions of COVID-19 patients. Methods: This study was conducted on 440 individuals, including 220 COVID-19-recovered individuals as plasma donors and 220 plasma recipients, in Shiraz, Fars province, Iran, from May 2020 to February 2021 using random sampling. After complete recovery from COVID-19, patients were recalled for apheresis and plasma isolation for convalescent plasma (CP) preparation; they were referred to the blood donation centers of Shiraz. According to the hospital request, compatible and related plasma was sent for COVID-19-hospitalized patients. At the same time, hospitals were asked to send the clinical condition documents of the patients based on the medical records and the outcomes after CPT. The Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization evaluated the results. Results: The median antibody titer was 1300. Titers higher and lower than 1300 were considered high and low, respectively. Blood group O had 54 times higher antibody titers above 1300 than other blood groups (odds ratio (OR) = 54, confidence interval (CI): 19.5 - 205.3, P < 0.001). Additionally, most deceased cases received plasma with antibody titers less than 1300 (OR = 0.08, CI: 0.009 - 0.36, P < 0.001). Nevertheless, most discharged patients received plasma with antibody titers higher than 1300 (OR = 1.5, CI: 1.06 - 2.3, P = 0.01). Moreover, when donors’ antibody titer was higher than 1300, the chance of survival increased by 50%. In addition, the results of this study showed higher mortality in patients whose volume of received plasma was less than 387 mL (OR = 0.3, CI: 0.10 - 0.91, P = 0.018). However, patients who received more than 387 mL CP were more likely to discharge (OR = 5.7, CI: 3.7 - 8.8, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Using blood group O plasma with a minimum volume of 387 mL can be very effective in improving the clinical symptoms of patients with COVID-19 and increasing the chances of survival for these patients.
Thrombus Enhancement Sign May Differentiate Embolism From Arteriosclerosis-Related Large Vessel Occlusion
Authors: Zhang Yan , He Guangchen , Lu Jing , Miao Guihua , Liang Da , Wang Jiangliang , Wei Liming , Deng Jiangshan , Zhu Yueqi
Published: March 2023

Background and Purpose To evaluate whether the thrombus enhancement sign (TES) can be used to differentiate embolic large vessel occlusion (LVO) from in situ intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS)-related LVO in the anterior circulation of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods Patients with LVO in the anterior circulation who underwent both non-contrast computed tomography (CT) and CT angiography and mechanical thrombectomy were retrospectively enrolled. Both embolic LVO (embo-LVO) and in situ ICAS-related LVO (ICAS-LVO) were confirmed by two neurointerventional radiologists after reviewing the medical and imaging data. TES was assessed to predict embo-LVO or ICAS-LVO. The associations between occlusion type and TES, along with clinical and interventional parameters, were investigated using logistic regression analysis and a receiver operating characteristic curve.Results A total of 288 patients with AIS were included and divided into an embo-LVO group (n=235) and an ICAS-LVO group (n=53). TES was identified in 205 (71.2%) patients and was more frequently observed in those with embo-LVO, with a sensitivity of 83.8%, specificity of 84.9%, and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.844. Multivariate analysis showed that TES (odds ratio [OR], 22.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.4–53.8; P<0.001) and atrial fibrillation (OR, 6.6; 95% CI, 2.8–15.8; P<0.001) were independent predictors of embolic occlusion. A predictive model that included both TES and atrial fibrillation yielded a higher diagnostic ability for embo-LVO, with an AUC of 0.899.Conclusion TES is an imaging marker with high predictive value for identifying embo- and ICAS-LVO in AIS and provides guidance for endovascular reperfusion therapy.
MANUAL DE CIRUGIA PEDIATRICA SOBRE TRASTORNOS DIGESTIVOS
Authors: ABATA MARÍA , ACOSTA JEANNETTE , ALDAS STHEPHANIE , ALDAZ FREDDY , BONILLA MARIA , CEDEÑO ILIANA , FREIRE BYRON , LLANO ELVIS , MUÑOZ TERESA , PAREDES JESSICA , SOTALIN FERNANDA , TELLO MORELLA , ZULA NORMA
Published: March 2023

Este material va dirigido sobre todo a los médicos jóvenes o estudiantes en etapa de formación con el afán de recordar y adquirir conocimientos básicos sobre cirugía pediátrica respecto al tema de trastornos digestivos que serán aplicados durante su vida en residencia. En forma clara y didáctica se aborda temas sobre el manejo de esta patología considerada de mayor relevancia y utilidad.
Şiddet ve Saldırgan Davranışta Çocukluk Çağı Travmalarının Rolü
Authors: YILMAZ Şeyma Nur , KARAAZİZ Meryem
Published: March 2023

Şiddet ve saldırganlık kavramları, yoğunluğunun ve rastlanma oranının artması ile toplumda giderek önem kazanmaktadır. Şiddet ve saldırganlığın temelinde birçok olgunun varlığı söz konusu olmasına karşın, çocukluk çağı travmalarının rolü azımsanamayacak kadar fazladır. Çocukluk çağı travmaları, uzun yıllardır var olan bir durum olmasına rağmen bireyler tarafından yeterli düzeyde bilinemediğinden toplum üzerindeki yoğun etkisini devam ettirmektedir. İstismarın ve ihmalin tüm çeşitlerini içinde barındıran bir olgu olması sebebiyle de çocukluk çağı travmalarının şiddet ve saldırgan davranıştaki önemi büyüktür. Yapılan araştırmalar, aile yapısı, ailenin çocuğa yönelik tutumu, ailenin ekonomik düzey ve eğitim düzeyi gibi özelliklerin istismar ve ihmal olgularını başlatıcı faktör olabileceğini ifade etmektedir. Bu açıdan istismar ve ihmalin fiziksel, ruhsal ve bilişsel sağlığa etkileri birçok çalışmacı için merak konusu olmuştur. Bu çalışmada, çocukluk çağı travmalarıyla şiddet ve saldırganlık faktörleri arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi ve bireylerin çocukluk çağı travmasına bağlı olarak yaşadıkları şiddet ve saldırganlık tutumlarının nitel araştırma yöntemleri kullanılarak incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yapılan bu çalışmanın, çocukluk çağı travmalarının şiddet ve saldırganlık ile olan ilişkisinin saptanması ile psikolojik etkilerinin çözüme kavuşturulmasına olanak sağlaması ve çocukluk çağı travmalarına sahip bireylerin bireysel ve toplumsal farkındalık kazanması açısından önemli olduğu düşünülmektedir.
READINESS OF PROGRAM TEACHERS TOWARDS THE USE OF MULTIMEDIA TEACHING AIDS IN LEARNING AND SPEAKING OF AUTISTIC STUDENTS
Authors: Nor Aainaa Binti Mohd Isa  , Mohd Norazmi Nordin
Published: March 2023

This study aims to identify the readiness of teachers of Special Education which is determined by knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward the use of multimedia teaching aids in the learning of autistic students. This study is a survey that uses a questionnaire as the research instrument. This study was conducted on 45 teachers of autism students in primary schools of Hulu Langat, Selangor who were purposively selected. The analysis of research findings is carried out descriptively and inferentially by using The Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences version 27 (SPSS 27) software. Descriptive analysis in the form of frequency, percentage, mean score, and standard deviation to identify the level of knowledge, skills, and teachers' attitudes toward the use of multimedia teaching aids. While the inferential analysis by Pearson's correlation is used to identify the relationship between each variable (knowledge, skills, and teacher attitudes). The findings show that the level of teacher knowledge (mean = 3.08), and attitude (mean = 3.19) towards the use of multimedia teaching aid is at a high level. While the skills are at a moderate level (mean = 2.80). The Pearson Correlation shows a significant relationship between knowledge and skills (r = 0.833, p < 0.00), a significant relationship between knowledge and teacher attitudes (r = 0.673, p < 0.00) and they were also a significant relationship between skills and teacher attitudes (r = 0.556, p < 0.01).
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM: THE ROLE OF STUDENT MANAGEMENT ASSISTANTS (PPM) IN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESS
Authors: Maryati Abd Wahab  , Mohd Norazmi Nordin
Published: March 2023

Assigning a greater role to the Student Management Assistant (PPM) in the teaching and learning process of Inclusive Education needs to be considered by those interested in its implementation, especially in the aspect of being an MBPK companion throughout the inclusive class. However, various things need to be looked at so that the competence of PPM as a support service in the teaching and learning process of Inclusive classes can be relevant and successfully implemented to help overcome the issues that exist in the implementation of Inclusive Education. Therefore, this study was carried out based on the objectives of identifying the PPM context that supports MBPK at PPI as well as knowing the level of PPM knowledge concerning the core competencies of educating MBPK at PPI, besides seeing the need for further training for the field of PPM duties. The research methodology is descriptive quantitative research using the survey method. The instrument was distributed to 100 PPM Special Education students in the Pasir Gudang district, Johor. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26. The findings showed that the level of knowledge in aspects of PPM tasks in PPI management was high. There was also a significant relationship between the level of readiness and PPM efficiency for MBPK management in PPI in addition to the need to strengthen training aspects for PPM efficiency.